This week I was assigned to look after a patient who has MND
or Motor Neuron Disease. This is a horrible disease that will slowly kill you.
For me, this is worst than any type of Cancer. This has no cure, unlike cancer
that has some chances of survival through chemotherapy. MND attacks all motor
neurons, including those in the legs, trunk, arms, swallowing and even
breathing. It will leave you paralyzed. It’s a killing-me-softly disease.
My patient is only 59 years old who previously worked as a Registered
Nurse until symptoms of her disease were noticed. She can’t walk, sit up or
move any part of her lower body. Her arms (which are only strong enough to ring
the bell) and head are the only parts she can control. A lifter is used to
transfer her from bed to chair, or bed to toilet. Her communication skill is
next to nothing. She moans and tries her best to say what she needs, but in the
end, I don’t understand anything. All she can say were ‘Yes’ and ‘No’. She
rings the bell to ask you to change the channel of the television, move her
knees apart from each other, raise the head of the bed or have a sip of water.
All of these I was able to comprehend after 3 minutes of pulling out words out
of her.
What I like about her was despite her condition, she still manages
to smile. She is 100% coherent, and if you tell her jokes she gets it and grin.
She can’t say ‘Thank you’, but through her smiles, you know and feel that she
appreciates everything you do for her.
The sad part is, because of her condition, she is neglected
by her family. She lives in a nursing home ever since she was diagnosed. The
family can’t just handle her needs and complete dependency. Her 15-year old son
was distant with her, but when you ask her she makes it seem like he was the
perfect son. This I guess is called a mother’s love.
I feel so bad for her both for being in that condition and
for having a selfish family. I told her that if by any chance I get to work in
the nursing home where she resides, I will look for her. She smiled and nodded
her head. For the two days I spent with her, I made it sure I looked after her
with respect, care and love. It’s all I can offer.
She never wished to have that awful disease. She never
imagined herself to live in a nursing home at a young age. Most of all, she
never wanted her family to neglect her. So for everyone like me who is as
healthy as a newborn baby, take care of your loved ones. If at some point, they
become a burden to you, always think: “What if I was the one in his/her
position? How do I want to be treated?”
B.
- 10:15 PM
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