Living with Grief

Grief forever changes us. The journey that we walk through changes who we are and how we perceive the world around us. Those who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with grief may prompt us to move on. When they try this, we often plant our heels into the ground and resist. This may come as a surprise to them.

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My Why Wednesday: Gary & Cindy Saylor

Each April, BridgingLife honors Hospice Heroes at its annual Taste of Carroll presented by M&T Bank. These individuals are recognized for their dedication for quality hospice care in our communities.

Hospice Heroes Gary and Cindy Saylor are volunteers with BridgingLife’s We Honor Veterans program. Gary started volunteering in 2014 and Cindy began in 2021 when health issues prevented Gary from driving. “She’s my Uber driver now!” Gary jokes.

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My Why Wednesday: Kim Simmons

Each April, BridgingLife honors Hospice Heroes at its annual Taste of Carroll presented by M&T Bank. These individuals, nominated by their peers, are recognized for their dedication for quality hospice care in our communities.

Hospice Hero Kim Simmons has been an audit and compliance specialist at BridgingLife for nearly three years.

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My Why Wednesday: Diane Devaney

Each April, BridgingLife honors Hospice Heroes at its annual Taste of Carroll presented by M&T Bank. These individuals, nominated by their peers, are recognized for their dedication for quality hospice care in our communities.

Diane Devaney, founder and president of advertising agency Devaney & Associates, has been a marketing partner with BridgingLife (and Carroll Hospital) for nearly 30 years, creating ad campaigns, collateral material and more for hospice awareness.

What do you love about your job and why?       

We love working with Reggie Bodnar [executive director and assistant vice president of LifeBridge Health’s hospice and palliative care] and the hospice team. Helping to communicate the support and benefits of hospice care is so important and can make such an impact on families. In addition, helping to support fundraising for hospice has been very fulfilling.

What is your most memorable experience working with BridgingLife? As a past chair of Taste of Carroll and being involved since its inception, I have been honored to work with the tireless team of volunteers raising money for Carroll Hospice and BridgingLife.

My Why Wednesday: Jo Fleck

Each April, BridgingLife honors Hospice Heroes at its annual Taste of Carroll presented by M&T Bank. These individuals, nominated by their peers, are recognized for their dedication for quality hospice care in our communities.

Hospice Hero Jo Fleck has been involved with the organization from its inception, first as a volunteer, then as a staff member. After retiring, she has continued to volunteer in various capacities.

How long have you been with BridgingLife?       

My husband and I were both involved in the early planning stages of hospice in Carroll County. I started as a patient volunteer, and he served on the board.

I then became one of the first staff members as the patient family coordinator. Later, I served as the director of clinical services until I retired from nursing in 1997.

Since then, I have “kept my fingers” in hospice care as a bereavement volunteer, serving on the Taste of Carroll committee and most recently as a pet therapy volunteer with my dog Maggie.

What do you love about your job and why?       

The satisfaction of seeing a patient and or family member light up when Maggie and I greet them and spend time with them.

What’s your most memorable experience working with BridgingLife?   

The most memorable experience was working with my first hospice patient and family, first the wife and shortly afterwards the husband. I still have contact with the family.

I will always remember the words “thank you ” from so many who are truly grateful for the compassionate and loving care given by all of us that have chosen to dedicate ourselves to hospice.

What does CARE BRAVELY mean to you and how do you CARE BRAVELY?            

To CARE BRAVELY to me means to not be afraid to enter into the most private time of a dying person’s life; to not be afraid to answer and ask the tough questions and to have the courage to companion them at their time of death.