My father, sister and I had been taking care of my mom for as long as I could remember, but at that moment, I realized we couldn’t do it alone anymore. Then, the hospice team arrived. They entered our world with such humility and respect, as if they had been preparing for this exact moment all their lives. They helped carry a weight that felt impossible for us to bear. They stood by us until my mother passed away when I was 15. I will never forget the sense of peace they brought during the darkest time of my life.

Two years later, at 17, I started volunteering with hospice. I was drawn to the in-patient units, places that had cared not only for my mother, but also two other family members. I felt at home there in a way that’s hard to explain. It was as though I was giving back to the same people who had given so much to me. By 19, I became a CNA at the University of Kentucky’s in-patient unit, and at 21, I accepted my first nursing position there as a new graduate. I was trained by the same people who had taken care of my mother all those years ago. It felt like I had come full circle, stepping into a role that I had always been meant to fill.

Over the last eight years, since the first time I heard the word hospice, I’ve learned so much. I’ve witnessed moments of beauty, grace, and love that I never imagined I would be a part of. I’ve watched a patient’s dog climb into bed with them and refuse to leave, even after their passing. I’ve supported a patient as they shared one last, slow dance to their wedding song with their spouse. I’ve sat on the floor in hospital hallways, holding grieving family members as they cried on my shoulder. I’ve held patients' hands and sang to them as they took their final breaths when their families couldn’t be there in time. I’ve gently pulled patients over in bed so their spouse could sleep next to them one last time.

These moments have taught me that being a hospice nurse is about so much more than just providing medical care. We are the ones invited into sacred moments, the ones who offer families and patients peace, dignity, and comfort when they need it most. Everyone must die, but I have the privilege of helping people die with grace, on their own terms, surrounded by love.

Thank you for supporting us as we support the families in our care and ease their load. I believe that hospice is much more than a job; it is an honor. We are grateful for your generosity that allows us to continue to provide this type of wholistic care.