You walk in the door at your treatment center and proceed to whatever ever area you are supposed to go. Everyone is greeting you and smiling and asking you about your kids, your dog, how you feel today. You weigh in and get your vital signs taken and then proceed to another area to wait where there are beverages available and snacks and magazines and tv. You look around at those around you and wonder... are they new here, did they just finish treatment and are here for a check up and are they back because of new issues? It is an awkward time as you just don't know what to say and some people have put a wall up around them although it isn't visible, you can feel it is there. Some couples hold hands, others don't even look at each other. Some of the groups are quite large and you look to figure out who is the patient and what are the rest of the people there to that person? We recently had someone complete their treatment and as they walked out to the main lobby area, there was a whole group of family(I presume) and each one had a Superman shirt on and balloons and smiles all the way around. Sometimes you can see the anguish on a person's face and wonder, what can I say to help? Sometimes it is enough to hold a hand or just sit close and listen. My tears welled up today when I learned of a patient that has been with us a long time and is fading fast and Hospice became part of the conversation. It is difficult for all of us patient, family, and caregiver and healthcare professionals because they are family. We have been with you through the ups and downs, we have laughed and cried with you and we have prayed for you as well. No one likes to see the last day the patient will come to the facility and the goodbyes are so extremely difficult and you wonder if you will give them comfort and love you have for them and put into words and touch. I hope that I can always help you in journey wherever it may lead but know, no matter where you go or what you do, you have left a lasting impression in my heart. You don't ever have to wonder about that. Make it a great day! S
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AuthorMy name is Sue Kilburn and I am a clinical nurse breast cancer educator at the Yolanda G. Barco Oncology Institute in Meadville, Pennsylvania. Archives
March 2015
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