flo.rankin@gaflnews.com



TIFTON – The family that spoke at the annual Tree of Life lighting ceremony Thursday knows first-hand how much help Hospice can give.

Yvonne Mullis and her daughters, Jana Douglas and Joy Davis, lost two family members to cancer within a two-week period in November. Douglas said her mother quit her job the day her father, Jimmy Mullis, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and ended up caring for both her husband and her mother, who had pancreatic cancer. Hospice made it possible for both patients to be cared for at home.

“Anything to benefit Oncology and Hospice is worthwhile,” Douglas said during Thursday night’s ceremony. “There is no substitute for the professional medical instruction and support that Hospice gave us.”

Douglas spoke for the family while her sister and mother stood beside her. Prior to the ceremony, Douglas said her mother wanted to speak but did not know if she could depending on how emotional she was.

Douglas said her father lived with his condition for 17 months, undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The family learned about Hospice when her grandmother began receiving services.

“Really, we knew about Hospice, but we felt like she was worse off than he was and needed them more at first,” Douglas said. “Then towards the end he really took a turn for the worse. They were a tremendous help.”

The lighting ceremony, held on the chilly and windy front lawn at Tift Regional Medical Center, featured Santa Claus and the Eighth Street Middle School Band. The tree honors family members and friends of donors who gave “lights.”

After the ceremony, guests went inside for free chili, grilled cheese sandwiches and cookies in the hospital dining room. The gospel group Alabaster performed for those enjoying the dinner.

Donations go toward Hospice patients’ needs such as utility bills. The annual event is sponsored by the Tifton Junior Woman’s Club.



To contact city editor Florence Rankin, call 382-4321, ext. 209.