Meet the Coach Testimonials Physician Growth Framework Self-Coaching Program Resource Hub
← Back to all posts

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! 💜

Responses

Join the conversation
t("newsletters.loading")
Loading...
When the Musk Ox Wears a Name Badge
Twice in Alaska, I've had the, uh, er, pleasure of encountering a very unhappy musk ox. Once at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and once at the Alaska Zoo. Both times, the animal made its displeasure with our presence known by charging the fence. And both times, we jumped. Hearts racing, adrenaline flowing because our threat detection system went off as designed.   However, once we real...
When Difficult Gets Interesting
I was recently talking with a leader who had navigated a complex, high-stakes situation. We discussed the stress she had experienced. I asked if in the midst of it, she had also felt energized by the challenge. I saw a little twinkle in her eye as she said, “a little.” And so, no surprise, that got me thinking about people I've known who, even during extraordinarily difficult circumstances, fin...
Asking a Better Question
One of the most powerful things we can learn is that the way we think about a situation shapes how we experience it. The facts of a situation may be outside our control. (Other people certainly are.) But between what happens and how we respond, our brains are busy making meaning – it automatically offers us thoughts, which influence how we feel, which influences how we behave, and ultimately th...

Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections

Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.
Powered by Kajabi

Stay Connected


Join my mailing list to receive free weekly tips and insights!