TWENTY MINUTES

We opened an elderly patient to hospice yesterday. Today, our hospice nurse was with him all day trying to control his pain. The patient was moaning and crying out with any movement. I was asked to go over to give the nurse and the patient's daughter some support.

When I arrived, the nurse told me that they had called the paramedics. She strongly felt that the patient needed to go to the ER where, hopefully, his pain would be better controlled. The patient's daughter, "Emily", was her father's agent on his Advanced Directive. The patient was confused which automatically made Emily his spokesperson.

Once the paramedics arrived, they started to ask Emily so many questions. Emily knew her father's wishes of comfort care and no extraordinary measures. Emily turned to me as was upset because she thought they implied that she was wrong. I encouraged her to continue to be the strong advocate for her father. He chose her because he trusted her to express and follow his wishes.

Emily turned and hugged me so tightly thanking me for my words of encouragement. I was so amazed and honored that I was able to help and support her in only a few moments. It is humbling to have been able to find the right words for her and to be able to be with her at just the right moment. Spirituality at its best in only twenty minutes.


TWENTY MINUTES　

The nurse was with him all day.
His pain was out of control.
She and the doctors struggled
with finding what medication to use.

Arriving only a few moments before the paramedics,
I went over to give support to his daughter.
Immediately they started to ask her questions.
Their reactions upset her greatly.

She felt they thought she was wrong.
I shared, "Medical staff often want curative steps.
Many do not understand hospice philosophy,
patient's wishes or comfort care."

I spoke about being her father's advocate.
"He trusts you to follow his wishes.
You are rightly handling things.
Keep doing what you are doing,"

She hugged me so long and so tight.
Thanking me for my validation and support.
It was only a twenty minute visit,
solid proof that confirmation and support
          doesn't have to take very long.