GOING HOME

Three months ago, ninety-one year old “Inga” fell and broke her hip. While in the hospital recovering, she came down with pneumonia. She was then transferred to a skilled nursing facility to recover. Inga also suffers from end stage cardiac disease. She has been in a recent decline to where she is weaker, eating less and a bit more confused.

Inga normally lives with her husband, “Eddie”. They have been married seventy years. Eddie is ninety-six years old and still gets around using a walker. Inga and Eddie live in a senior retirement community which offers independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing. Inga has been in the skilled nursing unit for two months and is ready to return home to Eddie, who is in assisted living housing section.

Inga and Eddie have three adult children. Their middle son, “Dennis”, visits daily to check in on both of his parents. They had another daughter, “Janet”, who died years ago from cancer. Their eldest son lives in another state and is unable to do any “hands-on” help.

The hospice nurse and I met with Inga and Dennis today to admit Inga to hospice. Inga is bedridden and requires assistance with all of her needs. The plan is for Inga to return home tomorrow. Dennis has arranged for twenty-four hour attendant care for his parents. Dennis had been visiting his parents daily and feels that both of his parents will be much happier together. Dennis states it also will be a lot easier for him to assist them.

Inga smiles so easily with her only focus being to get home to Eddie. Her smile was huge when the hospice nurse informed her that she will be going home tomorrow. Inga has no fears about dying saying she has people she wants to visit. I know that as a mother, the first person she will run to will be her daughter Janet. I can visualize Inga with a huge smile when greeting her daughter. Go in peace, Inga.


GOING HOME

She’s made it to ninety-one years.
Her life has been full.
No matter what; good times or bad,
she will always have a quick smile.

She’s recovering from pneumonia.
She’s been in one hospital or another.
She just wants to get back home
to her husband of seventy years.

They live with around-the-clock care.
They both know they can’t do it alone
He’s ninety-six, but doing better than her.
They’ve been apart much too long.

She knows her days are numbered.
Her strong faith erases any fears.
“I am ready to go to Heaven.
There’s lots of people I want to visit.”

She’ll be in her own bed tomorrow,
with her husband again by her side.
She will get her final wish
before it’s time for her to
         go home.