After a few months, Bart's condition had stabilized enough for discharge—but the communication didn't stop there. REACH stepped in to maintain a connection and offer continued support as Bart transitioned out of full-time home health care.

Through gentle check-ins, REACH enabled Bart's team to monitor his progress. When he shared that he'd started walking short distances again, his care team took notice and immediately called him and Linda—not out of concern; rather, they were excited to congratulate Bart on his progress! As Bart, Linda, and the recovery team continued celebrating his recovery wins, REACH followed up with additional resources for stroke survivors to support his growing independence.

REACH additionally functioned as a steady source of support for Linda, delivering timely updates, caregiving guidance, and wellness tips tailored to Bart's recovery. With so much of her time previously devoted to his care, she never quite had the bandwidth to seek out these resources herself. Now, for the first time in months, Linda had the tools—and the space—to focus on her own well-being.

Bart recovered well and enjoyed several healthy years doing the things he loved most: fly fishing, restoring old cars, and playing with his grandkids. Over time, however, his health gradually declined, and he was eventually diagnosed with cancer. With steady support from Linda and his care team, Bart transitioned to hospice care and spent his final days comfortably at home. He passed peacefully, with Linda by his side.

In the weeks and months after his passing, BEREAVE became a quiet but meaningful presence for Linda. Managed by the hospice's bereavement team, it delivered timely messages, guided reflections, and referrals to local grief support groups—reminders that she wasn't navigating loss alone.

About six months later, on what would have been Bart's 75th birthday, Linda received a BEREAVE text honoring his life. She was stunned—not just by the thoughtfulness of the message, but by the fact that his care team still remembered his birthday. She replied with a heartfelt thank you and shared that it had been a particularly hard day. Later that afternoon, her bereavement coordinator called to check in and gently invited her to join the hospice's local support group when she felt ready.

A few weeks later, Linda walked through the door of the hospice's weekly bereavement support group meeting. Her coordinator greeted her with a warm smile, grateful to see her taking the next step in her healing journey.