From Clients & Colleagues

Bill Kilgour came into our lives during the darkest saddest time imaginable. My young 58 year old intelligent, strong, viril, funny, kind, and loving husband was succumbing to CJD, Creutzfeld Jacob Disease, an untreatable, incurable brain virus. I tried to take care of my husband myself as his illness took hold, but my son and daughter and I turned to Bill when I could no longer physically manage it.

The day I drove Christopher to Bill’s lovely Vermont farmhouse hospice was one of the most difficult days ever. Yet Bill made it all somehow “ok”. He made Christopher feel at home, sitting at the cozy kitchen table for meals next to the wood burning stove. Christopher faced death with such courage and even humor. Bill connected with my husband on a real personal level and it was as though he was with an old friend in his final days.

There was warmth and love and even laughter with Bill in the last days of his life and in the end, Bill helped my husband die with dignity and grace, something that was very important to my husband. My husband and I had discussed this before the brain virus took hold and Bill understood what my husband needed and wanted in his final moments of life. And he honored his wishes above all.

Bill also helped me and my family deal with the unbearable sadness of losing this great man, my husband of 25 years, father, brother and friend to so many. I told Bill that if I ever found myself facing death and needing care at the end, I would want Bill Kilgour to be that person.

There are no words to express how amazing my family’s experience was with Surrogate Son. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and unsure of how long she had left. Once it became clear that her discomfort was getting in the way of her quality of life, we knew we needed a plan. Thankfully, we found Bill.

I truly believe it takes someone with tremendous strength to use Act 39 and my mom certainly was a strong woman. That being said, we would be nowhere without Surrogate Son. Bill took the time to walk us through every step and answer every question while making space in his home for us to process what was happening. None of us wanted to think about details when there is limited time with a loved one. Bill is there to help. I cannot picture a more peaceful place for my mom to have passed and selfishly I can’t think of a better circumstance for our family to be able to come to terms with it and have closure.

“We are grateful beyond words to Bill Kilgour, of Surrogate Son for his amazing, personalized end of life care and his compassionate and sustaining nature.”

Bill Kilgour has provided caring, thoughtful, capable and consistent respite care for my Dad and our family for a year and a half giving me the relief I needed and a way to cope with the demands of our life. I had peace of mind because I knew he was safe and content. In addition, Bill has been a friend and a guide to me and us in many valuable ways as our situation changed. I recommend him highly.

I am extremely thankful to have had the knowledge and services of Bill Kilgour. Jack loved and trusted Bill…he was patient, caring and attentive. I myself found Bill to be extremely trustworthy in the care of the most important person in my life, my husband.

I know Bill from his help in caring for my aunt and uncle over about a ten year period. Without becoming too effusive, I think he’s as close to an ideal person as I can imagine to be providing this service. I would have total faith in his knowledge, ability, character and caring.

Bill has an innate sense of recognizing, appreciating, respecting and managing the individualized needs of his clients and their family. He truly encompasses a holistic approach and philosophy. He provides a much needed conducive environment for hospice that allows family members time, opportunity and more importantly space to be with their loved one on a comfortable walk towards fate. The beauty of that doesn’t end with the death of his client, but continues with the family as they process that transition in whatever time or manner they need most. His passion is obviously his calling.

A qualified professional: compiled an outstanding record while at the University of Vermont. A scholar and gentleman.

I have worked with Bill professionally on two cases and have come to have the utmost respect for his level of caring and expertise. I recommend him highly.

Bill Kilgour is a very caring and competent professional. I always felt included, was able to continue working, and am greatly relieved that Mom and Dad have had Bill in their lives.

What homemade organic chicken soup is to healing, Bill is to care giving. He brings nurturing and sustenance for the body, heart, mind, and soul.

Bill is intuitive, able, caring and fun. As our needs changed over these past years, Bill has been a dependable, trusted, and valued friend to my husband and me.

I lived some distance from my brother … Bill was a comfort to my brother and was with him until the time of his death … Bill’s interest and concern was a relief to the family … I hope to find a competent and caring professional like Bill if ever needed.

As Bill’s younger sister, I simply want to speak of the deep gratitude I have for his phenomenal talents, especially because he utilizes them in such truly valuable ways. Before, during and after the deaths of our dad, then our mom, and recently our older sister Joan, certain stressors would silently creep in and try to gain a foothold, but Bill’s intervention and ongoing support made everything for everyone easier and lighter to bear – he willingly carried so many burdens with incredible kindness, respect, understanding and every good blessing. Many times I felt as though a terrible weight had been invisibly lifted from my chest and I could breathe deeply again. I know our parents and family could not have been better comforted or cared for throughout the whole process. I thank Billy for listening, hearing, paying attention and taking to heart and mind, the real, human concerns we all have during those times when we could use some help, for being such a very fine example of what a loving, highly capable man can do and also, by the way, for causing me to laugh a lot. Thank you William!

I worked with Bill on inpatient Rehab and later hired him to support my Dad’s end of life care. He has provided support and occasional care for my Mom in the ensuing 16 years. Bill is awesome!

I am in awe to have observed Bill’s 24/7 care of a client over a period of 5 contiguous months of slow decline. Bill was patient and compassionate and he also knew how to encourage his client to do as much, and enjoy as much, as he was able. Bill was considerate and welcoming of his client’s family who visited daily. Bill’s care was extraordinarily competent in meeting his client’s physical and emotional needs, and he was very effective in collaborating with various nursing and home health providers. It was a privilege for me to have observed Bill’s dedication and commitment to meaningful end of life care.