Let Kathy’s Fire Be Yours
Hi friends,
I woke up with Kathy's fire in my heart today. She died last night and I slept in the room with her.
You may have seen her after her 2nd day - restless, shifty, uncomfortable and that horrible rash. And if you saw her over the last 5 days - the rash gone, snug, and slow-steady-unlabored breathing. This coziness lasted to the last moment - a deep, beautiful sleep. Her breaths got shallower, thinner, and then the pauses came, but not that long. Gentle breathing to her last breath. I had the privilege of being there to the end and dear Ann joined me for the last minutes - speaking and thinking words of love.
*Photo on left of a deceased woman’s hands, holding onto to her mother’s pink dress - with a soft colored floral quilt over her (orange, pink, brown).
Kathy - a life long social worker who advocated for honoring neurodivergence and ensuring compassionate mental health resources - died at Inhora yesterday. When I woke up this morning I had a fire in my heart. A fire of love for those living their dying. Kathy gave me something and now I have to tell you. I hope that you catch some of her fire when you look at her hands & heart in this picture.
This fire means:
+calling Grandma every week
+learning the story of an elderly neighbor
+dropping off a meal for the kids of a Dad who's got a terminal illness
+being silent instead of trying to "fix" someone who's grieving
+shopping for someone who's too sad to get out of bed
+texting a friend who you know is having a hard time - letting them know you're there
+calling medical aid in dying (MAID) what it is: suicide
+courageously facing your own mortality
+speaking up when ICE is violent and kills
+working to get rid of that horrible smell when you walk into a nursing home
+being present at someone's death
+giving a buck a month so that Inhora can continue
+helping an elder reconnect with an old friend
+writing a letter to someone you haven't seen in a while
+sharing your wisdom with a younger person
+enjoying a cup of coffee with an elder
Shine your love today - even if you don't agree with all examples on this list - do one of them and encourage your community to do the same
Blessings and love,
Miles