Remember That Hearing Continues

Remember that hearing continues. I read it in “the hospice book” as I’ve been calling it. I can visualize the table of contents with my eyes closed. So when the nurse came over last Friday and sat me down at our family dinner table to tell me my Dad will become less responsive as they increase his medication, I said, “okay, thank you.” When she asked if I had any questions, I said, “no, I’ve read the book.”

Those 70 pages informed me this would happen as if it made me any less helpless. Laid out in that flimsy book were the symptoms, the signs, the feelings, and expect-the-unexpected visitors but remember that hearing continues stuck with me.

I didn’t think we’d get to that step so quickly.

My Mom texted me while I was at work to let me know I had to come right home at the end of my shift because my Dad had been uncomfortable all night, and the nurses would be here to adjust his medicine accordingly. I knew this was everything I had been dreading.

The nurse met me again at my kitchen table and told me if there was anything I had wanted to say, now was the best time to say it. Now is the best time to spend with him because he can still respond. Eventually, he won’t be able to respond but he’ll be able to hear me.