I was done for the day. I had a very difficult 12 hour shift. I am exhausted and want to go home as I am off for 4 days! Before leaving I see the pile of paper given to me by the charge nurse. In it is what is called a "call back" form. This is spread through the floor to the nurses. We have a number and call someone back who was discharged just to see if everything is going ok, do they have any questions, are they taking their medications, etc., etc. WE have a general script of what to say in the case of things going well or not. I've never done this before but figure it will be easy. I call, and what sounds like an older man answers the line.
"Hello, this is Dan a nurse at NCH how are you doing today?"
"Who?!"
"Dan!( a little louder), I'm a nurse at Naples Community Hospital!"
"Oh. Yes. Hi"
"I was calling for a Simone? Is that your wife?"
"Yes...Yes it is." Before I can go into my questions of how everything is going and is there anything else we can do for you, he speaks again.
"She died on the 24th." I was struck dumb. I didn't know what to say! THIS was not on the script!
" I am so sorry to hear that," I managed to say.
"Yes. thank you. We left the hospital about a week ago, and she just kept getting worse. Finally I brought her back to the emergency room on the 24th but she just didn't make it. She died that day."
"I'm so sorry for your loss. Is there anything we can do for you?"
"No.......Life goes on ya know? I'm just hangin in there."
I didn't know what to say!! I felt bad for him and at a loss for words at the same time. I wanted to bring him some comfort.
"How long were you together," I asked feebly?
"Fifty years!" He seemed to answer with a sense of satisfaction.
"My goodness. So you've lost a big part of your life!"
"She was my whole life!" He said. This is where I could sense his voice cracking with emotion.
I wasn't sure what to say or how to say it. I offered him the only thing I truly have to offer. So I asked him a question.
"Are you a praying man?" I asked hesitantly, hoping for a yes in response.
"I try to but haven't been lately." He said.
"Could I offer up a prayer for you right now over the phone?"
Silence..........................
"Sir?.....Could I pray for you right now.......on the phone....with you?"
There was another pause. And then with a voice broken with the emotional strain of losing his life partner for some fifty years,.................he spoke.
"I sure would appreciate it yes."
I'd like to tell you exactly what I prayed but when I close my eyes and speak to God, especially when praying for another, I ask the Holy Spirit to pray through me to speak the words that the recipient needs to hear. One thing I do remember is coming alongside my fellow human being in anguish over the losss of the most important person in his life. That you Lord would somehow fill in the gap left by the loss of Simone. Please give him strength to go on now that she is gone.............There was more said.......but not much more..................amen
"Well, I sure do appreciate the call. Thanks for callin!"
"Well you hang in there sir".
"Oh I will. And thanks again for callin!", He said.
When I hung up the phone, I was struck with awe. I had the feeling I was used by the Creator to offer some form of compassion to a fellow traveller here on earth. It reminded me of the importance of my job. That I may be "just" a nurse, but our position is not simply to meet the physical needs of our patients, but to care for the whole patient. C.S. Lewis said once, "We do not have a soul. We ARE a soul; we have a body. It is my desire to be a nurse that does his best to meet the needs of my patients; physical, mental, and spiritual.
I'm glad I took the time to call him. It was a sobering way to end my shift and remember those things that are of utmost importance in life; the love of family.