In early February I lost a colleague and friend. Emily Armstrong, RN, BSN, who worked for FootCare by Nurses in the Berkshires, suffered a fatal aneurism and died. She was just 35 years old. She was on her way out to go ice fishing with her husband and young son.

There were no symptoms or warnings. Like the fire that destroyed my home in Conway in the spring of 2022, the loss is overwhelming; the rationale, unknown.

Emily’s death reminds me of the fragility of life, the constancy of change, and the necessity of finding meaningful and satisfying work, not someday, but now. Emily had that, thank goodness. She was a registered nurse who came to FootCare by Nurses because she wanted to work with elders and because she sought balance between her home life and her work.

She was a beautiful, kind person, a wonderful leader, an amazing nurse and a force to be met with about quality nursing care. Her drive started young in life. She made her way up from dietary aide as a teenager to CNA, and then to LPN and RN. She had a dream to make a difference as a nurse, which she manifested.

She came to FootCare by Nurses before COVID. I remember the day I met her. She sat on the floor, she wanted to know what I was doing and why. She exuded curiosity, and caring. She wanted to learn. I loved her the minute I met her.

She wanted to learn because it meant she could do more. She became a certified foot care specialist. I precepted her for her bachelor’s degree. She did a project on skin care and helped us learn that petroleum products just don’t work well for older skin. As we grew, she grew. She became a regional manager of the Berkshires and built an amazing team of foot care nurses. She held their hands and pushed them to be the very best they could be. She strived to be the leader she felt nurses needed and deserved.

From very few customers and a dream, she took on the mission to make a difference and she did. With FootCare by Nurses, Emily could be the nurse she wanted to be, to matter, to have a paycheck and a team that afforded her work-life balance and stimulated her brain.

Emily taught others there the work, passion and professionalism and took care of the need — care of the feet of elders to prevent falls and wounds from happening. Proof that good nursing dreams and a vision can come true and purposeful work is rewarding. She was even scheduled this summer to go to her first international nursing conference.

While Emily is now gone, the team continues their good work. She leaves a legacy of good, evidence-based nursing and whole person care.

While life can be short, living it to its fullest is about choices and seizing opportunities. While care of feet may not suit everyone, there is often deeper meaning and reward to how life can be lived when we are encouraged to be our best selves.

It turns out that feet are very important to human function — they can be thought of as our roots, and when we take care of our roots, the essence of who we are, it brings quality of life and being able to make a difference, which is what Emily really loved and wanted.

Her career, position and opportunities afforded her to be with her son and shine as a nurse. She loved us, she loved her patients, she loved her team, she loved her life and inspired many. She was put to rest last weekend. I am grateful to be part of her story and hope others might be inspired to pursue their dreams by knowing their essence and walking a purposeful path.

Kate Clayton-Jones lives in Conway and Deerfield. 

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