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September 19, 2019OKLAHOMA CITY – Deacon Richard Thibodeau has played a major role in creating a new program at Mercy Health Center called "No One Dies Alone."
As its name implies, Thibodeau and a group of volunteers work to ensure that people who are near death have someone to help them transition in a dignified manner.
"This is a real ministry of compassion," he said.
Thibodeau has served as chaplain at Mercy for five years. He also is a deacon at Saint Robert Bellarmine in Jones.
"No One Dies Alone," began at Mercy on July 1.
"It's important for people to know I didn't come up with the idea for 'No One Dies Alone,'" he noted. "It started in the early 2000s in Oregon."
Although he didn't establish the program, it was a personal experience that led him to push for the program at Mercy. While traveling, he found out his father had passed away. The news struck him hard because his father died alone.
"I was the oldest child and should have been there with him," he recalled.
Last year, he began talking with Mercy officials. He said there are many reasons people find themselves facing death alone.
"Some people come from broken families or there is distance with family members," he said. "Others may have already lost their spouse."
One example he provided was the case of two brothers. One of the brothers was in Mercy and receiving end-of-life care. The other brother lived in California and flew in to be with his sibling for the final days. The brother stayed for 10 days but, eventually, family and other obligations, forced him to return to California. The patient was alone. But, thanks to the new program, the man had a caring volunteer with him when he died.
Deacon Thibodeau said many of the patients are anxious, and caring volunteers help them be less afraid.
The program has 51 volunteers who work in two-hour shifts. Hospital staff notifies Thibodeau when a patient may be facing death and does not have immediate family nearby.
Calvin is one of the volunteers.
"This has been such a spiritual and, at times, emotional experience for me," Calvin said. "An LPN walked in and told me just how meaningful it was to the nursing staff knowing that someone was here for Mr. C."
Kathy related her experience as a volunteer.
"I truly enjoyed humming, whispering and singing to him in his final hour. What a holy moment these last hours with him have been."
Steve Gust is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
To learn more about volunteering with “No One Dies Alone,” contact Richard Thibodeau at (405) 752-3176, (405) 936-5487 or [email protected]. Go online to mercy.net; search for program.