One tumour
one bed
two hands clasped
four walls
five chairs
eleven shallow breaths a minute
twenty-four syringes of pain meds
counting down now
four days since you ate
five days since you spoke
how many hours
of life?
.
.
.
Good bye Auntie Linda
who passed away at 10 p.m. June 26, 2014
apparently moments before I wrote this poem.
I’d been with her at 9 p.m.
.
Shawn L. Bird 
Your aunt?
My husband’s.
Aw… ❤
Thanks, Keely.
Sorry for your loss. Just found out my own aunt has Stage 4 cancer, so this really made me tear up. It’s so hard.
She was perfectly healthy 6 months ago. It’s astonishing how quickly this happened. Blessings on you and your aunt.
Thank you. I can’t imagine what you all went through having it happen so suddenly. I guess it doesn’t matter how healthy a person is or is not. I’m really sorry for your loss.
We’re hoping for the best for my aunt, but it doesn’t look good. She had a cough for seven months before she finally went to see a doctor to get it checked out because she was having trouble breathing. She was hospitalized and within days found out she had Stage 4 cancer in her lungs, kidney and liver, as well as another tumor attached to her skull. One of her lungs collapsed and her chest is full of fluid, but she’s undergoing chemo and radiation treatments like a champ, bless her heart. My mom and grandma are taking turns caring for her. They’re in Alabama, so it’s been tough not being able to do anything from so far away. All we can do is pray and offer her comfort.
Ah, that’s rough. Blessings on this journey.
Thanks. She’s going to need them.
Very sorry, Shawn
Thank you, Richard.
O, sorry…..
Thanks.
Sending you hugs from this side of the pond. That is such a moving poem. Many blessings to you and your family
Thanks.
😦 so well written, so hard to read. Presently going through the slow loss of a loved one.
My condolences.
Thank you
Condolences to you as well. Much Aloha from Hawaii.
Thanks.
Sigh. I didn’t expect that. My heart goes out to you, your husband, and all your family.
Thank you.
I am sorry for your loss.
Thanks.
This reminds me of when my dad died. He was on morphine to the end. Lovely poem and so well crafted.
Thank heaven for opiates to dull the pain.
Very strong writing
Thanks.
It’s a hard thing to watch someone go through – their last task of living. Glad you were able to write about it.
– former hospice nurse –
Thanks, Shirley. The staff have been a blessing. What an important work! We don’t have hospice here, but there is a palliative bed (or 2?) in the same extended care unit where my dad is.
So sorry Shawn
I appreciate that, thanks.
*hugs* I’m sorry you and your family are facing such a trying time.
Thank you.
The moment I read this i thought of hospice…and my mom – i was there for ‘the’ last breaths. My heart goes out to you and your husband. xxx
Thanks Kim.
I agree with your remark in response to a comment above, about how quickly the cancer had affected your aunt’s health. I lost my father to stage 4 cancer approximately 6 months after the doctors made the diagnosis. By that time it was just too late for any treatment. Our only consolation was that his sufferings weren’t prolonged.
My condolences on your loss.
Thank you, condolences to you, also.
Blessing to you and your husband. My brother passed away earlier this year. A very moving poem.
Thanks. My condolences to you on your loss.
Thank you Shawn. Keeping you two in my prayers.
Felt the pain and the coldness of this unrelenting disease. How I hate cancer. It has claimed so many of my loved ones. So sorry for you and your hubby’s loss. Just horrible that you had to see Linda go through that. Your poem brought back memories of when my aunty (Dad’s sister) was dying of cancer – I saw her two weeks before she died. Prior to that time, she wouldn’t allow anyone to see her – she wanted to deal with the news first; In March of 2003 she was vibrant and healthy, her musical laugh heard amongst others at my brother’s engagement party. In November, she had gone :(.
Yes. It’s astonishingly relentless. She’s still hanging on, but it won’t be long.
(Ah- in fact when I wrote these words, she had already slipped away)
How sad, it is difficult to watch this happen to a once vibrant person. All you can do is stay strong and be there for her. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you. We are sad that she is gone.
Powerful and real… just beautiful, thank you
My pleasure.
I read this to my girlfriend whose father died earlier this year in a way your poem tells, she cried in memory and at the beauty of your words. Such a touching and eloquent description of the last days of a loved ones life, heartfelt. My condolences to you.
Thank you, Robert. My condolences to your girlfriend.
I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.
Thank you.
I’m sorry for ur family loss. RIP.
Thank you.
Beautifully written. Beautifully described. I work in hospice and understand the challenges we face at end of life…challenges for everyone, patient and family alike.
Thanks.