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And the sadness keeps on coming…

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Since we’ve been emotionally overwhelmed and beyond busy with my SIL’s situation over the past month… other things have taken a back seat. And though I hate to admit it, that included visits to my husband’s elderly uncle. We’d been going once a week to visit, bring groceries and run errands but hadn’t done anything other than call in three. And then the other day, we found that his phone had been disconnected.

A visit to his house found it locked up tight, blinds drawn and truck missing.

A few frantic phone calls later….

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We arrived at the V.A. hospice facility.

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A huge campus with a pond and strolling flocks of Canada Geese. And unlike a lot of Veterans Affairs hospitals, a complex with an excellent reputation and amazing care.

It was here that we found my husband’s soon to be 91 year old uncle.

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A recent trip to the emergency room revealed he is riddled with bone cancer and has a mass on his lung.

He won’t be going home.

But honestly? He’s alright.. and has made his peace. He was in good spirits, joking, telling old stories and flirting with the hot and cold running nurses who are catering to his every whim.

This place is amazing.

Private rooms with a fridge, microwave and Bose sound system.

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A large menu. Room service food whenever you want it. An ice cream and dessert cart that goes door to door like the Good Humor truck.

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The high tech bed has Wi-Fi and a USB port.

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With multi colored light reflections on the floor.

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They even hooked up a DVD player and brought him John Wayne movies.

The staff is kind, compassionate and go out of their way to make him as comfortable as possible.

Losing a loved one is never easy, but he’s in a wonderful place and being well looked after. He’s a widower with one son who lives in Florida… so we’re going to do our best to visit as often as we can.

❤️

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33 thoughts on “And the sadness keeps on coming…”

  1. What an amazing hospice, both indoors and outdoors. (I’ve never seen anything like it over here in France.) What a comfort to know that he is receiving such care in his last days.

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  4. I’m glad your uncle is in a place where he can be comfortable in his body and his mind. It’s a fine thing that he has kept his sense of humor; good for him and for you. I have, had, she’s gone now, a friend who was an administrator at VAMC Asheville. She referred to it as a culture of caring. I get my medical care at the VA and that has been my experience.
    You and your incredible husband (OORAH) are shining examples of kindness and generosity and you absolutely deserve every bit of peace and comfort that comes your way. I would bet the farm that every other follower of this blog feels the same way. Now go give your man a great big kiss, but don’t say it’s from me.🙈🙉🙊

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    1. Thank you. We’ve been really impressed with not only the medical care but the quality of compassion. Hospice nurses are special people.
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  6. I’m so very sorry that Uncle has slipped far healthwise. SO thankful he is in good hands; that is not usually the case with VA hospitals. Sending him the best thoughts.

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  7. It must have been such a shock to find Uncle missing, phone disconnected and truck gone! In only 3 weeks since last contact – gosh, a lot can happen in a short amount of time. No one thought to call his nephew, to update you guys? You must be so relieved Uncle is in good hands, although for a sad reason.

    Deb

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  9. It’s wonderful to hear that there’s a four star VA hospital somewhere (perhaps 5 star?) My step brother constantly complains about his VA care but then the injuries he sustained were of his own doing – being drunk while on duty and rolling an army jeep.

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  14. From my experience with my mother (who had dementia), whom my wife and I cared for in our home for ten years before we were no longer able to, it is extremely hard to find a facility like the one your husband’s uncle is in. When we did locate and place her in one with a good reputation, it turned out (unbeknownst to us) that ownership had recently changed hands and quality of care had declined, forcing us to find another place, where she went downhill fast, was hospitalized, and died shortly thereafter. Needless to say, I do not look forward to either my wife or I needing to spend the end of our lives in such circumstances.

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