Terms of Endearment: St. Vincent’s Hospital, palliative care wing, March 18, 2026

Terms of Endearment: St. Vincent’s Hospital, palliative care wing, March 18, 2026

Because Anne’s brain tumour has caused ongoing incontinence that impacts both her comfort and dignity, a catheter insertion became a necessary step in managing her care. Understanding how frightened she was of the procedure – her trembling, whimpers, and tears revealing the depth of her fear – the highly skilled nursing tandem approached her with exceptional compassion. They spoke to her in soft tones, using warm terms of endearment and steady reassurance to help soothe her distress, ensuring that she felt safe, seen, and supported throughout every moment of the process.

Terms of Endearment

O my darling, my dearest heart, rest easy now, sweet one,
for angel‑hands approach you, love, to soothe whatever pain may come.
Soft‑voiced nurses murmur, “honey, precious, my love, sweetheart, dear;”
their touch as light as mercy, keeping every comfort near.

Beloved Anne, they cradle you with grace,
attentive as the afternoon sun that warms your weary face.
Gentle as a lullaby, they guide each careful motion,
a loving act of healing shaped by steady, quiet devotion.

My treasure, my tender soul, they offer your frail body relief,
from burdens you have carried far too long beneath.
These kind and patient guardians, so competent, so calm,
protect you with profound gentleness, an ethereal balm.

So rest, my love, my darling one – held close, watched over, dear;
in every caring gesture, know that love is always near.

If you feel like keeping track of Anne’s cancer journey, I’m chronicling it in prose and poetry here:

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