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“There’s always light if only we’re brave enough to see it, if only we are brave enough to be it.” -Amanda Gorman
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It Hit Me Like a Wrecking Ball
I was called to the ICU at the request of a patient’s family member. Earlier in the year, I had cared for this woman’s child who had died tragically. Helping her navigate through the most horrific week of her life as she learned of her child’s brain death, the palliative care team supported her through…
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Never Underestimate the Power of a Cat
She was in the intensive care unit, overwhelmed by infection from wounds she acquired from immobility and poor nutrition. Suffering from a progressive neurological condition at a young age, she was bed bound and relied on her partner as her primary caretaker. Her neurological condition left her unable to speak or swallow. She received all…
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A Man of God
People will exclaim, “I just love nurse practitioners! What do you do?” Me (generally stated with a smile on my face), “I work in palliative care.” Response (generally stated with a sorrowful look), “Oh, that is so sad. That must be so hard.” There are certainly days when the work is hard, and sad. But…
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Food is Life, Food is Love
Food, glorious food Mirepoix. The smell that makes me think of my mother. Mirepoix…celery, onions and garlic sauteing in butter. Thanksgiving…stuffing, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, turkey roasting in the oven, family. Food is central to our lives. Our social and family gatherings center around food, the meal. Recipes are handed down through generations. Food…
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Everything happens for a reason
People often say “everything happens for a reason.” This phrase is typically used by well meaning, caring people as words of comfort to another going through a painful or difficult situation. Hearing these words is not helpful to the person walking through the valley. How can there be reason in a 3-year-old child dying of…
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A Father and His Child
Through my work, I care for patients and families who are victims of trauma and sudden illness. The suddeness in which these events occur create stressful and tragic circumstances for the family. These are often the most difficult cases to not take home. While I am usually able to separate myself from others’ pain, there…
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To code or not to code…that is the question
Psalm 103:15: Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. As a palliative care clinician, one of the things that I hope to accomplish through my work with each patient is to better understand their healthcare wishes. When meeting a new patient in the hospital, I introduce myself and the…
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The Formidable Woman
Her oncologist had warned me about her. She was formidable. Difficult. Suffering from a chronic blood disease for which she required bi-weekly blood transfusions, she had just been diagnosed with advanced cancer. While she declined any work-up or treatment for her cancer she insisted on continuing with life-sustaining blood transfusions. This left her oncologist befuddled…
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The lady on the plane
On Sept 17, 2023, I boarded a flight to Washington D.C. I prayed that during the flight God would use me to be a blessing to someone or that I may be blessed by another. I was in the last group to board the Southwest flight and as is my policy, I chose the first…