A frightened old lady

When I was a senior student nurse, I was on Night Duty on a medical ward in Addington Hospital, Durban. I had just received the Day Report and taken over. After handover, the two of us on duty would go round to greet all the patients and to see for ourselves how they were doing. An old lady had been admitted after suffering a stroke.

My heart was moved with pity when I saw the fear in her eyes and that she was uncomfortable. She was in a side room on her own. I got a basin of water, cleaned her up while talking gently to her. I straightened her bottom sheet, put pillows between her knees and one behind her back and another for her arm to rest upon, and gave her an extra blanket. I brushed her hair and moistened her tongue. I did everything I could to make her comfortable, then I held her hand and told her that I had to give the other patients their medicine but that I would be back to see her as soon as I had finished. An impulse came over me, and I leaned over and gently kissed her cheek and gave her hand a squeeze. She struggled to say something and I struggled to hear her. What she got out, with some difficulty, was "sweet girl".

I went to give out the medicines and when I got back, the lady had died.

I am glad that she went feeling cared for , comfortable and cared about, God rest her soul!