ALTUS - The 13th annual "Light Up A Life" celebration for Jackson County Memorial Hospital will be held Monday, Dec 3. The annual event begins outside the main entrance of the hospital with the lighting of the Mac Mollison Memorial Hospice holiday tree at 6:30 p.m.

The tree lighting ceremony begins with a welcome from Hospice Chaplain Erin Martinez. The Reverend Dave Player of First United Methodist Church will deliver the special prayer of remembrance and Toby Valdez will perform an inspirational music selection.

The event continues at 7 p.m. at the Best Western of Altus with the traditional "Circle of Light" candlelight ceremony and reading of this year's honored names. A single candle will be lit as each honoree's name is read aloud. Debbie Mead, Jane Oden and John Borders will read each honored name during the Circle of Light. Each name will be included in the Book of Lights displayed in the JCMH main lobby. Local musician Bill Dickinson of Joyfull Sounds will be performing the alto saxophone as the evening's special music.

The featured speaker this year will be Reta Tims of Altus. Reta Tims is currently the Director of Pharmacy at JCMH and has served in this roll for over 25 years. She

is committed to the Hospice mission of providing physical, spiritual and emotional

care for the patient and family as a loved one moves into the latter stages of life

toward death. Reta has a great appreciation for Hospice services with both her

late husband, Sonny Tims, and mother, Reta Lubow, receiving Hospice care. "I am so

grateful for the loving care and support I received from my JCMH Hospice family

during Sonny's final days in 2005. It was such a blessing to provide care for Sonny

at home with their partnering service and love. You can easily give your family

member a pair of socks or a shirt for Christmas, but what a precious gift to allow

your loved one to stay in their home surrounded by precious family and friends.

Hospice allowed us to make the most of Sonny's final days. Thank you to all my dear

Hospice friends for giving us this gift!"

The tradition of the Hospice holiday tree and the Light Up A Life celebration began

in 1995 in honor of the long-time Altus physician Malcolm Mollison. Donations are

made to JCMH Hospice at this time each year in honor of loved ones. Many loved-ones

may have died during the previous year and the Light Up A Life celebration adds to

their memory and can be an important part of the survivors' healing process. Names

of living family members and special loved ones are also appropriately honored

during the event.

Hospice care allows patients who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness to

receive medical care, including pain management, in their own home. The comfort and

familiarity that comes from remaining in the patient's home environment is part of

the Hospice concept.

Hospice includes the entire family in the medical and spiritual treatment it

provides to the terminally ill patient. Jackson County Hospital Hospice serves

patients in Jackson County as well as patients in Tillman, Kiowa, Greer and Harmon

counties. JCMH Hospice is the original not-for-profit Hospice in the area and

through the donations it receives, cares for patients who are unable to pay for

hospice services.

For information about the JCMH Hospice Light Up A Life celebration on Dec. 3rd or to

receive information about JCMH Hospice, call (580) 481-2320. JCMH Hospice will soon

be located in a new facility at 1204 E. Tamarack Road in Altus. Donations to JCMH

Hospice are tax deductible and are accepted throughout the year.