The Covid Nun

The covid inquiry continues

And I have one small story I wish they could hear.

It’s a story of people going one step further for another human being

Many such stories could be told of that time .

My patient was admitted from home, and I could immediately see , like the wide eyed paramedics that accomplished her, that she was imminently dying,

Her large family , requested just one thing as they ran in after her

She needed and wanted a priest.

I stayed with the patient and hissed a request at a pragmatic smart support worker   “ Get Me A Nun”

During lockdown , it had been almost impossible to get any chaplaincy support, but knowing that there was a nearby Convent I thought a nun was better than nothing , and even though nuns can’t give the last rights they can pray over the dying to give comfort.

An elderly nun duly arrived in what seemed like a minute or so .she was in her eighties and looked valiant as she glided in breathless but twinkle eyed. 

I had seldom seen anything so brave.

The nurses immediately surrounded her, 

Helping her into PPE and mask and gloves and  apron, with gentleness and respect

And clutching a bible the nun hurried to the patient’s bedside seconds before she passed away

I wish the inquest had heard that story , which stands up with a thousand others that should be heard 

A brave old nun, not frightened or bowed by covid 

Lie In

 My academic poster needed uploading to turnitin today , and happily  I did so around 2pm

Before that I had a proper lie in, which was lovely. 

A lie in ( after dog wees) with a cup of tea and hot buttered toast.

Of course the dogs ate the crusts with their sleepy eyes shut tight and we all slept in until 10am which I so needed.

This evening I’ve practiced my presentation ( which is tomorrow) then made noodles and chicken sprinkled with peanuts to eat on my knee in front of the fire.

Tomorrow after Uni , our group is off for an early supper

I’m still wearing my Christmas Jumper

It will need a few squirts of Fabreese tomorrow 

Nurse

 I didn’t want to be a nurse today.

I didn’t want to check scores of drug calculations, too many in most hours to cope with….

On cards and in books and at bedsides and with a tired colleague who smiled when she didn’t want to.

I didn’t want to carefully fill greedy little syringe drivers and set them up bleeping like tiny box robots under pillows and duvets as their patients relaxed and slept

I didn’t want to explain to lost families about the process of dying and I didn’t want to use a quip with a patient in order to make their tearful son laugh for the first time in weeks.

I didn’t want to teach a student nurse about complex pain in a way she understood as buzzers rang and jobs mounted up

And I didn’t want to write up notes , proving to auditors what I did that day and how I did it.

I wanted to lie on a couch in the warmth with someone rubbing my hair until I fell asleep.

And I wanted to eat a meal I hadn’t cooked myself 

But instead , I was a nurse today

….and it was ok 

 

Christina Perri - "A Thousand Years" captured in The Live Room

Coffee

6.21 

This is on the radio 

I don’t want to be a nurse today

Angel

I found this clip rather moving. 

I have no idea just why perhaps 

I’m just tired tonight, sad at the fact a colleague I value is moving to where the grass is obviously greener.

I’m sad too that some people visit here and have to leave negativity when they don’t really need to ,

I’d prefer that these people don’t visit anymore

You wouldn’t invite me into your home and have me be rude to you

Would you?

Like I said I’m tired tonight 

An Arm Through The Catflap

 Dorothy smashed the catflap during a fit of pique a month or so ago .

She’s been through three now since she arrived

She boxes the plastic door like Rocky then feigns any blame after walking back in, wide eyed and open mouthed .

She has no patience with closed doors.

And has muscles in her front legs like Popeye

I’m tell you this as a bit of colour as the new postman happily waved his arm through the flap yesterday  afternoon with the deep baritone welcome of “ Hello Dogs” 

He had no idea I was sat at the kitchen table banging away at my laptop

All he wanted was a mass of dog hellos which he received immediately from three goo goo eyed dogs who obviously have had a relationship with him for ages

He’s tall and butch and bearded

And I nearly grabbed  his outstretched hand myself 

I opened the door and dogs hugged him one by one

Even Mary was smitten 

He passed me my post as he apologised somewhat red faced

I told him to keep abusing my cat flap

He obviously adores dogs.

The above beautifully crafted glass Christmas bauble was in the post he gave me. No name , no note with it, but against the Sitges bulb , it looks iridescent   and rather beautiful 

Thank you whoever sent it.

Enjoy

 The hat on the guy in the woodwind makes me chuckle every time I watch this

Off to bed shortly, working all weekend 

I’ve only spoken to the postman today 

Suo-Gan

I found myself awake at three last night.

It was cold too, so the dogs we all called to bed to act as organic hot water bottles 

I asked Google Plus to play Suo Gan and this version  by Bryn Terfel played.

Suo Gan is a lullaby, usually sang by a woman, so this version was a surprise and a delight.

I’m finishing off my academic poster for college 

An exploration of the differences and similarities between counselling and confession, as experienced by counsellors who are, or have been , Catholic Priests

Oh er missus