BIRDS

"Kristen", sixty years old, suffered from breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. Kristen had been divorced for years and lived alone. She was not close to her family, but had a multitude of close girlfriends who were family to her. Kristen had her own massage therapy business that she ran out of her home. She was a very spiritual being and loved being connected to nature.

Kristen was diagnosed five years ago. Initially she tried the holistic approach for treatment. She did okay for quite a while until a decline a few months ago. It was then that she did chemotherapy and radiation, to no avail. Recently she told her friends that she wished she did chemotherapy and radiation first, instead of the other way around.

Kristen was determined to live and fight her battle. She continued with the holistic approach as long as she could. It was when Kristen took a turn for the worse, that her friend, "Lisa", who was the agent on her health care directive, called hospice to admit Kristen to our program. Four days earlier, Kristen was driving her car. The day we went out, she was imminent and unresponsive. With her friends at the bedside, Kristen died twenty-four hours after we admitted her to hospice.

The next day, I called Lisa to offer condolences. It was then that Lisa told me about all of the birds that were appearing. Lisa and her friends believe it is Kristen's spirit. It is giving them peace knowing she is still around and doing okay.

I hear so many of these stories, that for me, it validates my belief that there is life beyond. Of course, life, and possibly death, is all about perspective. In the end, it doesn't really matter if it is true or not. If one believes it to be true, then it is true to them. I just know that I felt goose bumps hearing this beautiful story. It if brings joy, then it is a great thing.


BIRDS
　
She loved to work in her garden.
She loved the birds that flew around.
She even had a bird clock in her living room,
chirping a different variety every hour.

She was a very spiritual being.
She believed in nature; in energy.
She died with a radiant glow.
They believe it was her spirit leaving.

They know she didn't go too far
as she continues to show them she is around.
They are seeing birds everywhere;
in the park; in their homes; in their yards.

Moments after they picked up her body,
her cat brought a baby blue jay into the home.
The bird flew directly into her bedroom.
They had trouble getting it back out.

Her friend found five blue jays in her yard.
Another; two doves landing by her feet.
Her great niece spoke of a blue bird circling overhead.
She's only eleven, but knew it was her aunt.

Whether it is true or not,
doesn't really matter much at all.
The important thing is that they all do believe;
the most compelling truth of all.