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Friday, August 1, 2008

Tired. Oh so Tired...

I slept last night in an armchair next to Danny's bed. He was comfortable, thanks to the amazing efforts the bedside nurses. They came and turned him every 2 hours, making sure his sheets were smooth and dry. They rubbed his back, they moistened his mouth, and I held his hand. His step mother arrived at 7 am; just in time for me to grab a shower in the OR and start work. She cried when she realized he had never been left alone and could not even begin to thank me for sitting with him. "I was so worried that he would be scared and alone".

Today he will be transferred back to the group home where he has lived for the majority of his adult life. There are nurses there that have taken care of him for 30+ years. They should be the ones who are with him at the end. Hospice will come in and make sure he is comfortable and the home has made arrangements so that his step mother can stay until he dies. He is 61, she is 84...

As an aside, this is not the same Down's Syndrome patient who cried when he had to miss Halloween. That is Tommy, who at his last appointment was doing well.

5 comments:

the dragonfly said...

You are an amazing person.

I'll be thinking of Danny and his mom.

Gberger said...

Thank you for doing that for Danny and for his family. It is a beautiful gift that you gave them. It's a sacred time in his life. God bless you.

HWHL said...

Amanda, I want to share something with you.... I have no idea what you believe, but I believe that when we die, God gives us new and perfect bodies (and the Bible alludes to this). I further believe that those of us who have handicaps (be they physical, mental, emotional, etc.) on this planet will not have those in our new bodies.... our bodies will be perfect, without blemish, without fault... and we'll live forever in the presence of the loving God who created us.

And won't that be so cool for Danny, and Tommy, and your patients like them. So, don't be sad when they go... because they're going back to a Creator who loves them very much, and to a new, amazing life that we can't even fathom.

You are a wonderful person for giving Danny, Tommy, etc. such special care and love while they are here. I know God will reward you for that. :-)

Suzanne said...

What great nurses. Angels on earth.
I wish the best transistion for him, if that is what is destined.

painted maypole said...

a nurse like you is priceless...