[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 14980-14981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING MS. NANCY HINDS, FOUNDER OF HINDS HOSPICE CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 2, 2012

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Nancy Hinds for 
her many years of service to our local community, our State and our 
Nation. As a young woman, Nancy resolved to become a nurse and spend 
her life caring for people. In 1981, Nancy brought her dream to 
fruition when she established Hinds Hospice, an organization often 
recognized as the premier provider of comprehensive end-of-life 
services in California's San Joaquin Valley. Her superior moral 
character and deep level of compassion truly make her a shining example 
of the best of what our Nation has to offer.
  Nancy Hinds studied nursing at St. John's College in Cleveland, Ohio, 
where she developed an interest in missionary work. After working for a 
year in the intensive care unit at Cleveland Clinic Hospital, Nancy 
saved

[[Page 14981]]

enough money to go on her first mission to the West Indies. Nancy's 
time as a missionary nurse in the West Indies solidified her desire to 
do missionary work in other parts of the world.
  Following her year in West Indies, Nancy signed up with the Catholic 
Medical Mission Board. She was assigned to Nigeria, West Africa, 
providing aid to malnourished and neglected children. In 1969, Nancy 
met her future husband, Godfrey Hinds, a missionary doctor who had been 
in Africa for 20 years. They shared a deep love and affection for each 
other and held a high regard for a life of service. After Nancy 
finished her tour in Nigeria, she reunited with Godfrey in Ireland and 
the two were married. Nancy and Godfrey spent the following years of 
their lives doing missionary work while starting a family at the same 
time. They had three sons: Sean, Conor, and Patrick.
  The strength and courage that Nancy possesses has helped her during 
the extremely difficult struggles in her life. Godfrey passed away from 
an untreatable cancer in March 1977, and months later her mother lost 
her battle with breast cancer. As a widow with three small children, 
Nancy pushed through and thrived without two of the most important 
people in her life.
  After three years of living on her own in Ireland, she moved to 
Fresno, California near her father and brother. Nancy worked as an 
oncology nurse at St. Agnes Medical Center, and then decided it would 
be best to work from home so she could be with her boys. Nancy opened 
her first hospice home on Simpson Avenue in Fresno in 1981. The Simpson 
home provided care for over 72 patients and their families during the 
next four years. Unfortunately, in 1985 the home was forced to close by 
the Department of Health due to lack of a license to operate. No 
license of that kind was in existence in California.
  For the next two years, Nancy fought for the right legislation to be 
created and finally obtained a license to provide quality, in-home, 
end-of-life hospice care. In 1987, she opened the second Hinds Hospice 
home. Clearly, Nancy's tenacity and perseverance made her goal come 
about. Her persistent positive attitude coupled with her zest for life 
has been a blessing to our entire community.
  Hinds Hospice has expanded to include outpatient care in Fresno, 
Madera, and Merced Counties. A Pediatric Hospice Program has been 
created to help families with terminally ill children. Other programs 
include an Angel Babies Program, Center for Grief and Loss, 
Multicultural Outreach, Physician Education, Prison Hospice, and Thrift 
Stores. For over 30 years, Hinds Hospice has touched thousands of lives 
by providing support, compassion, hope, and comfort during some of the 
most painful times for a family.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Ms. Nancy 
Hinds for her leadership, vision, and service. We thank Nancy today for 
her outstanding contributions to the San Joaquin Valley, and to the 
entire world.

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