May 5, 2012

7am to 11am

Corner of Lohman and Main in front of Citizens Bank

Hope to see you there!!

Memorial Walk

April 14, 2012

Registration 8 :00 am to 8:15 am

Walk starts at 8:15 am to 9:30 am 

There will be children's activities, a live DJ and a short memorial service. For more information please contact Lorraine Padilla at 575-525-5710 or email lpadilla@mvhospice.org

23^rd Growing Through Loss Conference

Friday, March 2, 2012

St. Paul's Methodist Church

Las Cruces, NM 88005 

In Celebration of Mesilla Valley Hospice 30^th Anniversary, this year's conference is

free of Charge to show our gratitude for your ongoing support throughout the years. 

4 CEU's will be offered for Nursing

and Social Work (cultural competency approved)

Space is limited, so please fax registration form to 575-527-2204. 

If you have any questions, please contact Leticia Serecerez-Murphy at 575-525-5706 or

Email to lserecerez@mvhospice.org

For a full copy of the 2011 Annual Report please click here.

Thank you for your continued support!

A Community Memorial Service

 Thursday, December 8, 2011

6 pm to 7:30 pm

Mesilla Valley Hospice Rotary Conference Room (on the Foster Road side of the facility)

Mesilla Valley Hospice & the Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation invites you to participate in our annual Lights of Our Lives Memorial Service.  This service is dedicated to those loved ones honored and remembered by our community.  Following the ceremony there will be a reception for all participants.  An altar dedicated to those remembered will be used at this year's service.  Participants are invited to place items of remembrance (photos, mementos, etc.) on the altar prior to the beginning of the service.  Items will be retrieved following the service. 

Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana, Las Cruces, NM  88005

For more information please call 575-523-4700

The Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation would like to thank all of chefs, chef assistants, planning committees, volunteers, silent auction donors, and sponsors for all of their support!  The event brought in more than $64,000 of which $55,000 will be going straight to support Mesilla Valley Hospice and the Charity Care Funds. 

We would like to thank Southern New Mexico Cancer Center, Dr. Constance Wash, Dr. Fuller, Memorial Medical Center, Full Bloom Pediatrics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Dr. Phil Born & Dental Associates, PA, Mrs. Paulina Salopek, and the over 45 table sponsors.  Without you this event would not have been such a financial success!

We are already planning for 2012!  If you are interested in being a part of the event please call 525-5720.  Thank you again to everyone that helped with the 2011 Men Who Cook event!

The event will be held from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the new Las Cruces Convention Center.  Doors open promptly at 6:00pm, food will be served from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, and there will be live entertainment from 8:00pm to 10:00pm including a silent auction. 

Men Who Cook is the only event of its kind in Las Cruces, NM and Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation would like to invite you to this outstanding event.  The event will bring together more than 70 "celebrity" chefs from Dona Ana County that will feed our attendees and best of all help Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation!  Each of the men prepares a favorite dish or gourmet specialty, and plenty of it, serving it to the attendees at the evening's event.  We are expecting over 650 people this year.

Individual tickets will be $60 and you can reserve them now at Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation 575-525-5720.  Corporate Sponsorships and reserved tables of 10 for group reservations can be purchased as well. 

The Deabel Legacy Society event invites all that are interested in learning a little more about planned giving and the great opportunities you have to leave a legacy to our hospice programs.  Each year we honor new society members and share information on estate planning.  This year we will be inducting several new members including one of our own volunteers, Stephanie Carter. 

A complimentary lunch will be served and we hope many of you can attend.  Please call Terra at 575-525-5720 to reserve your spot!

Each year the Rotarians of this club collect, store, set up, and sell over 7 semitruck loads of items to support hospice programming.  The funds will support patients and their families that do not have the ability to pay for service or do not have the insurance resources to cover medical costs.  Each year the hospice organization provides well over $750,000 in charity care funds for patients and families throughout Dona Ana County, NM.

The Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation, the philantrhopic arm of the Hospice organization, has been set up since 2009 to continue all fundraising efforts associated with the hospice program.  The foundation staff and board are honored to receive these funds and know how important they are to all who need them throughout the county. 

If you have items you would like to donate for next years sale please call 575-525-5720. 

The event will be held from 6:00pm to 10:00pm at the new Las Cruces Convention Center.  Doors open promptly at 6:00pm, food will be served from 6:00pm to 8:30pm, and there will be live entertainment from 8:00pm to 10:00pm including a silent auction. 

Men Who Cook is the only event of its kind in Las Cruces, NM and Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation would like to invite you to this outstanding event.  The event will bring together more than 70 "celebrity" chefs from Dona Ana County that will feed our attendees and best of all help Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation!  Each of the men prepares a favorite dish or gourmet specialty, and plenty of it, serving it to the attendees at the evening's event.  We are expecting over 650 people this year.

Individual tickets will be $60 and you can reserve them now at Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation 575-525-5720.  Corporate Sponsorships and reserved tables of 10 for group reservations can be purchased as well. 

This event has supported hospice programming for many years and we are so grateful for their continued support.  The funds this year will be used to assist in the ongoing need for charity care funds for those individuals that have little to no insurance and/or the ability to pay for hospice services.  The Foundation is committed to granting these funds to the hospice program to insure that no patient or family is turned away from service. 

Thank you again to all of those that volunteered their time during the set up Friday May 6th and the sale May 7th.  We truly could not do this event without your assistance.

Rio Grande Rotary Club  17th Annual Yard Sale.

to benefit Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation

"From Your House to Ours!!"  May 7^th,  2011

7:00am-11:00am 

Citizen's Bank Parking Lot Located at Loretto Towne Center

• Rio Grande Rotary Club has again selected Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation to benefit from its Annual Yard Sale.
• This yard sale is one of the LARGEST in Las Cruces and includes an array of items from kitchen appliances, furniture, clothing, etc.
• There will also be a small boutique for high quality clothing items and jewelry.
• Arrive early for all the great deals!

For more information feel free to contact the Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation office at 525-5720.

Thank you to all of the community members that attended.  The monies raised will go to support several Mesilla Valley Hospice programs in 2011. 

Registration from 7:30am to 8:00am Mesilla Valley Hospice Registration on Foster St. side of new facility

The Staff, Volunteers, and Board of Directors of Mesilla Valley Hospice Foundation are proud to announce the 7^th Annual Memorial Walk.  The purpose of the walk is to remember those patients whom we have had the privilege and honor of serving over the past years. 

We have chosen to combine this event with our annual giving campaign to allow the community to join with us as we commemorate loved ones and at the same time ensure that we are able to continue to provide the highest quality end of life care to the residents of Dona Ana County, regardless of their ability to pay. 

 Two ways in which you can support Mesilla Valley Hospice

1. Come walk with us on the morning of April 2^nd, 2011
2. Make a contribution and name up to four persons you want to commemorate.

The walk will begin at Mesilla Valley Hospice at the Foster St. entrance at 8:00am.  From 8:00am to 9:45am there will be music and entertainment for all the attendees.  From 9:45am to 10:00am a special memorial service will be held for all attendees.  For more information please contact Terra V. Winter at 575-525-5720.

A Wedding Wish

Hospice Chaplain marries Patient and groom in the Memorial Garden.

Hawaii Calls

Hospice patient visits son in Hawaii after arrangements for medication, equipment and transfer of service were made.

Tribal Tradition

Ceremonial dancers with Hospice patient at traditional end of life ceremony.

Mabel's Garden

A gracious and loving couple leaves a legacy of peace.

Perfecto "Chico" Segura was raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. In high school he traveled 28 miles from Los Alamos to Espanola five days a week, to train for the varsity boxing team. Following school, he served in the navy where he was a member of the boxing team and won several All Navy tournaments. In 1956 Chico competed in the Olympic Boxing finals. In 1962 he became the team's coach, and brought them to victory in the World All-Navy Championship. He coached the US team in the 1970s, in the first North American games in Vancouver, Canada, to a gold medal victory. In 1974, Chico coached the US team at the first world games in Havana, Cuba.

While living in Las Cruces, he worked in the juvenile division of the Police Dept. Recognizing that boxing could be a positive alternative for at-risk kids, Chico established a Police Athletic League in 1971 and put his coaching skills to work. The boys learned respect, honesty and hard work as well as strict discipline, a must for any sport. In 1990 he retired as Sports Director for White Sands Missile Range.

Chico credits his wife Phyllis, for enabling him to live out his dream. They met in 1960 while he was boxing in a match in Canada. Her industrious family had moved from the Caribbean to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Chico was attracted to her brown skin and warm smile. She noticed his quiet confidence and respectfulness. They were married in a small ceremony in Boston.

Chico traveled and lived all over the world while coaching boxing. Sometimes he would be gone for four to five months at a time, while Phyllis would maintain the home with their children Ed, Phillip, Greg, and Sandra. With her communication and organizational skills, Phyllis was able to work as a secretary for the Social Security Administration, where she is now retired. She and Chico have complimentary personalities and both of them are practical, assuring a secure retirement. Chico has always been supportive of his wife taking classes and pursuing interests of her own.

Chico Segura is a man grateful for his life in spite of a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Since being under Hospice care, Chico's life has taken on new purpose. He feels at peace that his life has been worthwhile and his dream of helping kids has been fulfilled. His wife says he is more reflective and takes time to appreciate the richness of his life. He is especially grateful for the Hospice staff and their compassionate and straightforward approach.

He lives each day as it comes and to the fullest. His life is full with visits and outings with family and his many friends. In October a testimonial is planned for him, to remember and honor his many years of service to the community. Chico is optimistic by nature. He is even ready to say he may beat the odds and live longer than doctors predicted but he is also at peace if he goes tomorrow. Chico's life is Olympic Gold.

Pamela Smith 9/04

After high school, Carl served his country during World War II in New Guinea and returned to get his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from New Mexico A&M. He met his wife, Joanne Hoskins while at college, got married at the First Baptist Church, with a reception at the Women's Improvement Association building by Pioneer Park. He and Joan had a two week honeymoon in Mexico and came back to Las Cruces to finish up their education.

Directly upon graduating, Carl accepted a position with the Bureau of Land Management in Farmington. He worked there long enough to realize that he wanted to be his own boss and scraped up enough savings from his $200. per month paycheck to buy some farm land here in Mesilla Valley. He and Joan started their farming life with 50 acres. In 1951 they put in their first crop of cotton.

His success as a farmer is exemplified by the respect he is given by his peers. He served 25 years on the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Farm Credit Bureau. He spent 18 years on the Farm Bureau Board. He was elected to the Las Cruces School Board and served six years. He was appointed by then governor, Garry Carruthers, to the Board of Regents at New Mexico State University. There is no doubt that Carl was an active and esteemed community member. He reflects that his service on the various boards was a way to give back to his beloved Mesilla Valley.

Tom Simpson, a neighbor and fellow farmer, says, "Carl was an inspiration to me to do more for my community. He was a hard working farmer who made the time to serve on boards and give back to his fellow man. It's easy to give your life to your farm, but Carl did more than that."

"I've been blessed in many ways. Mostly I've been blessed to have Joan as my wife for 55 years. Our sons are two fine young men and we have two of the best daughters-in-law that we could ever have." Robert and Charles and their families live and farm here in the Mesilla Valley, close to their parents' home. A farmer's love for the land has been passed down in the Faubion family.

Carl's story continues with a diagnosis of cancer at age 80. When he decided to let things take their course rather than undergo the rigorous and likely futile treatments, his good friend and doctor, Bill Baker set him up with hospice services. Charlotte Reid, his hospice nurse, has worked with Carl to maximize the good days and keep him as comfortable as possible.

For Carl, staying as active as possible has been his goal. He cherishes his time with family and friends, keeps his daily "appointment" with his long time friends for morning coffee, has helped to oversee the building of his new home, and generally made the best of the last eleven months. One of the central tenets of hospice care is to support the patient's wishes, give him every chance to enjoy this time of his life.

Friendship has been a continuing thread in Carl's life. He still keeps up with several of his friends from grade school in Tucumcari, he corresponds with some of his Army buddies, and he is gratified to be able to see his friends from college. Of course, his years of farming and community activities have brought him many close friends as well. "It's hard to pin down the importance of the people you know through life, how they contribute to what leads to your success and certainly to your happiness."

"I would like to see everyone have as good a life as I've had," Carl said recently. He was reflecting on his life to his new friend and hospice volunteer, Dorothy Webb, as he looked out at the morning sun. His new home, built by his son, Charles, is close to his farm and gives Carl and Joan the chance to be right where they want to be, surrounded by the family they raised, the farm they love, and the community that they have been a big part of for the last 53 years.

Dorothy Webb, 2004

Thursday - November 18, 2010
5:00PM to 7:00PM
Farm and Ranch Museum in the Tortugas Room.

The community is invited. Please RSVP to Tina Reeves: 525-5704 or treeves@mvhospice.org.

At Mesilla Valley Hospice, we are proud to serve the people of Dona Ana County and want our faith community to have a better understanding of what types of services we provide and how we can be a resource for anyone in your congregation.
Mesilla Valley Hospice is committed to supporting patients and their families by also supporting the persons who serve them: YOU, the professionals in our community. Like birth, death touches us on many levels; socially, spiritually, physically and psychologically. Whether you are directly involved in counseling, or have people in your congregation who find themselves coping with serious illness, you have the ability to touch these families profoundly during a vulnerable life passage. Our resources and website are available to assist you in your work. Not only are these materials for your church, but they also provide you with educational resources, training opportunities, and grief and bereavement counseling information. Here are a few key points about Mesilla Valley Hospice:

• Our services are for terminally ill patients
• We care for all ages and diagnosis
• Free grief and bereavement services to the entire community
• We have a team approach that includes our Medical Director, Staff Physician, Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistant's, Social Workers, Chaplains & Volunteers
• Advanced directives, wills and funeral planning
• La Posada Residential Facility (18 private rooms)
located in the heart of Las Cruces
• In home care
• Assisted living & Nursing home care
• Assist patients in Chaparral, Santa Teresa, Sunland Park, Anthony, San Miguel, Las Cruces, Hatch and all other communities within Dona Ana County

In addition, the Mesilla Valley Hospice staff is available to speak to your church anytime and present our services. If you have questions or would like to schedule a presentation give us a call at (505) 525-5709 and check out our resources at www.mvhospice.org

Thank you for serving our community,

Charm Winrich, MAEd
Physician Liaison, MVH

Nina Salmon
Volunteer Coordinator, MVH