By Mandy M. Goodnight
Copyright © 2003, The Town Talk, a division of Gannett Company Inc.

Molly Wiley sits on the end of her husband's bed, rubbing his leg as she talks.

With a smile on her face, she speaks of the roller coaster of emotions she and their family are going through.

She even admits to getting angry at times.

As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Mike Wiley's eyes begin moving, and one letter at a time appears on his computer screen.

"I am praying for you, Molly," the computer-generated voice belts out.

Molly Wiley looks to see the twinkle and mischievous look in her husband's eye.

Mike Wiley has not changed.

The former Rapides Parish sheriff's juvenile detective may have lost his voice and is constantly on a breathing machine, but his spirit continues the fight.

In October 2001, Mike Wiley, known to his family as "Grumpy," was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Over the two years, he slowly has lost muscle strength as his nervous system breaks down.

But it doesn't slow Mike Wiley down.

He uses a computer system to communicate with family and friends and to look up solutions for his daily problems on the Internet.

The family, which includes seven children and six grandchildren, has developed a network of volunteers and has enlisted the services of Cabrini Hospice to help.

A team comprised of a nurse, aide, chaplain and social worker now visits the Wileys and helps to care for the family in many ways.

"Comfort and dignity mixed with a smile is the hospice I look forward to from Cabrini Hospice," Mike Wiley types.

He types that the team has prepared "... my family and me for the last chapter of a great life our God has blessed me with."

Ann Ross, Wiley's nurse, says the Wileys have touched her and the entire team.

"He teaches us things, and we are here for them, that is what we are about," she says.

The Wileys are just one example of the way hospice helps families through a difficult time. November is National Hospice Care Month.

Cabrini Hospice, a service of CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Hospital, is one of several hospice-care services available in central Louisiana.

Hospice focuses on the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of a patient and his or her family. The hospice teams include physicians, nurses, a spiritual leader, a social worker, dietitian, a chaplain, a pharmacist, a bereavement counselor and volunteers.

In the beginning, ALS was "something I honestly thought I could overcome," Wiley types. "I felt I had strength and faith to overcome anything. I, of course, have since added the word 'terminal' to 'disease.'"

Wiley types that the more he tries to keep his independence, the more he realizes that he needs the help.

So does his wife.

Molly Wiley says that she tried to do almost everything by herself in the beginning: driving her husband to work, feeding him lunch, and bringing him home, and then starting the night routine.

Soon, she learned that help is needed.

More than 20 people help to get the Wileys through each week.

Relatives, friends and church members come during the day and night to help out. Neighbors also have begun cooking for the family a couple of nights a week.

In April, Molly Wiley began seeking information on hospice.

When she first thought about hospice, she associated "hospice equals death," but her view has changed.

"I certainly could not have kept him at home this long without the help of hospice workers," Molly Wiley says. "The CNA, Yolanda Glynn, and nurse, Ann Ross, have been a Godsend to me."

The family started receiving hospice care in July. The first couple of days were difficult.

Ross, sitting near Molly Wiley, says it is an adjustment.

The Wileys got involved at a good time, because so many patients wait until their final days to bring in hospice care, Ross says.

Ross says she and other hospice-team members allow the family to spend more time with the patient and not be constant caregivers.

"I get to be a wife rather than always the caregiver," Molly Wiley says.

Ross says the Wileys prove that hospice is for more than just cancer patients.

The services are available for all terminally ill patients once curative medical treatments have been exhausted.

In addition to providing care, Molly Wiley says hospice has allowed the family to discuss death. Mike and Molly Wiley have made their funeral arrangements.

The hospice team also has taught the family about "the dignity of dying," Molly Wiley says. She says that so many people think hospice pushes a person toward death.

Just the opposite, Molly Wiley says that the hospice team is there to make a person's final days as comfortable as possible.

Living mostly in a small bedroom, Mike Wiley is able to get up at times and is not bedridden.

Surrounded by police memorabilia from his office and pictures and cards from family and friends, Mike Wiley continues his battle.

Hanging from his computer system is a blue first-place ribbon. His mouth turns up in a slight grin when asked what he placed in.

Molly Wiley quickly speaks up. "One of his grandchildren got it after a race and brought it to him," she says.

"She said, 'Grumpy deserves a ribbon,'" Molly Wiley says.

Molly Wiley says the family takes each day at a time. Her husband sleeps more, but when he is awake, he is "still Mike Wiley," she says.

For information on Cabrini Hospice, call 449-4586 or (800) 396-8162.