I asked the family if I could share this story, it is SO amazing!!!
I had a patient at my inpatient Hospice facility for the last two days who was "actively dying." When I came on tonight, the daughter asked me how much longer he was going to suffer like this and WHY wasn't he dying? So, I went down the list, is there anything he needs resolved? "No" Is there anyone that hasn't seen him yet? "No" Have you all told him it is ok to die? "Yes" So I went to get him some MS and as I put it under his tongue, it came right back out. Then his daugher said, I didn't even grant him his last wish. Oh? I replied, and what was that? She said, to get him a six pack of beer. I bought it and left it on my counter when he came here." Oh, realllllllyyyy???? I called our Medical Director and got the order, then I asked the LPN on if she had time to run to the party shop across the street. We got him a beer, put it in a plastic medicine cup and gave it to him on a toothette. HE SUCKED IT DRY!!!! I then left the room. I told the LPN that I didn't expect him to live more than 30 minutes, now that he had his "last request" filled. Twenty five minutes later I went back in to check on him. As I walked into the room, his daughter was laughing and crying at the same time. She had a cup of beer in her hand. She said to me, My aunt told me to finish the beer because you guys would just throw it away. I told her no, because I didn't want to drink BEER while my father was in the bed dying. But she handed it to me anyway. I sat down next to him, with the beer in my hand and he took one more breath then died. If I had known he wanted to have one last beer with me, I would have gotten him one yesterday!!!!
I told them I thought it was wonderful that he left on HIS terms and they were all smiling and laughing and crying at the same time. Everyone was in agreement that he decided to have "one more for the road" with his daughter!
Thank you all for your kind words. I have found this work to be very rewarding. Have only been doing it for a couple of months, but WOW! What a job. So very, very glad to be back at the bedside.:monkeydance:
I called our Medical Director and got the order, then I asked the LPN on if she had time to run to the party shop across the street. We got him a beer, put it in a plastic medicine cup and gave it to him on a toothette. HE SUCKED IT DRY!!!! I then left the room. I told the LPN that I didn't expect him to live more than 30 minutes, now that he had his "last request" filled. Twenty five minutes later I went back in to check on him. As I walked into the room, his daughter was laughing and crying at the same time. She had a cup of beer in her hand. She said to me, My aunt told me to finish the beer because you guys would just throw it away. I told her no, because I didn't want to drink BEER while my father was in the bed dying. But she handed it to me anyway. I sat down next to him, with the beer in my hand and he took one more breath then died. If I had known he wanted to have one last beer with me, I would have gotten him one yesterday!!!!
sarahsmum
1 Post
I am a nurse in training who wants to work in Hospice for the very reasons given above. What else is life about? Thank you for all you do.
:cheers: