A dying man's last wish to go fish

    This is a true story about one of my residents that I cared for. He came to the nursing home madder then I truly knew a dying man could. His family made him come to the nursing home. Because they all lived so far away.  Are little man here wouldn't move to were his family lived because he didn't want to bother them. Now what had him so mad is because they wouldn't let him die at home alone. See my little man loved the out doors. He wanted to die by the lake.  He was a professional sport fisherman.  

          Well my first meeting. I was just coming onto my shift. I was making my first rounds I knocked on his door. He told me to go the hell away or he was going to get out of his bed and kick my ass. Well now I didn't know if I should knock again to let him know that I had to take his blood pressure. Also is o2 was running out and I need to check it his IV. So what I did I went ahead and finished my first rounds. I knew or at less hoped he would hit his call light soon because I knew the IV would start beeping. Now I don't know if you have ever had IV but I will tell you when they go off they will drive you nuts after awhile. Well I was right it was about 30 minutes later it went off and like I had hoped would make him hit his call light.

      When I knocked on his door this time he didn't send me away he wanted a nurse. So when I walked into the room. There was a very small man lying on the bed. I was worried he didn't even look like he was going to make it threw the night. I said hello and he said turn that dam machine off and throw it out the dam window. I kind of smiled and he seen it and he truly said to me smile again and I will knock it off your face. Well I was stunned now I have been hit many times by combative residents but they were not sound of mine and they truly don't mean it. Its just they want to be left alone or don't want to get up or changed. But I was told this little man was very sound of mine and he knew what he was doing. So I told him now why would you want to hit me.  I don't even know you yet. Has someone done you wrong here or something. He looked at me no but I hate it here I want to go home. I knew what he was talking about. many people are forced to come here because they become warred's of the state. That is when you are not able to take care of yourself and you have know one. Sometimes sadly DHS or another Aging department takes you from abusive place. But anyways I told him I was truly sorry.  Just about that time my cell phone went off. That is a no no I forgot to shut it off. Well I was trying to turn it off and he said answer it at less someone likes you enough to call you.

     So I did it was my oldest son. He had caught a fish and didn't know what it was. He started telling me about this fish and I stopped him. I told him I would call him back. I told him I loved him and hung up. My little man goes who was that. I told him that was my oldest son. Then he goes what did he want. I was thinking to myself. You are a  noisy little man But, I told him that it was my oldest son he was fishing, with some of his friends and he caught a fish and he didn't know what it was.  He looked at me well what kind did he catch I said I didn't know. I didn't let him explain it to me yet. Well he said call him and have him tell you what it looks like.  Just then I heard them page me. So I had to go. He said as I told him I had to go for a minute he goes yea ok see you later like you will come back. I had a idea. I go how about you talk to my son? About the fish because I don't know anything about fish. His eyes lite up a little he goes ok love to. So I dialed my phone and my son answered. I told him the gentlemens name and told him to tell him about the fish. Then I left.

      Well it truly was like 2 hours later. Guess what? He was still on the phone talking to my son when I came in. He smiled this time when I came in and he told me you have a wonderful son.  Thank you I said.  What kind of fish did he get. He smile and said your son caught a nice big google eye. I though he was messing with me because I have never heard of that kind of fish. I  chuckled a little really what kind of fish is that. Thinking he was going to make up some kind of fish. Then he told me it is a hybrid that they made for sport fisherman. They are a tasty bass.  Which sound good to me I love to eat fish. He also said that he would give anything to fish one more time with my son.

   Well anyways needless to say we talked about my kids and fishing on his good days. He was full of cancer and he didn't have much time left. He couldn't hardly eat anymore. So one night he told me it was going to be his Birthday in about a week. I asked him what he wanted and he said he didn't want anything. But I had a crazy idea in my head. Now this mean resident truly turned out to be one of the sweetest men I have ever taking care of. So I took my husband and son.  That his Birthday was coming up and we needed to do something special for him.My husband had a great idea. My son was a great help he did his part my husband did his part and wait to you here what we did.

   Well 3 days later was my little mans Birthday. I was off that day. So that night before I was off I asked him if he minded if I brought my family down to meet him. He looked at me and said oh would you please. I would love to meet another fisherman. So the next night after the nursing home quited down I called the charge nurse and told her what we had planed for that evening. She told me that would be fine. So armed with everything we needed we headed to the nursing home. My husband was carrying a 55 gallon barrel, my other son a fishing pole, and my other son 5 gallons of fresh water, and my oldest was carrying a 5 gallon bucket of fish.That him and my husband went out and caught the very night before the surprise. You should of seen his face when we walked into his room. He had a smile from one ear to the other. He goes I though you wouldn't come as late as it was not even looking at everything we had for him. Then when he seen what we had and watching the kids set it up his eyes teared up so did mine and my charge nurse and 2 other aids because even as weak as he was he got up to fish one more time. Now before we went in there everyone beat sadly he wouldn't catch one. But thank you Lord he did. One of the little perch took the worm. He pulled it up and was just all smiles. He looked at us and said thank you now I had my one wish to fish with a true fisherman one more time. Sadly about a week later are little man loss his fight.  So now he is up fishing with the Angels.