When Poonam Khurana came into our care, she was carrying the weight of illness magnified further with grief that accompanied it.
At 66, life had already tested her beyond measure. She had lost her husband to a sudden heart attack, and just two years later, her son the same way. The silence those losses left behind was overwhelming. Though her daughter stood by her with unwavering love, the loneliness lingered.
By the time the CanSupport team met her, Poonam’s body was frail and failing. Pain had become a constant companion. Swelling, weakness, and exhaustion had taken away her independence, leaving her unable to perform even the simplest daily tasks. But beyond the physical suffering was a deeper ache of the quiet sorrow of everything she had lost.
Her daughter, torn between strength and helplessness, often broke down trying to make sense of it all. Our role was not just to treat the pain but to hold space for both of them. Starting with relief, which involved managing her pain with appropriate medication to ensure that she was comfortable, we understood what was even more important. We simply listened. Poonam spoke of her loved ones, of memories, of longing. There were tears, often. And we reassured her that she was not alone.
We gently guided her daughter too; encouraging her to spend meaningful time, to say what needed to be said, to prepare for what lay ahead, both emotionally and practically.
What followed were small, beautiful acts of love.
A wish to reconnect with familiar faces fulfilled through visits and even virtual connections.
A need for peace met with soft devotional music filling her room.
Moments of quiet togetherness where words were no longer needed.
Through all these, a sense of acceptance had significantly grown despite the decline in her corndition.
It was a cool breezy day that Poonam passed away peacefully, free from pain.
When the team returned to meet the family, the grief was there; but so was calm. Her daughter spoke with quiet strength. She was grateful for the time they had, for the conversations they shared, and for the dignity with which her mother’s final days were held.
As she expressed her gratitude, the essence of palliative care was in her words that:
Even in loss, there can be peace.
Even in the end, there can be dignity, and
that no one should have to walk this journey alone.
