deedeewisdom

She sat at his bedside
Every morning from 5 to 7am

I came in and she helped me turn him —
Her child
Her heart
Her 16 year old baby
Who was comatose

She asked me how his night had been
Any changes?
Any problems?
Any signs of awakening?

She touched him gently
And kissed his thick brown tussled hair

His body was young and strong
His soccer team had sent
Cards and balloons
The very walls screamed
WHY?

Why at that moment
A month ago
An 18 wheeler went out of control

Why, on that road
On that day
At that hour

This child
Driving alone
Home from soccer practice

Now could not speak to his mother?

And I, his nurse
Helpless
Cared for this precious child

In my hands and with my care
He relied for his life:
The correct medications
At the correct time
Into the tube

The tube that gave him nourishment
As his mother watched
And prayed
And waited

His mother who sat here every morning
Before work
And stayed strong
And hopeful
And never strayed from her belief
That he would come back

I saw her courage
I saw her hope
I saw her love

And he felt her presence

And I, his nurse,
Was honored

To watch this profound lesson

In human love

Diane (Findlen) Garrow

I worked on a head injury unit years ago and I wrote it then. My son was also 16 years old. That experience will stay with me forever