Ivan had been aggressively fighting bone cancer with treatment and surgery with poor outcomes. After much thought and discussion, he decided that it was time to focus on quality instead of quantity of life. Ivan and his family made the difficult decision for him to receive comfort care through hospice and enjoy every minute they could together.
With Ivan’s 35th birthday fast approaching, he told his social worker that he wanted to celebrate his last birthday with Mariachi music—the rhythmic music of Mexico that brought him joy and reminded him of home. SoCal Hospice Foundation fulfilled his wish, throwing Ivan a birthday bash surrounded by family and friends and serenaded by a live Mariachi band while he and his guests enjoyed catered Mexican food and a birthday cake.
For more on Ivan’s story, see our 2016 annual report.
