John couldn’t remember or didn’t know the answer the Hospice nurse asked. He replied in matter-of-fact tone, “Ask Teressa. She knows.”
At that point I wasn’t entirely sure he still knew my name. I can’t remember if it was the Sunday I made the decision to move him from our home to the Hospice House or if it was the Sunday before. He’d fallen both days. A Hospice nurse on call came both times. I was keenly aware that I’d been entrusted to make all decisions for John, on his behalf.
It was clear, so very clear, after the second fall that it was time to move to Kavanaugh Hospice House. After talking to the Hospice nurse who couldn’t get there for at least an hour, I called for firefighters to move John from the floor to the bed. I didn’t call 911 but found a number that worked. The operator instructed me to call 911 if I needed that kind of assistance again. John and I sat on the floor, side-by-side, until the fire crew arrived.
Once the Hospice nurse got there, I asked that we begin the process to move to Kavanaugh. She called to see if there was a room and had to do some convincing as she talked to the person on the other end of the line. They found a room. The nurse called for an ambulance to make the transport.
My most precious memory of that day is after the ambulance crew arrived. John looked at them and asked (because he always asked) for their names. Then he asked why they were there. As soon as they said they were going to take him to Kavanaugh House, John smiled and gave them a big thumbs up.
It was his last smile I clearly remember – a smile that crossed his whole face. He knew that I knew that he was ready. He knew that I was ready as I could be. It was time.
— Teressa
At that point I wasn’t entirely sure he still knew my name. I can’t remember if it was the Sunday I made the decision to move him from our home to the Hospice House or if it was the Sunday before. He’d fallen both days. A Hospice nurse on call came both times. I was keenly aware that I’d been entrusted to make all decisions for John, on his behalf.
It was clear, so very clear, after the second fall that it was time to move to Kavanaugh Hospice House. After talking to the Hospice nurse who couldn’t get there for at least an hour, I called for firefighters to move John from the floor to the bed. I didn’t call 911 but found a number that worked. The operator instructed me to call 911 if I needed that kind of assistance again. John and I sat on the floor, side-by-side, until the fire crew arrived.
Once the Hospice nurse got there, I asked that we begin the process to move to Kavanaugh. She called to see if there was a room and had to do some convincing as she talked to the person on the other end of the line. They found a room. The nurse called for an ambulance to make the transport.
My most precious memory of that day is after the ambulance crew arrived. John looked at them and asked (because he always asked) for their names. Then he asked why they were there. As soon as they said they were going to take him to Kavanaugh House, John smiled and gave them a big thumbs up.
It was his last smile I clearly remember – a smile that crossed his whole face. He knew that I knew that he was ready. He knew that I was ready as I could be. It was time.
— Teressa
Heartachingly tender. Thank you. cw
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this beautiful, tender moment.
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