Fairwell, ICU...
"... but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often..."
Luke 2:19
After hearing from the angels and seeing baby Jesus, the shepherds told everyone about their personal encounter with Christ. Mary saw all of this, and stored the beautiful memories in her heart. This is one of my favorite verses.
I have recently quit my job in the ICU due to my busy schedule. This is kinda out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to share some of my encounters with Christ that I have quietly treasured in my heart and have thought about often. I have learned so much about life, death, and love while working there.
-I was going into my patient's room to do an assessment; he was an elderly man who was on meds to keep him sedated and he was intubated, had all possible IV fluids going, had a foley in... it was like a maze of tubing, wires, and what-not. His wife and daughter were in there. His wife was this frail, little old lady in a wheelchair who didn't fully comprehend what was going on. While heading out the door to take his wife home, his daughter said, "They have been married for over 60 years, and whenever one would leave the room, even if it's just to go to the restroom, they would always give the other one a kiss. Isn't that just the sweetest? Well, I'll get out of your way so you can get your work done."
Well, I couldn't just let them leave and break tradition. "Wait a minute! Why should today be any different?" The little old lady's eyes lit up. I lower his bed, tried to move all the tubing out of the way, and cleared a little path for the wife. We helped her out of her wheelchair, and helped her slowly shuffle over to her husband. She leaned over him, rubbed his chest and said, "Hey Handsome, are you going to wake up for me? No? That's fine. I love you..." She gave him a kiss, smiled at him, then smiled at me, and we shuffled her back to her wheelchair. Then the daughter smiled at me with teary eyes, which of course, made me teary-eyed.
-Everyday, this elderly gentleman came to visit his wife. He would stay there from 7 in the morning to 7 at night. He was rather reserved, didn't care much for conversation. But every morning, he would show up at 7 sharp, in his red cardigan, waiting by her door until you waved him in and he would nod his good morning. I would peek in the room after I left, because I knew what was next; he stands by her bedside, brushes the hair from her face, whisper sweet nothings to her, and kiss her forehead. He did this everyday for three months til she died.
-The most beautiful and peaceful death I have seen was when these two daughters let their mother go. As she laid there struggling to breath, her daughters told her, "We love you so much, Mom... but Jesus loves you more... and He's ready for you to go home... it's okay to go." Within minutes, she was gone.
Life truly is short and is beautiful; use your time wisely. Death is sad, but does not have to be horrible; don't be selfish, and know when to let go. Love is the greatest gift that God has given us; give it freely to others.
Luke 2:19
After hearing from the angels and seeing baby Jesus, the shepherds told everyone about their personal encounter with Christ. Mary saw all of this, and stored the beautiful memories in her heart. This is one of my favorite verses.
I have recently quit my job in the ICU due to my busy schedule. This is kinda out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to share some of my encounters with Christ that I have quietly treasured in my heart and have thought about often. I have learned so much about life, death, and love while working there.
-I was going into my patient's room to do an assessment; he was an elderly man who was on meds to keep him sedated and he was intubated, had all possible IV fluids going, had a foley in... it was like a maze of tubing, wires, and what-not. His wife and daughter were in there. His wife was this frail, little old lady in a wheelchair who didn't fully comprehend what was going on. While heading out the door to take his wife home, his daughter said, "They have been married for over 60 years, and whenever one would leave the room, even if it's just to go to the restroom, they would always give the other one a kiss. Isn't that just the sweetest? Well, I'll get out of your way so you can get your work done."
Well, I couldn't just let them leave and break tradition. "Wait a minute! Why should today be any different?" The little old lady's eyes lit up. I lower his bed, tried to move all the tubing out of the way, and cleared a little path for the wife. We helped her out of her wheelchair, and helped her slowly shuffle over to her husband. She leaned over him, rubbed his chest and said, "Hey Handsome, are you going to wake up for me? No? That's fine. I love you..." She gave him a kiss, smiled at him, then smiled at me, and we shuffled her back to her wheelchair. Then the daughter smiled at me with teary eyes, which of course, made me teary-eyed.
-Everyday, this elderly gentleman came to visit his wife. He would stay there from 7 in the morning to 7 at night. He was rather reserved, didn't care much for conversation. But every morning, he would show up at 7 sharp, in his red cardigan, waiting by her door until you waved him in and he would nod his good morning. I would peek in the room after I left, because I knew what was next; he stands by her bedside, brushes the hair from her face, whisper sweet nothings to her, and kiss her forehead. He did this everyday for three months til she died.
-The most beautiful and peaceful death I have seen was when these two daughters let their mother go. As she laid there struggling to breath, her daughters told her, "We love you so much, Mom... but Jesus loves you more... and He's ready for you to go home... it's okay to go." Within minutes, she was gone.
Life truly is short and is beautiful; use your time wisely. Death is sad, but does not have to be horrible; don't be selfish, and know when to let go. Love is the greatest gift that God has given us; give it freely to others.
posted by Erin | 9:20 PM
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4 Comments
