The Soothsayer Part 1

At the beginning of my shift at Like Home Inclusive Care, I always check in on Miss Rosa first. I usually check her vitals and get her ready for her breakfast. She was one of my favorite residents. She was a petite woman with a loving gaze and a warm smile. She loves to read the scriptures and sing old-time gospel even though she sang out of tune and forgot most of the lyrics. Working with geriatric patients for so many years it came instinctively to me when I enter a room that there was something wrong. Something like impending doom. There was no heavy sound of breathing and she was laying on her back with her mouth wide open. Her honey color skin had turned white as a sheet and she was cold to the touch. She was ninety-eight years young as she would love to say. Her medical files showed that she had a history of seizures and documented excess mortality. I stood there for a while looking down at her, remembering all the warm and memorable moments I shared with her. She was a good listener. Often times I would bring her a bowl of my homemade chicken orzo soup. I pulled myself together and proceeded with the care guide protocol. I change her gown which was stained with sphincter discharge and sponged her down. She always wore gloves even while asleep. She was inexorable about keeping her gloves on to hide her hypertrophic scars, and so out of love and respect for her, I left them on. I thought while I was waiting for the mortician to come, I would start packing some of her belongings. in the back of the wardrobe I came across a metal box that was filled with old newspaper articles and a journal Her only profile on record was medical information. There was no record of family members. I wanted to know if she had any family members somewhere so that I could try and track them down, I open the metal box. I read the newspaper articles and thumb quickly through the journal and I was spellbound and shocked by what I read............. continue on part 2 January 24, 2023