ASK WHY

“George”, eighty-two, was referred to hospice because of heart disease. George has been in a recent decline in the past few months. He is becoming weaker and more confused. He needs help with all of his activities of daily living.

The hospice nurse and I met George and his daughter, “Jennie”, in George’s apartment at the Assisted Living Facility where he has lived for nine years. When we walked into George’s apartment, he immediately started to talk to us. He rambled on and on about family stories of the past, intermixing his memories of his career as a chemist.

He would show us old photos and explain them to us, but his words were so sporadic and very difficult to follow. The nurse and I both knew that we would need to speak with Jennie alone about hospice support and her father’s needs.

The beautiful part of it all was his daughter, Jennie. She was so gentle and kind to her father. She visits him weekly and with such patience, gives him pure love.

Meeting George made me so sad. It always brings up the question, “Why?” to me. With his brilliant mind, what amazing things could he have achieved. It not only is a huge loss for George, but also for all of us.


ASK WHY　

He was a brilliant man.
Science came so easy to him.
He graduated from Stanford University;
working as a Chemist; following his dream.

The next few years worked so well for him.
He was doing what he so loved to do.
Then came some bizarre behavior.
          Schizophrenia was to blame.

He fumbled a bit, but continued to work.
As the years flowed by, it became harder to do.
He would then work for less than six months;
subsequently to be told, it was time to go.

He now is in his eighties; living in a care home.
He wants to talk; to share stories about his life,
but his speech is frenzied; so hard to follow;
          making no sense at all.

Why did his life throw so many challenges?
Why didn’t he get a fair break?
I can only imagine what he could have accomplished,
          but he never got the chance.

It makes no sense to me.
Life can be so unfair.
I know that there are no logical answers,
but I will always continue to just ask
          “Why?”