SURVIVOR

“Jason” has been hospitalized for several days due to metastatic cancer.  Due to circumstances beyond his control, Jason has been a loner for the majority of his life.  He has had challenging moments that most of us will never experience.  His best asset is how to survive.  I hope now he will be able to accept the gift of receiving. 

SURVIVOR 

 

He has had a challenging life. 

He has fought hard to survive. 

His parents left him when he was only eight. 

He has been alone all this time. 

 

He is now in his mid-sixties  

and still struggling to survive. 

He has been hospitalized for several days 

as his cancer has now spread to other organs. 

 

He strongly wants to go home alone, 

but needs too much help and assistance. 

Receiving from others is so new to him 

as he only knows how to be alone and survive. 

 

I spoke with him about our hospice shelter 

where he will get continuous care. 

He struggles with communicating with others; 

“There is a reason why I live alone”. 

 

He has survived being homeless. 

He has recovered from a bullet wound. 

Receiving is a new and infrequent gift for him. 

I so hope he can embrace others caring for him. 

 

Another new way 

                         to survive.    

BILL

The hospice nurse and I admitted “Les” to our hospice today.  He showed us a serious side when asking questions about medication and pain control.  He also had a very funny side.  His delivery was so amazing which made me laugh that much harder.  I bet 90%, if not more, people use humor to cope.  It sure does take the edge off.  This is one patient I will always remember.  His humor was amazing.

BILL 

 He was diagnosed with cancer 

over seventeen years ago. 

Now it has spread to other organs, 

so, we admitted him to hospice today. 

 

He is so realistic about it all saying, 

“I thought it might be my time. 

I’m living life usually in the moment; 

                              in the day”. 

 

He would be serious at times, 

when talking about medications; 

then suddenly his humor would kick in 

making all of us laugh so hard. 

 

Before he signed the insurance form, 

I explained that Medicare pays 100%. 

He wanted more clarity, so then I added, 

                              “You will never see a bill”. 

 

Presenting in a serious mode, he went on, 

“You say a lot of folks will be coming over; 

a nurse, a social worker and an aide. 

Well, I guess there won’t be a Bill”. 

 

I laughed so hard no sound came out. 

He loved the look on my face. 

He then sweetly added, “I have anxiety at night. 

Tonight, to help with that, I will visualize your face”. 

 

At each admission, I always explain the coverage; 

to give families some peace of mind. 

I hope I don’t non-stop laugh the next time I say, 

                              “You will never see a bill”.