Saying Goodbye

Her name is Debbie. 64 years old and dying of Early Onset Alzheimers. She has been a resident at the home since the day I first started at the home. She's a mother of five, retired nurse and a woman with a great smile who likes hats. Her smile has brightened everyone's day. Her language skills have been diminished to few words, chanting of sounds and every once in awhile a clear sentence. She has known the people who are a part of her world without being able to say their names. When a staff member walks in that she sees day after day, her faces lights up in a big smile and mumblings of no meaning come out as she approaches you to touch you, and welcome you.

When I left yesterday she was in bed, the last hours of her life. She had been non responsive for hours. As I spoke to her, saying good bye and thank you for being in my life for a short while. I rubbed her arm and said.... "Allen is on his way. He'll be here soon". Her eyes flew open and her body jumped. And then quiet stillness .. slight breathing. She'd heard and recognized the name of her beloved. She knew. I hope he was able to get there in time to whisper his goodbyes.

I will always believe...............no matter how little we see recognition in our dementia patients. They KNOW their loved ones by a soul connection, a love connection. That is never lost.