21 Apr Letter to a Client

A letter written by Shirley Squires, a longtime HC volunteer, to one of her clients.

Dear J-,

I was still quite new at being a hospice volunteer when they called to see if I was ready for another client. Since you were only 4 miles from me I decided it would be good to have someone close to where I lived. At that time you were in your late 70s and had been diagnosed with cancer.

My schedule was to come once a week for 2 hours. We seemed to hit it off well and your wife was very appreciative of the help. I soon started to come 2 to 3 times a week. Sometimes I would be there when the nurses came. You were a very special person to help. I started out doing dishes, a little cleaning or whatever you folks needed me to do. Some days I would just sit and visit with you and hold your hand. You liked to talk about your earlier years and your family. You also wanted me to tell you about mine. I got to meet all your family at one time or another.

As time went on I got a little too involved, which Hospice had told me was easy to do as I was with you for close to 2 years. Sometimes your wife would call because she was scared and nervous, so I would come over to see what I could do to help. I learned so many things that have helped me since.

After a few months you got to feeling much better health-wise than was expected, so when Christmas time arrived you decided you wanted to come see my Nativity collection. You came with your daughter and your wife. You were still pretty weak, but you did the whole tour – upstairs and downstairs. We thought you might want to only go downstairs but you wanted to see everything. I mentioned to you about seeing if my son could build me something permanent so they could be left out all year round.

On my next visit with you, you wanted me to sit and talk with you. You said you had been thinking a lot since being at my house and told me you had some people lined up to start building me a museum if that was o.k. with me. You said you had some money saved (that you kept in your basement). I told you that would be nice. It seemed so important to you, I didn’t want to tell you I could not accept your offer. I decided to let you believe that I was going along with your fantasy.

Every week for smonths you asked how the workers were doing. I went along with you because it was making you real happy to be helping me. I told you it was great. You lived so much longer than was expected I began to get nervous that you would want to see the Museum. Then for a few months you seemed to have forgotten about it. The day before you died I was at your house and you were trying to get everything in order. You first sat with your wife and went over things with her. You wanted to make sure she would be taken care of when you were gone. Then you wanted me to sit by your bed and you took my hand and looked at me and wanted to know if they did a good job. For a minute I had to think what you were talking about. I then realized you were talking about my museum. I told you it was beautiful and then you wanted to know if the workers were happy with their pay. I told you they were all very pleased. You looked at me and gave me the biggest smile I’ve seen and you gave my hand a squeeze. You just said, “very good,” and relaxed. You had settled all the things you felt you needed to.

You died the next day very peacefully.

You and your wife became special people to me. You will be glad to know I still help your wife with errands and she’s doing well. She is 90 now and still lives in the house you and her lived in. I take her communion from our church and we always include you in a prayer.  I’m sure it makes you happy to know all is well with your wife and family. I will always remember you.

Love,

Shirley