So if I haven't mentioned it before I work in a nursing home during the night shift. During this time we don't have very much interaction with the residents but there are a few who are awake when we are there and some that we really have the chance to connect with. I know a lot of people have a hard time connecting with older people but to me I seem to connect and enjoy working with 2 age groups really little kids and the elderly. I have had many interesting conversations with some of the residents and when you see them almost everyday and hold their care in your hands you really grow attached to them and look forward to seeing them each day. This becomes extremely hard if they become sick and become to the point where they are close to the end of their lives. You want them to stay the same happy, joking, beautiful people that you love to see every day but that doesn't happen. A lot of them don't get better. That is why they are in our facility because they need a comfortable place as their health declines.
In our CNA classes they have a section on dealing with death and how it's ok to cry, how it's ok to feel sad. You don't really grasp that until you actually experience your first death. I have been working at this nursing home for almost 10 months now and as of today I have had 3 deaths on my shift since I've been there. Today though has been by far the hardest one. The woman who passed today was someone who I looked forward to seeing each day. She was one of the kindest, funniest, most caring women I have ever met and It sucks knowing I will never get to talk to her again. The even harder part is that I was the one who was sitting with her holding her hand when she passed. She had had several health issues during her life and we knew her time was coming so we each sat in with her to make sure she was comfortable. As I was sitting with her I shot up a prayer to God asking Him to take care of her for us and to make sure she was happy. It was an unreal experience because right after I was done praying I looked up and saw a single tear running down her face and then she let out her last breath. At that point she was no longer in pain and in peace and going to be one of the best angels up in heaven looking after all of us girls at the nursing home.
I chose this line of work I know that this will not be my last death and that I will have hard days but I know that at whatever cost I will do my best at loving my job and showing the greatest amount of compassion towards each person I meet. You don't know what kind of battle they are facing or what kind of blessings they can offer you by being in your life. I feel that this is my true calling in life and that God has given me a big enough heart to care for as many people as I come in contact with. I hope everyone else I meet treats me and everyone else they meet with that same amount of compassion. I hope you realize how hard this was for me to post and I hope this will be the beginning of a new more honest me.
Erin this was beautiful. Thank you for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThank You Elizabeth!
DeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteSounds to me like the people you care for are extremely lucky to have such a compassionate, big hearted person taking care of them.
Robyn You are so sweet and I thank you for your kind words!
DeleteErin,
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to give you strength for times such as the one you experienced with your friend. I am sure she was very grateful you were by her side. Thanks for your openness too.
Thank You so much Julie! You are so very kind!
DeleteThank You so Much Carla!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing today Erin. You did a wonderful job writing this. I feel that I can call you friend and do hope that we get to meet in person someday soon. Anyone with this much compassion and understanding is someone I want to continue to know and hope to know better. Keep doing what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteLaurie
Thank You Laurie That means so much and I too hope we are able to meet someday!
DeleteThis is a wonderful post. I'm glad that you feel comfortable sharing the not-so-sunshiney days with us. I'm sure you were the light in that lady's life and she looked forward to seeing you as much as you looked forward to seeing her. I am glad you can see through the grief to know even though your career won't always be a happy one, it will be one that you can go home at night knowing that you were a light of God's love and compassion in other's lives.
ReplyDeleteThank You Amanda you are so sweet and thank you for your kind words!
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