Remember my first patient who really inspired me at this assignment?
Constance, my 3pm appointment, with whom I loved to laugh during the Ellen Show...
She went out late last week to the hospital. She came back Monday with hospice services. Ohhhhhhh.....for all you who work in skilled nursing, sometimes those older folks you just love come home from the hospital ready for their life graduation.
Constance was laying still in her bed, covered only with a white sheet, white as a sheet herself, nasal canula supplying much needed oxygen to help her breathe. My own breath did a sharp intake.
"Oh, Constance!"
I could tell her life force was dwindling. Family had been called in. Most of the day, the room had been filled with family members. Two daughters stood outside the room.
I turned to them. "I just want you to know what a blessing your mom has been. I have enjoyed her so much!" I went on to tell them about what happened when we got together to prepare her arms for splinting.
They smiled broadly. I could tell it brought them some sense of relief from their grieving. They encouraged me to go tell her goodbye.
I walked into the room. The hospice nurse aide was there at the bedside. I went to the other side of the bed and leaned into her ear.
I told her all the beautiful ways that she had touched my life. I wished her a lovely journey.
As I walked out of her room, I could almost close my eyes and transport myself to a building about 2 hours from here in which I had worked in the past, a building whose people handled death more lovingly, attentively and Christly than any I had ever seen.
The building had a special cart of cold and warm drinks and food. They had beautiful low music playing in the background. When the loved one passed, the body was escorted out of the building with a chaplain, followed by a member of each department, in prayer and honor to the one who had passed.
I will never forget the respect and honor that was paid to those graduates of life. I can only hope that I provide some sense of positivity to those who are preparing for their journey here.
"Waiting On An Angel"
Waiting on an angel
One to carry me home
Hope you come to see me soon
Cause I don' t want to go alone
I don' t want to go alone
Now angel won' t you come by me
Angel hear my plea
Take my hand lift me up
So that I can fly with thee
So that I can fly with thee
And I'm waiting on an angel
And I know it won' t be long
To find myself a resting place
In my angel's arms
In my angel's arms
So speak kind to a stranger
Cause you'll never know
It just might be an angel come
Knockin' at your door
Knockin' at your door
And I'm waiting on an angel
And I know it won't be long
To find myself a resting place
In my angel's arms
In my angel's arms
Waiting on an angel
One to carry me home
Hope you come and see me soon
Cause I don' t want to go alone
I don't want to go alone
Don' t want to go
I don't want to go alone
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