VOA标准英语2010年-Videos Preserve Memories, Messages of

Hospice centers around the world help to comfort terminally ill patients suffering physical and emotional pain. Some patients fear leaving behind family, and relatives know they are losing a piece of family history.  One hospice in Florida that is making a difference by taping video documentaries¹ to keep those family histories alive.

Dawn Woodward is a director at the HPH Hospice Center in Spring Hill, Florida. There, she and a team of volunteers record legacy² videos for patients like Anna Marie Dorcas.

"I thought I was smart. I got on top of this yacht³ and dove⁴ in the water. Then this shark went by just as I dove in!" she said.

Dorcas suffers from congenital heart disease and receives special care at her home. In the face of death, Dorcas is recording⁵ her memories on video.

ANNA MARIE DORCAS: "I love my grandchildren all of them, I got a bunch of nice ones. And my great grandkids too. I have 14 of them, and I suppose I'll have more."

Dorcas' daughter Marlene Vasquez wants to make sure the next generation has something to remember about her mother.

"All these stories that are going to be lost unless I can get mama to record them cause she has all the details to them," she said.  "And I only know little bits to the story."

The video program is Dawn Woodward's idea.  The private facility where she works helps care for people with medical conditions that leave them just weeks or months more to live.  In many cases, patients tell hospice staff of stories and messages for their loved ones.

"That's the information that fueled the fire to get this going," said Woodward.  "Because sometimes we hear it and the family never does, and they're hearing it for the first time through us. That's not fair."

Volunteers Jim and Kerry Henderson visit patients' homes to film Legacy videos. For Jim, it has become the focus of his retirement⁶.

"It's a happy occasion," he noted⁷.  "The families are really pleased to be able to capture the stories of their loved ones. And the loved ones are happy that their stories won't be lost."

The Hendersons say the videos add a deeper level to many family histories.

"I'm very interested in genealogy," said Kerry Henderson.  "I research facts and figures and dates on people, but I don't have any interesting stories about our families. That is what is so interesting to hear about."

Legacy videos offer a unique opportunity that few families have. In spite⁸ of her illness, Anna Marie Dorcas is spending valuable time with her family and leaving behind a video record of her life.

Woodward says it is an opportunity her nephew would like to have had, before his mother died at age 36.

"He mentioned to me that one of the biggest things he missed was the sound of his mom's voice and even trying to remember the sound of her voice," Woodward recalled.

For many families, history is passed down through photographs, keepsakes and other items. Woodward says legacy videos can add a great deal more.

"When someone is gone, the memories go with it. The legacy program is a way to keep those memories alive. It is a living legacy, it is a living gift we can give those families," added Woodward.
 

1 documentaries   

n.纪录片( documentary的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• As for 'documentaries', these too are not altogether new. 至于“资料性文学”那也并不完全是新鲜事。 来自辞典例句
• These are not just animations live-action films, comedies, dramas and documentaries. 这些不仅仅是动画片，还包括表演摄制影片，喜剧，戏剧以及纪录片。 来自互联网

2 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

3 yacht   

n.游艇，快艇

参考例句：

• He was responsible for the location of the missing yacht.他负责查明失踪游艇的下落。
• He planned to cross the Pacific by yacht.他曾打算乘快艇横渡太平洋。

4 dove   

n.鸽，温和派人物，“鸽派”人物

参考例句：

• A dove is often used as a symbol of peace.鸽常作为和平的象征。
• Paul seemed more impressed by the dove.保尔似乎对鸽子更感兴趣。

5 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

6 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 spite   

n.（用于短语）虽然，不顾，尽管

参考例句：

• He has modern ideas in spite of his great age.尽管他年事很高，但思想观念却很入时。
• In spite of his anger,his remarks were restrained.他尽管生气，说的话还是有节制的。