Heather's Story
“My sister was a true force, even as she navigated bladder cancer. Hospice of the Panhandle saw her for the person she was and helped her live on her terms.”
Uplifting care and support for a sister who was larger than life.
Cindy Schott was the face of the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown and wanted everyone who worked for her to reach their full potential. Cindy’s sister, Heather, worried that Cindy’s advanced bladder cancer would force Cindy to face the reality that her career was coming to an end. Still, Cindy saw reasons to celebrate every day she lived – that’s just the kind of person she was. She continued to check in on her work family from home as Hospice of the Panhandle helped manage her symptoms as well as provided caregiver support and resources to help her family navigate the complexity of end of life.
“My sister was a force to be reckoned with. She was tough, kind and loyal to the end,” said Heather Marshall of her sister, Cindy.
Cindy Schott’s journey with Hospice of the Panhandle began after a hard-fought battle with bladder cancer. It was her employer, David Asam of the Bavarian Inn, who encouraged her to consider palliative care to help manage her pain and other symptoms while still doing some of the work she loved from home.
Cindy’s disease continued to take hold, and eventually Hospice of the Panhandle brought her onto hospice services to help keep her comfortable at home and to surround her family with support and resources.
“I think what surprised me the most was how expeditious Hospice of the Panhandle was with everything. From handling medical equipment to coordinating care, everything just seemed so smooth. That gave us real peace of mind,” Heather said.
Cindy’s fierce love for others never wavered. “While she could be blunt at times, and she would often use colorful language, she mainly wanted us around because she loved us. She was determined to celebrate life while she was still living it,” said Heather.
