In memoriam: Amanda Turner Russell

I had intended no more blog posts for this year, but then Amanda died, and she merits recognition.

Amanda Turner Russell, a labor and delivery nurse at my former hospital, a shining light in so many ways, was decared brain dead of head trauma and spinal chord injury caused by a motorist while she was engaged in one of her passions, training for the next charity run in the Boston Marathon.

A relative on Facebook reported:

In typical Amanda fashion her last wish was to help others. Tomorrow lots of people will be getting another chance at life and a little piece of Amanda will live on.

All who knew Amanda were struck by her good nature and generosity.  She inspired her colleagues to take on new challenges, to develop personally and professionally.  She was a loyal friend. Working in the most optimistic part of our hospital, she saw and delivered joy.  She presented it–almost daily–to the rest of us in the form of a sunrise photograph (that she would label #bidmcsunrise) taken across Boston from the L&D floor.  I’d wake up early, and it was already posted, a gift to start my day.  Sometimes, I’d send her a note, but mainly I just enjoyed her view of the world.  Here’s one:

Now, dozens of friends on Facebook are acknowledging her life with #sunrisesforamanda posts, our own sunrise pictures.  Here’s mine, from an early morning fishing trip in Cape Cod Bay.

A truly good person, who will be missed by thousands.  Condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues.