What can I say? This isn’t just a job for us. It’s a calling. We’ve been called to ease their pain, bring them joy, help them move, help them eat, listen to them, be with them, dance with them, sing with them, mourn with them, celebrate with them, and on and on it goes.

So, what happens to us when someone from our caseload, our classroom, or our Day Program suddenly, or maybe not so suddenly, leaves us? Well, we cry, miss them, and remember all the little things they would say or do to brighten our day or; challenge our day.

They have our hearts. We love them dearly like a cherished friend.

I remember when one person from my caseload passed. We had all gone home as usual that Friday afternoon, and on Sunday morning, my supervisor Heather called to tell me he had passed. I was utterly devastated. I cried all day and then some. Monika (Ongwanada’s spiritual care coordinator) came to visit to help me with my grief. This is how much we care.

I imagine him dancing and singing in the next world and talking up a storm. I see him standing tall and doing all the things he could not do during his time here.

We are there to join them on their lifelong journey of health, happiness, good choices, bad choices, and hopefully spiritual well-being.

We hope they still remember us with a smile as they travel beyond this world!

Written by: Barbara Gillespie- Program Facilitator