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As I Held Her Hand

The tears rolled down my cheeks as I sat in the chair next to her bed, her frail hand resting gently in mine. I wasn’t prepared for this… (the day before) It was a typical Monday morning. I grabbed my mug of tea and hit the road, anxious to check on my patients after the […]

Missing Her - Stefanie Shumaker

Missing Her

It doesn’t matter how you old you are, or how much time you’ve had with your mom or dad…you are never ready to lose a parent. Watching a parent age or struggle with dementia or a terminal illness, or losing them suddenly, is a difficult reality to face. I know. My mom died unexpectedly when […]

Living to the End of Your Life

Spending time with the families of my hospice patients is one of the best parts of my job as a Chaplain. It takes a great deal of vulnerability and openness to invite a hospice team into their lives, often their home, to enlist our help in caring for their loved one. When I first sit […]