Grieving again...

[rondrond]

..and it's not even related to HIV this time.

A resident that stays in the room across the hall from Katie, died the other day and it hit me harder than I thought it would.

He was a 'fall risk' who was always to have some sort of walker if out of his room, and he was always at the front door upon my arrival, waving and shaking my hand and following me down the hall.

His alzheimer's has progressed over the past 6 months, and he would be confused and unintelligible, but he still always would see me, smile and come shake my hand.

I would sometimes have to escort him out of Katie's room and back to his own room and...

one day his bed was made and the room empty. He had died in his sleep.

I had just been helping him with his runny nose the night before. He couldn't talk but could point and would come to me to help with his nose..and now he's gone.

I had forgotten how quickly and how indiscriminate death is.

[intaglio]

I'm sorry for your loss. (Gad, that really doesn't convey well in this situation, does it?)

That person held value in your life. They brightened your day and connected with you. To feel loss at their absences speaks well for both them and you.

[rondrond]

I'm sorry for your loss. (Gad, that really doesn't convey well in this situation, does it?)....

It does , in a way. I did feel angry that he was gone.

[mikeyb39]

sorry for the loss, even-though I don't know who Katie is or the situation.

[GSOgymrat]

Very sorry for your loss. It is shocking when people who are a regular part of your life are suddenly gone.

[OneTampa]

Sorry for your loss.

[Basquo]

It's good that you helped him when you were there. He appreciated it even if he couldn't say it.

One lady at my grandmother's last residence always stared at me, until I smiled at her one day, and after that she always beamed at me like I was a movie star. I made it a point to beam at her every time I saw her after that. I hope she thought Rock Hudson was in the house.

[Jeff G]

I leased and maintained tropical plants for a living and one of my accounts was a nursing home . Every time I was there it was clear there were many lonely seniors so I would make the effort to smile and say hello . I finally changed the maintenance day to the last stop every Friday so that I could spend extra time there . The staff got a kick out of the trail of wheel chairs and walkers that followed me around, I called them my aluminum army and we all joked about it .   

[Andy Velez]

People are lonely and in need of some simple kindness. You guys are great...