This is a repost from last year and now this piece is on the last page of my book. I was pondering this week’s prompt of the word WHY and this piece seemed appropriate.

Love Momentarily Stopped Death Today 

Working in the healthcare field illness is all around; even lunchtime conversations are filled with descriptions  of disease. Covering many floors, I meet all types of  people including other co-workers. The single word that  comes to mind is WHY. 

Why am I here? Why can’t I get better? Why can’t I  leave? Why do I have to suffer? Why is my loved one dying? The last question is the hardest to be asked by  anyone who has a loved one in a hospital bed. It is truly  heartbreaking to watch someone you love slowly fade  away into death’s arms. Because suffering is a part of the  last unknown in this life. 

When going from floor to floor, hearing these questions, and since I am not a qualified medical professional. I will  give the patient or family member a sympathetic ear.  Reassuring them I will speak to my case manager.  Reassuring them the case manager will stop by the  patient’s room to address their concerns. 

Leaving the room a silent prayer runs through my mind on their behalf. This is something I have done all my life  after speaking to anyone who is in distress. 

It was a typical busy day and so looking forward to my  lunch break. My co-workers and I sat at the usual table  near the gift shop. 

Talking about our day and the activities after work. All of  a sudden, the cafeteria was buzzing concerning a wedding  that will be taking place at 3 pm in the chapel. A wedding  in the hospital! We thought we were hearing just a silly  rumor. 

Until our nursing director, Matt, said, “Yes ladies, there  will be a wedding today at 3 pm in the chapel.  The daughter of one of our hospice patients came to see  me yesterday. She asked permission to use the chapel so she and her fiancé can get married before anything happens to her dad. The family has invited the entire  hospital staff to attend.” 

No sooner than we thanked Matt for the invitation.  Members of the cafeteria staff were rolling carts filled  with beautiful white flowers, food and a white wedding cake. We were amazed how quickly everything was  coming together. Just like life, it quickly gets away from us. Even though I couldn’t attend since our department’s caseload doesn’t give us the opportunity to breathe. 

The stroke of 4:30 pm chimed to clock out and just as I  was passing by the chapel, the air of beauty permeated into the hallway. A family mixed with hospital staff celebrating a marriage. Thinking to myself despite all of  the uncertainty of our lives. Love momentarily stopped  death. No matter what we are going through in the end, it  is all about love…  https://weeklyprompts.com/2023/10/28/weekly-prompts-weekend-challenge-why/