Last Friday I had the priviledge of conducting a Memorial Service for a colleague who died of cancer recently. She had worked as a night nurse at the cancer center where we both worked for over twenty years. Cindy was a rare bird. Outspoken, opinonated, and caring, she had amassed alot of goodwill among her patients, family, and colleagues that she worked with. During the Memorial service, one of the nurses shared a humorous story of attending a pajama party with Cindy. On the way to the party, Cindy insisted that they stop to pick up more beer. The car was full of women in their pajamas. Undaunted, Cindy strolled into the grocery store in the sexiest of night gowns and carted off two cases of beer as nonchalantly as you please.
Cindy was also an advocate for animals and the environment. She was known to go out and rescue abandoned and neglected cats and dogs and spend thousands of dollars in providing medical care and attention on them. Another co-worked remarked that she remembers Cindy talking her into going out one night from the hospital to feed an abandoned kitten. Another colleague related a story of a cancer patient's spouse who walked up to Cindy in the gift shop and thanked her profusely for literally saving his wife's life during a crucial stay at the center.
Cindy was a hero, in her own uncompromising way. She never married or had children of her own, and yet, in her own way she had become a mother to many four-legged and two-legged creatures. I salute you Cindy for the difference you made in so many lives. Blessings.
Chaplain Stephen Findley
Chaplain Findley is a Board Certified chaplain at MDACC, working with leukemia patients.
