nightshooter09
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die." ~ Dame Cicely Saunders
Four years ago this week, (July 15, 2005) Dame Cicely Saunders left this world. I owe her a debt, as I have benefited by the movement she founded: The Hospice Movement.
As a hospice volunteer, I've benefited by learning the principles of hospice. As a family member, I've benefited by seeing that family members mattered until the last day of their lives.
Last Wednesday, my husband's father was admitted to hospice. Two years ago (this autumn), my husband's mother was admitted into hospice care.
Volunteering with hospice has taught me the importance of talking about both a person's life and a person's passing. Life matters.
Dame Cicely Saunder's life mattered. Here's one person's take on her:
"She was a truly remarkable woman. Twenty years ago, I spent two weeks in England studying the hospice movement, and saw first hand the fruits of the hospice movement.
"In a world enamored with reasons to die and kill, she refused to accept the idea that the sick were better off dead, and that the terminally ill should be euthanized. That she died at St. Christopher's is most appropriate. She was a committed and devout Christian, one whose own life had its fill of sorrow, even tragedy, yet she never wavered but took great strength from her Lord. May she rest in peace."
Hospice volunteers are some of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting; there is deep comfort knowing that my husband's father is in their care now.
When I look at this photo, I recall the many times my husband's father spoke of his time in the military service when Hitler had a choke-hold on the lives of millions. Himself a world traveler, I am reminded of the time he and my mother-in-law visited Normandy Beach in France, and this tough old bird was touched by the many lives lost there and how it humbled him that his life was not amoung them . . . a tear in his eye as he spoke with gratitude for those who went before him in service to this world.
Today I gave my own father a book I'd been working on in June called, "Remembrances for My Father". I created photos to illustrate points of our life together and wrote short stories which I posted on Flickr then printed out for him and compiled into a three-ring binder (to which I will add more stories). I saw that this book brought a light into his eyes. Two days after my father-in-law's admittance to hospice, to be able to give this book to MY father yesterday was as much a gift as his receiving the book.
After we left the company of my parents, we visited a very old country cemetery (because it was on our way home) and we stopped so that I could photograph the covered bridge next to it. There at the cemetery were the ancient graves of persons born in the 1800s and who served this country during their brief lives. They were thinking of their children and grandchildren then too. They wanted their children and grandchildren to live in Peace, just as I wish for my children and my yet-unborn grandchildren to live in Peace.
Peace for them, for us. Peace I wish for the world. Peace for Dame Cicely Saunders. Peace I wish for my father-in-law . . . for my husband and his family.
In the ancient country cemetery today, I was reminded that each of those short lives mattered too. My father-in-law's life has mattered. My dear husband is going to have a rough week as he visits his father in hospice tomorrow. But at least he knew while he still had him just how much his father's life has mattered to him - and he believes that his father was a good man; that is a gift too.
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life."
Again, Dame Cicely Saunders, I remain both in your debt and the debt of so many others who've gone before me. May you also rest in peace.
**********************************************************************************
[PHOTO-BLOG]
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life, and we will do all we can, not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die." ~ Dame Cicely Saunders
Four years ago this week, (July 15, 2005) Dame Cicely Saunders left this world. I owe her a debt, as I have benefited by the movement she founded: The Hospice Movement.
As a hospice volunteer, I've benefited by learning the principles of hospice. As a family member, I've benefited by seeing that family members mattered until the last day of their lives.
Last Wednesday, my husband's father was admitted to hospice. Two years ago (this autumn), my husband's mother was admitted into hospice care.
Volunteering with hospice has taught me the importance of talking about both a person's life and a person's passing. Life matters.
Dame Cicely Saunder's life mattered. Here's one person's take on her:
"She was a truly remarkable woman. Twenty years ago, I spent two weeks in England studying the hospice movement, and saw first hand the fruits of the hospice movement.
"In a world enamored with reasons to die and kill, she refused to accept the idea that the sick were better off dead, and that the terminally ill should be euthanized. That she died at St. Christopher's is most appropriate. She was a committed and devout Christian, one whose own life had its fill of sorrow, even tragedy, yet she never wavered but took great strength from her Lord. May she rest in peace."
Hospice volunteers are some of the most compassionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting; there is deep comfort knowing that my husband's father is in their care now.
When I look at this photo, I recall the many times my husband's father spoke of his time in the military service when Hitler had a choke-hold on the lives of millions. Himself a world traveler, I am reminded of the time he and my mother-in-law visited Normandy Beach in France, and this tough old bird was touched by the many lives lost there and how it humbled him that his life was not amoung them . . . a tear in his eye as he spoke with gratitude for those who went before him in service to this world.
Today I gave my own father a book I'd been working on in June called, "Remembrances for My Father". I created photos to illustrate points of our life together and wrote short stories which I posted on Flickr then printed out for him and compiled into a three-ring binder (to which I will add more stories). I saw that this book brought a light into his eyes. Two days after my father-in-law's admittance to hospice, to be able to give this book to MY father yesterday was as much a gift as his receiving the book.
After we left the company of my parents, we visited a very old country cemetery (because it was on our way home) and we stopped so that I could photograph the covered bridge next to it. There at the cemetery were the ancient graves of persons born in the 1800s and who served this country during their brief lives. They were thinking of their children and grandchildren then too. They wanted their children and grandchildren to live in Peace, just as I wish for my children and my yet-unborn grandchildren to live in Peace.
Peace for them, for us. Peace I wish for the world. Peace for Dame Cicely Saunders. Peace I wish for my father-in-law . . . for my husband and his family.
In the ancient country cemetery today, I was reminded that each of those short lives mattered too. My father-in-law's life has mattered. My dear husband is going to have a rough week as he visits his father in hospice tomorrow. But at least he knew while he still had him just how much his father's life has mattered to him - and he believes that his father was a good man; that is a gift too.
"You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life."
Again, Dame Cicely Saunders, I remain both in your debt and the debt of so many others who've gone before me. May you also rest in peace.
**********************************************************************************
[PHOTO-BLOG]