Vijay Jaiswal lived a full and rich life, with a kaleidoscope of ups and downs, across three continents: India, Africa and North America. Her journey ended on August 3 when she passed away at Duke Inpatient Hospice at Duke Raleigh Hospital, with her beloved daughter, Meeta Jaiswal, by her side.

While her life’s focus was her children, Vijay loved to garden and was happiest working in her yard or strolling through gardens and farmers’ markets. Her master’s degree in Hindi literature enlightened the words of Kabir, her favorite poet and philosopher. She incorporated his teachings, as well as a natural ayurvedic healing, into her daily lifestyle.

Vijay’s resilience through the tragic loss of her beloved son, Sanjay, was strengthened when she came to live with Meeta, where she resided for the last 24 years of her life. Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency greatly impacted Vijay as constant dizziness increased each year until she became bed bound for the last five years of her life.

Meeta, a dedicated caregiver, was challenged as each daily activity became more difficult for her mom. Ultimately, Vijay’s Duke palliative care physician encouraged her to enter hospice care due to her rapidly failing health. “As her sole caregiver, who was stressed and overwhelmed, I found the advocacy and support that Duke Hospice provided to be a lifeline,” said Meeta.

In the month that she was on Duke’s home hospice care, Vijay had biweekly visits from her team of nurses. “They provided their unique professional healing hands and advice as they evaluated her frail body to provide the best comfort care,” said Meeta. “The hospice physicians were always available. Her nurse’s aides were gentle and kind as they helped her through bath time twice a week while her social worker provided support and comfort.”

On the 27th day on home care hospice, Vijay had a fall which required her to be admitted to the emergency room at Duke Raleigh Hospital. “At one point, when it seemed that my mom could not survive, I felt the presence of the hospice care nurses, who held me tight and stayed with me until my mom’s blood pressure climbed back to near normal.” After this, Vijay was transferred to the hospital’s Duke hospice care unit.

“During the last three days of my mom’s life, her Duke hospice physicians made sure that she was pain free,” said Meeta. 

“With the hospice team, I felt like I was always in the company of strength and support throughout the most stressful period of my life.”

The support continued beyond Vijay’s passing as Duke Hospice Bereavement provided counseling to Meeta, offering her support and a sounding board for her pain and loss.

“Once Duke Hospice took the hands of me and my mom, they did not let go,” said Meeta. “Duke Hospice has been a heaven-sent blessing into our lives, with each and every member of the team touching us at our most vulnerable time. I could not have navigated my mother’s last 31 days without Duke Hospice. God bless each and every one of them.”