Dr. Mickey Key had been a nurse for over 20 years when she decided to round out her education with a PhD in business administration.

Proud of being an Oklahoman, she says “although she has traveled throughout most of the United States in her work, Oklahoma kept calling her home”. Dr. Key is an internationally published author, successful business owner, wife, mother and most importantly a born again Christian.

When she found out she had breast cancer she said, “I don’t have time to cry. I ceased to be myself and became a disease process. No one asked me what I wanted or how I felt. Appointments were made at other’s convenience and so forth”. She had surgeries, chemo, and “whatever it took”. Tough numerous complications nearly took her life, she persevered.

When she was strong enough she started to work for a hospice company. Mickey decided to share her strength and abilities with others facing similar situations. “I found that there are good hospices, and not so good hospices. Some are in business for the money, while other hope to make a difference in people’s lives”.

“Hospice was where I belonged! Having been a nurse for over 20 years, I had a lot of experience taking care or others. I loved my patients, but I can see now that I truly didn’t always understand what they were going through. I learned the importance of having someone to listen to you, laugh with you, cry with you, and just spend time with you”.

After talking with my family, they could see how important hospice was to me. “I knew we had something special to give. I knew from the patient’s point of view and my family knew from the family’s point of view, the special needs of those facing life limiting illnesses”.

“When reflecting back as to what I had wished for myself, it was not pity or sympathy, but Compassionate Care”. With prayer and lots of hard work, she and her family founded Compassionate Care Hospice, in October 2001. She vowed that no one would ever have to face a terminal or life-limiting illness alone. She also was determined that no patient or family would ever receive a bill for their services.

‘Hospice is not gloom and doom. It’s a time of sharing and caring. Hospice does not equal death, hospice equals love and living life to it’s fullness for whatever time God gives’. In January 2006, Mickey was again diagnosed with cancer. She took her needs to God and now says, “never give up. God listens to our prayers and performs miracles every day.”