Today was one of those days
Hurry up get ready out the door and drive
Hurry up read the chart talk with the staff and sit
Hurry up plan the approach, have the conversation than sit
There was a definite theme to my day. I am not as much complaining as trying to get it out of me. I spent the day working with a family that just suffered a tragedy that I never want to go through. They were dealing with the loss of a parent, spouse, sibling, child from a tragic accident. They were willing to give the gift of life, through organ and tissue donation in a very dark time.
My job today was to be present to them. It was to help them through some paperwork, to offer condolences, answer questions perhaps give them something to hold onto in a time when the world is swirling around them like a giant whirlpool and you are not always sure you want to survive. I honestly tell them I cannot fix it and I don’t try too. No platitudes about how time heals all wounds or things will work out for the better, or so on and so on. My job was to be with them for this part of the journey and give them the best care I could.
So it was hurry up and wait, wait and be present, wait and look for an opening, wait to be used. Yep today was one of those days, I just hope that I waited well.
Quietly,
John
Tags: grief, organ donation, presence, waiting
November 15, 2010 at 4:50 pm |
John, I am so proud of you and awed by the work you do!
December 28, 2010 at 11:18 pm |
I truly appreciate the fact that you didn’t just offer them “platitudes about how time heals all wounds or things will work out for the better, or so on and so on.”
Those types of things are just worthless time-suckers. Also, it can be incredibly hard to stay in the present and I think that everyone, if they’re going to be honest, struggles with that nearly every day!