THANK YOU

We, as hospice workers, often get asked, “How can you do hospice work?”  Yes, there ae moments when we all have sad times, but the rewards are profound.  We often get thanked for just doing what we are doing.  Hospice’s goal is to support the patient and family to do things their way.  So truthfully, we get it back a thousand-fold.  We are so blessed to do what we have all been led to do.  We hear “Thank you” frequently.  But then, we too, say “Thank you” just as frequently.  That is the beauty of hospice. 

THANK YOU  

 

We, as hospice workers, 

hear “Thank you” so frequently. 

That is the reward and the benefit 

as we so want to thank them as well. 

 

They have welcomed us into their home. 

They so appreciate the support; the validation. 

They are in charge of the care plan; not us. 

“Please let us know how we can help”. 

 

Our agency also has an online website. 

We receive many calls from folks 

asking about community resources 

or help with caring for a loved one. 

 

She called asking for guidance 

caring for her elderly parents. 

She is from a very large family 

who all have strong ideas about what to do. 

 

I actively listened to what she had to say. 

I gave guidance while praising her thoughts. 

I validated and normalized her grief. 

I spoke about useful options. 

 

At the end of our talk, she gracefully said, 

“You have helped me so much. 

You said the perfect words. 

You allowed me to say what I needed to say”. 

 

Her final words brought tears to my eyes 

as they were so deep coming from her heart. 

She softly ended by saying, ‘You are an angel”. 

I then quietly and humbly replied, 

                         “Thank you”. 

 

TOO MANY

We admitted “Ken”, ninety-five, to hospice this morning.  Ken has struggled with his kidneys for quite a while.    He was fairly independent one month ago.  He has since been in a rapid decline secondary to his kidneys.  The doctors recommended dialysis, but Ken strongly answered, “No”. 

When the nurse and I arrived, Ken was lying down in his bedroom.  We then spoke with his daughter, “Kathy” and other family in the living room.  Kathy started to share her father’s medical and family history.  I was so shocked at how many deaths this family has endured.  

 

At the end of the visit, we all walked into Ken’s room.  He had the greatest sense of humor and would laugh so easily.  So many of the patients and their families I meet use humor to cope.  I am glad that Ken’s humor helps him cope too.   It has to be overwhelming at times.  God Bless Ken and his family. 

 

TOO MANY 

 

 

You could say he has had a full life 

as he turned ninety-five last month. 

He had been living alone and doing well. 

All that changed a few weeks ago. 

 

His kidneys are starting to fail. 

He says no to any dialysis. 

His granddaughter moved in to help. 

So understandable, he hates being dependent. 

 

His humor helps him with life stressors. 

He so easily laughs about past losses. 

His pain is real and so very deep, 

but laughing gets him through another day. 

 

He was married twice and widowed from both. 

He had four children; one daughter and 3 sons. 

His three sons have all preceded him in death. 

In addition, he has also lost a twenty-year-old grandson. 

 

Grief and sadness can be so deep; so profound. 

How does one cope with so much loss? 

We grieve so individually with each person we have loved 

as we have a different relationship with everyone. 

 

He keeps sharing, “I want to just go to sleep; 

and then, hopefully, it will all be over.” 

If one would ask him, “How much is too many?” 

I know he would simply answer, 

                         “Just one.”