My supervisor during my clinical residency frequently repeated these words: “Learning to grieve the small things teaches you how to grieve the big things.”

My reply of “Yea…I don’t want to grieve big or small things,” is surprising to no one who knows me because, well, grieving is not fun. In fact, it is the opposite of fun.  

It is hard and messy, tiring and mostly unwelcomed. Yet, grief meets us all.

In 2024, grief met the people of Cook Children's Health Care System in a variety of ways—the retirement of community staples, unexpected life circumstances, undesired patient outcomes, and the deaths of five cherished colleagues:

Eric Hernandez

(September 26, 1973—February 8, 2024)

Program Specialist II, Inpatient Psychiatry

Danny Kim, M.D.

(July 18, 1966—February 15, 2024)

Physician, OP/C, Windhaven

Shelly Rosenberry

(April 9, 1960—March 12, 2024)

PN Practice/Program Manager II, Richland Hills NHC

Charisse Schlottman

(November 16, 1990—June 21, 2024)

LVN, Emergency Department, Fort Worth

Melva Thornton

(August 26, 1966—December 25, 2024)

Program Specialist II, Inpatient Psychiatry

The thing about grief, though, is it isn’t something you do so you can “get over” or forget whatever feelings or circumstances exist. Grief changes a person; it offers perspective and reflection.

Grieving offers pause so you can absorb the truth of what happened while gradually finding a way to create a life around your new reality.

As we begin 2025 with this new reality, you are invited to share your favorite memory, funny tidbit, or kind reflection about Eric, Danny, Shelly, Charisse, and/or Melva in the comments below. If we missed someone, please let us know in the comments. 

May we continue to honor the memories of Eric, Danny, Shelly, Charisse, and Melva in ways that carry forward the goodness they fostered within our institution and in our lives.

It’s time to talk about benefit changes, look at your benefit needs and get ready to enroll. As we approach a new benefit year, our priority remains offering you rich, competitive benefit choices while enhancing your overall health and managing our collective health plan costs.

For more information and full plan details, see our 2024–2025 Benefits Guide, coming to your home soon.

Benefits Fair: Visit with our benefit vendors and learn more about the benefits available to you.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Medical Center-Fort Worth Atrium

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, Aug. 9, at Medical Center-Prosper, Classrooms 1621/1622

Attend an in-person Open Enrollment meeting to go over the changes for the upcoming plan year.

A recording of the presentation will also be available on CookNet.

1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5 (Family Support Meeting Center)

2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 8 (Family Support Meeting Center)

10 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13 (Family Support Meeting Center)

9 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 15 (PAV Hochberger Auditorium)

11 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 20 (PAV Hochberger Auditorium)