patient updates

on may 15th, i wrote a post titled, "who will have passed away." it was about a 32 year old patient of mine; her name was erin (i am allowed to use her name because once someone has died, it's okay to talk about them by name. something about public death records. weird, huh?). anyway, erin died the sunday i wrote that blogpost.

thankfully, i wasn't at work that day. i was not her nurse. i did not have to watch agonal breaths and gasps for air. i did not have to see the final in and out. there was no stethoscope check for a heart beat. no need for me to tell her husband, parents, friends, and family that indeed, erin had passed. that was someone else's job that day.

but i thought i should update the blog. i've been avoiding writing the conclusion to that story. but here it is. lots of my stories have sad endings.

check out her obituary - it's heartbreaking.

Spanier, Erin (nee Gaffney) It is with great sadness that the family of Erin Victoria Spanier announces her passing. Erin was born in Regina, SK on March 27, 1979 and passed away with family by her side in Seattle, WA on Sunday, May 15, 2011 at the age of 32 years. Erins greatest love was her family and nothing brought her more joy than spending time with her three boys husband Ryan and sons Liam and Ethan. Erins life will be forever celebrated by her parents, Brian and Beth Gaffney, her sister Tricia (Jason Scott), brother David (Teresa Ciccone), and her niece and nephews Hannah, Carter, Luca and Dante. She will be lovingly remembered by Ryans parents, Garry and Arlene Spanier, his brother Mike (Donna), their children Tony and Dylan, and grandmothers Bregita Spanier and Bernice Giesz. She also leaves several aunts, uncles, cousins and a long list of friends who will miss her dearly. Erin lived her life with humour, pride, determination and loyalty. She shared her love for others in her own quiet ways and we are forever grateful for the time we had with her. We will honour her life through the stories and memories we will continue to share with her sons. Her boys will always know how special she was and how much their Mommy loved them. A celebration of Erins life will be held at a later date. A trust fund for Erins sons, Liam and Ethan has been set up at the Royal Bank (3816 Albert Street Regina, SK, S4S 3R3) for anyone wishing to make donations. We also encourage those who are interested to consider becoming a blood donor or a member of the bone marrow donor registry. "If love could have saved her, she would have lived forever."