Remember Me

Condolence & Sympathy
Elder Loss - Remember Me

Journey of Hearts

A Healing Place in CyberSpace^TM

They say that deaths tend to run in threes.
In the last month, I first heard of one of my favorite patients death when we returned from London. Adelle was a fighter and had a spirit that wouldn't quit--one of those exceptional patients. I had cared for her when she was able to fulfill her life long dream to visit Jerusalem and climb the thousand steps, a feat I considered amazing, knowing her history of arthritis and multipe foot surgeries for club feet as a child. Adelle kept our wedding announcement in her Bible, close to her heart. The last time I saw her in the office, she knew without me saying anything, that I was leaving the office. She had that extra something, call if "faith" or "spirit" that keep people going long after other would survive. She will be missed.

When I am Dead

When I am dead, my dearest,

Since no sad songs for me;

Plant thou no roses at my head,

Nor shady cypress tree:

Be the green grass above me

With showers and dewdrops wet;

And if thou wilt, remember,

And if thou wilt, forget.

I shall not see the shadows,

I shall not feel the rain;

I shall not hear the nightingale

Sing on, as if in pain;

And dreaming through the twilight

That doth not rise nor set,

Haply I may remember,

And Haply may forget.

Christina Rosetti 1830-1894

Since my early days of medical school, I had always had an affinity for the Veterans. There were many time when my interactions with patients at the Veteran's Administration Hospital (in Martinez as a student, and in Fresno as a resident) would be what got me through the day.
I heard this past week that one of my favorite Veteran's patients that I had taken care of during this past Spring passed on, in his sleep. Ernest was a great patient. Every time I saw him he was happy and would not be complaining. He was grateful for whatever we were doing for him. He was concerned that with his facial cancers, that he would not be able to carry out his Legion Activities, that people might be too afraid to look at him. We decided that wearing a hat might help. I had heard that he had been sick, and hospitalized for another heart attack, but by this time, his care had been turned over to others. He was another one with an incredible spirit, and a will to live. He too will be missed.

Remember Me

Christina Rosetti 1830-1894

Remember Me when I am gone away,

Gone far away into the silent land;

When you can no more hold me by the hand

Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.

Remember me when no more day by day

You tell me of our future that you planned:

Only remember me; you understand

It will be late to counsel then or pray.

Yet if you should forget me for a while

And afterwards remember, do not grieve:

For if the darkness and corruption leave

A vestige of the thought that once I had,

Better by far you should forget and smile

Than that you should remember and be sad.

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