So many people continue to let me know that they still think of Karen. She touched many more lives than I think she knew. Certainly more than I knew. When she touched a life it was deeper than we could have known, also. Her soft, loving spirit had a way of helping to put the rest of us a little closer to peace and a lot closer to happy. Her smile for her family and friends was infectious and her empathy for those that were hurting did so much to heal. Becoming a Registered Nurse was one of her most prized accomplishments. While acheiving the status of RN meant that she stood up strong to the classes, labs, tests and training; the pride that came from the title of RN, paled when compared to the fact that it meant Karen could help people in their times of difficulty. I know for a fact that Karen really “got it” when it came to what a nurse’s duty is and who it is to, the patient.

I was reminded yesterday of these things about Karen, when I got an unexpected and much appreciated card from the 5th floor of Bay Medical Center that had been signed by many of the people that she worked with for almost 2 years. Some of them had also been with her at GCCC in the Nursing Program. While it has been a little over 2 months since Karen passed, it has been since October 2009 since she worked at BMC. That makes it over a year, about 17 months, since these people have seen her. The card really helped to show me that Karen’s spirit is still making an impact. Thank you to all those that had a chance to sign the card and included not only words of encouragement, but also passed on how they felt about Karen.

“Dear God, thank you for using Karen to show us all the peace and love that you would have us show to each other. We love and miss her daily. As she now sleeps, watch over her friends and family until we can all meet again.  Help those of us who still feel the pain of not having her with us. Take that pain and leave us with only our joyful memories and the lessons taught us by our beautiful friend, mother, daughter, sister and wife. Amen.”