ALWAYS LATE

A few days after a death, the Social Worker will call the family to offer condolences and support.  One of our Social Workers is on vacation this week so I made a few of the calls for her.  I spoke to “Abigail” a daughter of one of the patients who had died two days ago.  Abigail shared a lot of stories about her family.  She had an amazing sense of humor which had both of us laughing. 

 I loved the stories that she told about her mother as she let me know who her mother truly was.  Quite often the disease is so powerful and strong, it is what the family sees first, but her mother sound like so much fun.  This is an amazing family.  Abigail was so easily able to see who her mother was which was so not the disease.  Keep telling your stories Abigail. 

ALWAYS LATE 

 

I called her daughter to offer support

as Mom peacefully died just the other day.

When asked how she is coping, she said,

                     “I am doing pretty good.”

 

“I always called her the worm

as her illness was so up and down.

Now I am the worm, as my emotions too,

                    are now way up and down.”

 

She then shared stories about her family;

using lots of humor helping her to cope.

“She was never on time, but always so late

as would bake a cake when we had to leave”.

 

She loved to watch the local basketball team.

They were doing pretty good this year.

“We knew her time was getting near, so I told her,

“Dad will truly say, you are again very late”.

 

The other night, we were all watching basketball on the TV.

Her team was definitely going to win.

The moment the buzzer rang the closing bell,

she quietly took her final breath.

 

“For once in her life,

                    she was right on time.”