Tired but Grateful

 

This is a post shared in a Hospice Nurse support group that I am in, it was shared by Ellie Goldstein, whose beautiful heart shines through in all of her writing. She graciously gave me permission to share here. I hope you will feel the depth of her care as much as I did. Thank you Ellie for allowing me to share your words and your beautiful photo.

I’m tired but grateful

I’m always so amazed at what I am blessed with to be able to do with these two hands.

Today these hands held a stethoscope while listening for a heart beat. There was none

These hands held the hands of his family while they cried.

They cleaned & dressed a wound; & entered in orders for supplies to be delivered to keep it healing & clean.

They gently wiped medicine from a mouth that could no longer swallow well; and that brain cancer had robbed of the ability to coordinate moving.

These hands pet the anxious little dog of an owner who wasn’t himself lately.

They checked the oxygen tubing of the owner & fixed it & felt his feet to see if the swelling had improved.

These hands wrote orders for morphine to comfort someone who was in their final days of life & not able to breathe well & in pain.

They carefully removed the clothing of someone who will likely not walk again & tenderly helped his family clean him up & place a pad under him.

These hands called to get him more oxygen & a hospital bed so he could be safe & comfortable at home.

It was a full day of them working hard & I am always so appreciative that they have the ability to do so

and now they will rest