As a Palliative Care Physician, I am often called to care for the gravely ill/dying patients. I had a DOC (inmate) patient who had terminal Esophageal Varicies and I was called for a "Stat" DNR End of Life Conversation with an angry and combative patient who knew that he was dying.
As I began to care for him, I realized his anger was really fear and he was afraid to die. I mentioned I was also a Priest and I could help him to not suffer, but he also refused my help. Heather was at the bedside. She took his hand and held it. She comforted him as I offered again to help. I offered to eliminate his sadness so he could die in peace. I realized he wanted to give me his last confession. I gave him his last confession, listening to his past sins, I could see he was quickly dying, his esophagus varicies ruptured and he vomited 3 liters of blood, just inches from my face. Heather without missing a beat, quickly cleaned off his face while I continued to hear his confession. She continued to hold his hand, comforting him and after he finished his confession, he told me he was now ready to die. We did not need to call a "code" as he agreed to a DNR. He felt comforted and loved at the end. He would later die from his blood loss. Throughout this time, Heather was steadfast in her concern for this troubled patient. Heather provided comfort and care when others might have normally felt angry and indifferent to a criminal who had taken another person's life and had gone to prison for it.