Bravery

Firefighters, soldiers, and police officers are brave.

But the people who are bravest of all are those who uphold their loved ones' wishes and make them DNR/DNI. Even when they know it means the imminent death of someone they might not be ready to let go of yet.

One of the things included in this job is talking with people and helping them explore end-of-life options. Will this person you love be the same if they are lying in a hospital on a ventilator for the rest of their lives? Who is the resuscitation effort for? The patient, who may never regain consciousness? Or the family, who is struggling with emotional issues like loss and even guilt over the DNR?

So my vote for bravest person of the year goes to the woman who, through her tears, said when asked, "No. He would not want to be on a machine to breathe. He's told me many times. He does not want it." And stood by her father's bedside with the rest of her family until he was gone. Peacefully.