Memoirs of a Palliative Nurse
Réjeanne Lassonde, retired nurse
Deeply moved by a peaceful death
I am a nurse and nursing has always been fascinating to me. I would like to tell you about an event that will stay in my mind for as long as I live. In my work, I often found myself at the bedside of terminally ill patients. One morning, as I was going about my work, with my usual enthousiasm, I found myself standing in front of one of my patients who was quite ill. I can't remember what exactly he suffered from. In a simple manner, I tried to help him face reality as it was, and explained to him what he was entitled to know. Then I left the room.
I returned to his bedside about an hour later. He said to me, "I called my lawyer and my family, to ask them to come see me and to warn them that I was going to die tonight." I was deeply surprized because he was so calm. Shortly after, members of his family arrived in turn and the patient was able to receive the Sacrament of the Sick. There was a very calm and peaceful atmosphere. The family members walked in the corridors, two by two; they were calm and a bit confused at times, but no strong reactions or crisis on their part.
At 4 p.m., I left the department and came back the next Day, Friday morning; I was informed that the patient had died the day before around 11:40 p.m.His doctor, who came back on Monday morning was a little surprised to learn that he had passed away three days before, but not shocked however since he new his patient’s condition.
THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL… A PALLIATIVE CARE?
1. One day, I went to see (with a very specific intention) a patient of mine who was dying. He was unconscious. Could he hear me? I did not know. Next to him was a lady. I simply asked her if I could offer the patient a miraculous medal of the Virgin Mary. She replied: "Why say Virgin? We can say Mary, it seems better to me!”. I didn't really know what to answer at the time… And finally, she said that it was OK to give him the medal. So without further delay, I attached it to his hospital bracelet, clearly explaining to him what I was doing. I told him that Mary was going to help him at this stage of his life.
On the following day, his condition got worse and the patient was in a very bad shape. Consulting his file, I found his son's phone number who was a surgeon in Montreal. I called him to tell him about his father's condition. He said to me that he was going to come to his bedside. But when he arrived, his father was already dead about half an hour ago. Once in the room, I confided to this man that I had given a miraculous medal of the Virgin Mary to his father the day before. Then he opened his hand: he was holding a medal of Saint Joseph. I was moved and very happy at the same time! Serenity reigned in the room, what more can we say?
2. Another day I asked a terminally ill cancer patient who was conscious, drowsy and tired, if he wished to receive a medal of Mary, the Miraculous Medal. "Yes" he answered. So I attached the medal at his hospital gown. Two days later (I had moved to another department) I heard a nursing assistant saying that Mr. So-and-so was looking for the person who had given him a medal. I told this nurse that it was me; she immediately informed this patient's nurse. Outraged, the nurse came to me saying: "Never do that to me again!" I replied: "I always ask the person if 'yes' or 'no' they want this medal that I am offering them while explaining its benefits to them."
Then I went to see the patient; he was fine and was walking in his room. I saw on a shelf a beautiful statue of Mary (quite big). He happily told me that his family gave it to him as a gift. This event gave me great comfort and confirmed that a small gesture of faith bears much fruit even against those who do not always share our opinions. Thanks also to the Virgin Mary for her assistance during the most important moments of his life on earth and to this Christian family for their testimony.
(A retired nurse who meditates and reviews her beautiful and most precious moments)
