It is interesting that the number one request from our patients, when asked what we could do to help create a memorable moment, is one of food.  American author Madeleine L'Engle opined, “That's something I've noticed about food: whenever there's a crisis if you can get people to eating normally things get better.”

Our patient, diagnosed with lung disease in her mid-fifties, had reached the point where getting out of the house was next to impossible.  When one reaches that point it is as if freedom after freedom is being stripped away; perspectives change as do priorities.  When asked what we could do to make life special for her she replied, “I’d love to go to Red Lobster with my husband for a shrimp scampi dinner.  It was always our favorite restaurant.”  She knew it was not possible…..our social worker had another idea.

Contacting our Life is Precious program she wondered if we could work with the restaurant to make it happen in reverse; perhaps Red Lobster could come to them.  Paying a visit to the restaurant, we approached the manager, Donna, with our patient’s story and asked, “Could you help us make this happen?”  She didn’t hesitate in agreeing and asked what they wanted to eat.  We talked of their favorite meal and explained that we’d need to set it up with the family but we’d like to do it soon.  The restaurant was contacted a day ahead of time and Donna explained that she wanted our social worker to call about twenty minutes before she arrived to pick up the meals so they would be fresh.

When our social worker arrived around noon to pick up the two shrimp scampi dinners Donna had instructed the chef to prepare two dinner sized meals and not the normal lunch size.  Leaving the restaurant with two huge shrimp scampi dinners including baked potatoes and salad with blue cheese dressing, our patient’s favorite, the meals were delivered to two very excited and grateful people.  There was enough food for the two of them to share one dinner and save the other for the next day and they eagerly enjoyed their meals.  Our patient had eaten very little for over two weeks as she had lost her appetite, but she and her husband “cleaned their plates”.

We delivered a framed Certificate of Appreciation to the Red Lobster Restaurant, thanking them for their support and help in making this happen and sharing with Donna how enthusiastically the meal was received.  As Donna talked with our staff member she thanked Hospice at Home for what we do and told of her own sadness in experiencing the loss of long time customers due to illness or age.  Once again, as is usually the case, the comforter also becomes the comforted.

“Food is not about impressing people. It's about making them feel comfortable.” ~ Ina Garten,  “The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook”