Remembering June
For nearly 20 years, RN Jim Donovan has been providing superb care at Casey House. On the second anniversary of June Callwood's death, he shared these memories.  |
"When one of our beloved Founders of Casey House, June Callwood, passed away on April 14, 2007, I, like so many, was touched by a life of grace, courage, conviction and compassion. |
| I recall the night of the vigil, I was looking out of a second floor window of Casey House and saw a sea of candles pouring onto Isabella Street toward Casey House, and they just kept coming. In that moment of reflection, I remembered a mother who reminded me of June. Someone who showed the same characteristics of courage and compassion as June at a time when those with AIDS were rejected by their families and friends, were dying alone in hospitals - without receiving care, without any sort of dignity. One afternoon the door of the elevator opened to the 2nd floor. A small, smartly dressed woman from far away stepped out to find her son again. So many years had passed since she had last heard from him. And now, here she was at Casey House. Her son had been admitted that very morning to our care… and he was terrified, so terrified of dying. His mother did what so many mothers do… with love, tenderness and her assurance she said, "I won’t leave you." She climbed up on to her son’s bed and gathered her grown child in her arms and sang to him into sleep, into a death marked with love and grace… Although hard to believe now, at that time I could tell by the look on that mother’s face that coming into Casey House to be with her son was going to cost her a lot personally. Back then, people were afraid and many turned that fear into callous, ill-informed treatment of those who were suffering and rapidly dying from this horrendous disease. This mother turned her fear into love - into doing the right thing. June Callwood and a group of exceptionally dedicated volunteers made this possible over 20 years ago. You continue to make this possible with your support and love." I want to invite you to continue to make June’s work possible by considering a donation to the June Callwood Legacy Fund. Please give now. |