Through the Eyes of a Child

Ever wonder what a child feels when they see death?

A few years ago, I was paged to a patient's room. The young lady was very depleted; she looked so uncomfortable lying there. As I walked into her room I could see her little girl standing at her bedside. Fear and sadness filled her grandmother's eyes as she too watched the little girl. My heart ached for all of them.

Our aid was ready to give our patient a bath. She was so frail that both the hospice nurse and the aide had to carefully move her. The mattress needed to be changed as well. As the little girl watched each person pitch in to do what they could, I noticed concern in her youthful eyes, concern for her mother. The grandmother asked if I could hold the patient in my arms while they changed the mattress. I had never held a dying person in my arms before. As I held her, I looked over at the little girl again. She was watching me as I held her mother in my arms. Her eyes, so sad seemed to speak to me, "That's my mom. Can you please make her better? She's all I have. Oh, please be careful." It was at that moment that I saw hospice through the eyes of a child.

Realizing the end was in sight, we called in another nurse just to focus on the little girl's needs while the other tended to the needs of the family. While still holding her in my arms, I decided to help out the only way I could at the time. At that point I had prayer for the patient and her family.

Today, that little girl is all grown up. Yet that day, so long ago, will forever live in her memory. Through this child's eyes she saw that hospice is about caring for the ones you love.

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me. For of such is the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 19:14

Chaplain Rick Clos
Community Mercy Hospice