TWENTY MINUTES

I had two back-to-back appointments, which typically is not my schedule.  Most admission visits last almost an hour and a half plus more.  Fortunately, the two admissions were both in the same town and about a ten-minute drive from each other. 

My first admission ran short which got me to the second appointment twenty minutes early.  The patient had been hospitalized and was being discharged to a Residential Care Facility, sixty miles from her and her daughter’s home.  The daughter chose this facility because there were several family members who lived nearby. 

We were to meet up with the daughter at 11:30 this morning.  Because my first visit did not run long, I arrived twenty minutes early.  This facility is on acreage with beautiful flowers, baby goats and chickens.  It is like being in a garden.  So relaxing and beautiful.  They have a small five bed hospice building on the property.  I knew we were meeting with the daughter, but I wasn’t sure where she was waiting.  I saw the Nurse Manager on the property and she came up to me and softly told me that the patient had just died. 

It gave me the needed time to offer support to the daughter; which she so deeply needed.   When patients die on hospice, our hospice nurse can do the pronouncement.  Because the patient wasn’t on our hospice program, the facility has to call 911.   The owner of the facility was calling the state to see what the proper procedure was; which gave me the time to give comfort to the daughter. 

It was amazing what the twenty minutes gave to both of us.  She was then stronger to talk with the paramedics, the sheriffs and the coroner.  I did refer her to our hospice bereavement department for follow up.  I wish her well.

TWENTY MINUTES

She was being transferred from the hospital;

over sixty miles away, to the new facility.

Her daughter was going to be there when Mom arrived.

She knew we were coming shortly afterwards.

 

I had an earlier admission that ran short.

I then drove to the facility twenty minutes early.

I looked for the nurse manager to see where to go.

She saw me and softly said, “She just died.”

 

She died fifteen minutes after her arrival.

Her daughter was sitting quietly on the patio

with her hands soothing her face.

“I don’t know what to do or who to call.”

 

I helped her locate a mortuary

while offering condolences and support.

I let her express her grief, her sadness.

Coming to terms with what just happened.

 

She thought Mom would have more time.

She wasn’t quite yet ready for this.

She shared that Mom opened her eyes;

mouthed a few quiet words; took her last breath

         and then peacefully died.

 

I was meant to get there twenty minutes early;

before the paramedics, the sheriff, the coroner.

Talking about specific facts is important,

but what she so needed first,

was comfort; validation of feelings and support.

 

I strongly know that I was guided from above.

I was meant to arrive at that exact time;

to give her what she so deeply needed;

precious time to grieve her tremendous loss;

in an amazing, profound

                  twenty minutes time.