The Shine Journal - The Light Left Behind
Journeys Through Grief and Beyond
Loss of a pet...
She and I kind of chuckled, said we couldn't understand it...But then I thought about it. And when we suffer loss, as I've stated many times before, it comes in many ways. You can never be dismissive about the depth of feeling that accompanies the grieving process.Cynthia Brown-Clemons BSN,RN
Cynthia Brown-Clemons BSN, RN is our Medical Consultant, licensed to practice in both CT and MA. She graduated in 2001 from American International College, Springfield, MA with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She began practicing in MA 2011. She challenged for an L.P.N. in NY and CT in 2001. She received her R.N. in CT in 2003.
Brown-Clemons's practice ranges from pediatrics to geriatrics to hospice. She works as a nursing supervisor, a school nurse, as a nurse consultant and currently owns Village Keeper Adult Day Health Services.
Residing in Western MA, she sits on the board of Liberty Prep Academy and The Maternal Child Health Commission. She sat on the planning board of the Mason Square Recovery Initiative and has volunteered in a local free clinic. She is also a writer.She balances this professional expertise with being a devoted wife and nurturing mother. Cynthia looks forward to interacting with the Shine family. Send your comments, questions or requests for information to The Shine Journal...
Cynthia Shares...
comb mine. And thinking about her final arrangements. Cynthia Shares...
Lately, I have had a more than a few hospice clients in my clinical practice. The 'difference' in recent weeks, is that they have been friends and family. Needless to say, this has given me quite an opportunity to explore my feelings on loss. As I continue along in my nursing practice, particularly hospice, it causes me to reflect on my losses. These can come in many forms, not just loss of life but love, relationships, dignity, 'home'...
In my experience, there has been a recent loss in the dynamic of my relationship with my Mom due to dementia. An ugly thief that leaves an ugly new truth:
Dementia is a commonplace term used to describe a person who suffers from cognitive and intellectual losses. Alzheimers Disease is one of the more common forms of dementia that we hear about. There are three forms of dementia and the symptoms depend upon which part of the brain is effected, but are a result in a loss of nerve cell function.
Some of these symptoms are memory loss, difficulty making decisions, personality and behavioral changes. The latter are the symptoms that are affecting my relationship with my mother. Dementia leaves me with only the physical picture of who my mother is and only traces of what our relationship once was. This is the part where the roles have changed between mother and daughter.
And my journey continues…
Cynthia Brown-Clemons, BSN, RN