Today there was a death that touched so many people. I met her several weeks ago. She was 28 years old, and for the last two years she fought a losing battle with breast cancer. She told the nurse one day that she had never been married or had children. Then she shrugged her shoulders and simply said "oh well." She was an ordained minister, and her dream was to be a missionary in Africa. She had two older sisters who now know they are at high risk for this devastating disease. Her mother tried so hard to be strong. She didn't want to cry in front of her daughter. The day the DNR was signed we all breathed a sigh of relief. That piece of paper allowed everyone to let her go in peace. This morning her battle ended.

Working in hospice is challenging sometimes. It is my job to get referrals and admit patients into our hospice. Sometimes I joke and say I hunt for dying people. The truth is we are all going to die one day. I make jokes to keep my sanity, everyone in this industry does. I pray to God that what the nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, volunteers, and at the end the bereavement coordinator does makes a positive impact on the families that we are in contact with. You don't get do overs in this job. Death is final.