Palliative Care

Palliative care.  Those words mean so much to me.

Having worked as a pediatric nurse with the palliative care team for my patients, I never dreamed I would need them.  That is until October 2011.  Then I desperately needed them.

As soon as we got Grace's diagnoses, we started meeting with Dr. Boyte and Jackie.  We talked about things no parent should ever have to even think about.  We discussed best possible scenario and worst possible scenario for Grace.  I don't know if I was just protecting myself or pessimistic or what, but I honestly believed the worst possible scenario would happen for Grace and our family.

We talked about our birth plan with the palliative care team.  We wept and our hearts were broken in front of them.  We ultimately with their help made the most difficult decisions of our lives.  We decided to focus on Grace's quality of life, do everything we could to not let her suffer, and to let her die peacefully if God chose to take her to Heaven.

Our palliative care team walked with us on this life changing journey.  They listened to us and got to know us and our heart's desires for our precious Grace.  They supported us in unimaginable ways.  And I'm sure they would say they were just doing their jobs.  :)

These precious people have become like our second family.  They were present on Grace's birthday.  They helped us truly celebrate her life that day and even during my pregnancy.

Grace's first picture

Since then, they have celebrated every precious milestone with us and our dramatic and feisty 18 month old!   

Jodee, Dr. Boyte, and Jackie with our new family

Today is bittersweet.  Today Grace graduated from needing to see the palliative care team.  This is a big step!  We are eternally thankful for Dr. Boyte, Jackie, and Jodee for everything they have done and for all they mean to our family as well as so many other families.  Thank you will never be enough.

Grace and Dr. Boyte today