Living Fully, Loving Deeply: Charles and Rachel’s Journey with Gilchrist
When you meet Charles Griffin and his wife Rachel Stevens Griffin, it’s impossible not to be moved by their devotion—to each other, to the arts, to a life well lived, and most recently, to the care and comfort they’ve found through Gilchrist.
At 94 years old, Charles speaks with wisdom and warmth. A lifelong Baltimorean, he joined the Army at the age of 16, serving in Korea and Japan. After returning home, he worked as a streetcar operator and later spent three decades at the Baltimore Post Office. He raised three sons, traveled to all 50 states, and built a life filled with family, travel, curiosity, and resilience.
But perhaps the most unexpected chapter in his story began thirteen years ago, when he met Rachel. They were introduced by the hairstylist of Charles’s late wife. What began with a few phone calls soon blossomed into a deep connection. Rachel, a nurse, nanny, and artist in her own right, saw something rare in Charles: “He was so at peace. I’m energy here, energy there—and he balanced me out.”
Their bond only grew stronger, eventually leading to marriage—and today, a shared journey through hospice at Gilchrist Center Baltimore.
From Home Hospice to Healing at Gilchrist
Charles’s journey with Gilchrist began at home, after several emergency room visits left him and Rachel exhausted and searching for answers. “I always thought you went to Gilchrist when you were dying,” Charles admits. “But we learned that their main mission is to manage your pain and improve your quality of life. That put me at ease.”
After four months of Gilchrist’s home-based hospice care, the toll on Rachel became clear. “He had fallen seven times at home,” she recalled. “One night, I passed out in bed from exhaustion, and he couldn’t help me.” Charles knew it was time. “I told her, ‘Put my name down. When they call, I’m going,” he shares. That call came soon after, and within an hour, they arrived at Gilchrist Center, Baltimore.
Since November 21st, the couple has been living each day with comfort, support, and grace. “I’ve been content here,” Charles said, as sunlight streamed into his room. “I put a little music on, watch the news, enjoy the view. I know what to expect, and I’m at peace.”
Celebrating Life at Every Stage
Far from the sterile image many associate with hospice, Charles and Rachel have embraced life at Gilchrist with warmth, love, and gratitude. From their holiday meals to Rachel’s overnight stays on a cozy pull-out bed beside her husband, the couple continues to find moments of connection and celebration—even amid life’s most difficult transitions.
One of their most treasured memories was their 13th wedding anniversary, which they celebrated at Gilchrist Center Baltimore with a candlelit dinner—complete with fine china, crystal glasses, and a lovingly prepared meal of all Charles’s favorite dishes. A missionary and elder from Rachel’s church volunteered to “fine dine” the couple in the family room, transforming the space into a special setting that felt more like a private restaurant than a hospice. Charles was wheeled to the table, where they were waited on and served with care and dignity. “No one would believe this was hospice,” Rachel said, smiling. “It was beautiful. It was love in action.”
And thanks to Gilchrist’s team, including chaplains, social workers, nurses, and aides, Rachel has transitioned from caregiver back to wife. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” she said. “Now, I get to just be his wife again.” She shares, “People have such a misconception of hospice. But Charles is living a full quality of life—with family, friends, and love.”
We Honor Veterans Program: Honoring Veterans with Dignity
A particularly poignant event was Charles’s participation in Gilchrist’s Salute to Service program. This initiative, part of the We Honor Veterans program, organizes veteran volunteers to conduct special pinning ceremonies for Gilchrist veterans, acknowledging their military service and personal sacrifice. During the ceremony, Charles received a formal salute, a certificate of appreciation, and a patriotic blanket—an experience that deeply moved both him and Rachel. Rachel described how proud and honored Charles felt to be recognized not just as a patient, but as a veteran whose life and service still matter.
Additionally, Rachel attended Gilchrist’s 7th Annual Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day Celebration, an event dedicated to honoring the courage and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans. Rachel, whose late husband served in the Vietnam war, was deeply touched.
Finding Faith Through Movement
One Sunday, while walking the halls of Gilchrist Center Baltimore, Rachel heard praise music playing. She felt drawn to the sound and followed it to a patient’s doorway, where she met a 103-year-old woman and her daughter. “I’m a liturgical dancer,” Rachel told them—and to her surprise, the daughter responded, “So am I.” They shared photos and stories, and the daughter asked Rachel if she would dance for her mother’s 104th birthday.
“I stepped out into the hallway and just sobbed,” Rachel said. “It’s enough to see someone in hospice still so alive, so peaceful.” On January 5th, she danced in honor of the woman’s milestone. “Liturgical dance brings heaven down into our space,” Rachel explained. “It’s my way of healing and worship.”
Looking Ahead
Rachel, a published author, is now working on writing her second book, a collection of reflections, poems, and spiritual meditations. The book explores grief, caregiving, and divine inspiration, much of it written during quiet moments at Charles’s bedside. “I’ve written over 100 poems,” she said proudly. “Everything I’ve created has come out of our grief, our joy, and our journey.”
As Charles continues to rest peacefully and Rachel continues to create, they are both savoring each moment. “Hospice has given us the chance to live in dignity,” Rachel said. “To rest, to reflect, to love each other well. When that final moment comes, we’ll know we lived it fully.”
“Gilchrist gives you the opportunity to die—or as I say, to sleep away—with dignity,” Rachel shares. And in their quiet room with the beautiful view, they are doing just that—loving, reflecting, and living out each moment with grace.
To learn more about Gilchrist and its programs, visit: https://gilchristcares.org/
*Rachel’s first book, The 21st Century Nanny: A Story of Loss, Restoration and Triumph, chronicles her life as a nanny, nurse, and woman of faith. It can be purchased on Amazon at: https://a.co/d/4TNYkPg