BROTHERS

"Matt", who suffered from lung cancer, had been in the Intensive Care Unit for over a week. We received a referral to meet with Matt and his brother, "Timothy", at the hospital.

Matt lived with his brother. The plan was to discharge Matt home the next day. Matt had not eaten for five days and was drinking very little. Timothy knew his brother didn't have much longer to live and he knew his brother would want to be at home.

The hospice nurse and I walked into Matt's ICU room. We saw Timothy sitting next to Matt holding his hand. Timothy's face showed pure love for his brother. What struck me so beautifully was that, in the end, the important thing is not what is in your life, but whom. Timothy's love for his brother was so pure and beautiful. In the end, that is truly the most precious gift of all.


BROTHERS　

We quietly walked into his ICU room.
His brother was sitting by his side.
He, sound asleep in the hospital bed,
while his brother so gently holding his hand.

It was so calm; so beautiful.
The love between them magnificently glowed.
Unconditional love embraced the two.
He trying to hold on before saying goodbye.

There is no other family but an uncle or two.
Both elderly and unable to come.
His brother has been sick for so many years.
He alone; always focusing on his brother's care.

He stopped eating five days ago.
We knew he didn't have long.
His brother wanted to bring him home;
to die in peace in his own room.

He died a few hours after we left.
He never did make it home.
But he was surrounded by his brother's love;
he knew it was his time to go.

I hope his grief is manageable.
I hope he reaches out for support.
It is such a huge loss losing someone so close,
but I truly believe that they will
          always and forevermore never stop
                   being brothers.