A Hospice Angel

[Irene Smith]

It seemed as usual, walking down the long corridor in the inpatient hospice unit on Sunday.We were witnessing twenty-two beds with curtains in between to allow visual privacy to residents in various stages of their dying process. Curtains were drawn to allow complete privacy for some; others, with curtains open, were watching TV or listening to music with headsets, and some were lying across their beds in obvious discomfort. There were residents being vocal with their personal needs, and residents needing their quiet space.After 15 years of coming to this unit, although I never know what will appear, it all seemed to be somewhat familiar.I knew however, that for the two Everflowing interns with me, it was not familiar. I was giving an orientation for our clinical practice and this was our first walk through the unit. I sensed the impact of this long corridor.We were passing through the men’s area when at the other end of the unit, in the women’s area, there was a slight Asian woman coming our way with a nursing assistant. We kept walking. She kept walking towards us. As the woman approached I noticed her expression change from curiosity to acceptance.Then, when we were only a couple of feet away from each other, the woman stretched out her arms to me. Her face was open and inviting. I stopped walking. Our eyes met in soft recognition of our humanness, and I responded with outstretched arms as well.With obvious respect, she took one of my arms in her hands, stroked down the arm slowly, and looking into my eyes, took my hand and gently stroked the side of her face. ”Thank you,” I said. “Thank you,” she replied.Reaching out, she then silently offered to hold one of the intern’s hands for a moment, and thank you’s were expressed.Approaching the second intern, the woman stood on her tiptoes and stroked the interns shoulder and across his chest. She was beaming with care and tenderness.After all thank you’s were expressed this angel of the hospice continued her journey to the kitchen.We were left standing in the center of this corridor softened with gratitude. Our orientation had been transformed. Our hearts were full and our spirits light.A simple caring gesture of touch; a glance into the eyes of an intimate contact with no attachment; no planned intention to fix, change, heal or correct anything, had changed everything.Thank you for your personal sharing and comments. I look forward to hearing from you.Blessings Irene smithwww.everflowing.org