Reflections
Saying Goodbye to My New Friend
By Denise McCravey
(This is a story of a man I met while I worked as a trauma unit nurse.)
After hours of valiant work the doctors and nurses of the trauma unit finally succumbed to defeat. They could not save an older gentleman in the throes of pulmonary edema. The condition was the last block that made the building of his body tumble to death.
The family gathered around the bed unsure of what to do or say to this brother, father, friend as he lay gasping for his breath. I encouraged them to talk with him, to tell him good by, but soon the pressures of the day became too much. Their emotions were mixed with fear their grief would make his last moments harder, the family left weeping together not able to watch their loved a moment longer.
The trauma unit was busy, with respirators beeping and people scurrying to help patients. Yet, as I pulled the curtains around the bed, the area became a quiet cocoon of life moving on to another place. Bedrail down, I pulled a chair close and held his hand softly sharing with him how much his family loved him, that I would wait here with him until the time came for him to go, to know he was not alone.
Medicated heavily, gasping for breath he laid still and ever so gently squeezed my hand. For over an hour we sat together in quietness, communicating volumes although we didn’t know each other, had never had a verbal conversation together. Some would say he really didn’t know what was happening, I believe he knew and was glad I rubbed my thumb across his aged hand.
In the last few moments of his life breathing became more difficult while a peace filled the curtained space. Then, watching his face a softness settled making furrowed brows relax, eyes opened with a bright glow, a soft smile changed his face for a brief moment and my new friend traveled to a new place without a word. In silence, we told each other thank you and good by.
