(KNZA)--With permission granted in April by the Holton Community Hospital Board of Directors, efforts are underway to bring a new concept to the Jackson County Community. 

Holton resident Barb Pollock, who lost her daughter, Kelly, to cancer, is spearheading a fundraising campaign for the construction of a special room at the Holton Hospital. “Palliative care came to my attention about eight-years ago when we lost our daughter to cancer,” Pollock tells MSC News. “It's an end of life room within the hospital. It doesn't resemble a hospital room, it resembles a room that would be in your home. It has to have the hospital bed, but the hospital look will be gone. It will be redone to look like a room in somebody's home.” 

Pollock say the room allows family members to stay with the end-of-life patient in a home-like environment while hospitalized care is provided. “Because my daughter had two little boys at the time, she just didn't want to die at home because she didn't want to leave those memories with the boys. That was when we were introduced to the palliative care room at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. That is where we were allowed as a family to go and stay 24/7 and be with her all the time. Any help we needed medically was right outside the door.” 

Pollock, representing a committee of volunteers working to make the project possible, says a fundraising goal of $20,000, for construction of the room, has been set. 

Any and all financial support is being accepted, with checks to be payable to the Holton Hospital. 

Volunteering of services is also needed along with other items. 

To learn more about ways to assist the effort, call Pollock at 785-364-4947.