by Karen Hines, Caregiver
Thursday late morning Cassie said “see ya later” to the staff while the ambulance crew wheeled her to the elevator. Cassie smiled, the nurses returned the smiles amongst tears, we even snapped a quick group picture. Cass had written on one of the hospital’s white boards earlier that week, “Don’t be afraid, just believe. Mark 5:36.” She pointed to it as she rolled past. I tried to smile, but like a zombie, I slowly followed the gurney. Chris and the kids stayed back with our social worker Kathleen. She spent some time discussing the emotional side of hospice and the idea of “dumping circles”. She wanted to make it very clear to us that Cass was at the center of the circle, the rest of the Hines 5 were in the next circle, followed by Ashley’s almost fiancé, Jeff, along with the rest of our immediate family and close friends. The final circle was “everyone else”. Only support goes “in” and fear, whining, complaining etc. is dumped “out”. This simple concept was how we were to control what was about to happen at our house for what would be the next 40 days. Kathleen made it very clear that it is our job to protect each other.
