At 83 years old, Bob Jernberg has lived a life filled with family, service and community. As a retired teacher and school administrator, and a father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Bob has always been someone who lifts others up. His first experience with hospice came years earlier, when his brother and sister-in-law needed care. “I began to see how positive the experience was for them and how caring hospice was,” he shared. That early glimpse into compassionate end-of-life support stayed with him.
So when Bob retired, he began volunteering, giving his time to visit patients, walk with them outdoors and play cards.“I felt that Hospice was a wonderful organization, people really need someone there,” he said. His gentle presence brought comfort to many who were lonely or struggling. For years, Bob was the one offering support.
But everything changed the day his own heart stopped.
A Life-Changing Crisis
While volunteering at a local park event, Bob suddenly felt his jaw, arms and chest tighten. Within minutes, he was being rushed to the hospital, where he flatlined. “I had no pulse and no heartbeat, and they had to shock me back,” he recalled. Emergency crews stabilized him, but complications mounted. Internal bleeding, multiple surgeries and 17 pints of transfused blood left him dangerously weak.
Doctors told him he had two to five days to live.
When asked where he wanted to spend that time, Bob didn’t hesitate. “I said, no, I don’t want to go to a nursing home. I want to go home and I want to be on hospice because I knew that hospice was a caring group of people.”
Care That Became Family
For the next 80 days, HIA Hospice walked alongside Bob, helping him live his best. Nursing assistants visited daily to help him bathe, get dressed and manage daily tasks. Nurses and chaplains provided steady medical and emotional support.
“The care was wonderful… almost beyond what you expect,” Bob said. “They really cared so much that they became part of my family.”
Slowly, Bob healed. Medications stabilized. His bleeding stopped. His strength returned. Against all expectations, he improved to the point where hospice services were no longer needed.
Bob left hospice not just alive, but deeply changed.
“Every day is just a bonus day, I probably enjoy the little things a little more; even little things in life can make you feel so positive about the experience.”
Bob Jernberg – Former HIA Hospice Patient | Current Volunteer
Every Day Became a Gift
“Every day is just a bonus day,” Bob said. His crisis reshaped the way he sees the world, especially the small things. “I probably enjoy the little things a little more; even little things in life can make you feel so positive about the experience.”
And because hospice had been there when everything felt uncertain, Bob knew exactly what he wanted to do next.
Returning to Serve
As soon as he regained his strength, Bob returned to volunteering. “I certainly want to continue to do volunteering, but I also felt I really owed it to hospice.”
His own experience gave him new insight into the challenges patients face. Today, when he visits others, he draws from what helped him feel seen, supported and encouraged. “If I can draw them out and find something that they’re positive about,” he said, he knows he can help make their day a little brighter.
What Bob Wants Others to Know
For families who feel uncertain or afraid of hospice, Bob offers wisdom shaped by experience.
“Hospice is so much more than people think,” he explained. “The people will become just like family, you’ll receive care that is genuine. It’s not just a job. It’s something they’re doing to help you have the most comfortable time you can.”
From volunteer to patient to volunteer again, Bob’s journey embodies what it means to embrace the moments that matter. His story is a reminder that hospice is not about giving up, it’s about lifting up. It’s about comfort, compassion, and honoring each person’s goals and dignity.
HIA Hospice is Hearts In Action