Tony :
I’m speaking for the nurse that helped our family. When my grandfather was dying, with most of his family around him, he just refused to take his last breath, even though we were told it would be any minute. He went for hours, struggling. I stepped outside the room and his nurse walked by and I stopped her. I asked her if he was actually close, could they actually tell (I was a little mean about it). They weren’t my grandpaps last words, but they are the last words I remember from that day. She said, “He loves you guys too much to do it in front of you. He hears all your voices, and knows you’re there.” I told my mom this, and we all decided to just be quiet. He took his last breath minutes later. I went out into the hallway again, and called the nurse to let her know. She probably knew. She came over. I was crying, obviously. But I didn’t have anyone there with me. My mom had her sister, my brothers had their girlfriends/wives. I had no one at that point in my life. The nurse hugged me. I often look back at this moment and I realize that’s the day I met someone with true kindness. I’m not a religious man, but I do believe there are angels on earth. Not biblical angels, but people born with the unique ability to guide us in our most difficult times. I genuinely believe this nurse was just that. I’ve talked about this woman a lot in my life, to anyone who would listen…. My daughter is now a nurse, and I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of any one person. Nurses are special, in ways so many of us could never understand.
2026-10-14 11:52:40