HEAL TH
Hospice of Virginia
The Promise of Comfort
By Karin Andrews, contributing writer L
iving well is the key to a well- lived life. This is a simple but extremely thought provoking
and profound statement! In my mind, a well-lived life has nothing to do with how much money one has, how many homes, cars or land one may or may not own, how many pairs of shoes, jewels or collectibles one has amassed or even how many awards one has been given. These are all good things, no doubt, but not quite good enough. The one thing they all have in common, besides being aspired to, is that they are all useless against life- threatening or life-limiting disease, except when used as a tool to fund research or to make a difference in someone else’s life. Money or possessions, except for a good blanket, cannot keep you warm at night, hold your hand, pray with you when you are frightened or quell the longing in your heart to be understood— but another person can. Living well is all about finally being comfortable in our own skin and being
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at peace with your choices in life. It is reveling in the love and goodwill of family and friends and making the most of every moment. It is about being present for life’s simple pleasures that truly make it worth living. A life well lived appreciates the way the sun feels when it kisses your face, the sound of nighttime creatures as they proclaim the coming of spring or the lullaby of the Bay as its waves gently caress the shore accompanied by a starry, starry night. Some of the greatest revelations about life come toward the end of it, as we review what has been, what is inevitable, what we accomplished, what legacy we might leave behind and what we wish we could have or should have done. It’s about forgiving others and forgiving ourselves. One of the greatest gifts one can give is to listen, pray, hold someone’s hand and offer unconditional acceptance and compassionate end-of-life care. Those who have shared their heart in this way know how important it is to give. The great equalizer will find us all
one day and our bodies will surely wear out— even so, our spirit can remain strong and true when surrounded by compassionate caregivers and the love of family and friends.
Terminal and Life-Limiting Illnesses
Hearing the words that your loved one has a terminal illness can literally bring the world to a temporary standstill. The stunning severity of those words is so surreal that you can scarcely process it. It feels like you are suddenly in a vacuum, everything slows down and you are teetering at the edge of what is yet to come. Having been a caregiver over ten years ago to a terminally ill family member, I know this feeling all too well. Without help when it is needed most
will result in feelings of isolation which will further limit the quality of life for both the patient and caregivers…but it doesn’t have to be this way.
March/April 2011
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