Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Please take her home God!!!

It is with great sorrow and sadness that I write this today.I know I've talked before about special residents who are being called home, but this lady is one extra special lady not only to me but to all of us who care for her.I will never put into words how very very special she has been. She just turned 105 years old at Christmas and up until about 2-3 weeks ago you would never have known.She was always so spry and full of life.She loved to get hugs and gave the best hugs back. She always talked about hitchhiking back to Hospers where she had lived for many many years of her life.I remember one day telling her that hitchhiking would not be safe and some bad person could pick her up. She just called me a sissy pants and said I needed to be tougher. Imagine a person 104 years old telling a guy in his 40's to toughen up.When ever someone would bring in a dog she would just glow. She always said,I think I will just keep him in my room.she would then go on to tell you of her love for dogs and how she always had one until she got married. She had married a widower with 5 or 6 children. She would joke the reason her husband would not let her have a dog was he was jellous of them. Then she would smile and laugh.
I feel truely blessed to have known her and cared for her but now my coworkers and I must let her go. I knelt by her bed before I went home today and asked God to please take her soon as we do not want to see her in pain and suffering any more.That had to be one of the hardest things I have ever done, to realize I am letting her go home to be with our Lord and Savior. Oh what a wonderful thing it will be for her.No one ever said this job would be easy, but I never thought saying goodbye could also hurt so much.I only wish you would have known this dear sweet friend too, I know you would have loved her as much as we all do.
I know it may sound silly but I ask that you please remember to say a prayer for all of us this week as I know we will all be feeling an emptyness as we say goodbye to a very special lady.
Go in peace Johanna my dear, go in peace.

6 comments:

Beckyb said...

There it is - that name again - maybe we should use that, huh?!? I am sorry Brian - that is hard - but you are oh, so right - she is going where life is SO much better!!

Mr.Brian said...

I would love to be able to see a little Johanna blossom into a fine young lady. How I wish you had met her Becky you would have loved her too, just ask Dr.Jonathan he will agree.

Emmie said...

You are a very strong man Mr. Brian. As you and Becky said, it's great to know she is going to a better place.

Steffie B. said...

May you find peace knowing she is going to such a better place.

Sue said...

Thanks so much for sharing how full life can be no matter what a person's age or even what their special needs might be. It's so good that someone like you, with such a tender heart, is there to care. Thanks for the story.

Joel said...

Mr. Brian, do you remember when she asked us for a beer off the snack cart? I still smile when I think of that.....