Unexpected Journey

As a longtime donor to Chesapeake Kids, Crownsville resident Sara Starry never imagined needing Hospice of the Chesapeake. But in late 2020, when her mother’s health began deteriorating, Sara discovered another side of hospice care, separate from services focused on children and their families.

Mrs. Sally Zoller, Sara’s mother, was living alone in Edgewater and wanted to remain in her home. With multiple complicated illnesses, Mrs. Zoller, 93, needed more medical and psychosocial support than Sara and her family could provide. “I didn’t know where to go or who to ask for help,” Sara said. Enter Hospice of the Chesapeake. For six months, Sara, her siblings, their adult children, and families were able to spend meaningful time with her mother. Hospice staff managed the evolving intricacies of terminal disease, while allowing her mother to remain in her home as she wished.

“We remain grateful to the entire team for giving us the gift of time and making sure my mother received the best care possible, even with COVID protocols,” said Sara.

Her recent experience only affirmed her decision years earlier to make annual grant recommendations from her donor-advised fund. “You never know what the future holds,” she said. “Through my own experience, I learned how important compassionate hospice care is for adults and children," Sara said. “The level of care and commitment shown by the clinical team at Hospice of the Chesapeake continues to impress me.”

As a technology entrepreneur, Sara is no stranger to finding solutions amid chaos. Founder and president of Annapolis-based Starry Associates, Inc., Sara leads a company that resolves IT infrastructure, financial/administrative systems, and management issues for federal and corporate clients across the country. Turning to Hospice of the Chesapeake was the right answer for Sara, her mother, and her family at a difficult time.

“Hospice of the Chesapeake’s team ensures people receive the care they need, wherever they live, in a respectful, compassionate manner,” she said. “My mother had the care she needed. And I want everyone to know that resource exists for every patient and every family.”