A Light For Someone You Love 2025

By April Guerriero

40 Years of Caring & 40 Years of Sharing
McLeod Hospice Tree Lighting
Thursday, December 4, 2025
5:45 p.m at McLeod Regional Medical Center

Dear Friend,

Yes, this year we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of A Light for Someone You Love Tree Lighting Ceremony. We honor the McLeod Hospice pioneers who understood that as families wished to remember their loved ones, they also wanted to pay it forward to help other families. And so, it began.

Through these four decades, generous and caring donors made contributions to “light the lights” or sponsor a tree. The Tree Lighting is both a time of remembrance and the annual fundraiser for the McLeod Hospice program so many of us cherish.

Hospice of the Pee Dee (which evolved into McLeod Hospice) was the first hospice program in our area. From the very beginning, the founders established a mission-based service which continues today. McLeod Hospice is the only not-for-profit hospice program in our region. What is the difference?

The difference is our donors!

Because of the generous support of our Tree Lighting Sponsors, our focus is providing the full range of hospice services to all who seek care, regardless of their ability to pay. Also, because of donors, we have the McLeod Hospice House offering the only inpatient care in our area.

I began working with McLeod Hospice in 1997 and currently serve as the Admissions Coordinator.  I thought I knew all there was to know about McLeod Hospice care but recently I learned of this blessing from a different perspective -- as a McLeod Hospice family member.

You see my husband’s brother was admitted to our program a year ago.

Johnny had been a vibrant and generous member of our community. Sadly, he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's dementia in his late forties. His loving family provided his care and eventually received help from the McLeod Outpatient Palliative Care program. 

As this dreadful disease progressed, Johnny was referred to McLeod Hospice and he received his hospice care at home for several months. He continued to decline and was eventually transferred to respite care at the Hospice House where he was lovingly cared for by hospice staff. Respite care is a service offered by the McLeod Hospice House to give caregivers a much-needed break. This was such a blessing for his overwhelmed and exhausted family. They were now able to hold his hand and sit by his side rather than be the hands-on caregivers. 

After several days his condition became graver and Johnny transitioned to acute care. He was provided with expert comfort care in his final days. The McLeod Hospice staff took care of the family just as much as they did for our sweet Johnny. 

On December 22nd, his sister said, "I have a feeling that today is the day." The family was playing Christian music from the 90s which they had lovingly played during his stay. The song "People Get Ready" came on which was one of their favorites. As the song reached the line "People get ready because Jesus is coming soon, and we are going home," Johnny took his final breaths. 

Having personally experienced this compassionate care, our family now fully understands and appreciates the blessing of McLeod Hospice. Our transition through each level of care was seamless, thanks to the McLeod Hospice staff.

We will be remembering Johnny with our support for the Tree Lighting. Will you join us by purchasing lights for your loved ones or making a personally meaningful gift in support of McLeod Hospice? Together, we will help families in the coming year.

In gratitude for you,

April Guerriero
Admissions Coordinator, McLeod Hospice

P.S. Please send your gift today to help McLeod Hospice families while remembering your loved ones when we light the trees for the 40th time on December 4th.