CELL PHONE

Sixty-six year old “Gene” suffered from esophageal cancer. He was diagnosed three years ago, but had been doing well until recently when he started to decline. Gene lived with his wife, “Susanne” of twenty-five years. They both had children from previous marriages, but her sons thought of Gene as their dad.

He was on hospice for only three weeks as his decline was rapid. It got to the point to where he was bed bound and spent his days in the hospital bed in the living room. Susanne would sleep on the couch nearby in case he would wake up during the night. He struggled with some pain issues and, for several nights, he would wake up Susanne throughout the night.

Fortunately, the pain issues lasted for only a few days to where he became more restful. Susanne thought the turning point was when the hospice nurse put in a catheter. She felt that a lot of his pain was discomfort from not being able to urinate on his own.

Gene died early one Monday morning. Susanne had just gotten up to use the bathroom and heard him make a noise. She quickly went to the bedside and saw that he had stopped breathing. Her sister was with her and was able to give her the support she needed.

My role as the hospice social worker includes bereavement. I do follow up telephone calls and visits as needed. I did a home visit today with Susanne to give her support. It was during today’s visit that Susanne told me about Gene’s cell phone antics. She says it gives her peace knowing that he is, without question, on the other side.

As a side note: it was amazing to me as Gene was born the same day and year that I was born. I seldom meet anyone with whom I share a birthday; let alone one who was born in the same year. It gave the two of us a wonderful connection.

CELL PHONE

　
He was sick for a little while.
He had some struggles along the way.
She was nearby when he took his last breath;
giving thanks for a peaceful end.

She found his cell phone the next day.
The battery had completely died.
She put his phone in the back bedroom.
He would never need it again.

Later she heard someone texting on his phone.
She wondered how would that be?
His battery wasn’t charged; it shouldn’t be working.
She wondered if it was him.

It happened again the very next day.
She knew what she had heard.
She started to believe that it really was him
sending her a message via his cell phone.

A few days later, his cell phone rang.
She was convinced now that it was him.
Communicating to her so that she would know
he was on the line with his final goodbye.
Spiritual technology; giving her peace;
       using an earthly
              cell phone.