Carol was a resident of East Mountain House. Her brother, Greg, wrote to us twice about here time here, and has generously allowed us to share both letters.
Dear Craig, Cristin, and the Entire East Mountain House Team,
First and foremost, thank you. The care, compassion, dignity, and humanity you have shown my sister, Carol, and our entire family are unlike anything I have ever experienced. During one of life’s most difficult journeys, you have given us something beyond exceptional care – you have given us peace.
Craig, when we spoke, I shared what I experienced the very first time I arrived at East Mountain House. As I turned into the driveway, I found myself stopping just outside the front entrance. I sat there for what seemed like an eternity, overwhelmed by an unexpected sense of calm and security for my sister. For the first time in a very long while, I knew she was exactly where she needed to be.
After gathering my thoughts, I walked inside. Almost immediately, another feeling came over me, one that is difficult to describe. It was as though an incredible weight had been lifted from my shoulders. The worry, fear, and sadness I had been carrying gave way to a profound sense of comfort and reassurance. That feeling only grew stronger when I saw Carol’s smile. Cristin’s voice soon brought continued inner peace and actual strength. Her calming words and constant eye contact continued to bring me further relief, even when I thought I had been fulfilled.
Being able to stay at East Mountain House and spend this precious time with my sister is a gift I will treasure for the rest of my life. What makes East Mountain House so extraordinary is not simply the exceptional medical or personal care. It is the way every member of your team is fully present. Every conversation, every gesture, and every act of kindness reflects genuine compassion, dignity, and respect.
One place that touched me deeply was the meditation room on the third floor. Each time I entered, I found a place where I could quiet my mind, regain my balance, and simply breathe. I cannot fully explain the sense of peace I found there; I only know it changed me.
In my own journey of practicing mindfulness, I have come to appreciate how deeply connected we all are. Witnessing your practice of metta – loving-kindness – in action has been one of the greatest lessons of all. Your mission extends far beyond caring for the person living in your home. You embrace and support the entire family with open hearts through one of life’s most difficult experiences. That compassion is felt in every interaction, and it is something our family will carry with us forever.
My greatest hope is that more families will one day experience the same peace, dignity, compassion, and love that we have found at East Mountain House. I truly believe your model of end-of-life care deserves to be far better known and understood.
For my part, I hope to help others discover what compassionate end-of-life care can truly be, for both the individual and the family who walks beside them. Whether through sharing your story, increasing community awareness, or supporting future philanthropic efforts, it would be an honor to contribute in whatever way I can. Every family deserves a place like East Mountain House.
Thank you for giving my sister such extraordinary care and for giving our family a gift that can never be measured.
With my deepest respect, gratitude, and sincere appreciation,
Gregory Dunican / Bristol, Maine
after Carol’s passing
She was not alone
Dear Craig, Cristin, and everyone at East Mountain House,
There are simply no words large enough to express my gratitude for what you did for my sister.
From the moment Carol came to East Mountain House, she was treated as a person — not simply as a patient. She was known. She was listened to. She was cared for with dignity, patience, compassion, and genuine love.
And when things became difficult and Carol had to be taken to Sharon Hospital, your care did not stop.
I will never forget the members of your staff who came to Sharon Hospital to see Carol and to sit with her, just as you all have been.
You sat beside her. You held her hand. You spoke to her. You gave her comfort. You gave our family the incredible reassurance of knowing that people who had come to know and love Carol were still there with her.
That means more to me than I can possibly explain! Those are the things I will carry with me.
Not just the medical care.
Not just the medications, the hospice decisions, or the difficult moments. I will remember the people.
The people who showed up.
The people who sat down beside my sister. The people who held her hand.
The people who saw Carol — not just her illness — and gave her their time, their kindness, and their hearts. Our family will never forget that.
Carol’s journey has come to an end, but the love and kindness you gave her will remain part of Carol’s story forever.
Thank you for giving my sister a place where she was cared for, respected, and loved.
Thank you for giving our family comfort during an incredibly difficult time.
And most of all, thank you for being there for Carol when she needed people the most. She was not alone.
She was surrounded by people who cared. And that is an extraordinary gift!
With profound gratitude,
Greg
“Every family deserves a place like East Mountain House.”