Abstract
A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam And for a brief moment its glory and Beauty belong to our world. But then it flies again And though we wish it could have stayed We feel lucky to have seen it.
–Author unknown
Editor:
I had the opportunity to speak with Barb shortly before the most recent Annual Dialysis Conference. She revealed that, although her wish had been to attend, she did not feel she could. We spoke about meetings past, times shared, and symbols of survival and hope. We said good-bye and at the time, I felt that it was a final earthly farewell. I had the opportunity to tell Barb how much I respected and appreciated her.
When Barb's death was announced at the Conference, many were shocked, not realizing how well she functioned and kept her health challenges private. She was missed at the Conference. How many of us looked up during our talks to see if Barb was at the door, or felt that keen sense of loss when we realized that Barb was not with us on the physical plane? But emotionally, Barb was there, as individuals shared experiences and talked about how she encouraged us to reach beyond ourselves and participate more fully in our professional lives. Barb, in her quiet way, was a great mentor who helped people realize their potential, guided them in their fledgling steps of learning to present, to publish, to grow wings, and scale new heights.
On a personal level, Barb was a friend … odd the friendships we develop since the friendship was founded in nephrology meetings and phone calls. Yet there are people one can feel close to. Barb and I always seemed to find time to have dinner, whether with a group of colleagues or when away, on our own. In Stockholm one year, Barb and I managed to stroll away the evening after dinner in the Old Town, just talking about general things, families, vacations, museums, experiences. I remember running into Stephen Vas and his wife, who were similarly strolling the Old Town and asked what we were doing up so late — it was 2 a.m. at the time. But conversational catching up takes time!
Barb's wisdom and ability to share her vision of nursing in her quiet dependable way will be missed by the community. I am sure, however, that the thoughts and ideals that she demonstrated through her life of dignity and courage will continue to guide both her present colleagues and those that come after. It was a privilege to know you, Barb. You will be missed.
Betty Kelman, Nurse Practitioner in Nephrology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada
Barbara Prowant was my role model, even before I knew her, when I became a PD research nurse in 1981. She was the only nurse I knew about who was published in this new therapy, still in its infancy. And in the early 1980s, when I attended my first PD conference during a snowy February in Kansas City, I met Barb and began a long friendship with her. It was Barb who made that conference so different than any other, a conference in which nurses played a critical part.
When I think of my friendship with Barbara, it is often of our long phone conversations, since we lived and worked in different cities. She would call me during the summer to talk about next year's conference. We would discuss our research and the talks she would like to me to give, and often she would let me brainstorm about some new project that I wanted to pursue. She encouraged me to think of new topics and to share my research experiences with other nurses. In more recent years, our conversations often were about illness as well. We shared our fears and frustrations about serious diseases that had plagued both of us. And because I had survived so many of my own crises, I was sure she would as well.
I last spoke with her during the fall of 2008; it was clear she was struggling with her cancer but she remained upbeat. We both knew that her work at the University of Missouri and her abiding commitment to the dialysis conference would remain her focus. Her work gave her peace I think, and we all benefited, each and every year.
I know that Barb filled the years of her life with many passions — as a nurse, a mother, a spouse, a daughter, a friend, a colleague — and I am very grateful to have known her.
Judith Bernardini, Adjunct Research Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
I first met Barbara in the very early days of PD when not many units were doing PD. It was very apparent even at that early stage that she was very committed to the treatment. She was very professional and remained so over the 25 years that I knew her.
At international conferences she always tried to see that other countries, for whatever reason, did not always do things the same as in the United States and tried to find ways of helping nurses that had limited resources. She was a committed educationalist and her CV will show this; she was always happy to teach basic PD throughout her career.
As a person, I know she was a very caring mother. We met when we were both pregnant and shared stories about the children and ordinary things like recipes over the years. Her family was a very important part of her life.
I know that she had been ill for several years, but I never heard her once use this as an excuse not to be punctual and professional. She was a pioneer in the renal field and will be sadly missed.
Linda Uttley, Former Chief Nurse, Manchester Royal Infirmary Home Dialysis Unit, United Kingdom
Barb Prowant was a gentle spirit with great dignity who had a quiet presence as she organized the Nursing Program at the ADC. As a speaker, she always made you feel involved in the development of the program. Her contribution to nephrology was worldwide, with her many publications and presentations, which will allow us to hold a piece of Barb forever. She truly was a leader among nurses.
Valerie Price, Pre-dialysis Coordinator, Atlantic Health Sciences Corporation, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Since my early days as a peritoneal dialysis nurse, Barbara Prowant has been an icon, the one to be followed. During the Annual Dialysis Conference in 1996, in Seattle, she became even more important to me. It was my first oral slide forum presentation in English and, when I finished, there she was with her hand raised, questioning me. I was so honored and paralyzed that it took me a few moments to answer. She had strong opinions on the subject being debated but, despite her disagreement, she was the one to encourage me to publish my study as she recognized the importance of the topic and research. This event was significant to me as it illustrated the kind of leadership she had with an open scientific mind.
Profa Dra Ana Elizabeth Figueiredo, Faculdade de Enfermagem, Nutrição e Fisioterapia, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
I met Barbara at one of the very early national PD meetings in Kansas City. She was a nursing professional, very knowledgeable, and always available to the PD nursing community. She never hesitated to be the resource nurse for novices in this new field of nursing. When she coordinated the international ADC meeting in Denver, she included the local PD nursing community in the planning process. She honored us with inclusion in the program. She will be dearly missed in the PD nursing community.
Maggie Quinn, Charge Nurse, Home Dialysis Program, University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, Colorado, United States
I did not know Barbara Prowant personally but have used her publications in my own work. Also, I have listened to presentations by her and learned a lot when I started in “the world of the dialysis.”
Aase Riemann, Project Management, Dianet Dialysis Centers, Academic Medical Center (AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
I met Barbara when she visited Hong Kong many years ago. She was such a nice person who inspired and enlightened me to provide better care to my patients. I am sure we shall remember her.
Irene Kong, Renal Nurse Consultant, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong
Barbara was a wonderful woman and I miss her very much. I have known her name since I joined the ISPD Nurse Liaison Committee. She had a great career as a PD nurse, so it was an honor for me to talk with her. She was very friendly and a nice lady. I had an opportunity to have dinner with her in Orlando last year at the Annual Dialysis Conference. She seemed to be fine, so it is hard to believe that she has passed away. Last year I sent her an e-mail and asked if she would go to the ISPD Congress in Istanbul. She replied to me very soon and introduced me to some of her friends who would go to Istanbul (she introduced me to Ana and Valerie!). She advised me to contact them to enjoy my trip. I thought how sweet she was. I will cherish that e-mail and the photo we took together as my good memory.
Miki Hiramatsu, Assistant Nurse Manager in the Hemodialysis Unit at Health Insurance Isahaya General Hospital, Japan