By Mark Koopmans

Staff writer

Recently, as she waited for a traffic light to change, Dr. Andrea Miller noticed a new billboard on the side of the road.

"It was 7:45 a.m. I was on my way to the office when I saw this wonderful image of a catamaran under full sail," Dr. Miller said. "I love being out on the water; however, I was still new to the area and hadn't found the right opportunity to go out on the right boat."

By the time Dr. Miller, who is the medical director at Wuesthoff's Brevard Hospice & Palliative Care center in Viera, made it to work at 8 a.m., she had already booked her first trip on the sailing vessel Double ShAAfted, a 47-foot-long ocean-cruising catamaran.

Later, while on her trip, she talked with the owners of Indian River Cruises, Capt. Mark Strauchman and 1st. Mate Joe Carbone.

Discovering that Mr. Strauchman and Mr. Carbone were also the ship's builders and had specifically designed their vessel for the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway, Dr. Miller came up with an idea, she said.

"I've always had a particular passion for implementing innovative ideas for the delivery of palliative and hospice care," she said. "Though their former career was very different than mine, Mark and Joe understand what it means to treat someone with respect and dignity."

Saying that a trip on the water can be a healing experience, Dr. Miller decided to buy tickets on the boat for one of her patients.

"After 17 years as flight attendants with TWA and then American Airlines, we've seen and dealt with every imaginable situation," Mr. Carbone said.

With this background, he said they know how hard it is - and how much appreciated it is - when someone who feels "different" is treated the same as anyone else.

Both crewmembers are Coast Guard certified, and Mr. Carbone said he and Mr. Strauchman spent more than 12 years working on the catamaran, which was launched in May 2005.

Stability and comfort are trademarks of large multi-hulls, and the Double ShAAfted is no exception, he said.

Offering lunch, sunset and day sailings, the catamaran has many creature comforts, such as air-conditioning, television and XM satellite radio. And, Mr. Carbone said, the two restrooms look and operate just as they do in a home.

"To keep things on a personal level, we've designed our boat to only take six people out on each cruise," he said. "We work very hard to give each passenger the best experience we can."

Wuesthoff Brevard Hospice has been caring for the emotional and physical well-being of Brevard County patients and their families for more than 20 years, said Valree Peralta, community outreach specialist.

"Hospice care is provided when the life expectancy of a patient is expected to be six months or less," she said. "Our focus is to provide comfort and support for patients and their families who are dealing with advanced illnesses."

Ms. Peralta also coordinates an initiative called Labor of Love.

Set up last fall, the program rewards local caregivers for their unselfishness and dedication to a loved one.

Nominated by a family member or friend, one winner is chosen every month. Recipients win an appreciation package donated by local businesses.

"Several companies sponsor the program, including the Melting Pot in Viera, Studio 7 Salon in Rockledge and Melbourne's Designs of the Times," Ms. Peralta said.

After Dr. Miller's patient went on a sunset cruise with several of her family members, Indian River Cruises approached the Hospice to ask if there was anything they could do to help support Labor of Love, Ms. Peralta said.

"They were so willing to help, and future winners will now receive a gift certificate for a cruise," she said. "Mark and Joe understand what it means to give back to the community, and we're proud to have them come on board, so to speak."

Mr. Carbone said he saw the family making lasting memories while on their cruise.

"We could tell that everyone was just relaxing and enjoying themselves," he said "It was nice to know we could help provide an opportunity to preserve a wonderful and happy family moment."

For more information, or to nominate a loved one for the Labor of Love award, e-mail a short letter explaining why to valree.peralta@wuesthoff.org.

For more information on the Indian River Cruises, call (321) 223-6825 or visit www.indianrivercruises. com.