A Friend is Dying

Many of us have lost friends or acquaintances to COVID in the last two years. I don't think I can say I've lost anyone close to me. However, I've had a friend for about 7 years and have invested considerable time in mentoring and encouraging her. COVID restrictions about visiting people in apartment buildings, etc., put an end to that for the past two years, but some weeks before Christmas I was informed that she had been taken to hospital and immediately operated on, and two or three tumors were removed. She was told that she would not be going back to her apartment. I was told that she was very angry and upset at that.

It appears they had to explain to her that she was not going to live or be able to go back to her past state. Only two authorized visitors are allowed to hospital patients and her church, knowing her family situation assigned two very capable and caring women to be those designated and authorized visitors. It took me a few days to get the phone number of one of those women to get an update on my friend. Since then she has been quite good about keeping me informed by email.

There was a time before Christmas that they found a room for her in a care-home, and I was told that I might be allowed to visit her there. However, before that first week was done, they found an open wound draining from her leg. She was rushed back to hospital by ambulance, where they had immediately operated and removed yet another tumor.

She was transferred to another hospital where they were going to try rehab. Mainly, to try to help her walk again, leaning on rails. Early last week they gave up on that and transferred her to yet another hospital which has a Palliative care wing.

Now she was allowed two visitors at a time, up to 4 per day. One of the women who was her authorized visitor, emailed and asked when I would like to have my turn. It did not take long and the first two days were full so I took an appointment for Saturday afternoon, between 3-4 pm.

It was good to see my friend smiling almost continually. Her voice was weak and faint, but her eyes were bright and cheerful even though she was on oxygen, and had a cathater. A stout strong and cheery nurse came in to take care of things and also pulled her up so she was more in a sitting position. I was impressed at the large, sunny room, with lots of space, and my friend was able to listen to her favourite music with a mere touch on her large tablet lying beside her.

Before I left the other woman who was her authorized visitor for all the time my friend was on regular hospital wards arrived, and since I had not met her in person yet, I stayed a bit longer to chat with her. She mentioned that our friend had seemed to be leaving us one night earlier in the week, but now that friends were allowed to visit she had revived and improved considerably.

Yesterday I was offered another opportunity to visit my friend tomorrow morning. I took it gladly for I don't know how many more such times will come. It is a great comfort to me to see that she is not depressed as she has so often been in the past, but has a real joy as she looks forward to seeing our Saviour face to face - soon.

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