(Taken from the book "Dare to Dream: A Celebration of Canadian Women" by Michelle Valberg)
As a graduate of the school of nursing in Kamloops, BC until her death 30 years later in Ottawa, Ontario, Jill looked for ways to make a difference. She strove to better the quality of life for her patients, from hospital ward to Ontario's Victorian Order of Nurses, from oncology/palliative care to care of persons with AIDS.
In her final years, Jill taught palliative care to nursing students at Algonquin College in Ottawa, focusing on what patients and caregivers needed to know to be more effective partners in caring. She also taught caregivers how to cope with the toll caring for a dying patient would inevitably take on their lives.
Jill's biggest challenge came with her first AIDS patient, which occurred at a time when AIDS filled everyone with unanswerable fears. Refusing to turn a blind eye to the issues, Jill educated herself about AIDS by attending courses, lectures, and talking to experts, then sharing what she had learned.
Jill developed the first AIDS awareness program for nursing students and lectured at health conferences, nationally and internationally. A highly successful and popular educator and public speaker, in 1994 she spent four months teaching and lecturing on AIDS awareness in India. After returning to Canada, an offer to establish and AIDS awareness program in and for India followed. A few months later she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Jill's personal courage in her fight against leukemia extended to her teaching; students were allowed to ask how it felt to be dying. She produced a moving, rich video in which she compared her nursing knowledge with that gained in her battle as an oncology patient. Shortly before her death in August of 1995, Jill received the VON's silver cross for excellence in clinical practice.
Jill dreamt about making a difference. In her all too short life, she instigated change, mitigated pain and grief for families of dying patients, and nursed with compassion and a deep belief in people. In the final analysis, however, above all the acclaim, her two greatest rewards came from being simply 'Mum' and 'Nurse'.
John Sullivan (Husband)
2 comments:
Hello John,
Jill helped me get through a difficult period in my life as I was caring for my father dying of Pancreatic cancer 1993 1994. I brought him here to live with my family to look after his needs.
He always looked forward to Jills visits as did I....we would have tea and on some ocassions I would go out with my young children for a walk just to get out of the house.
She spoike fondly of you, although you were both divorced at the time she had great respect for you and an undying love for your two sons Steven and if I am not too far off David?
I visited her when I found out she was battling cancer. I brought her cooked meals in an effort to let her know howe much we appreciated her care of my father until he had passed, I too was an R.N. It was difficult to deal with caring for a dying father while having 3 of my 4 young children in the house at time.
She was diagnosed shortly after my father had passed. I was in mourning for a couple of months and when I called her to see how she was doing, she told me that she had cancer.
I immediately went to see her with home made soup and to give her love and hugs.
At that time she told me that you were finishing off her basement for the boys who often came home with friends who needed a place to stay.
I can't p[ass Arnold Ave without thinking of Jill. (4F) if memory serves me.
I visited her regularly with food and to let her see my young children to whom she was always very kind.
We had gone on vacation and when I returned I tried to contact her via the phone onbly to get the answering machine with a mesage about something to the effect of leaving a message with you.
I called the VON and was told of her passing just weeks before. I was hearbroken for her and her family....espcially her 2 sons who she adored.
My father was born in Ireland. He and Jill had a great raport,,,she bouthgt a smile to dad's face on every visit.
There is so much more that I can say about our visits with Jill, but I am not sure you will even receive this.
We went to her grave to lay flowers in Pinecrest after we learned of her passing. I was so deeply saddened that she didn't win the fight.
Should you receive this...I have never forgot about \jill.
Most respectfully
Carol \mulligan \krukowski
Carol,
It's been four years since you posted this comment, and I am only now seeing this. It's Steven, Jill's oldest son. Thank you for your message, and I will pass it on to my father. It was so lovely to hear these kind words about my mum. so sorry for your loss as well. It's been 20 years, but it feels like only a day.
Best, Steven
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