MADISON, Wis – Marshall Jarreau, an Agrace Hospice Care patient and lifelong Wisconsin Badgers’ fan, met his local heroes last week, thanks to members of his hospice care team.
While staying at Agrace’s Johnson Hospice Care Residence in Madison, Jarreau made his love for Badger Athletics known to everyone he met and passed time watching games on television. Realizing what it might mean to Jarreau’s quality of life, his hospice nurse, Becky Gerg, and social worker, Mariah Welles, coordinated with the Agrace Wish program. They nominated Jarreau for an experience made possible through the University of Wisconsin’s Badgers Give Back program.
“Marshall burst into tears when he found out the staff nominated him for this experience,” said Breanna Loether, social worker on Jarreau’s Agrace care team. “He said, ‘I can’t believe someone would do this for me!’”
Since Jarreau’s declining health kept him from attending a game in person, Agrace and Badgers Give Back brought the game to him. Four Wisconsin Football team captains came to see Jarreau, including Jack Nelson, Chez Mellusi, Hunter Wohler and Jake Chaney. The captains presented him with an autographed jersey and talked about football and the time Jarreau spent as an employee at Camp Randall stadium. He wished them luck in their upcoming season.
“It’s impossible to get tickets to their games. I cannot believe they would take the time to visit little old me,” said Jarreau.
Agrace’s donor-funded Wish program, coordinated by staff of the Agrace Foundation, fulfills wishes of Agrace Hospice Care patients across southern Wisconsin. To learn more, visit Agrace.org/Wish.
