Wendy Breeland-Walden
January 2025
Wendy
Breeland-Walden
,
RN
Emergency Department
Ascension Providence Hospital
Waco
,
TX
United States
In the early morning of November 27th, I was called by our neighbor, Debra Allen, who was in the process of trying to rush her husband to Providence. Jim Allen had been struggling for several years with cancer and although he fought valiantly, his time had come to leave this life. His wife was doing everything she could do to get him to your emergency room, and she was in full panic mode.
I arrived shortly after she and Jim had been admitted and she was waiting in the room outside of emergency service with a stunned look on her face. Debra realized the situation was grave and was needing support, assurance, and someone to reach out with compassion to help her in this most difficult time.
Soon it became evident Jim had passed, and we were informed by the Doctor. He promised a nurse would be by shortly to visit with Debra. And this is where we first met Wendy.
I need to explain I have been around death starting at age 15 with my father dying in my arms. Since then, I have lost a host of family members including my first wife, so these situations are not new to me. And I have noticed during these most stressful periods, how the survivors are served is very important for the duration of their life.
As soon as Wendy entered the room, she brought with her a sense of peace and comfort. She sat down and went through some of the closing procedures necessary. In her eyes was a level of compassion that I rarely see as she talked directly to Deborah. Without mentioning the Christian faith, she modeled everything Jesus did for Mary and Martha when He came to Bethany to visit them and raise Lazarus. Wendy’s quiet strength was so commanding that Debra felt instantly at ease.
After finishing the procedures, Wendy carefully asked Debra if she would like
to come back and view Jim. As Debra jumped at the chance, Wendy asked for a few minutes to just make sure everything was tidy in the room. She then excused herself to attend to that task and returned shortly. She put out her arm to lead Debra into the emergency room with Jim, in a fluid and peaceful attitude of compassion. Once we were in the room Wendy did an amazing job in making this emotional moment not only bearable but also as a part of a transition process so unnatural to all of us. I stood there and marveled as she explained to Debra all the efforts extended to Jim, and the care he received.
Wendy then changed the focus from Jim to Deborah and her concern and compassion toward what Debra could do now to ease her state of agitation. She did not just merely pat her on the back, but she itemized a list of things she wanted Debra to do including diet and rest That would help her in the coming grief process. As I said earlier, I just stood back and watched with amazement how well she did in providing peace. Please keep in mind not only have I been in multiple situations like this in the last 50 years, but because of those situations I have taken the concept of faith very seriously. Although I am a businessman, I am also an intentional interim pastor dealing with people both before and after these terrible losses. I know what this is supposed to look like, and Wendy did the best job I have ever witnessed.
I realized this is not a great clinical observation. I cannot speak to that. I can only speak to what I saw: the process of a beginning in healing from that very moment, initiated by the loving attitude Wendy put forth. If all health care professionals could display this depth of compassion in the final moments of people's lives, it could radically change the transition we all will take. Thank you for considering Wendy for this award. Her service in my opinion has earned it.
I arrived shortly after she and Jim had been admitted and she was waiting in the room outside of emergency service with a stunned look on her face. Debra realized the situation was grave and was needing support, assurance, and someone to reach out with compassion to help her in this most difficult time.
Soon it became evident Jim had passed, and we were informed by the Doctor. He promised a nurse would be by shortly to visit with Debra. And this is where we first met Wendy.
I need to explain I have been around death starting at age 15 with my father dying in my arms. Since then, I have lost a host of family members including my first wife, so these situations are not new to me. And I have noticed during these most stressful periods, how the survivors are served is very important for the duration of their life.
As soon as Wendy entered the room, she brought with her a sense of peace and comfort. She sat down and went through some of the closing procedures necessary. In her eyes was a level of compassion that I rarely see as she talked directly to Deborah. Without mentioning the Christian faith, she modeled everything Jesus did for Mary and Martha when He came to Bethany to visit them and raise Lazarus. Wendy’s quiet strength was so commanding that Debra felt instantly at ease.
After finishing the procedures, Wendy carefully asked Debra if she would like
to come back and view Jim. As Debra jumped at the chance, Wendy asked for a few minutes to just make sure everything was tidy in the room. She then excused herself to attend to that task and returned shortly. She put out her arm to lead Debra into the emergency room with Jim, in a fluid and peaceful attitude of compassion. Once we were in the room Wendy did an amazing job in making this emotional moment not only bearable but also as a part of a transition process so unnatural to all of us. I stood there and marveled as she explained to Debra all the efforts extended to Jim, and the care he received.
Wendy then changed the focus from Jim to Deborah and her concern and compassion toward what Debra could do now to ease her state of agitation. She did not just merely pat her on the back, but she itemized a list of things she wanted Debra to do including diet and rest That would help her in the coming grief process. As I said earlier, I just stood back and watched with amazement how well she did in providing peace. Please keep in mind not only have I been in multiple situations like this in the last 50 years, but because of those situations I have taken the concept of faith very seriously. Although I am a businessman, I am also an intentional interim pastor dealing with people both before and after these terrible losses. I know what this is supposed to look like, and Wendy did the best job I have ever witnessed.
I realized this is not a great clinical observation. I cannot speak to that. I can only speak to what I saw: the process of a beginning in healing from that very moment, initiated by the loving attitude Wendy put forth. If all health care professionals could display this depth of compassion in the final moments of people's lives, it could radically change the transition we all will take. Thank you for considering Wendy for this award. Her service in my opinion has earned it.
In the early morning, I was called by our neighbor, D, who was in the process of trying to rush her husband to Providence. J had been struggling for several years with cancer, and although he fought valiantly, his time had come to leave this life. His wife was doing everything she could do to get him to your emergency room, and she was in full panic mode.
I arrived shortly after she and J had been admitted and she was waiting in the room outside of emergency service with a stunned look on her face. D realized the situation was grave and was needing support, assurance, and someone to reach out with compassion to help her in this most difficult time.
Soon, it became evident J had passed, and we were informed by the Doctor. He promised a nurse would be by shortly to visit with D. And this is where we first met Wendy.
I need to explain I have been around death starting at age 15 with my father dying in my arms. Since then, I have lost a host of family members, including my first wife, so these situations are not new to me. And I have noticed that during these most stressful periods, how the survivors are served is very important for the duration of their life.
As soon as Wendy entered the room, she brought with her a sense of peace and comfort. She sat down and went through some of the closing procedures necessary. In her eyes was a level of compassion that I rarely see as she talked directly to D. Without mentioning the Christian faith, she modeled everything Jesus did for Mary and Martha when He came to Bethany to visit them and raise Lazarus. Wendy’s quiet strength was so commanding that D felt instantly at ease.
After finishing the procedures, Wendy carefully asked D if she would like to come back and view J. As D jumped at the chance, Wendy asked for a few minutes to just make sure everything was tidy in the room. She then excused herself to attend to that task and returned shortly. She put out her arm to lead D into the emergency room with J, in a fluid and peaceful attitude of compassion. Once we were in the room, Wendy did an amazing job of making this emotional moment not only bearable but also a part of a transition process that was so unnatural to all of us. I stood there and marveled as she explained to D all the efforts extended to J, and the care he received.
Wendy then changed the focus from J to D, and she expressed concern and compassion toward what D could do now to ease her state of agitation. She did not just merely pat her on the back, but she itemized a list of things she wanted D to do, including diet and rest that would help her in the coming grief process. As I said earlier, I just stood back and watched with amazement how well she did in providing peace. Please keep in mind that not only have I been in multiple situations like this in the last 50 years, but because of those situations, I have taken the concept of faith very seriously. Although I am a businessman, I am also an intentional interim pastor dealing with people both before and after these terrible losses. I know what this is supposed to look like, and Wendy did the best job I have ever witnessed.
I realized this was not a great clinical observation. I cannot speak to that. I can only speak to what I saw: the process of a beginning in healing from that very moment, initiated by the loving attitude Wendy put forth. If all healthcare professionals could display this depth of compassion in the final moments of people's lives, it could radically change the transition we all will take. Thank you for considering Wendy for this award. Her service, in my opinion, has earned it.
I arrived shortly after she and J had been admitted and she was waiting in the room outside of emergency service with a stunned look on her face. D realized the situation was grave and was needing support, assurance, and someone to reach out with compassion to help her in this most difficult time.
Soon, it became evident J had passed, and we were informed by the Doctor. He promised a nurse would be by shortly to visit with D. And this is where we first met Wendy.
I need to explain I have been around death starting at age 15 with my father dying in my arms. Since then, I have lost a host of family members, including my first wife, so these situations are not new to me. And I have noticed that during these most stressful periods, how the survivors are served is very important for the duration of their life.
As soon as Wendy entered the room, she brought with her a sense of peace and comfort. She sat down and went through some of the closing procedures necessary. In her eyes was a level of compassion that I rarely see as she talked directly to D. Without mentioning the Christian faith, she modeled everything Jesus did for Mary and Martha when He came to Bethany to visit them and raise Lazarus. Wendy’s quiet strength was so commanding that D felt instantly at ease.
After finishing the procedures, Wendy carefully asked D if she would like to come back and view J. As D jumped at the chance, Wendy asked for a few minutes to just make sure everything was tidy in the room. She then excused herself to attend to that task and returned shortly. She put out her arm to lead D into the emergency room with J, in a fluid and peaceful attitude of compassion. Once we were in the room, Wendy did an amazing job of making this emotional moment not only bearable but also a part of a transition process that was so unnatural to all of us. I stood there and marveled as she explained to D all the efforts extended to J, and the care he received.
Wendy then changed the focus from J to D, and she expressed concern and compassion toward what D could do now to ease her state of agitation. She did not just merely pat her on the back, but she itemized a list of things she wanted D to do, including diet and rest that would help her in the coming grief process. As I said earlier, I just stood back and watched with amazement how well she did in providing peace. Please keep in mind that not only have I been in multiple situations like this in the last 50 years, but because of those situations, I have taken the concept of faith very seriously. Although I am a businessman, I am also an intentional interim pastor dealing with people both before and after these terrible losses. I know what this is supposed to look like, and Wendy did the best job I have ever witnessed.
I realized this was not a great clinical observation. I cannot speak to that. I can only speak to what I saw: the process of a beginning in healing from that very moment, initiated by the loving attitude Wendy put forth. If all healthcare professionals could display this depth of compassion in the final moments of people's lives, it could radically change the transition we all will take. Thank you for considering Wendy for this award. Her service, in my opinion, has earned it.