A View...of Claire

The room was surprisingly big, as nursing homes go.  Glancing up at the ceiling, though, I could see that the room used to house two patients.  Or, should I say, residents.  The tracks that control privacy curtains were still visible.  The room was pretty bare.  It just did not have much personality.  There was a dark wooden armoire angled in one corner, a single hospital bed, a night stand, a hospital tray table and a television mounted to the wall.  Oh, and I forgot to mention the one chair that was filled with extra sheets and blankets and, the window with a view to nowhere.  And there sat my sister, Claire, in a wheelchair.  She was surprised to see us.  Her expressions are exaggerated because MS has really slowed her brain and responses.  But, we still got a warm reception and weak hugs.  Her sense of humor is quite intact though.  She wanted to know why her son had brought “aliens” with him.  I am sure that comment was aimed at me since I am the Trekker.  Hmmm…I guess it has been a long time since we were in the same room together.  We talk on the phone often enough, but our lives seem so far apart even though the distance is only roughly two hours by car.  She laughed when I rolled my eyes at her and told her to “Live Long and Prosper”.  She loved the flowers that we brought. 

They were after all, the brightest thing in the room.  I know that my sister needs a certain level of care and that she may not be able to live without assistance any more.  But, she should be able to live!  There was not a lot of life in that room.  I get that residents need some “hospital–like” equipment and all, but could they at least make the place a little cozy.  Does it all have to look so antiseptic and dingy?  The room dwarfed Claire.  She must only weigh eighty or eighty-five pounds.  She has always been tiny, but not like that. 

 Her hair, that had once almost reached her waist, was cut short and was very curly.  She told us it was her “Halle Berry” look.  And, I could not help but notice the contracting muscles in her left leg.  She explained that she was going to have surgery to help relax the muscle and ease the pain. 

She did not know when or what was going to happen after that.  “Are you coming back here?”I asked.  “Oh, I don’t know”, she mused.  We brought her up to speed about all her nieces and nephews and their children.  She looked amazed as I showed her pictures on my cell phone and said” Everybody is so big!”  She laughed when her son said that “We kids grow, Mom” and she said she was trying to sell him but no one was buying!  She picked up the phone to dial and it took a lot of concentration for her to coordinate making her fingers work and getting the number right.  Her son laughed and told her she had a crazy “phone face”. 

 After a while, we left and promised to come see her again soon.   I laughed about the crocheted pink flamingo pillow on her bed.  Claire used to crochet a lot and was quite talented.  She said she had made it.  I was glad someone thought to bring it because it was at least a familiar thing…something that reminded her of home. 

Well, that place is not going to be her home…at least not looking like that!  We are on the hunt for a better nursing “home” and when we find it, we are going to jazz it up.  MS or not, Claire deserves to “live” as much as she is able and not be stashed away like a forgotten dusty book.  And, there will be a view.   

 Remember to treasure your footsteps.  They are a gift from above. 


Blessings!

Chérene