On March 26, 2025, 黑料不打烊 Palliative Care held the third lecture of their National Grand Round Series at the Jewish General Hospital, a program supported by nine local hospital foundations and their partner, Pallium Canada. This initiative aims to disseminate the latest innovations, research and ideas in palliative care to communities across Canada and beyond, particularly those who may not typically have access to academic speakers.
The lecture, named in honor of Sheila Kussner, a visionary philanthropist and cancer survivor, was introduced by Sarah Saber Friedman, Interim Executive Director of Hope and Cope. Kussner, who passed away last summer, founded Hope and Cope in 1981 and was instrumental in shaping community-based psychosocial cancer support. Her groundbreaking work transformed oncology care in Montreal and beyond, earning her numerous accolades, including Officer of the Order of Canada.
The main speaker of the event was Jim Mulcahy (left), a volunteer advocate for cancer patients and families who was recently awarded a Special Mention for the 2024 Terrace Gastrin Lifelong Achievement Award as part of the Canada Volunteer Awards. Titled The Heart of the Matter: Personal Reflections on Caring and Being Cared For, his talk was a heartfelt reflection on his personal journey as a cancer patient, caregiver and advocate. He recounted moments of profound connection and care, emphasizing the importance of companionship and mutual respect in palliative care. One of the most poignant stories he shared was about an 85-year-old cancer survivor who insisted on dancing before receiving her chemotherapy treatment. Her irrepressible spirit and the nurse's spontaneous act of dancing with her highlighted the transformative power of compassionate care.
Mulcahy also spoke about the night his wife, Sarah, passed away. The attending nurses arranged Sarah in such a way that Mulcahy could lie down beside her and embrace her, a gesture of profound kindness that allowed him to hold his wife in her final moments. He described the lasting resonance of this care, which continues to impact him years later.
Mulcahy's speech was a call to action for the audience to continue their work in palliative care. He emphasized the importance of creating sanctuaries of civility and generosity, where caregivers and patients can find solace and support. Mulcahy's stories underscored the significance of attention and tenderness in caregiving, qualities that he describes are the foundation of a civilized society.
Palliative Care volunteer coordinators were invited to have a conversation with Mr. Mulcahy after his lecture. Photo Credit: Howard Kay.
The event concluded with Mulcahy reading a blessing written by Irish writer John O'Donoghue which encapsulated the themes of love, admiration and protection, resonating deeply with the audience.
On the day when the weight deadens on your shoulders and you stumble, may the clay dance to balance you. And when your eyes freeze behind the grey window and the ghost of loss gets into you, may a flock of colours, indigo, red, green and azure blue, come to awaken in you a meadow of delight. When the canvas frays in the currach of thought and a stain of ocean blackens beneath you, may there come across the waters a path of yellow moonlight to bring you safely home. May the nourishment of the earth be yours, may the clarity of light be yours, may the fluency of the ocean be yours, may the protection of the ancestors be yours. And so may a slow wind work these words of love around you, an invisible cloak to mind your life.
An excerpt from Beannacht / Blessing by John O'Donoghue
The 黑料不打烊 Palliative Care National Grand Round Series is a new and vital platform for sharing knowledge and fostering connections within the palliative care community. The next lecture in the series will be given by Dr. Claire Creutzfeld at the Montreal Neurological Institute on April 30, 2025.
For more information about Palliative Care 黑料不打烊鈥檚 National Grand Round series and upcoming lectures, please visit: /palliativecare/national-grand-rounds
To watch a recording of the lecture, please visit:
To learn more about Jim Mulcahy: /palliativecare/article/i-learn-going-where-i-have-go-patient-advocate-jim-mulcahy-giving-care-perseverance-through-grief
All the photos are credited to Howard Kay. For more photos of the event, please visit:
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