By KIM NANCE
Business Development Manager, Kosciusko Home Care and Hospice

Retired Nurse Polly Gabbett continues a life of caring as a Hospice volunteer. Gabbett started her career working for the government and for medical insurance companies. After befriending a nurse that loved caring for patients she decided this is something she would like to do.

Living most of her life in Warsaw, and in her 40s, Gabbett embarked on a new profession as a nursing student at Grace College. When she graduated from Grace she was hired by Kosciusko Community Hospital and for over 20 years worked in the surgical center. Gabbett recalls many fond memories of patients and medical staff that she worked with. She soon realized that she had a passion to train new nurses and teach patients how to stay healthy.

After retirement, Gabbett began volunteering at various agencies. She also continued helping with community events as a master gardener. She shared that once she offered 600 daffodil bulbs from her garden for an event the master gardeners were sponsoring for children, but when it came time to dig up the bulbs she had broken her ankle and was unable to dig. Several of the master gardeners not only came to dig up the 600 plus bulbs but also stayed to help weed her garden.

Gabbett decided to become a hospice volunteer because she personally saw the benefits and compassionate care that her patients at KCH experienced with Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice. Gabbett stated, “I wish doctors would call Hospice earlier. Hospice is not about dying, it is about living the remaining days of your life the best you can. Hospice volunteers are a fresh audience for the patient. We are interested in their life stories and they love to share with us” Gabbett stated.