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| Member |
I am in the last three months of my BSN/RN program and was doing a 12 hour clinical in ICU. I was assigned an older gentleman with an terminal illness in severe pain. All the pain meds caused constipation and he has not had a bowel movement in 10 days. Despite this he still communicated with me through all the pain and everything I had to do to him yesterday. When I finally got him comfortable I asked what he did for a career as a young man. He was a retired Senior Chief Petty Officer with 26 years of service. I leaned in close to him and told him we both had something in common. I too am a retired Senior Chief and it was my honor to take care of a shipmate. I asked if there was anything else I could do to make him more comfortable and he said please give me something to kill me. I am in so much pain and want to die. I just about lost it. We both had tears. I spent 24 years as a Hospital Corpsman and saw some terrible things in Iraq and Afghanistan and have never felt the way I did when he made that statement. I cannot lie, there was a part of me that wished I could have help this Sailor end his suffering. At the end of the day he was happy to be cared for by a fellow CPO in his last few days. I called him Senior for the rest of the day and I could see in his eyes that made him feel proud and rest a little bit easier. It was an honor to care for a man who gave so much time to his country. | ||
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Member |
Thank you and well done. | |||
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| Green grass and high tides  |
God Bless you both. "Practice like you want to play in the game" | |||
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always with a hat or sunscreen |
Doc, I heard a similar story from my corpsman son. Tore him up. Prayers for all concerned. Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club! USN (RET), COTEP #192 | |||
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Alea iacta est |
Nice work. Thank you for doing that. The “lol” thread | |||
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His Royal Hiney |
Yep, that's tough. "It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946. | |||
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Member |
Great work, Shipmate. The world needs more compassion. I'm sorry if I hurt you feelings when I called you stupid - I thought you already knew - Unknown ................................... When you have no future, you live in the past. " Sycamore Row" by John Grisham | |||
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Member |
Wow, corpsman. Great job taking care of the Senior Chief. Good on you mate. Place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark. “If in winning a race, you lose the respect of your fellow competitors, then you have won nothing” - Paul Elvstrom "The Great Dane" 1928 - 2016 | |||
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Member |
This story literally put tears in my eyes. Thank you for what you do. I hope your senior chief finds fair winds and following seas. JP | |||
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semi-reformed sailor |
Great job giving the SCPO some dignity in his troubles. You’re a good egg, Doc. "Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor.” Robert A. Heinlein “You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020 “A single round of buckshot to the torso almost always results in an immediate change of behavior.” Chris Baker | |||
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Member |
Thank you for being there for him. | |||
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| Eye on the Silver Lining |
We all need more people in our lives with your compassion and ability to give dignity to those going through struggles in their lives. Thank you. __________________________ "Trust, but verify." | |||
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| Member |
Sometimes the world works in wondrous ways - terrible at times but wondrous as well - a chance crossing of two lives that will forever impact you both. No treatments, no medicines can ever treat a down and out person as well as a compassionate, genuine person Wishing him all the best, hoping he finds peace and comfort, his days filled with as compassionate a person as you - thank you Its a terrible shame we cannot allow dignity in death as some other places do - I am an adamant supporter in allowing a persons right to choose the way in which they depart this mortal coil. | |||
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| Edge seeking Sharp blade! |
Destiny shone upon both of you. | |||
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chickenshit |
Well done Sir. ____________________________ Yes, Para does appreciate humor. | |||
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| Little ray of sunshine  |
He (and you) is in my thoughts. Good luck to him. The fish is mute, expressionless. The fish doesn't think because the fish knows everything. | |||
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Semper Fi - 1775 |
Well done, Doc. Semper-Fi ___________________________ All it takes...is all you got. ____________________________ For those who have fought for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ | |||
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| Member |
Thank you for providing him with much needed compassion and respect. | |||
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Fire begets Fire |
Thank you for sharing Doc. Keep on keeping on; we’re grateful and proud. "Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty." ~Robert A. Heinlein | |||
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| Member |
Excellent story thanks for sharing. | |||
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