Denise Dube

Honoring a Husband’s Life

Don Dube was diagnosed with ALS in summer 2018. By the following February, his health had rapidly declined, and his wife, Denise, needed assistance caring for him.

“I felt in a fog of desperation because I knew deep down that I could no longer care for Don myself, and a sense of sheer terror filled me,” Denise says.

During one of Don’s emergency hospital stays at Harris Southwest Hospital, a member of Community Healthcare of Texas (CHOT) introduced himself to the couple. The organization came with the highest recommendation from the hospital, Don’s neurologist and nurses.

“Every single employee at CHOT put Don and me at ease during this excruciating time,” Denise says. “We both believed we would lose our sanity without their help. From the beginning, CHOT took care of everything. This unburdened both Don and me, allowing us to truly enjoy each other’s company during his journey toward death.”

Denise, who now serves on CHOT’s advisory council, especially appreciates the nurses who cared for Don.

“They totally realized healthcare is more than medical; it is quality-of-life, mental, emotional and social health, and they made the transition from life to death as seamless as possible,” Denise says.

Because CHOT provided the dignity and compassion Don deserved at the end of his life, Denise decided to give back to the organization, including through a gift in her will, so that others may have the same experience.

“I live very comfortably and securely knowing I’m providing for CHOT both now and in the future,” she says. “I know others in their end-of-life journey will benefit greatly from the compassion this organization provides.”

To learn more about how to create your legacy at CHOT, contact Karen Derrick at 817.878.3709 or KDerrick@chot.org.