Experienced Heaven In Nursing Home

When I was younger, around the age of the adolescent. I have this vision of helping other people. I would tell my mother that when I am already older and have a stable work and a good business I will build a nursing home for abandoned children and special children. I would also like to build a Home for the Aged for abandoned grandparents.

At the early age, I was able to open my heart and mind on how cruel the world is. People are blinded by what is happening in the world. The universe seems to be deaf to the cry of the less fortunate people. Religion supposed to help unite humanity, but what it does is contradicting to what it's real purpose, it divides the human race.

When I was in College studying Bachelor of Science in Nursing I had the chance to have an On the Job Training in a nursing home, we were assigned in different areas. The Nursing homes have an area for grandparents that were abandoned, there is also an area for abandoned kids and babies, and an area for Special Children. I was able to work on those two areas, which are the area for Special Children and for the abandoned grandmothers. I was able to work on each area for two weeks.

An experience with the Special Children is a mixed emotion. I felt anxious. Most of them has Cerebral Palsy and has Down Syndrome. Others are Autistic, ADHD, etc. Being surrounded with those kids at first I don't know exactly what to do. I don't know how to deal with them. When they cry, I don't know how to calm them and make them stop. Shall I talk to them?.. Shall I just tap them gentle on the back to calm them? Or what? Some kids will have tantrums, out of the blue. First 2 days having duty there was a culture shock. But after 3 days and so on, I have realized the way to communicate with them is through their soul and heart. On the 3rd day, I was already able to communicate with them without any words. Look at them in the eyes and smile, they will smile back and grasp your hand, then they will roll it into their body. It is pleasing, showing them so happy and pleased with you. All the tiredness I had for the day is gone by just a smile from their faces. Being with those Special Children that treasures life more than the normal people do is like being in heaven surrounded with angels that is full of hope from all the people they are seeing. In their eyes, you will see they believe in purpose. They are here because they are meant to be here. They are meant to be here in this world to give hope. Hope for those people who is losing faith.

Comes the last few days I have in that area, the heaven in the land. I can't help it. Tears just fell when I was saying goodbye to those kids. Whenever I go to their rooms and say goodbye, they would grab my hand and put it in their cheeks. It feels like I was touched by an Angel showing their gratitude for the few days of staying with them. It was a spectacular experience that I will forever treasure.

2nd area I went to was with the grandmothers. Before going to that area, we had an orientation. They told us what are the attitudes, personalities, hobbies, mannerisms, etc. of those grandmothers. Take note, when I say grandmothers, they are literally old. Ages of grandmothers there range from 88 and above. Some may aged 98.

Each grandmothers have really different personalities. They are like kids. Some have trouble in speaking. Some are like crying babies. Some may just sing a same song over and over again. Some may tell same story all day long. But one is common in all of them, they are noticeable, loving and really have a lot of things to share with you based on their life experiences.  Imagine the age they have now, for sure they really have gone through a lot. That is no doubt!

In the morning, the first thing we do is to make sure that they have taken a bath. So from their bed, we will have to transfer them to a wheelchair, then from the wheelchair to the chair in the bathroom. Some may not want to take a bath, so you would want to tell them a lot of stories or sometimes may do bargaining with them. One of them, doesn't really want to take a bath. So she would throw us a water from the pale, we really have to be prepared by getting wet and conquer that grandmother. Others may spit a saliva on us, good thing we were properly oriented, so we were prepared!
After making sure all of them have taken a bath, we will then assist them in doing some exercise, then feed them and roam them around the nursing home while having talks with them.

My realization with them about life is sad. It made me feel afraid of getting old alone. They rarely get visitors. Having a new face to see is what makes them happy. Sometimes they would assume they know you, like they would call you in their daughter's name, son's name or grandchildren's name. It makes me really sad because at the back of my mind it just means they already miss that person, so much!

The saddest part of working in that place is that after taking care of them and fell in love with their flaws and childishness, you'll just wait until they become so weak and take their last breath. It just breaks my heart when you go back there the next morning and found out that they are no longer complete.
These people, just made me realize to treasure every minute of our lives. It is awesome to be old, but not to die helplessly. It was an amazing experience I will never forget. Their words of wisdom are full of sense.

Last day being with them, tears dropped again, so sudden. One grandma, sang a song for us, made us even cry. The grandma saw us crying, she asked us why we are crying, we explained, that it was our last day and we will no longer go back there to take care of them, she then cried too. She was taken back to her room because that grandma was really sad. We felt it. It was a heart crushing moment. Made me fell in love with them more.

I swear when I become a millionaire... well, maybe not really a millionaire, just capable of building a nursing home, I will really build one!!
Then I will stay in that place. I would like to see those people who has full of hope and faith in life everyday!

Well I guess, I am that kind of a person that will always have a charitable heart for needy people, beautiful soul for ugly world and clean mind for dirty environment.

To God be the Glory!