SO FUNNY

We admitted, “Cecilia”, eighty, to our hospice today.  Cecelia was very confused secondary to Alzheimer’s Disease.  Cecelia lives in a Residential Care Facility with around the clock support.   Her daughter, “Janet”, lives nearby and is very devoted to her mother. 

The two of them were sitting at a table in the kitchen area.  Cecelia was sitting in her wheelchair next to Janet.  When Cecelia first saw us, she turned and whispered something to her daughter.  She then immediately started to laugh so hard.  Her laughter was so contagious, she had all of us laughing. 

Janet said that her mother has always been so funny.  Janet also shared that her father, who died two years ago, had a great sense of humor as well.  It wasn’t surprising then that Janet too was gifted with humor. 

When Cecelia spoke, she was very hard to understand.  Everything she said did trigger laughter within her.  I realized that it was her delivery that stole the show.  She was fun to be around.  No one would ever choose to be confused and dependent, but one great way to cope is; definitely laughter.  Keep on laughing Cecelia!!!

SO FUNNY 

 

She was told it was Alzheimer’s Disease

a little over three years ago.

She had been stable and doing fine,

until hitting her head in a recent fall.

 

Her life has changed dramatically since that fall.

She is so much weaker and needing more help.

She now uses a wheelchair as can no longer walk.

Her increased confusion, doesn’t register this at all.

 

As we walked into the facilities kitchen,

we saw she and her daughter sitting quietly there.

She saw us and said something to her daughter

which immediately made her laugh so hard.

 

Throughout the visit, she would comment a lot;

while giggling and laughing the entire time.

She’s always had a sense of humor,

but during the visit, she truly did shine.

 

She was hard to understand,

but her delivery was perfect.

It was her tone and her demeanor

that had me laughing just as hard.

 

She may not be aware or understand,

that her humor is helping her cope.

Her quality of life is no longer around,

but at least, she can face it

                    and laugh.