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Grief and Gratefulness Reflection

by Dr. Tonya Caylor
Jun 03, 2025

Today, I reflected on a conversation with a colleague about how difficult it is to lose patients to medical conditions. They work with a population of patients who sometimes have terminal conditions. But I saw their pain through a different lens - that of a family member and friend to people who have died as a natural result of their conditions.

I'm not sure I can express my gratitude to their physicians. They were a safe place to go to get advice, treatments, and/or referrals. Watching others navigate healthcare and complex and terminal diseases without the support of a trusted primary care physician has been disheartening.

One of my clients began using a HIPPA-compliant app, to record memories of patients lost - a tribute and a place to honor and remember the relationships and process their own grief.

And so, today, I want to offer my reflection of gratitude to all of you, who, despite the personal discomfort and grief, walk with people during their final days, weeks, and months. You are incredibly valuable. Thank you! đź’ś

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