God speed.

It was a morning of good intentions. I'll write my blog, walk to work and move into my day with grace and ease.

And then I got the phone call.

A client died in the wee hours of the morning. He'd been dropped off by city police an hour earlier. Staff had checked on him in Intox where he was sleeping once and then on their second round forty-five minutes later discovered him breathing with difficulty. They immediately took action. CPR. EMS. But to no avail. After twenty minutes EMS pronounced him deceased.

Tragic. Sad. Painful.

For his family, a loss of someone they love. No matter the circumstances of his life. No matter what led him to be here on that night. No matter what happened before he got here. The pain of his passing, the void that will be left in his death will never be filled.

Tragic. Sad. Painful.

For staff, it is a horrific event. A circumstance that they struggle with to let go of the, If only...

If only we'd checked on him more often...

If only we'd realized...

If only we'd...

The 'if onlys' haunt. The reality is, they could not have known. They did their absolute best. They did everything they could.

Whatever caused this man's death will be determined in a medical examiner's office. All they know right now is, if only will not change anything.

They did their best.

I have no questions for you today. It is a day of sadness. Of quiet. Of reflection. A day to give thanks for this life I have as I whisper a pray for a man who has no chance of ever finding his way home again.

He will be missed.

God speed.