Brian's House protest held on Monday - WNEM TV 5
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There are some places people hold near and dear to the heart, and Brian's House hospice in Bay City happens to be one of those places for some.
On Monday night, about 50 people met outside of Brian's House to protest its closure. The men and women do not want to see the hospice close.
"It made you feel like it was a happy place, and everything was taken care of, you got proper care, and it was great," said Don Rogers.
McLaren Hospice made the decision to close Brian's House because they said the 19-room facility was losing thousands of dollars each week and federal reimbursement dollars weren't able to cover the operating costs. But in Monday's peaceful protest, people hope McLaren will reconsider shutting the doors.
"Bay City needs this building. I feel like someone had said earlier, 'This house was built on love, and now it's closed on corporate greed,' we've got to do something," said protestor Jackie DeLorge.
Jamie Moszyk's and Dawn Scott's father spent his last few weeks in Brian's House. They said the home offered much more than a just a place for their dying father to rest.
"It was a home setting, and you know, it was just comfortable, and it made him comfortable," said Moszyk.
"And if he couldn't die at home, then this was the next best place, they treated him like family, and they treated us like family, and I just don't know what we would have done without it," said Scott.
The protestors also signed a petition asking McLaren to reconsider closing the doors to Brian's House. So far, more than 1,000 people have signed that petition.
"Words can't even say it, I'm telling you, words can't say it, it was that important," said Brian's House supporter Kathy Cataline.
But Brian's House is scheduled to close for good on Tuesday. Brian's House in Davison is also scheduled to close.
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