Faruqui 5 ‘Sucks the Joy Out of Life’: Family Motto Inspires Attendees at Houston Hospice 25th Butterfly Luncheon
Dr. Tasha Faruqui shared her daughter’s journey as a pediatric hospice patient and their family’s intentional pursuit of joy in times of hardship at the Houston Hospice 25th Butterfly Luncheon held April 27. Chaired by Tami Jorden, the luncheon raised more than $190,000 and was attended by more than 200 of Houston’s philanthropic community.
Faruqui, who is an award-winning pediatrician, public speaker, medical advocate and USA Today bestselling author, shared her family’s very personal experience and said hospice has taught them two valuable lessons.
The Faruqui Family motto is to “suck the joy out of life” and the first lesson they learned from hospice is “joy doesn’t have to look the same to be real – it is not the opposite of grief or a betrayal of love, rather joy is evidence of it.” Faruqui shared the second lesson learned is that hospice and palliative care don’t just manage symptoms, they “transform how families experience life.”
“Tasha is full of courage, wisdom and heart,” said Tami Jorden, luncheon chair and Houston Hospice board member. “I often say dying is the final act of living, and the Faruqui family story demonstrates just how important hospice is to this final act.”
April is National Volunteer Month and three volunteers were honored at the luncheon: Sue Gaines, Volunteer of the Year – Houston; Susan Richards, Volunteer of the Year – El Campo; and Rosa Estraca, Administrative Excellence Award.
“Volunteers are the heart of our hospice organization,” said Aida Matic, CFRE, chief philanthropy officer at Houston Hospice. “Their efforts touch every aspect of Houston Hospice and they are integral to the services we provide patients and families.”
Faruqui’s bestseller, “Keep Your Head Up: A Mother’s Story of Chasing Joy in the Face of Grief,” is a testament to the depth of familial love and the human ability to endure in the face of childhood terminal illness. The book is a lifeline for parents and families of children with complex medical issues or terminal diagnoses and offers universal takeaways for those who want to live a more intentional life.
Emceed by Chelsea Edwards, host of Chattin’ with Chelsea at KRIV Fox 26, more than 200 guests gathered at The Junior League of Houston to support Houston Hospice and its Butterfly Program, which cares for its youngest and most vulnerable patients. The community-based nonprofit has provided quality, end-of-life health care to generations of families in Southeast Texas for more than 45 years.
About Houston Hospice
Founded in 1980, Houston Hospice is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality, end-of-life care to patients and their families throughout 13 counties in Southeast Texas. We offer an interdisciplinary team-led approach that includes physicians, nurses, chaplains, social workers, hospice aides, bereavement counselors and volunteers. We provide the appropriate level of comfort care in a setting the patient calls home or in our freestanding inpatient unit. Our holistic view of hospice care is enhanced by the extensive knowledge and expertise of our staff, specialized educational opportunities and community outreach efforts. Houston Hospice is a member of the Texas Medical Center. For more information, visit: houstonhospice.org.