Tuesday, May 10, 2011
My Own Take on a Terrible Time, The Death of a Family Man
I have just finished reading the final post from a man who has died of cancer. He sounds like he was an exceptional man. I couldn't help but to be reminded of another man I once did not know.
That's right, I didn't know him. Many years ago, I had cause to work as a psychiatric sitter in several hospitals in the Ottawa area. One a children's hospital, another an adults. My job was to prevent people who were either dangerous to themselves or others from acting out on those tendencies without having to put them in a rubber room, so to speak. The people in question were almost always great people who at times might just lose it a little bit. By far the majority of the time I was just their friend. I mental demands of this job caused me to eventually leave it behind. The man in question was not my assignment. Mine was the senior citizen bedded across from him and who had tendencies to become distraught and violent. I had cause to be there during some days and some nights. On those days I witnessed this man across the room get visits from his beautiful wife and 2 adorable young kids. He was the very picture of a wonderful father who loved his family and wife very, very much.
I was also there to witness late at night, when he couldn't sleep,as he wept quietly to himself. The man was dying from cancer. I wasn't there when he died but was there to look at his empty bed.
I didn't know this man,
didn't even know his name
I didn't know this man
yet I knew him all the same.
I didn't know this man,
yet was there to see his pain
I did not know this man
but I loved him all the same.
I didn't know this man,
from so many,many years ago,
yet to this day I mourn him, all the same.
Cancer is one of the most devastating things that can ever happen to a human being. I didn't know the man in BC but I celebrate his grace, and mourn his passing, all the same.
That's right, I didn't know him. Many years ago, I had cause to work as a psychiatric sitter in several hospitals in the Ottawa area. One a children's hospital, another an adults. My job was to prevent people who were either dangerous to themselves or others from acting out on those tendencies without having to put them in a rubber room, so to speak. The people in question were almost always great people who at times might just lose it a little bit. By far the majority of the time I was just their friend. I mental demands of this job caused me to eventually leave it behind. The man in question was not my assignment. Mine was the senior citizen bedded across from him and who had tendencies to become distraught and violent. I had cause to be there during some days and some nights. On those days I witnessed this man across the room get visits from his beautiful wife and 2 adorable young kids. He was the very picture of a wonderful father who loved his family and wife very, very much.
I was also there to witness late at night, when he couldn't sleep,as he wept quietly to himself. The man was dying from cancer. I wasn't there when he died but was there to look at his empty bed.
I didn't know this man,
didn't even know his name
I didn't know this man
yet I knew him all the same.
I didn't know this man,
yet was there to see his pain
I did not know this man
but I loved him all the same.
I didn't know this man,
from so many,many years ago,
yet to this day I mourn him, all the same.
Cancer is one of the most devastating things that can ever happen to a human being. I didn't know the man in BC but I celebrate his grace, and mourn his passing, all the same.
# posted by Wil Smith : 5:28 p.m.
