Rose Crumb claims she still doesn't know why she won a national Jefferson Award in 1998. But the humble founder of the Hospice of Clallam County has helped thousands of families keep terminally ill patients at home during medical treatment.
The Jefferson Awards program, sponsored locally by the Seattle P-I and Microsoft Corp., honors "ordinary people who do extraordinary things" for other people, their community, their nation or the environment. (To nominate a person for a 2008 award, use the coupon with this story.)
This year, the Clallam County hospice celebrated its 30-year anniversary. Crumb has cut back on her hours over the years, but the group has more than 100 volunteers serving more families than ever before.
Q: What has kept you motivated?
Crumb: Hey, every morning that I can get out of bed, I am so grateful because our patients, most of them can't get out of bed. I think all of us take that for granted, and it really is such a privilege. Not only that, but the love that we receive from the families, keeps me motivated. They are so appreciative. Hugs sustain me; I get lots of them and I give lots of them.
Q: What was it like to be nationally recognized?
Crumb: It still seems almost like a dream. When I was in Washington (D.C.), I thought, "What am I doing here?" When I first received the call from the P-I, I thought it was some type of a telemarketing scheme. I didn't know what they were talking about. And then I found out that my kids had nominated me and hadn't said a word to me. It was such an honor.
Q: Why did you feel your community needed a hospice?
Crumb: When I first heard about this new thing called a hospice in 1977, nothing would have clicked had I not had the experience about 18 years prior of caring for my own father who was terminally ill. His only wish was that he could stay home and not have to go to a hospital. I went back to Minnesota and took care of him the last two weeks of his life. As a nurse, it was an entirely new experience for me as far as caring for someone in the home. Also, I learned it is a lot different when it's your own loved one.
Q: What successes will you be celebrating on this anniversary?
Crumb: When we started, I thought we would help one or two families at a time. Now we're helping 60 families at a time, and we have 112 volunteers. Our successes are just being here to help families. Some of my volunteers have been with me for over 25 years. That's dedication.
Q: Is there a particular family whose story has stayed with you?
Crumb: So many families have touched me. It really would be hard to pick out a single one. I just wish I had time to write a book about all the different families. Each situation is different, and it's an ongoing learning experience.
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