These things change us

[Byron In Exile]

I needed this thread tonight...

Great thread.

I needed to see you post tonight.

How did you know?

 

[MechaBlade]

It is a great thread. Moments like the one in the OP are what life is all about.

Whatever you need this thread for, Red, I hope it did the trick.

 

[just pet]

Great thread.

I needed to see you post tonight.

How did you know?

I have a knack and a paddywhack
My my, it's great to see you

It is a great thread. Moments like the one in the OP are what life is all about.

Whatever you need this thread for, Red, I hope it did the trick.

Mecha, my friend, it did indeed. I have been asked to contribute to a hospital newsletter and I see some stories worth sharing. Think I should leave out the "I love anal" quote?

A tough day. A long story, too long for my attentions tonight, but it ended with intubation on a respirator. The DNR was not honored. I am so very sad about it.

On the other hand, I am smiling to have reconnected with two of my favorite men.

 

[MechaBlade]

Mecha, my friend, it did indeed. I have been asked to contribute to a hospital newsletter and I see some stories worth sharing. Think I should leave out the "I love anal" quote?

A tough day. A long story, too long for my attentions tonight, but it ended with intubation on a respirator. The DNR was not honored. I am so very sad about it.

On the other hand, I am smiling to have reconnected with two of my favorite men.

My favorite stories all revolve around your ass. But, yeah, it probably isn't hospital appropriate unless it involves an enema. That is, an enema for actual medical reasons. Nevermind.

I figured "do not resuscitate"s would be occasionally ignored. Some people can't let go.

Good to read you again.

 

[Byron In Exile]

I have a knack and a paddywhack
My my, it's great to see you

This is great.

I have some Ferlinghetti stuff that I saved for you.

It's from the San Francisco Chronicle and a very cool interview in the San Francisco Reader.

About 2002/2003...

A fascinating, engaging man.

 

[Byron In Exile]

Good to read you again.

Well. Hell's Bells.

We have something in common.

 

[Debbie]

Sometimes out of the saddest of times the littlest thing, a kind act or word can make a huge difference, being human isn't always easy.

 

[just pet]

She is 50. A brittle diabetic since age 5. She became a brilliant attorney, though blind from the ever fluctuating sugars. Highest accolades. But now, she is essentially mute, no no no no no no her only utterance for all things. She is the generic version of skin and bones. Her mother and caregivers sit by her side day after day, trying to interpret her moanings.

Her address... just a few doors from my adolescent home. And she knew my mother. Had stories to share... how my mother was first on the scene with a blanket for a woman who fell while walking her dog... and the advice she gave to the dying woman's mother about the best roofing options... and the old woman gifted me with stories of my mother as hero and compassionate being.

My job is to ease the heartache of others at end of life, support for their loved ones. Yet, I was the one comforted.

And she gifted me with articles once written by and about her daughter that she copied for me, to share with me. Bearing witness. It is about bearing witness to lives most precious and well spent.

 

[just pet]

And I get to enjoy Debbie, Mecha and Byron all in one thread

Warm liquidy feelings

 

[theRiot]

RE: These things change us.

The call came in at 9pm. A 34 year old patient with pain out of control. She is on a CADD pump, with Dilaudid, but her pain is escalating. As the on call RN, I had to go and titrate her meds up.

The hour drive made me cranky, muttering under my breath, "why didn't the nurse that was out earlier fix this..."

The road was dark, the 2 flights of stairs up to the house even darker. The entry was well lit, and the 10 pairs of shoes lined up neatly on the front porch began a story. I was suddenly glad I had just painted my toenails.

I was welcomed in and ushered quickly and quietly into a small room, dominated by a hospital bed, a small jaundiced-bronzed woman in obvious, severe distress and 6 Afghani women.

For the next 4-1/2 hours, I sat vigil with these women, as I increased the Dilaudid from 4mg/hour to 64mg/hr, giving Ativan to calm, began oxygen, held hands.

The patient is 34, her sister died from the very same cancer recently. Her mother and I spoke only the language of the love for our children. She is suffering, just as her dying daughter is. The older woman pulled a chair next to her for me to sit, holding my hand, kissing first one cheek, then the other. We watched and prayed together as her baby's breathing became less labored and her moans became softer and less frequent.

And the young women talked of politics and how they had no interest until just recently, as they are hated, despised for their religious beliefs. As we sat together, sharing a glass of hot tea and sweet dates, we talked of all those fighting, being killed, some Mother's child.

The suffering I saw tonight was not any less nor any more deserved for this young Moslem woman and her family. They welcomed me, never asked about my religion. The dying woman's mother said she loved me, loved me for easing the suffering of her child.

I am different tonight

And now have no tolerance for blind and ignorant hatred


What experiences have changed you in a heartbeat?

This post I'm typing up is obviously very late, but nevertheless I will post it anyway.

This connection you've found, this energy that must have permiated the room you were in, has and always will transcend all ignorance and hatred regardless of how deep that ignorance and hatred might be. I've felt it too, in some of the most unsuspected places and around some of most disregarded and hated people, yet that loving and merciful energy prevailed. It's an energy that I want to cultivate within myself, so that all souls can sense it and be comforted despite the struggles they may be in.

Hang onto it, darlin'. I want to encourage you to see to it, that you become another great beacon of hope for all of those who suffer.

This is a notion we should all try and join in on, and not just because it's Christmas time. That spirit of the Ultide Season can be sought after 365 days a year, but only if we are bound and determined to seek it. It's always been obvious to most people that know me, that I'm no saint. But I truley believe in this calling, to reach out to all of humanity in my own honest way.

Anyway,.......Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards All!!!!!!!!

 

[Cheyenne]

And I get to enjoy Debbie, Mecha and Byron all in one thread

Warm liquidy feelings

Funny, I recently thought of this thread and here it is again.

Just dodged a bullet in my family where I thought I was going to have to go through the cancer/hospice thing again with a loved one. So far, the cancer guess seems to be wrong. Doctor was very encouraging yesterday and there is a huge load off my shoulders. I admire the hospice workers greatly but I sure don't want to need the services of any of you in the near future!

Happy Holidays to you.

 

[just pet]

This post I'm typing up is obviously very late, but nevertheless I will post it anyway.

This connection you've found, this energy that must have permiated the room you were in, has and always will transcend all ignorance and hatred regardless of how deep that ignorance and hatred might be. I've felt it too, in some of the most unsuspected places and around some of most disregarded and hated people, yet that loving and merciful energy prevailed. It's an energy that I want to cultivate within myself, so that all souls can sense it and be comforted despite the struggles they may be in.

Hang onto it, darlin'. I want to encourage you to see to it, that you become another great beacon of hope for all of those who suffer.

This is a notion we should all try and join in on, and not just because it's Christmas time. That spirit of the Ultide Season can be sought after 365 days a year, but only if we are bound and determined to seek it. It's always been obvious to most people that know me, that I'm no saint. But I truley believe in this calling, to reach out to all of humanity in my own honest way.

Anyway,.......Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards All!!!!!!!!

Thank you

 

[just pet]

Funny, I recently thought of this thread and here it is again.

Just dodged a bullet in my family where I thought I was going to have to go through the cancer/hospice thing again with a loved one. So far, the cancer guess seems to be wrong. Doctor was very encouraging yesterday and there is a huge load off my shoulders. I admire the hospice workers greatly but I sure don't want to need the services of any of you in the near future!

Happy Holidays to you.

Great to see you, Chey
Happy to hear you don't need me!
Sorry you had to go through that stress
Hope all is well with you

Happy holidays to you as well

 

[TurdFergeson]

I can see why you need to share your feelings here.

I've done some work in a nursing home, although I was only there temporarily doing electrical work.

A lot of the people there obviously had absolutely no one in their lives.

It makes you pause and think. We will all be staring Death in the eyes some day, and we can only hope to have someone to take care of us as caring and compassionate as JP and others.

 

[just pet]

I can see w2hy you need to share your feelings here.

I've done some work in a nursing home,, although I was only there temporarily doing electrical work.

A lot of the people there obviously had absolutely no one in their lives.

It makes you pause and think. We will all be staring Death in the eyes some day, and we can only hope to have someone to take care of us as caring and compassionate as JP and others.

Thank you.

So many people become isolated when ill, or no longer considered 'useful'. What people don't realize is that just because mom doesn't recognize you, doesn't mean that mom couldn't still appreciate a loving person to hold her hand, kiss her brow and bring her favorite toffees. And cancer isn't contagious.

 

[TurdFergeson]

Thank you.

So many people become isolated when ill, or no longer considered 'useful'. What people don't realize is that just because mom doesn't recognize you, doesn't mean that mom couldn't still appreciate a loving person to hold her hand, kiss her brow and bring her favorite toffees. And cancer isn't contagious.

I've seen some terrible things in my life.

A guy sitting out in the hallway on a couch in the cancer ward, dead.

He didn't want to die alone in bed in his room.

A woman sobbing and screaming in the ER who refused to give her stillborn baby to the nurses.

You're right...these things do change you and are impossible to forget.

I always look for the positive and say that these things make me appreciate the good things in life , even more.

Because no matter how bad it seems...it can get much, much, worse.

 

[Cheyenne]

Great to see you, Chey
Happy to hear you don't need me!
Sorry you had to go through that stress
Hope all is well with you

Happy holidays to you as well

Thanks, JP! The things that are important are well with us, everything else doesn't matter. Glad to see you're doing well, too! Happy Holidays!

 

[theRiot]

RE: These things change us.

Thank you

Your welcome, thank you.

Your story was and is very refreshing to me, considering the constant angry persuasions within this forum. And although I believe I'm standing firm in my justifiable positions, I can't pretend as if I'm not guilty of the angry and bitter posts myself. And also, the perverse ones.

With that said, I'm grateful to be another fallible human being who seeks to better himself into becoming another great beacon of hope and a piller of strength as well.

 

[HoHoBomb]

I never agreed with the perspective of this thread because I do not fear death.
There are others who could use a good read.

 

[MorgaineLaFay]

I never agreed with the perspective of this thread because I do not fear death.
There are others who could use a good read.

Fearing death and having a better perspective on life are two different things.

 

[satindesire]

Good bump. This was a very nice thread.

 

[HoHoBomb]

Fearing death and having a better perspective on life are two different things.

Indeed

 

[HoHoBomb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHKCPorcBvk

 

[Morcheeba]

I never agreed with the perspective of this thread because I do not fear death.
There are others who could use a good read.

I most likely never posted in this before tonite because I didn't want a good read nor a reminder of all the hospitals I've spent time time in while others were in jeopardy.

Are you okay?

 

[Desert Amazon]

Always loved this thread.



It hit closer to home because for over 1 1/2 years I've been dealing with an ailing parent. He was subsequently put into hospice care (through the home) and I wound up doing the majority of caretaking. It's very emotional and difficult.