After making the decision of accepting David’s new temporary home, Eddy and I walked together to his room on the second floor. There we saw David sitting up in his wheel chair. He looked great. His CNA for the day, Norma had dressed him up and was making the bed. She even had the fan going so he wouldn’t sweat. Norma always carried a smile. She took pride in her care for David and was so gentle and kind to him.
CNA Norma was kind and gentle with David. One morning I arrived to David’s room and found him covered in oil - head to toe. As I stroked my finger over his skin, wondering what this grease all over his hair, face, ears, and body meant, Norma came in, pleased of covering David with - what she called a miracle ointment.
She explained that this ointment would take care of the extreme dry skin David had developed, which is a immunodeficiency symptom due to the brain injury. This would protect his skin and would heal any open wound. In time I also became a huge fan of this ointment called Aquaphor.
It was sunny and breezy outside so Eddy and I took David to the front patio for the first time. In amazement, we watched David place his sunglasses on his own. Eddy started throwing a ball so it would land on a pillow, which we had laid over his lap.
We rejoiced watching David grab the ball. Even thou it seemed a simple reaction; we knew this meant his brain was responding and he was making connections. Throughout this time we had met other TBI survivors who weren’t able to respond to stimuli with a gesture or movement of any kind. So, David’s response was indicative that healing was occurring. We had also heard stories of a woman who after being in a vegetative state for about 2 years, woke up one day asking for a hamburger. Every story became important to us. And we shared our story with those we met at the facility.
Ana Carolina showed up with coffee and stayed with us. As I contemplated my children I reflected how brave they were and I told each one how much I loved them. Eddy simply responded that love was the most powerful force and that we had to love each other and everyone around us more than ever.
THE POWER OF LOVE
David’s accident had been a life-changing event. We were all hurting. I knew this was difficult for each one of them but they were ready to stand beside each other and face the complexity that this all meant for our family. Every day they made sure I was taken care of. Every day they made sure David would know how much he was loved. We surely were in this together. We also knew the Lord was blessing us.
We walked back to David’s room and talked a little more. As soon as Eddy and Ana left, CNA Blair helped me put David in bed. We watched what became our favorite DVD – a series of high definition beautiful documentaries which included episodes of stunning landscape and sceneries of mountains, fresh waters, caves, jungles, forests and ocean depth called “Planet Earth”. So much beauty spoke of God’s greatness and was very soothing for us.
Before I left, David and I prayed together and I played the music CD until he fell asleep. It was never easy to leave him at night but I also trusted in God’s plan. That evening I had dinner at Eddy and Ana’s place. Ana Carolina had made a delicious spaghetti dinner. I got to Aunt Flor’s home around 11pm. We talked about our day happenings and watched TV for a little while. I thought on how I have always loved her very much.
The first Saturday at the nursing home presented us with new experiences. Weekends were usually the days some patients would leave the facility to spend time with family members. Some would go to lunch, others would go to church and others would spend the whole day out. Transportation would be available on appointments and the staff would be frantically getting patients ready to be picked up with their permission slips.
These were the happiest days for Don Carlos. He loved going home to his wife and sons. He would repeat over and over the stories of his family and on how much he loved them. He required a lifter to get him on his wheel chair so there was also a lot of commotion in the room when the weekends would come around. Don Domingo would leave early in the morning to the patio and would not return until dinnertime. Stucky also required help to get out of bed but, once he would have breakfast, was shaved and dressed, he would wander around the facility and show up for lunch and later for dinner. David and I would have the room for us practically all daylong every Saturday and Sunday.
That Saturday at the front patio, we met Delia’s mom, her grandmother & her 1yr old baby girl Isabella. Delia had suffered a mayor stroke and was paralyzed needing constant care.
These were the happiest days for Don Carlos. He loved going home to his wife and sons. He would repeat over and over the stories of his family and on how much he loved them. He required a lifter to get him on his wheel chair so there was also a lot of commotion in the room when the weekends would come around. Don Domingo would leave early in the morning to the patio and would not return until dinnertime. Stucky also required help to get out of bed but, once he would have breakfast, was shaved and dressed, he would wander around the facility and show up for lunch and later for dinner. David and I would have the room for us practically all daylong every Saturday and Sunday.
That Saturday at the front patio, we met Delia’s mom, her grandmother & her 1yr old baby girl Isabella. Delia had suffered a mayor stroke and was paralyzed needing constant care.
All of a sudden, baby Isabella began dancing for David. It was as if she knew David loved to dance and that he taught break dancing to children every Saturday. Even thou David could not express his emotions, I knew this had touched his soul. As I watched her dance and observed David, I thanked God for this little angel and in silence I danced for joy. God was certainly revealing himself in this place. Before they left, Delia’s grandmother approached me and gave me a very unusual suggestion. She told me to wash David’s feet with water. I thanked her and promised I would.
Once we got to the room, I grabbed a hospital bucket and filled it with warm water, a bar of soap and a towel. Not only I had promised to do so but, I realized David hadn’t had his feet submerged in water for over 2 months. David always enjoyed the beach and the pool so I thought the experience had to stimulate his brain and memory.
Sitting in his wheel chair, he observed everything I was doing. I kneel down in front of him, took off his shoes and socks and submerged his feet. He starred at his feet in the water and looked at me as if wanting to say something. David was reacting to this simple gesture. It brought tears to my eyes. I began scooping water with my hands and washed his feet. David was experiencing something new.
Sitting in his wheel chair, he observed everything I was doing. I kneel down in front of him, took off his shoes and socks and submerged his feet. He starred at his feet in the water and looked at me as if wanting to say something. David was reacting to this simple gesture. It brought tears to my eyes. I began scooping water with my hands and washed his feet. David was experiencing something new.
I couldn’t tell what he was thinking but I knew it was a loving-healing moment. I acknowledged God’s intervention when Delia’s grandmother had made the unusual suggestion. I was so happy to have followed through on what I had promised. This was life-giving water. At that moment, the image of Jesus washing the feet of his disciples came to mind. An overpowering joy invaded my being.
As Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, not only was He building them in humility and love but He revealed that true happiness is found in serving one another even in the middle of suffering. When we truly serve without expecting credit, reward or anything in return, we experience a unique sense of fulfillment and joy. It is through love that we can build each other. We are called to begin at home and with those closer to us. The more we serve the happier we become.
QUOTES:
“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” ― Rabindranath Tagore
QUOTES:
“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” ― Rabindranath Tagore
