10/29/2025
Meet Dawn - Dawn just moved to Merrill Gardens at Greenville from Hawaii. She was kind enough to share a little bit about her story with us.
"The new leaves were forming on the trees and catkin pollen was falling on beautiful downtown Greenville when I arrived Merrill Gardens. It had been an overwhelming, rushed exit from my tropical island dream lived out over 41 years on Kauai, followed by a red-eye flight and connections taking me to mid-afternoon of March 29. On arriving at Merrill Garden, I burst into tears to see the artfully-drawn WELCOME DAWN sign, the door flanked by the smiling manager and staff members, because it sliced through me that my sweetheart/husband’s name Delano a.k.a. “Dee” was missing. They knew I’d had to leave my ailing husband, my sweetheart, best friend and companion of 35 years, in the care of the Kauai Hospice. As I entered the community with the help of a loving son and daughter, I felt buoyed by the overall welcome, the friendly hellos and invitations to join other people at mealtimes and numerous healthy and enjoyable activities. At times, I was able to feel less burdened with the situation and the busyness of settling in and unpacking. I had chosen this community as a new home because at this time last year I had become fully aware that I could no longer take on the main caregiving role, and I needed family support that didn’t exist for me on Kauai. Here in our new apartment, I could keep Dee “at home” as he wished, enter him into a Hospice Palliative program, and have nursing care for him during the day and “have a life” within and close to MG. Sadly, Dee’s health declined as the new year approached. Our move-in date of Jan. 31 was shifted to the end of Feb., then again to the end of March, as told. After settling our living space at MG, I returned to Kauai to be with my husband in June and July, toward the end of his life. I believe Dee was able to be at peace because he knew I was “home safe,” even though he was sadly aware he would never be able to make it to Greenville. Returning to South Carolina, I felt I was welcomed and warmed by the MG community, who expressed sympathy and support. My friends and acquaintances here--residents and staff members--are part of this new extended family, which we call ‘ohana in Hawaii. At this time of changing seasons and falling acorns, I truly feel at home, enjoying all I can of what MG and its environs have to offer as I learn to fly solo again."