I remember your laugh and your radiating smile, the dark of your hair and the warmth of your hugs that always made me feel like everything was going to be OK. You fought long and hard Mom, the Drs. gave you 3 to 6 months when they
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Today I am reflecting on the life of my mother. I lost her unexpectedly last year at 69 years of age. Often times I find myself drifting into the traumatic experience that was her death but today I want to celebrate her life. I have a little
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My Grandfather passed away this year. During the last few years of his life, he lived in a Long Term Care facility. I visited him quite a lot, and each time before I left, he told me that I would make a great nurse. During his final
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To my dearest grandma, It’s been several years since you’ve passed away, but I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately and how I carry your spirit with me as I move forward in my work with hospice palliative care. Your life and death inspires me every
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Dylan, You would think it’s really cheesy that I’m writing this, but here I go. When we all sat with you in the hospital and then the palliative unit, our concern was only that you weren’t in pain and that you weren’t frightened. We never questioned whether
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Although as my adoptive mom/stepmother, I was never really sure where we stood in terms of our relationship and never really felt close, your passing brought the family together in a bonding moment. And you seemed to not want to put any of us through your departure
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I lost my ex-boyfriend last year. He was in my life for 20 years. 13 in romance, 7 in friendship. I regret many things about not being there for him. One thing I learned is that life in precious. Stop and smell the flowers. Be kind to
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When my dad passed away, I felt numb, not because of pain but because my dad had been sick since I was young, and I didn’t really know him. I felt a great deal of guilt over the following years for feeling so detached and indifferent to
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I remember when we first met; it was the single most thrilling day of my life. Those beautiful blue eyes that made me forget all the pain that seemed to never go away. I felt strong in your arms, like Spiderman. You made me who I am
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I have never grieved the death of my best friends; the Reflection Room makes/moves me into solitude – being one with the Lord. In a short moment, I want to say thank you to my friends Noel who died of lung cancer at 33 and Sr. Ruth
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