Grace and Love

Thank you for this post. It reflects so much of what I have felt with the many LTC patients I have been with in their last few months to days over the last 3 years. I am leaving LTC soon to start in ICU, but will never forget the lessons I have learned about loving people enough to allow them the autonomy and dignity to die as they choose.

This is so touching, and so true.

Very well written, very compassionate and a beautiful message. Thank you!

Tears here! Wonderfully written. You sound like a great nurse.

This is a very nice post. It reminds me of the way my maternal grandmother just passed. She was in the ICU and not LTC, but in the end she knew something we didn't. She knew that it was time for her to stop suffering. Luckily we were all able to visit with her, and some of my family was with her when she passed. She refused all medicine except pain meds and after that decision she was gone in less than 24 hours. Thanks for posting this.

Well my morning cup of tea just turned into a morning cup of tears, but thank you for sharing that! I am moved by Grace's dignity, humor and determination and also by your compassion and respect for her. She was lucky that you came into her life and could really be there for her.

Wow, thanks for the touching story, God bless you! This is exactly why I want to become a nurse, genuine care for people.

Wow, is all I have to say. I work in LTC and feel this way about many of my residents, its so hard not to become attached to someone when you know what the final destination is. May I reprint this, just to take to work and share?

This was such a touching post. It is the most difficult thing to make the decision to put your loved ones in a nursing home and we all hear horror stories about them . It is so comforting to know there are people who care so deeply about their clients and consider them family. I have had to experience both my parents placed in nursing homes- different ones at different times. It was hard when my mother had a stroke and needed that kind of care. I felt so guilty everytime I left there and never felt like I could spend enough time there .. but she was so well cared for and that was atleast gave me some comfort to leave. It was even more remarkable that her health steadily declined after when the aide who so lovingly cared for her for 7 years developed cancer and could no longer work. My mom had that special bond with her and it was a great loss to her. My father on the other hand had a terminal illness when we placed him and it was the last thing he ever wanted but his pride wouldn't allow me to care for him myself.. it was too embarrasing for him. He declined rapidly but the staff in the nursing home was so wonderful and spoiled him rotten! The day he died several nurses who had not even cared for him that long and didn't even know me at all sat with us for the last 24 hours.. never left my side or his and comforted us both through those last horrible hours while I had to find the strength to tell my daddy it was ok to let go. Those nurses were so wonderful to me and my dad and I was so stunned that they would take so much time with someone they didn't even know and comfort me when I had no one else. One nurse in particular stayed the entire last 24 hours with me.. even her personal time and never left me alone. We laughed and cried like we were family. I never had met her before and I have never seen her again.. but she left the most lasting impression on me about just how caring nurses can be! And that is what it is all about.. Nursing is caring- with grace and love!

Quote from mx343momThis was such a touching post. It is the most difficult thing to make the decision to put your loved ones in a nursing home and we all hear horror stories about them . It is so comforting to know there are people who care so deeply about their clients and consider them family. I have had to experience both my parents placed in nursing homes- different ones at different times. It was hard when my mother had a stroke and needed that kind of care. I felt so guilty everytime I left there and never felt like I could spend enough time there .. but she was so well cared for and that was atleast gave me some comfort to leave. It was even more remarkable that her health steadily declined after when the aide who so lovingly cared for her for 7 years developed cancer and could no longer work. My mom had that special bond with her and it was a great loss to her. My father on the other hand had a terminal illness when we placed him and it was the last thing he ever wanted but his pride wouldn't allow me to care for him myself.. it was too embarrasing for him. He declined rapidly but the staff in the nursing home was so wonderful and spoiled him rotten! The day he died several nurses who had not even cared for him that long and didn't even know me at all sat with us for the last 24 hours.. never left my side or his and comforted us both through those last horrible hours while I had to find the strength to tell my daddy it was ok to let go. Those nurses were so wonderful to me and my dad and I was so stunned that they would take so much time with someone they didn't even know and comfort me when I had no one else. One nurse in particular stayed the entire last 24 hours with me.. even her personal time and never left me alone. We laughed and cried like we were family. I never had met her before and I have never seen her again.. but she left the most lasting impression on me about just how caring nurses can be! And that is what it is all about.. Nursing is caring- with grace and love!

Thank you everyone for your feedback. It was an experience that taught me so much. I still tear up when I think of her. I know that there can be a lot of negativity associated with LTC nursing, but I feel that focusing on the special moments (and there are many of them) can help. It is true, patients (especially in LTC) can be like family. I know that there are so many staff in LTC settings that really do care deeply about their patients. I am thankful that I am not the only one! And lvn2bsoon please, feel free to print this. I would be honored!

This was beautifully written.........a first-rate story that literally made me cry at my work desk when I read the last sentence. The elderly are dear to my own heart as well, and it's always good to know there are other nurses out there who feel the same way I do about them. God bless you, SarahLee.