National Nurses Week begins on May 6, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. As this week unfolds I hope you will think
about some of the Florence’s you may  know, the unsung heroes that we work alongside with day in and day out.

 One nurse’s story in particular comes to mind. A few years back, a hospice nurse went to
visit a frail, elderly woman who was declining quickly. Her family confided
to the nurse that although they wanted to honor their mother’s wishes to die at
home they were struggling with a dilemma. In their belief system, if she passed
away at home they would have to move out afterwards and sell their home.

Soon after, the nurse
received a call from the family who was concerned that their mom was actively dying
As synchronicity would have it, Helen happened to be near by their
home and headed over straight away. Upon arrival she could tell the patient was
taking her last breaths. The nurse gently scooped the patient up in her arms and
carried her outside to a bench on the porch. There she held the patient while she died peacefully in her arms. Afterwards, she carried the patient to her car and stayed
with her until the mortuary arrived. The family was very
grateful to this nurse for they were able to honor their mother’s wishes
without have to move or sell their home.

 “When we honestly ask ourselves which person
in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead
of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and
touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with
us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of
grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing
and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.”– By Henri Nouwen

~liz Sorensen Wessel

Mandala by ~liz