THE HIKER

“Betty”, eighty-seven, suffers from dementia. She has been in a rapid decline for the past two weeks. She is getting weaker, more confused and unstable on her feet. She is eating very little and has recently lost over ten pounds.

Betty has lived in a Residential Care Facility for three years as she needs constant care and supervision. Betty has been married sixty-six years to “Greg”. Greg lives a mile away and visits Betty every other day. Betty and Greg have four adult children; of which three live nearby. The family is very devoted to Betty.

The hospice admission nurse and I went out to Betty’s facility to meet with Greg and their daughter, “Gloria”. Gloria and Greg just bragged about all of Betty’s accomplishments. She sounded like such an amazing woman. Nothing would ever stop her from reaching her goals. Greg proudly shared so many stories of their travels all over the world.

Betty loved to hike and Greg said he never could keep up with her. Greg is tall and robust while Betty is a little over five feet tall and petite. Greg would laugh while sharing stories about Betty. The family all have a great sense of humor and laugh easily. A few tears were shed, though, when talking about how Betty is today.

Betty doesn’t talk and often does not even recognize her family. She looks content and willingly goes along when staff slowly walk her to dining room for a meal. Likely it is a blessing for her not to remember all that she has lost. Her legacy will remain alive as long as Greg continues to brag and share Betty’s amazing life and stories.


THE HIKER
　

She loved to hike.
She’s trekked all over the world.
He bragged about her endurance.
How he never could keep up with her.

She hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro.
She hiked parts of Mt. Everest.
Nothing she did ever surprised him.
She was a trailblazer from the start.

He bragged about her intellect.
How she got a degree in Chemistry,
while other women her generation
were proud to be homemakers.

Seeing her now, one would be surprised.
Tiny, frail, confused, helpless.
Any resemblance of her adventurous spirit,
now buried way too deep inside.

He still sees an inspirational woman.
He sees her pioneering spirit.
He sees the woman he fell in love with
so many years ago. 
         The trailblazer;
                      the hiker.