The first was a woman we cared for had two small children and was dying of lymphoma. She asked the hospice staff to buy birthday presents for her two small children thinking of their age each year and what they might like. She wrote down gift ideas specific to their age and a birthday card depicting their ages. She carefully wrote in each card. Each gift was to be given on their birthdays. She also wrote letters to them for wedding days, and births of first children. It became a project for our hospice for months; every clinician in charge of finding a particular gift and card. They were then lovingly wrapped by the patient. She died peacefully about a month after the last gift was wrapped and tucked away. I have never forgotten her and the beautiful legacy she left her children.

The second experience was with a man who had been estranged from his three adult children for the majority of his life. This gentleman was a musician who was able to share with our music therapist music that was important to him and signified special moments of his life such as his wedding day, the births of his children, special times in his children's life, and important times in his life. The music therapist and other staff compiled album covers and recorded the patient talking about  the event and why it was so important to him, followed by a recording of the song. The patient was so pleased with the compiled albums and music that he asked us to reach out to his children all of which came to our hospice to view and listen to the recording. Through many tears and the sharing of memories this family was reunited and there was healing before his passing. These are just two examples of individual legacy projects and the impact they can have both for the patient and for their families.