Kia ora tatou,
It is with great sadness that I am writing to share that I have made the difficult decision to close The Bridge Clinic permanently as of today. This has been one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make.
There are many reasons that have ultimately led me to this decision, and honestly, it has been “brewing” for some time. The reality is that there is no one able to step into my role and take on what is required to keep the clinic open. While that is incredibly difficult for me to accept, I know that the time has come.
Before anything else, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the church. The Bridge Clinic simply would not have existed for the past 19 years without your support and generosity. You opened your doors to us and gave us a place to call home—a space where thousands of people could come seeking care, compassion, dignity, and kindness. Your willingness to support the clinic and make space for this work has been an extraordinary gift, not only to me and our volunteers, but to every patient whose life has been touched by The Bridge Clinic. You trusted me through COVID to remain open and provide needed care.
Over the next few months, I will work very hard to identify resources and appropriate care for those still in need, so that we can do everything possible to help those who have come to rely on the clinic. I will be in Rockford from the 19th through the 21st of next week to begin organizing this transition and to return the space we hold to the church.
The Bridge Clinic has provided care for 19 years. During that time, I have seen, shared in, and been part of some truly miraculous things. I have met extraordinary people, witnessed incredible acts of kindness, walked alongside patients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, and experienced things that I will carry with me forever.
There is no doubt that The Bridge Clinic has changed my life—and I know it has changed the lives of many others.
That said, I have reached a point in my own life where I am no longer able to give of myself in the way that is needed to keep the clinic open. The clinic has always required an enormous amount of heart, time, energy, and commitment, and I have come to recognize that I simply cannot continue to give what is needed. As difficult as that is to say, it is time…
I am incredibly proud of and grateful for every person who has walked through the doors of The Bridge Clinic to volunteer. The students we have mentored. The kind and caring hearts of those who have given so much to our patients, to the clinic, and to me personally are something I will never forget.
There is absolutely no way I could adequately express my gratitude in an email.
I could write pages about the wonderful moments, the challenges, the laughter, the tears, the miracles, and the precious people who have crossed my path over these 19 years. The Bridge Clinic has helped shape me, challenged me, taught me, and allowed me to grow into the provider I am today. For that, I will always be grateful.
It has given us all a little more insight into what truly matters—not only in our careers, but in life. Reminding us of the importance of kindness, compassion, and giving back whenever we have the ability to do so.
There is a whakataukī (proverb) from Aotearoa New Zealand that has always resonated deeply with me:
He aha te mea nui o te ao?
He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
What is the most important thing in the world?
It is people, it is people, it is people.
That, more than anything, has been the heart of The Bridge Clinic.
It has never simply been about medicine. It has been about people—the people who came through our doors seeking care, the people who volunteered their time and talents, and the people who supported this work and made it possible year after year. The church has been an important part of that story, and I will always be deeply grateful that you believed in the importance of creating a place where people could come and be cared for.
Thank you for opening your doors to us. Thank you for giving us a home for The Bridge Clinic. Thank you for your support, your generosity, and for allowing this little clinic to become a place where so much compassion and kindness could be shared.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I will carry the memories, the friendships, the lessons, and the people of The Bridge Clinic with me for the rest of my life.
With all my heart, again thank you.
Love and gratitude, Nicky