My cousin wrote a post that got me thinking. It really is important to let the people around you know how you feel about them, because you never know if it is the last time you'll see them in this life. I work at a care center, and I have grown to love the people there. Yes, I do have a small handful of favorites. One of them passed away friday. We were all pretty shocked because he was only 62. He's been at the care center for about 5 months. He quickly formed the habit of coming to my office EVERY morning to say hi and see how I was doing (unfortunately it was after he had been a witness of a VERY bad day for me (see post from Feb 22nd "Dang it")
He was such a nice guy, and I looked forward to his daily visits. When I got to work on monday this week, I hadn't heard that he had passed. All I knew is that he went to the ICU on friday. I went down to his room to see how he was, if he was back. I was stopped at his door by Darrick, my co-worker. He had a nervous look on his face. He knew this guy was one of my favorites. He told me that he had passed away on friday. WOW. Not what I expected to hear. It was hard. A couple of my co-workers asked if I was ok, and said "the first is the hardest, not that it gets a whole lot easier, but this is hard". One of my other favorites, was his friend. So I had to check on him. Around noon, I caught him in the hall. He said, "How can someone be there one minute, and then the next, be gone?" I didnt know what to tell him. All I can say is now this wonderful man is in heaven, able to do the things he could no longer do easily here. He's with family who've gone before him....fishing...and listening to Lynard Skynard and the Eagles. Good-bye...since I wasn't able to say it before!
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5 comments:
Bless your heart. You are a brave girl for working in an environment that can just throw you off kilter on a moment's notice. Hope you are ok.
mmmm I sowey! Love you!
Rest assured that he knows now. However, it is usually for ourselves that we have that need to "say what we need to say."
I agree, Jason.
Thanks mom, and Jay
Today one of my co-workers told me something that I appreciated. She said that when I was on my honeymoon, he came to her and said, "What am I going to do for a week without Danielle!? I visit her everyday!" I thought that was sweet.
I won't lie because it doesn't always get easier...you come to love the people you care for and they are not numbers or statistics, they are individuals.
I've had several jobs working with the elderly and while I loved some of the residents immensily and it hurt like hell to lose them I still wouldn't have traded that experience for a job with less "attachments". It is wonderful though that you care for your residents...so many in the industry never really see them as people. You have such a caring and loving heart sweetie... I am sorry it is hurting right now, but think of how much joy you brought to his life and hang onto that. Remember the good things and just let go of the rest.
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