STAY POSITIVE

Ninety-eight year old, "Beatrice", had been fairly independent until her recent hospitalization for shortness of breath. Beatrice was then diagnosed with lung cancer. She chose not to follow up with any treatment. She was discharged home from the hospital today with a hospice referral.

The hospice nurse and I went out to meet Beatrice and her daughter, "Kathy". The two of them live together. Kathy has retired and available to care for her mother. Beatrice had been fairly independent prior to this hospitalization. She is now on oxygen and extremely weak. Being ninety-eight, one knows she is tough and a fighter.

Beatrice had a great sense of humor and had us laughing so hard. She did not think she was that funny, but I assured her that she definitely made me laugh so hard. She spoke of the many losses she suffered over her lifetime and how her positive attitude helped her cope with it all.

She was able to talk about those losses in such a loving way. She accepted all the good and all the bad in her life with the thought, “That is life.” With a smile on her face, she spoke about how she taught her four children to always have a positive attitude. Even without those words, her behavior taught them by her actions.

She is an amazing mother and such an amazing person. What a wonderful attitude she has about life and all of its up and down drama. I am honored to have met her.


STAY POSITIVE　

She had us laughing
from the moment we walked in.
Her humor was clever
matching her positive attitude.

I asked her about her longevity,
"What is the secret to becoming 98?"
She quickly corrected my by saying,
"I am ninety-eight and a half!"

She spoke about the death of her husband,
from Alzheimer's Disease over thirty years ago.
Then her eldest son only four months ago
          after a long battle with cancer.

I asked her, "How do you cope with it all?"
Her answer came straight from her heart,
"It is life. Nothing more."
Then quietly adding, "It was their time to go."

She spoke about her upbeat attitude
and how it optimistically guides her life.
"I taught my children to always stay positive.
          It is the only way to be."

Whether she lives to be one hundred,
or only ninety-eight and a half,
I know she will so naturally stay positive
while her amazing smile
          will continue to brighten
                   each of her days
                            forevermore.