Today I Watched a Woman Die

I watched a woman die today,
her skin, I swear, was ghastly gray,
all day she'd cried out in great pain,
and asked for relief, but all in vain.

Her heart rate dropped point by point,
no V-Fib for her, she was leaving this joint,
we'd never seen anything like this before,
27...26...25...24

She slipped away slowly, inch by inch,
her face soon relaxed, was no longer pinched.
And as I stood watching the cold Texas rain,
I wondered why no one had relieved her pain.

All day the nurses had been begging the docs
as the patient kept ringing the nurse call box,
why withhold meds from a person with cancer?
The docs did not care, wouldn't give us an answer.

Don't overdose her, but by God ease her pain!
Why should she suffer as she circles the drain?
We watched the screen as she finally flat-lined,
the emotionless doctors had papers to sign.

©copyright2009DanielleWhite

Copyright © | Year Posted 2008



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Date: 12/8/2008 12:56:00 PM
Danielle, I work in an assisted living and have seen the elderly die there, also was in the presence of both my parents when they passed but fortunately all have had the meds they needed to keep them comfortable. It's a very hard thing to watch someone die and to watch them die in pain would be extremely hard to do knowing that you can't do anything to help. Keeping them comfortable, giving them what they need is what I believe in. In His grip.....By His grace.....Janice
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Date: 11/29/2008 11:53:00 AM
well.... you're looking tired and ill; if we can help you we will..... well.... thanks to our kindness and skill..... you catch your breath and the nurse will present you the bill.... Genesis..... very poignant write Danielle... well done
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Date: 11/29/2008 6:59:00 AM
As a nurse I've seen this more than you care to know. Even in hospice, believe it or not. This is a great write...send it to the AMA. BG
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Date: 11/29/2008 5:52:00 AM
Very sad but a very good poem. Laurie
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Date: 11/29/2008 4:36:00 AM
Sad write. Maybe it was her choice. It was my mother's wish not to have an artificial life so we had to sign papers not to attempt to keep her alive by artificial means. I don't thinl I could be a doctor and deal with it professionally. Of course I voted liberal, so anything is possible. Vince
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