What is NODA? An Interview with Carleen McCornack

No One Dies Alone is a wonderfully compassionate, volunteer-driven service pioneered through the Sacred Heart Medical Center in Eugene, OR.  Carleen McCormack is the Program Coordinator.  She can be reached at 541.222.2263 or cmccornack@peacehealth.org.

Credit: noda.jhsmh

Carleen: 25 years ago, there was a nurse here at Sacred Heart, Sandra Clarke, who had an experience with a near-death patient: he asked her to sit with him and she said yes, she absolutely would — as soon as she’d completed her other tasks.  But when she returned an hour later, the man had died.  And his arm was outstretched, as if waiting for someone.  She felt very badly about not being able to grant this man the simplest of wishes; one human being to another.

She carried this with her for many years.  When I’m with her, she still tears up at the story.  About 10 years ago, the director of spiritual care overheard Sandra telling it, and asked her to come talk about her experience.  Together, they put the NODA program into action.  November will mark NODA’s 10-year anniversary at Sacred Heart.

We have 65 volunteer hospital caregivers called to sit at the bedside of patients when it is determined they are within 24 to 48 hours of death and have no one to sit with them.  We have a detailed and comprehensive guide on how we put the program together — and over 1,500 of these guides have gone out, all over the world.  It’s a very moldable program in its ability to serve patients in hospital, healthcare communities, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, or church communities.

It reminds me of that Margaret Mead quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”  I just love how Sandra’s troubling experience turned around into something so positive.

Aurora: That is truly powerful.  How have you observed NODA impacting the patients involved?  The volunteers?

Credit: NODA.org

Carleen: Oftentimes, NODA patients are not responsive.  However, we know that people at end of life can hear the voice and feel the touch of someone with them.  I wouldn’t be able to tell you in a concrete way how patients are affected, but when they are awake and become lucid, they are ever so appreciative that someone is present with them in a really intentional way.  It’s a wonderful thing.

For volunteers, we hear time and time again how this program is life changing for them.  They feel like they get so much out of it, to be present for someone at a truly sacred time in their life.  Like birth, death (and the surrounding time of passing) is a very sacred and powerful moment.

Aurora: Absolutely. What have been some of your most poignant or rewarding experiences with the program?

Carleen: I just feel it is a human response… Being present for death in a very intentional way is a gift like no other that we can give each other.  Each and every vigil is extremely impactful, and I am so grateful to be able to provide this presence.

Aurora: Has volunteering for NODA changed your understanding of death?

Carleen: Personally, it has deepened my understanding of not only the pathway from life to death, but the true spiritual and profound aspects of death as something quite sacred.

Aurora: Do you have any words of advice for caregivers?

Carleen: Well I guess a word of advice would be to gather around you those who can support you as you support a loved one.  There are organizations for hospice and palliative caregivers themselves — people who specialize in care of the dying are a wonderful resource to make yourself available to, for your own support as you care for others in their time of need.

Aurora: Thank you very much, Carleen!