RIP My Friend

I found out a couple of days ago that one of my friends from work was very ill.  I  thought for the past few days she was on vacation.  I got the really sad news first thing this morning that she died last night.

I mourn her death on so many levels.  My respect for the work she did with our patients was off the charts.  My caring for her as a friend who greeted me each time she saw me, no matter how busy she was, how she shared her artistic talents with me, ( she was an incredible photographer and I am lucky that she gave me two of her photographs.)

I mourn for the patients who will never have the opportunity to have her as a counselor.  Her story was hers to tell, but I will tell you this, for those women who came through our program who had been abused; she was their greatest friend and advocate.

I  heard her voice in my head all day today.  I mourn the fact that we were always talking about her coming for a visit to our place and now that will never happen.  I mourn the loss of her humor and her take no prisoners/no bull attitude.

No one will ever fill her shoes.  Tonight, I hope she found her happy place, tonight, I hope she knows how much she was loved by all of us who worked with her.

RIP Deborah W.