The ResolutionCare Blog is inspired by our belief that “Dying isn’t a medical experience; it’s a human experience.” Through our experience in providing medical, social, and spiritual care for those coping with serious illness and their families, our amazing team works every day to provide comprehensive, compassionate palliative care to those who need us. At ResolutionCare, everyone brings their whole self to their work. And it is through our work that we are privileged to see stories of great reconciliation, transcendence, existential fear, belief, connection, courage, and beauty unfolding before our eyes every day. We are grateful to play a part in alleviating suffering and comforting those in our care, medically, spiritually and socially. The ResolutionCare Blog is our attempt to share some of these stories in a way that loves, honors, and respects those in our care.
We work hard to protect and respect the right to privacy of people we serve. Though stories are true, the names, details, locations and images may be changed where necessary to protect the identities of our palliative care recipients.
Dispatches from the Front
“Oh, Peace, bless this mad place!” -Thomas Merton Bald Hills Road hits the border of Redwood National Park, and the badly potholed pavement turns to gravel. A dust cloud billows up from the knobby tires [...]
Like Family
It wasn’t his physical pain that caused tears to come to Mark’s eyes when he discussed his medication with ResolutionCare nurse Jessica Howard during his intake visit a year and a half ago. It was [...]
Army of Angels
When community health worker Sean McCann asked one of the people under our care, stonemason Rolf Durang, if he had adequate support in his rural community, Rolf informed us that he had “an army of [...]
Living A Life Entirely Surrounded by Love
by Scott "Q" Marcus Most of us don’t want to think about dying. That news won’t garner a banner headline anywhere. Photo by Cathal Mac an Bheatha on Unsplash I’d go so [...]
I Was Born Dead
When I asked him how he felt about entering the closing stage of his life, this is what Manuel Santaella told me: “I was born dead.” Ninety-two years ago in Venezuela, Manuel was born [...]
Bridging the Distance
It's not easy living hours of twisty mountain highway from a supermarket. It gets even harder when it's not milk you need, but healthcare. Woman at the gate, Photo by Justin Maxon [...]
We’ll Fix Yer Wagon
People often ask me what a palliative care chaplain does. It can be hard to describe, but I’m hoping to have a pithy answer before I retire. We use phrases [...]
Grace Notes, A Chaplain’s Blog
ResolutionCare's Director of Spiritual Support Services, Carl Magruder, recently debuted his new blog: Grace Notes, A Chaplain's Blog. What follows is an excerpt from his first post. Hospice and the Type One Error In [...]
Back to the Track
Being sick can keep you from doing what you love, alter your identity, and snatch away what you are passionate about. Troy, a young man in his thirties, loves to race cars. The speed, the [...]
“…a smith…”
Dick Kersh was father, a husband, and a dear friend to many. He was a firefighter, and in a sense, a fire tamer as a passionate blacksmith. His advice is to “make sure we are [...]