A final farewell for Jack

Imagine knowing you are in the final days of your life. With family and loved ones around you, you are able to reflect on a lifetime of significant moments and memories, and ask yourself one important question: if you could have one final wish fulfilled, what would it be?

For 93-year-old Jack Smith, it was to take one last look at his farm.

A third generation Romsey farmer, Jack held a special connection with his land. It was the place he had called home since he was six months old; the place he had raised a family of his own; and the place he had mourned the deaths of his son, Brian, and wife, Carmel. Jack had remained on his farm up until only a year and a half before he went into care, with his son Bernard now farming the land in his stead.

It’s easy to understand why Jack’s final wish was visit his home one last time, but as a palliative care patient with Rochester and Elmore District Health Service (REDHS) at Echuca Regional Health, some 140km away through winding rural backroads, his wish was not so easy to fulfil.

“Dad was adamant that he wanted to see the farm, and I knew I just couldn't find a way to make that happen myself,” says Jack’s daughter, Maree Wheaton.

As Jack’s health deteriorated, REDHS nursing staff reached out to the Flying Doctor’s Mobile Patient Care (MPC) crew, who are experts in providing non-emergency patient transport services. What’s more, the Flying Doctor has also introduced a volunteer program for palliative care transport, which uses fully equipped Flying Doctor transport vehicles and Ambulance and Patient Transport Officers who have generously volunteered their time.

“When we get a request like this, especially when patients are coming to an end of their life, time is absolutely of the essence,” says Flying Doctor Area Manager, Beth Mclwain

“In Jack’s instance, we took the call on the Thursday and by the Friday morning, volunteer staff and transport were in motion and Jack was heading home.”

Jack was collected by Patient Transport Officer Samantha Keating and Ambulance Transport Attendant Victoria Gibson, who chose to style their vehicle with wildflowers and eucalyptus leaves for Jack’s journey.

“It was lovely to honour someone's life in such a special and intimate way,” says Samantha. “Caring for a patient during transport in their final days, giving them the opportunity to say farewell, has such a major impact on a family.”

Jack’s daughter Maree, son Danny, granddaughter Lisa and grandson Steve greeted Jack at the farm gate. From here, the family savoured one last afternoon together on the farm, with Samantha and Victoria on hand to provide support when needed, but also respecting that family’s space during such a private moment.

“To meet Jack’s family and hear about the history of the land really made it me reflect a little bit more on the regional area that I’m was working in,” says Samantha.

“It's a privilege for us to share these intimate moments with the family,” adds Victoria.

Six days after his visit to his farm, Jack passed away peacefully.

When reflecting on the experience, Maree notes that she had been worried about how frail her father was on the day of the visit, but was deeply grateful for the expertise and generous spirit displayed by the transport crew.

“We couldn't have given dad this last wish without the Flying Doctors,” says Maree. “Whenever I've told anyone that dad had the opportunity to go home to the farm, and that he was taken out in the stretcher to be by the farm gate, and wheeled around the garden, people are amazed that this this happened. The word got around and everyone in the community who knew Jack is so grateful.”

“I'm at peace with how dad’s life ended. He was dying of old age and he got to see his farm one last time. He was happy.”