January 24, 2025

International Wish Unites Mother and Daughter

A strong and independent woman, Martha Cathey of Fairfield was confident leaving home after she graduated from Fairfield High School in the 1950s. She attended college in Washington state where she met her first husband. They moved to California and later to Texas, where she was a teacher. Eventually, Martha decided to return to Iowa. “I wanted to be in the area where my parents lived so I could be close to them in their declining years,” says Martha. “I was glad that I did, because I was able to help them until they passed on.”

Martha’s children struck out for adventures of their own —with one daughter settling in Canada, another in Kentucky and a son in California. But Martha stayed in Fairfield, where her family’s roots run deep. “Mom's one of the toughest gals I know,” says daughter Angela Zainal, who lives in Canada. “She's resilient and fiercely independent. She’s known people here her whole life.”

In 2022, Martha was diagnosed with “mini strokes” or TIAs after she lost consciousness at her home. Martha moved to Addington Place Senior Living in Fairfield after her diagnosis and began receiving care from the EveryStep Hospice team in Mount Pleasant in October 2024.

“She is receiving excellent care,” says Angela. “I love Addington Place, but it just feels so good to know that there are people like Katie (Smith, social worker for the EveryStep Hospice team in Mount Pleasant) and the nurses that call me and check in with me to let me know how Mom is doing. “Once they sent me a picture of a birthday cake they brought Mom. This was incredible. I don't even know if I've had a friend do this for me. They made her cake and then took a picture and showed me. I was really moved.”

But that wasn’t the end of EveryStep’s extraordinary care. Angela had been able to visit her mother in June of 2024, but had not been able to return to Fairfield since Martha’s health declined and EveryStep Hospice began providing care. Angela’s siblings were able to visit, but with the fluctuating value of the Canadian dollar and her own family’s needs, Angela did not think she would be able to return for another visit with her mom. “It became very heartbreaking because I'd love to be here as much as possible, but then there's reality.”

Knowing how meaningful another visit would be for both Angela and Martha, Katie contacted the EveryStep Foundation to see if a wish could be fulfilled.

And the EveryStep Foundation said yes.

Through the generosity of EveryStep Foundation supporters and donors, arrangements were made to pay for Angela’s roundtrip flight from Canada, hotel accommodations and money for food and gas during her visit to Fairfield.

“Words are hollow in the gratitude I have for EveryStep in making this possible,” says Angela. “I'm really beyond words. This whole experience and this gift — It’s overwhelming. And then on top of this, the graciousness, the generosity of the people who've made this possible. They are nameless and faceless people to me, but they are in my heart and they are in my prayers. I just can't begin to say how grateful I am.

“I'm still in shock — the graciousness and the generosity, I just am still in shock.”

For EveryStep’s Katie Smith, helping to arrange wishes like this brings her joy, too. “It is one of my favorite parts of my job as a social worker to provide assistance with wishes and quality of life needs and it is even more special when I get to see a patient and loved one get to spend time together because we were able to bring them together,” says Katie. “I love my job as a hospice social worker. Being allowed to be a part of our patients’ and families’ lives and hearing their stories is an honor. I also love working for EveryStep and after 15 years here, I couldn’t imagine doing this job with any other nonprofit hospice agency!”

“We have an amazing team in Mt. Pleasant,” adds Katie. “We all work together so well to provide the care and services that our patients and their families need. Every one of our team members is truly amazing, compassionate and caring!”

Martha is also grateful for the fulfillment of her wish. “Days and weeks go by and because I have no visitors, it's assumed I have no family — no people interested in caring about me,” says Martha. “Of course, that isn't true. I do have people that care — people from church, bless their heart, they have been so good to me and praying for me and thinking about me, sending me letters and cards — but most people have family coming in daily. And I do not have people coming in daily, because my family doesn’t live nearby.

“But I do have family and I’m so grateful Angela is here because I waited half a year to see her. I’m so grateful for this time we have to spend together, and share thoughts and memories and feelings of what has gone before and what will come after. Of course, her life will go on with her family in Canada, but she will have these memories that will extend into the future.”

At EveryStep, compassion is our calling with dignity in every detail and empathy in every action. Fulfilling wishes like Martha and Angela’s is one way EveryStep approaches every interaction with unwavering, heartfelt care. EveryStep understands that every moment matters.

Each year, the EveryStep Foundation makes final wishes like this possible, thanks to support from generous donors. The Foundation provides funds for patient wishes that otherwise would not be possible, helping patients and their families make the most of every day they have. If you would like to support EveryStep’s nonprofit mission and help fulfill wishes and needs, click here.

If you or someone you know is struggling to find the support they need, please contact EveryStep at 515-558-9946 or complete the commitment-free, confidential “Find Care” form. EveryStep staff will follow up with a phone call to answer your questions and help.