He who kneels before God,
Can stand before anyone....
May God be gracious to us,
& bless us,& makes His face
shine upon us....
Psalm67......
A Forever Kind of Love
By Christy M. Martin
One
of our favorite patients had been in and out of
our small, rural hospital several times, and all
of us on med-surg had grown quite attached to
her and her husband. In spite of terminal cancer
and resulting pain, she never failed to give us
a smile or a hug. Whenever her husband came to
visit, she glowed. He was a nice man, very
polite and as friendly as his wife. I had grown
quite attached to them and was always glad to
care for her.
I
admired their expression of love. Daily, he
brought her fresh flowers and a smile, then sat
by her bed as they held hands and talked
quietly. When the pain was too much and she
cried or became confused, he hugged her gently
in his arms and whispered until she rested. He
spent every available moment at her bedside,
giving her small sips of water and stroking her
brow. Every night, before he left for home, he
closed the door so they could spend time alone
together. When he was gone, we'd find her
sleeping peacefully with a smile on her lips.
On
this night, however, things were different. As
soon as I entered report, the day nurses
informed us she had steadily taken a turn for
the worse and wouldn't make it through the
night. Although I was sad, I knew that this was
for the best. At least my friend wouldn't be in
pain any longer.
I
left report and checked on her first. When I
entered the room, she aroused and smiled weakly,
but her breathing was labored and I could tell
it wouldn't be long. Her husband sat beside her,
smiling, too, and said, "My Love is finally
going to get her reward."
Tears came to my eyes, so I asked if they needed
anything and left quickly. I offered care and
comfort throughout the evening, and at about
midnight she passed away with her husband still
holding her hand. I consoled him and with tears
running down his cheeks he said, "May I please
be alone with her for awhile?" I hugged him and
closed the door behind me.
I
stood outside the room, blotting my tears and
missing my friend and her smile. And I could
feel the pain of her husband in my own heart.
Suddenly from the room came the most beautiful
male voice I have ever heard singing. It was
almost haunting the way it floated through the
halls. All of the other nurses stepped out into
the hallways to listen as he sang "Beautiful
Brown Eyes" at the top of his lungs.
When the tune faded, the door opened and he
called to me. He looked me in the eyes then
hugged me saying, "I sang that song to her every
night from the first day we met. Normally I
close the door and keep my voice down so as not
to disturb the other patients. But I had to make
sure she heard me tonight as she was on her way
to heaven. She had to know that she will always
be my forever love. Please apologize to anyone I
bothered. I just don't know how I will make it
without her, but I will continue to sing to her
every night. Do you think she will hear me?"
I
nodded my head "yes," unable to stop my tears.
He hugged me again, kissed my cheek, and thanked
me for being their nurse and friend. He thanked
the other nurses, then turned and walked down
the hall, his back hunched, whistling the song
softly as he went.
As
I watched him leave I prayed that I, too, would
someday know that kind of forever love.
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