The air was crisp and the night was very cold as I walked from my front door to the driveway. I heard the ice crunch under my feet and I wonder what was I doing and where was I going. The police car pulled into the driveway and a young officer got out opened the door and I immediately stepped inside where the heated vehicle seemed like a warm blanket surrounding me. I wondered to myself as I gazed into the young officers eyes why was he doing this and why was I letting him. We backed out in the cold dark of the night onto the roadway and sped off in a hurry towards the out skirts of town. The young officers finally spoke, asking me if I was warm enough and I replied yes, thank you. I ask him, “do you do this type of delivery work often"? No, only on special needs cases. I see, then while in deep thought my frozen face drifted onto the dark highway following along the white line that was barely visible because of the black ice that had fallen hours ago.
The officer said to me, "you must be special to be out like this answering such a call". No not really, I am just a simple nurse who cares about all my patients and some have greater needs than others do. Yes, I know, he quietly said, like this one. Yes, like this one her husband told me that the girl who was suppose to prepare her for bedtime did not show and no one else wanted to deal with her. She hard to work with, he ask. “Not really, she is a very kind woman but not able to move”. “I know, been that way for a long time now”. “Yes, I replied a long time. Being paralyzed like this is hard to accept and often a person will attach themselves to a particular person that they find gives them comfort. I guess that with her I am that special one.” “You could have told the home to have a nurse any one on duty to tend her”. “I know, and being out at midnight is crazy but I know that I can make a difference in her remaining life”. “I know and for that I want to thank you, he said, dad told me that mom always sleeps better, when you tuck her in to bed”. I glanced up at him asking in a low voice, "she is your mother". “Yes, and it is hard to see her like this you know. I want to thank you for getting out at this hour just for her”. “That is ok; I hope that some day, someone will be there for me.” “They will I know they will”. God always provides us with our needs”. “I know, I know”.
At that, we pulled in front of the nursing home where the night nurse opened the door for me. I slipped quietly out of the police car and went inside. First, I went into the break room removing my coat and things, getting my hands wrapped around a hot cup of coffee not to drink but to get them warmed. Then I rubbed my hands in lotion so they would be ready to give Eloise her nightly rub and preparation. I was starting to go to the linen closet to get my things when Angie stopped me and told me everything was on a cart just inside her door waiting for me. I went quickly then to her room. When I opened the door, I saw her husband by her side and the young officer setting in the corner with his eyes gazing out the window at the fresh fallen snow. Well Eloise, “I understand these women just do not know how to do this like me, I do not know to feel complimented or spoiled”. “You should feel a little of both lady. How dare you take off the night, how is a gal to get some sleep?” “I been trying to figure that out my self, smiled a bit at her, and said it is time we got you comfortable”. Eloise sighed and said, “thank God, you are here”.
I began quietly with her toes first rubbing them gently then wrapping a wash towel between each toe. I then rubbed her feet and ankle putting a washcloth around her ankles in place so that they could not move. I then worked on her legs rubbing them and wrapping them with a towel individually to keep them separated from each other. The muscle contractions pulled her until she would be twisted like a pretzel and separation of the limbs would be very painful and probably would break. I worked up her body until I got her freshly diapered. Then by this point she was exhausted from the work and we stopped. We then started to say our prayers together while we both took a short break. First, the 23rd Psalms, then the Our Father, and the Beautides leaving Hail Mary until last. I then started working on her stomach and chest raising her breasts very gently putting warm cloths underneath to help keep them warm while she rested.
