On Thursday, August 2, 2024, our friend Mike took his last breath with a NODA Volunteer by his side, holding his hand. Mike’s passing could have been much more dif
Photo Credit: Robin Pendegrastficult and harder for him, but what a blessing it was that he had a peaceful passing, at home, surrounded by and cared for by his surrogate family. As the evening continued, we all gathered in the lobby for a beautiful honor line, saying goodbye to Mike for the last time. Draped across his body was a University of Utah shirt. He was a football player for the University and was committed to his alma mater. Go Utes!
This critical humanitarian mission of providing medical respite and end-of-life care for adults experiencing homelessness is more than a job to us, it is the difference between dying with dignity and respect or being left to suffer alone at the end of life.
As we enter our 9th Anniversary on August 17th, Mike’s passing marks the 140th individual to call The INN Between home at the end of life. This is more than a milestone number; this is mission INN action. Compassion, community, dignity, and respect are our core values expressed through the act of caring for a fellow human being when they need it most, at the end of life. The road to 140 has not always been easy, especially in the last six months when we experienced the most passings we have seen in one period of time. As we continue to expand our services from 50 to 65 beds, your support is needed now more than ever.
The INN Between exists to ensure there is compassion and care for those experiencing homelessness, especially during their final journey. Among the many individuals we've had the privilege to serve, David's story shines as a testament to the transformative power of empathy and support, even in the face of adversity. David was our 135th individual to call The INN Between HOME at the end of life on March 27, 2024-exactly one month after we ended February and a rare string of peaceful passings, and the same day we admitted Mike, who would become the 140th person to pass away with dignity and respect.
It all started at the end of January, when we said goodbye to our dear Michael, who was only 48 and passing away from a serious stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Just shy of six months, Michael moved in and soon found his way with this new family and community of support surrounding him, until the very end. His passing was peaceful, he was not in pain, and he took his last breaths as the song, "With or Without You" by U2 was played on the volunteer’s phone. This was the song that Michael sang during karaoke shortly after he admitted to The INN Between. We are grateful that on this very night, we had the team from Belgium's VRT News visiting us for the weekend, and they captured Michael signing this beautiful song his mother used to sing to him.
As the month of February began, we placed one of our residents, Silverio, on a NOLA (No One Lives Alone) watch. That means we provided additional companionship through day and night as he was declining, yet still very independent. Three days later, we admitted a new resident who was already in the actively dying phase. Within 24 hours, our newest friend, Elliot took his last breath with a NODA volunteer sitting bedside holding his hand. What a beautiful ushering out for Elliot. We didn’t know much about the him-his past, likes, dislikes, or favorite memories. That is why NODA volunteers are so important, they can come in a moment’s notice to sit peacefully by the side of a total stranger and compassionately care for them in their final hours. Elliot was not even able to say hello when he got here. When we paused and readied ourselves to say goodbye for the final time, we reflected on the mission of The INN Between and why we are needed in our community in the first place, so that no one must suffer and die alone on the streets of our community.
The INN Between was still in the middle of the NOLA sit for Silverio, and on the 12th of February, we switched him over to 24/7 bedside coverage under the code of No One Dies Alone (NODA). Six days later, we unexpectedly said goodbye to another new friend, Erenst. There was no time to call for an active NODA sit for him; his decline was short fast. What a blessing it was to have volunteers changing shifts for Silverio, allowing a NODA Volunteer to be there and sit beside as he took his final breaths. Erenst marked the 131st individual to call The INN Between home at the end of life.
The following day, after Erenst’s peaceful passing, our community said their final goodbyes to Silverio as he passed away peacefully, with dignity and respect, and with his granddaughter holding his hand. What a journey this must have been for him. To take such time in transitioning to this part of his story.
As we neared the end of the month, February 22nd, we put the NODA call out for Jose. On this very day, we admitted a new resident Verl who would also soon join the wall of blue
Holidays at The INN Between, Jose Duarte butterflies. For Jose, this was not an easy transition. It is a blessing that in the very final hours, he was able to find peace and comfort. So much love and compassion went into caring for Jose here at the end. There wasn’t a moment of time that he was alone. Everyone was feeling the loss of their sweet friend who was always shuffling his feet, with hair white as snow and eyes full of love and light.
With barely a day in between, our resident Verl, who admitted the day Jose began his active decline, also said his goodbyes. His body had had enough, and it was time for the pain to stop. He passed away very peacefully with his sister, our End-of-Life Doula, and NODA Volunteer by his side.
The month of March was spent in grief, transition, health and healing, and recovering from the heavy toll we saw in February. This brings us to 135, David.
David, an undocumented individual in his late 80s, found solace and support at The INN Between after years of chronic homelessness. For three years, our organization became his sanctuary, offering not only a roof over his head but also a sense of belonging and dignity often denied to those living on the margins of society. David’s long stay was a rarity. His undocumented status prevented him from using many resources and his early signs of dementia 
made a discharge to resource centers unsafe. Tragically, his journey took a challenging turn when he suffered a hip fracture, at the beginning of March, which led to a hospital stay and subsequent placement in a Skilled Nursing Facility. However, David's health continued to decline, necessitating a return to the hospital.
Recognizing David's deep connection to our community and his desire to spend his final days in familiar surroundings, The INN Between and the University of Utah worked together to facilitate his return "home”. While David's passing occurred within the hospital walls, he did not face his final moments alone or homeless on the streets.
David's journey serves as a poignant reminder of the critical role organizations like The INN Between play in providing compassionate end-of-life care to the most vulnerable members of our community. Through our unwavering commitment to dignity, respect, and holistic support, we ensure that individuals like David are not forgotten or abandoned in their time of need.
More
than a month passed by as our community mourned the losses of their friends while at the same time working through their own medical crisis or terminal diagnosis. On May 4, 2024, we said goodbye to Sandy who was only 68 years old and having lived a life of chronic homelessness. Sandy joined us, not wanting to admit to being on Hospice Care. However, within a few days of getting here and allowing her body to settle down, Sandy was placed on Hospice with those end of life supports to keep her comfortable. She passed on quickly after that and her last few days of life were spent at her new home, The INN Between.
By the end of May, we had watched our sweet friend Kristen fight as long and hard as she could to beat her cancer. Kristen was a delight to be around, and she always lit up the room when she entered. With this being Kristen’s final home, we got to know her brother and were honored that he allowed us to continue caring for his dear sister.
Within one week, we were already gearing up to say goodbye to sweet woman, Sheila 74 years old, who also had lived a life of chronic homelessness. Gratefully, Sheila was able to settle in and make peace with this last leg of her journey. As our volunteers sat bedside Sheila, anticipating her passing, another resident, Todd had experienced a cardiac event and unexpectedly passed away.
Shockwaves rang across the building and beyond as staff and volunteers got word that Todd had passed away peacefully in his sleep.
This brings us to the present day and the most recent passing of Mike. The lives that have crossed paths, experienced similar complications or disease progression, and those that have been reunited with family and friends, are all part of what makes The INN Between truly a place of compassion at the intersection of humanity. As we reflect on the last nine years, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support that has made our mission possible.
But as we look ahead to our tenth year, we recognize that our work is far from over. The need for compassionate end-of-life care for those experiencing homelessness continues to grow, and we cannot do it alone. We invite you to join us in making our tenth year of service even more impactful. Whether through volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about our mission, your involvement is crucial. Together, we can ensure that no one in our community faces their final days without dignity, respect, and the care they deserve.
As we prepare to celebrate this milestone, we ask you to stand with us in this critical humanitarian mission. Get involved, make a difference, and be a part of the compassionate legacy we are building. Let’s make our tenth year a testament to what we can achieve when a community comes together to care for its most vulnerable members. We are blessed to be turning nine years old this August, and with your help, our tenth year will be even more transformative.