As crazy as it sounds, and I know my empath heart would break over and over, but *if* I have Covid-19 immunity, I would completely volunteer to sit with people who are alone and dying. I’ve been there with loved ones. It’s the hardest thing in the world to do, but so important.
I’ve always thought about becoming an official Hospice volunteer, but sadly, I am person already for so many friends in their time of need, I’m already there.
I’ve lost a lot of close family members at a young age. My Gpa Smith when I was in elementary school. My Dad and my Gma Smith within months of each other when I was 15.(We lived with my paternal grandparents growing up and I was veryveryvery close with my Gma Smith.) My maternal grandparents Gpa Baker and Gma Baker and my Uncle Bill. (My homebase after my mom remarried.) My dad’s sister, Aunt Sylvia and her husband Uncle Ron. All before I was 30 years old.
I became the person in High School and College and beyond who friends turned to when their family members were sick. And in adulthood, I’ve been there for friends with their parents, spouses, children…loved ones. Friends.
I’ve watched people I love have their “life” prolonged because of artificial medical measures, feeding tubes, ventilators. I’ve been in the room where life support has been taken off of my friend’s husband. I know I don’t want people I love to make those decisions for me.
And it’s hard for HWMMS to understand where I’m coming from because his experience with death has all been…instant. Both his parents had a major heart attack and passed away instantly. Both were at home and not in a county nursing facility for years and years. A whole different grieving. Not being able to say goodbye…
Hard conversations. But important. No one should have to die alone if they are in a hospital or nursing facility. It’s heart wrenching that loved ones are not able to be at their side, it’s even more heart-wrenching to think of those without anyone to be there to begin with.
I think I need to look into this…it could be a vital resource in these *unprecedented* times. Just a person, holding someone’s hand while they pass.
Ugh. What a world.
Random – the photo I used, yellow roses—a reminder of my dad’s funeral. He had yellow roses on his casket. I LOATHE yellow roses because of this memory.