February 2018
Carren
Guthrie
,
RN
Whatcom Hospice
PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
Bellingham
,
WA
United States
We all know that it is difficult to pick up the phone and make a bereavement call to a parent. There are no words that are adequate to acknowledge the pain and sorrow of a parent's loss. When I called a parent to offer the bereavement support after the death of their child, I heard four extraordinary words that have stayed with me. This grieving parent stated in a soft, centered, and grateful voice, "it worked out well". That statement is tremendous, absolutely tremendous when you consider what it took for her child to die peacefully at home surrounded by her parents, siblings, and family members. Carren's loving care that she provided for this family goes beyond a shining star. Carren is a supernova for all she did for this child and family.