“Nick”, seventy-two, suffers from a brain disease that has left him unable to speak. He walked into our office lobby, unannounced, this afternoon. Along with Hospice, we also have a Palliative Care Program. Nick was asking about the referral his doctor made about two weeks ago. Our admitting staff called him and left a voice message; not knowing he was unable to call back. He likely thought it would be better to come in person, then we would all be able to communicate clearly with each other.
Nick has so much patience regarding his need to write down his thoughts. I spent almost an hour with him and feel blessed to have done so. Thank you, Nick.
WHY?
He walked into our lobby unannounced
asking about his Palliative Care referral.
Admitting had left him a voice message two weeks ago,
but they never heard back from him.
He suffers from a brain disease
which has left him unable to speak.
He writes his thoughts on a small pad,
that easily erases with a push on a button.
He spoke about his son, whom they adopted at birth.
He was intensely handicapped, and they loved him so.
While sharing a photo of his son smiling brightly;
he then added that his son was on our hospice three years ago.
Suddenly, I totally remembered everything about it all.
His love for his son; his love for his wife with dementia.
“I visited your home three times at least.”
While smiling, he slowly nodded his head up and down.
He looked so different as he has lost so much weight,
but I so strongly remember his loving heart.
He was so dedicated in caring for his wife and his son.
She now resides in a Memory Care Unit.
I am a strong believer in “What goes around, comes around”.
“Why does he have to suffer disabilities; impairments?”
He has an unconditionally loving heart; a caring soul.
But then, he too has a large network of friends that surround him.
He has a challenging future ahead of him.
He is also blessed to have support nearby.
But then I still can’t understand;
as will continue to question,
“Why?”
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