A Family Perspective on the Unit by Jane Fisher

Sometimes, i will choose to with consent of the author, add to my Blog a story that moves me very much, and that personifies the essence of Reiki and of Hospice. This is a story by Jane Fisher, a SW who i have the pleasure to work with. When we do our best, our very best, we go across the "white coat barrier" and connect to people in a human way.


A family's perspective of the Unit
I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the IPU and all that takes place here.

Yesterday I received a call from A......, the daughter of a patient who was extubated by Dr. P.... last week. At first I could not place her but as she spoke I gradually began remembering this patient, a beloved mother, wife, aunt sister and friend, and her large, loving family. For the two days she was on the unit, the staff were helping to care for her exhausted husband, and supporting A....... and her children, as well as many, many sisters, brothers, cousins, friends and neighbors. At one point I counted 35 people coming in and out of the patient’s room and our family room

A medical event, terminal extubation, had become a community event, a spiritual and religious event, as well as a family event. People were standing in the halls, weeping, laughing, in silence, and in prayer.
All around them were the staff including the therapy dog, providing a holding environment for almost every emotional state, supporting, giving, consoling, praying with words, with eyes, with touch…all of us working intensely to maintain a hopeful, respectful and loving environment.

This is only part of the story- so much more occurred in the realm of helping this family with ethical decision-making, goals of care, administration of medication for comfort and ongoing encouragement and integration of our care with the family’s care of this beloved woman, with the goal of healing life closure..

A...... told me that the staff of the IPU made the “unbearable more than bearable, it made our mother’s death feel like a loving gift from total strangers who over night became part of our family.”

This is just one small narrative of what takes place here and I felt it important to acknowledge this daughter’s perspective on the work we do. Thanks for listening.


Jane Elizabeth Fisher, MSW, LGSW
Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care
Northwest Inpatient Unit, 3rd Floor
5401 Old Court Road
Randallstown, MD 21133
(410) 701-4565