Jackson Memorial Hospital Word came that David was going to be moved again. The hospital’s representative in charge of the move came into the room and quickly looked at some of David’s equipment. As she rushed out of the room hinted that I get all my belongings together to leave the next day. I didn’t have a time of departure but she had mentioned morning so I immediately packed all of David and my stuff. I had heard that the family could stay at a room near the acute rehabilitation area close to their loved ones. We had been anticipating for this next step. I called everyone with the great news. David would be moving on his 28th Birthday.
The next morning I sang Happy Birthday to David and gave thanks to the Lord for his life. The staff came in to wish us well and to say their goodbyes. One of them recommended I check out the facility before leaving the hospital. At first her advice seemed strange until I learned it was not the acute rehab center David was being moved to but to a skilled nursing facility instead, which provided specialized care for those who needed long-term care to recover and were not able to be cared for at home.
Not only was I surprised and confused but I had this sense of urgency to find out the details of how and who had made the decision and what criterion was used for this determination. The hospital’s Psychologist came to talk to me and discussed the fact that paperwork stated David was at Rancho Scale 3 and the acute rehab required at least a 4. In addition to that, he explained that David could not keep his head up on his own and his response to showing tongue and 2 fingers was too slow to what it prevented his admission to the acute rehab center. With tears in my eyes, I insisted he verified David’s stage on the Rancho Scale and at my request he sent for a physical therapist to do the assessment.
The next morning I sang Happy Birthday to David and gave thanks to the Lord for his life. The staff came in to wish us well and to say their goodbyes. One of them recommended I check out the facility before leaving the hospital. At first her advice seemed strange until I learned it was not the acute rehab center David was being moved to but to a skilled nursing facility instead, which provided specialized care for those who needed long-term care to recover and were not able to be cared for at home.
Not only was I surprised and confused but I had this sense of urgency to find out the details of how and who had made the decision and what criterion was used for this determination. The hospital’s Psychologist came to talk to me and discussed the fact that paperwork stated David was at Rancho Scale 3 and the acute rehab required at least a 4. In addition to that, he explained that David could not keep his head up on his own and his response to showing tongue and 2 fingers was too slow to what it prevented his admission to the acute rehab center. With tears in my eyes, I insisted he verified David’s stage on the Rancho Scale and at my request he sent for a physical therapist to do the assessment.
As this was taking place, the floor staff was gathering all of David’s medical equipment, packing his medicines, and coordinating with the transportation crew. I prayed that the therapist would hurry up with the assessment so that the Psychologist would reverse the decision. As I had alleged - after the commands given to David by the therapist, he demonstrated to have reached stage 4. There was a moment of silence and then the Psychologist proceeded to rephrase earlier remarks and carried on with the task at hand of sending David off to the new facility. In my heart I realized paperwork had been done, the decision had been made and it was too late to make any changes. There was no use on keeping the Psychologist any longer listening to my plea. It satisfied me that he knew as well as I did that David had progressed. I thanked him for listening and he left.
I signed all the exit paperwork and waited for transportation to arrive. There was no time to say goodbye to all the wonderful people, which had become my family during these 2 months.
My trust had been placed on the Lord and this was the opportunity for me to show my faith in Him and to let go. I didn’t know what all of this meant but I was certain God was at our side. There had to be a purpose why all this was happening in the manner it was unfolding.
My trust had been placed on the Lord and this was the opportunity for me to show my faith in Him and to let go. I didn’t know what all of this meant but I was certain God was at our side. There had to be a purpose why all this was happening in the manner it was unfolding.
So many of David’s friends and colleagues continued to ask how he was doing. Eddy and Ana Carolina messaged everyone by phone and through Facebook that they would be celebrating David’s birthday at Segafredo that evening and invited all to join them. This would give them the chance to bring everyone up to date on David’s condition and answer any questions.
Around 7:00 pm the transportation crew came in with the stretcher. They carried a serious expression and no matter what I said, they only answered with a short yes or no. They didn’t seem interested in carrying on a conversation to what I refrained from initiating any and off we went to the new place on NW 22nd Ave. I had my bags on the back of the special van with David. It was the first time, he would experience being in a car and he just starred out the window with a nervous-fear like expression on his face. I assured him that everything would be all right as I caressed his hands.
JM Skilled Nursing facility. When we arrived, I noticed the building was dark and not very appealing. The paint clearly indicated it was not well maintained. As we entered the facility, it was pretty quiet and only a few people were in the lobby who watched us head towards the elevator to the 2nd floor. No one spoke. Immediately exiting the elevator, the crew made a turn at the first room to the right. The room was dark and hospital cubicle curtains separated the room into 4 spaces. The corner to the left had the hospital bed overhead lights on, with a small chair and a table. As I scrutinized the room I noticed 3 other men already tucked in their beds. I had been told that David would be going to a private room, which had a couch for me to stay. My mind started analyzing the situation. If there were other men in the room, where would I be sleeping?
All of a sudden, 2 nurses and a CNA came in the room to welcome David. They introduced themselves and then continued to assure me they would take good care of David and that I didn’t have to worry about him. They mentioned this was David’s new home now and commented I could leave, that he was in good hands and that I could visit him at any time I wished to do so.
I went into a panic. This was not what I had planned. I had not been told I was leaving David. It had already been such a stressful and emotional day, I couldn’t believe this was happening. I broke down. I was crying so deeply it felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I picked up the phone and called Eddy. He said he was leaving Segafredo immediately to meet me at the nursing facility.
As they tried to console me, the night Supervisor came to see me and realized the situation. I begged her to allow me to stay and promised to remain very quiet. I explained how I felt blind-sided to it all and begged her to make an exception. She asked the other nurses to bring me a special chair so that I could sleep and apologized to me for the poor protocol on the hospital’s way of handling David’s exit. She asked for me to understand the exception she was making that evening but that I couldn’t stay after that. She reassured me I was welcome to visit David anytime. I hugged her and thanked her.
Eddy came in and assessed the situation. I broke down again but this time it was of joy of seeing him there. He offered to stay but I wasn’t emotionally ready to leave. Eddy told David that many of his friends came to his party and wished him well. He thanked everyone for allowing me to stay with David, I gave him a kiss and he left to join Ana Carolina.
It was David’s birthday. It felt as if I had been through labor pains
the entire day. One day I will be in the full light of our Lord and see the big picture but for now I was learning how to deeply trust God even when I couldn’t understand. I had to let go. I rolled the curtain, turned off the lights, stood still and quietly fell asleep.
All of a sudden, 2 nurses and a CNA came in the room to welcome David. They introduced themselves and then continued to assure me they would take good care of David and that I didn’t have to worry about him. They mentioned this was David’s new home now and commented I could leave, that he was in good hands and that I could visit him at any time I wished to do so.
I went into a panic. This was not what I had planned. I had not been told I was leaving David. It had already been such a stressful and emotional day, I couldn’t believe this was happening. I broke down. I was crying so deeply it felt as if I couldn’t breathe. I picked up the phone and called Eddy. He said he was leaving Segafredo immediately to meet me at the nursing facility.
As they tried to console me, the night Supervisor came to see me and realized the situation. I begged her to allow me to stay and promised to remain very quiet. I explained how I felt blind-sided to it all and begged her to make an exception. She asked the other nurses to bring me a special chair so that I could sleep and apologized to me for the poor protocol on the hospital’s way of handling David’s exit. She asked for me to understand the exception she was making that evening but that I couldn’t stay after that. She reassured me I was welcome to visit David anytime. I hugged her and thanked her.
Eddy came in and assessed the situation. I broke down again but this time it was of joy of seeing him there. He offered to stay but I wasn’t emotionally ready to leave. Eddy told David that many of his friends came to his party and wished him well. He thanked everyone for allowing me to stay with David, I gave him a kiss and he left to join Ana Carolina.
It was David’s birthday. It felt as if I had been through labor pains
the entire day. One day I will be in the full light of our Lord and see the big picture but for now I was learning how to deeply trust God even when I couldn’t understand. I had to let go. I rolled the curtain, turned off the lights, stood still and quietly fell asleep.
Letting go is scary. Letting go doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing… we do our part. That which we have no control over we give it to God to handle. We let go of the feelings of unworthiness, the doubts, anxieties, the fears and worries. When I focused on how much God loves us it becomes easier to trust Him. Let go and let God.
We keep in our hearts and prayers so many special people at the Jackson Memorial ICU in Miami: Leo (PA), Leslie, Marbel, Katherine, Miguel and Jillian (RIP) and from the 9th floor so many to thank but specially: Irene, Mary K, Alex, Dexter, Natasha, Ivette and Michel. To priests Fr. Dominique and Fr. Martin thank you for your beautiful ministry and commitment.
(Psalms 46: 2-3; Proverbs 3:5-6)
We keep in our hearts and prayers so many special people at the Jackson Memorial ICU in Miami: Leo (PA), Leslie, Marbel, Katherine, Miguel and Jillian (RIP) and from the 9th floor so many to thank but specially: Irene, Mary K, Alex, Dexter, Natasha, Ivette and Michel. To priests Fr. Dominique and Fr. Martin thank you for your beautiful ministry and commitment.
(Psalms 46: 2-3; Proverbs 3:5-6)