“Gilchrist gave me peace.” Darlene Holland commends Gilchrist for giving her son a place to go after learning that he had just two months to live. “Gilchrist allowed me to focus on loving him and not worry about anything but that."

“Being a nurse at Gilchrist is comfort, compassion, kindness, love.” Catherine Frome, BSN, CHPN, Gilchrist Director of Community Programs and Partnerships, celebrates nurses’ role in helping people understand their circumstances and how to make the most of the time they have left. “It’s a privilege to be with people in their final days. It's a sacred time. A gift."

“We saluted that Veteran. You could hear the gasp from his family as he saluted us.” Rick Sullivan, Volunteer for Gilchrist’s Honoring Our Veterans Program, highlights the power of that final gesture. “[His daughter] said how much that salute meant to her and her family.”

“Gilchrist sent someone out: a hospital bed, nurses, a social worker. You were never alone.” Steve Pedri praises Gilchrist for handling all of the things that would have taken time away from his wife in her last 3-6 months. “I wanted to spend every last minute with Marie, and Gilchrist gave me that.”

“Gilchrist truly changed everything [for us].” Ron Berk celebrates the memory of his mother, Anne Berk, a former Rockette and verifiable “ball of fire,” who at one point graduated from hospice care and taught dance to other nursing home residents. Ron credits Gilchrist for allowing Anne to live every moment fully.

“He continued to smile until the morning he passed. I could not thank Gilchrist enough.” Sonsy Gaba on the experience of her son, Mo, who was beloved by Baltimoreans for his unbridled passion for the local sports teams and his infectious personality, who passed away from cancer at a young age.

“If it weren’t for [Gilchrist], she would not have had that time.” Kathy Catzen’s mother was a “pistol,” a WWII codebreaker with a zest for life. Thanks to Gilchrist’s compassionate care, she was able to return to her favorite place—her cabin in the Poconos—one last time to celebrate her 100th birthday.

“[The Gilchrist] team of professionals are angels on Earth.” Marjorie Rodgers Cheshire reflects on the unbelievably compassionate care her mother received at Gilchrist for her end-of-life experience. She notes her memories of this time are joyful, like her mother always was, thanks to the “gift” of care from their GIlchrist team.

“They were really there to help me.” Amy Enright, now a Gilchrist nurse, reflects on how the amazing team at Gilchrist changed her perspective on her parents’ end-of-life care. They helped her realize that for now, she’s a daughter, not a nurse, which allowed her to feel like it was all going to be okay.

“I’ll never forget the marvelous salute [they organized] for Oscar.” Rikki Spector, a tenured Baltimore politician, reflects on the touching military salute Gilchrist organized for her life partner, Oscar Brilliant, a celebrated war veteran.

“We just had a wonderful last year together.” Carol Grap will always cherish the last year of memories she made with her mom, thanks to the amazing care she received from the team at Gilchrist. Together, they went out to spread cheer by singing and entertaining at other nursing homes.