My Nonprofit Reviews

When my sister committed suicide in April 2004, I had a minimal support group and have been encouraged not to mention her or her death, scolded when caught crying, or even when my eyes were red from an earlier cry. By the two month mark, I was at the pinnacle of grief and having self-destructive thoughts. With only my computer to talk to, I found this site and introduced myself. Within minutes, I was being greeted by one, and shortly after, several members. It felt like I was lost in a storm and wandered into a strangers house, finding beautiful strangers all with towels in hand helping to dry me off and make me warm. They rinsed me with the weight of their own tears and wrapped me in a gown of warm compassion. They let me in, and they let me stay. I am no longer in danger from self-destructive thoughts. I am now able to put aside my grief for a moment when I see the next stranger come in from the rain, towel them off, rinse them with my tears, and embrace them in a warm, compassionate garment.This is the most amazing group. We go there to grieve, and we grieve together, but then we go there to heal,, and we heal together. It has helped so much not to be alone. It has helped so much that I am not the only one who has had to suffer this kind of loss, the kind of loss that makes you want to lay down and die. I am forever thankful that I found this place where I can be truthful, open, and candid about the kind of loss that people don't like to talk about. In this house, we all know the language of suicide loss, and we are not alone, and we are not lost, we are not stigmatized, we are not rushed. Here, we are saved.

I am one of the newer volunteers at Lower Cape Fear Hopice and Lifecare Center. My first experience with them was as a student nurse when I did a rotation at their facility. I was so impressed with not only the care provided, but with the philosophy of the organization, and the attitude and behaviors of the nursing and adjunct staff. Ultimately, I left there with a determination to become involved in hospice nursing, and I am currently working on an additional nursing degree to better qualify myself, and volunteering at this time to begin incorporating myself into this beautiful culture. I have met the most beautiful souls at the center, staff and volunteer alike. These are people who are driven by better things than money and power. They are driven by compassion and an unconditional love for their fellow humans, and a willingness to help hospice families in just about any conceivable way that they can, with absolutely no reward to themselves, save for that sense of fulfillment and purpose that is gained from unconditional giving. I am especially moved by the concept that the hospice patient is not just the person in the bed, but is inclusive of anyone who loves and cares for that person as well. Services are offered to family and children both during and after the dying experience of the primary patient, with a goal of adding love, spirituality, and enhanced coping to the entire patient group. So many people mistakenly believe that the utilization of hospice services represents the end of hope, and nothing could be further from the truth. Hospice care concerns itself with the comfort, dignity, and spiritual reconciliation of the primary patient, and with the expression of compassion and support, and the provision of guidance to the hospice family. I could go on for volumes, but in a nutshell, I can boldly state that I have never been more proud to be affiliated with such a noble cause, and with such warm and compasionate people.

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