HER KIDS

“Ellie”, ninety-seven, was admitted into a skilled nursing facility yesterday. Ellie suffers from cardiac disease. She is widowed and had been living alone in her own home until last week when she was admitted into the hospital due to heart complications. After a week’s stay in the hospital, it was obvious that she could no longer live alone. Ellie was discharged from the hospital yesterday to a skilled nursing facility.

The hospice nurse and I went out to admit Ellie to hospice. Ellie is alert and oriented and was able to sign her own paperwork. We just missed meeting her eldest son, “David”, as he had just left after a short visit with his mother. David lives about two hours away. He had to get home before the heavy storm that was predicted. His drive is over mountainous, snowy terrain.

Ellie was in good spirits and had easily accepted her new living situation. She had an easy smile and has always taken life as it comes. She spoke about needing someone to bring her some clothes as all she had was the hospital gown on her back. David had arranged for someone to bring his mother some much needed clothes.

Ellie spoke of her two other children, “Janice“ and “Bobby“, who live together in a neighboring state. They had just returned home as had visited while she was in the hospital. Ellie felt bad as she knew most of the burden was on her eldest son, David. She was a mama bear worrying about her bear cubs.

I asked Ellie if she ever looks at her kids as adults or are they still just kids to her. She smiled and said that yes, they are, and always will be, her kids. She made me smile as once a mother, always a mother. How amazing and wonderful is that?


HER KIDS

She has raised three kids.
She taught them well.
They all want to help her now
since her move into the care facility.

She had been living alone until last week
when her health problems became much worse.
It happened so suddenly; no time to prepare.
She needs more help now than ever before.

She hates to bother her kids.
She says they are all so busy.
But she needs someone to bring her clothes;
to sort through her belongings; to help pay her bills.

In spite of it all, she’ll smile so easily.
Never once feeling sorry for herself.
Knowing she needs them,
but not wanting to burden her kids.

It is a mother’s prerogative to worry about them.
It has always been and will continue to be that way.
Even though she is now ninety-seven years old
and they are seventy-five, seventy and fifty eight.

But when all is said and done,
she is just a mom
protecting and loving
          her three young kids.