Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Being There


--by Mutoman, posted Sep 11, 2011

I work as a volunteer for a hospice agency. One of my longer-term patients has been slowly deterioriating in health and mental functions. He slept a lot during his last few weeks.

I would sit by his side while he slept, which was very ackward for me because I felt that I should be doing something actively to help this man. At times, I felt like sneaking away and letting him sleep, but I stayed.

During one of my visits he had been dozing off during our conversation and then finally went to sleep. I was just about ready to go and he woke, looking into my eyes with one of the biggest smiles I had ever seen from him. He said, "I really like it when you are here, it's so peaceful."

I have found, during my years of hospice volunteering, that just being there makes a world of difference for lonely people. We don't have to talk, we don't have to do something, we just have to be there for each other.

 

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Readers Comments

Aneesh Mohandas wrote: Really you are a good person. God bless you
Mutoman wrote: Thanks everyone for the kind comments. I appreciate your taking time to chime in about this subject. The greatest gift one can give is time; you don't have to volunteer for hospice or any other agency to give the gift; you can give it to your loved ones by merely being there when they need you.

erinvictoria wrote: That was very inspiring. Brought tears to my eyes. It takes a very special person to be able to handle situations like that. I'm glad you do it, bless you!
whitby98 wrote: I too have been a hospice volunteer and have had that same feeling. When my father was in the hospital, i sat by his side and "did nothing. " whenever he'd wake up, he'd immediately look over to see if i was still there and he would smile when he saw me.



Vinnie wrote: Shoot, who would have tuohhgt that it was that easy?
chemist wrote: Very inspirational, i almost cried! I really want to do something like this, to be there for someone too. Its you people who day by day, step by step, inch by inch, you are the ones who make the world a better place.
JeanieMarie wrote: Obviously you have not only helped the one in bed, but all of us that read your story. I keep coming across this same little reminder in my readings "be quiet, be still, be stress-free. " that is exactly what you are saying, & i need to be reminded of that every day. Thanks for what you are doing & showing us how important it is.
Vijaya wrote: You are a good person.
Rick Morr wrote: Being there is all that matters.
Gigi wrote: Being there is all that matters.

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