TRU Community Care’s Interim CEO, Pat Mehnert, writes an email each week to all TRU Community Care and TRU Hospice of Northern Colorado employees. Staff look forward to reading these emails, as Pat truly takes the time to gather and compose her thoughts before clicking Send. Her emails contain guidance on daily operations, program updates, patient stories, kudos and appreciation for employees (especially those who work evenings and weekends at our inpatient care centers), quotes she’s heard, and even a little movie trivia.

These weekly emails aren’t just a few ideas thrown together at the last minute. Rather, they are words strung together with the utmost appreciation for staff; sentences that tell a story about the amazing hospice care and supportive services TRU provides day in and day out; and paragraphs that weave a testament to the Trusted, Responsive, and Unparalleled care TRU seeks to provide not only to our community, but to each other.

In last week’s email, Pat shared a poem that is near and dear to her, so we thought we’d share it with you, too.

When helping someone who is suffering,

I hope for comfort and courage.

I try to help find gratitude

In the midst of their painful circumstances.

Companioning one through their experience

Begins with a simple yes.

When I am called upon,

I don’t know what I am stepping into

Or how I might help.

But I walk with them on their journey,

And eventually it becomes evident.

The source of all mercy and healing

Makes some good come out of the pain.

I am in awe that somehow

My simple yes when called upon

Allows me to be part of it all.

I end up

Being graced

In my helping of others.