Grief doesn’t follow a calendar.
It can begin at diagnosis, in waiting rooms, or in the silence of words left unsaid.

What helps is not just “How are you?” or “Sorry for your loss.”
What helps is when we hold space for the grieving, validate their pain, and remind them they don’t have to walk through it alone.

In palliative care, I’ve learned grief isn’t something to “fix.” It’s something to witness — with presence, compassion, and patience.

To the social workers and chaplains who walk alongside patients and families in these tender moments—thank you for the depth of care, listening, and light you bring.