Zoua Vang was just 39 years old when she called Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). She felt at peace knowing she would have support – both for herself and for her family – to make it through their final days together after a lifetime spent battling her debilitating genetic disorder.
Zoua was diagnosed with Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type III/Type IV – more commonly known as Brittle Bones disease – when she was only 6 months old. Fewer than 20,000 cases are diagnosed per year in the United States. Many children born with this condition do not survive past infancy.
“Zoua was a miracle,” said Baou Vang, Zoua’s mother. “But it was an emotional time for me when our doctor first told me of her condition. I remember not knowing much English and feeling very alone. It was a very hard, very emotional time for me.”
Soon after Zoua’s diagnosis, Baou and her husband Lue packed their things and moved from Sacramento, California to Georgia for Lue’s job. Baou enrolled Zoua in school in Gwinnett County when she was three years old. Zoua would later attend Berkmar High School, where she would go on to attend prom and even graduate with her high school class.
“I didn’t get to go swimming or play outside like most kids,” said Zoua. “But I felt happy enough watching TV and singing along to Disney movies. I never felt that different, because I felt accepted by my close family and friends. I couldn’t change my situation, so why think about it?”
“When you are someone like my sister or have a loved one with a life-limiting illness, you never take life for granted,” said Hlee Vang, Zoua’s youngest brother. “Even though Zoua is physically smaller than me, I have always looked up to her my whole life. She loved to joke around and play her music loudly. In fact, ‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga is one of her favorite songs and will always remind me of her. She is honestly such a shining light to everyone around her.”
Hlee moved to Winder, Georgia in the summer of 2022, along with his wife and new baby, to help his mother care for Zoua and manage the house.
“Our family feels very blessed,” said Hlee. “Hospice has been a godsend – I know Zoua always looked forward to seeing her nurse, the chaplain and her social worker. They were there when Zoua and my mother needed them most, and for that I’m grateful.”
“Where Home Health only provides basic care services, Hospice of Northeast Georgia Medical Center provides a wider scope of care,” said Leena Dutta, MD, medical director of Hospice and Palliative Care at NGMC. “In addition to general Hospice care, Hospice of NGMC provides the gift of comfort care and symptom management, Advance Care Planning education and grief counseling for families. Our approach includes support for the caregiver and families as well.”
Learn More
Zoua passed in August of 2022, but her memory lives on in her loved ones and those she touched. Learn more about how you can honor your own loved one by donating to Hospice at www.nghs.com/hospice.