What a wide space of death...

O

old medic

Senior Member
Location
Western NC
With in a week, I delt with a baby born way to early and even knowing there was no chance, we tried...
Today, a 100 year old, still independently living at home, with a DNR, no major complaint, go to sleep and pass away
while we bringing him for a check up....
I'm ready for retirement
 

Dying is as natural as being born. We look at it from our view of it being a sad thing, but it isn't at all.
Maybe all the infant needed was to be born on this world to know it wasn't needed for his growth to God.
The 100 year old is now in such bliss.
The most wonderful lives are ahead of him!
I wish people could see things from an eternal perspective and not view the shedding of the body as a bad thing.

As I'm writing this, I feel what you are feeling right now and the tenderness and compassion you show is tremendous.
Medic, What a wonderful soul you must be!
 

@oldmedic you've been too long away. What you do is so important; there is nothing more important than saving lives.

It must be very stressful for you when you try to feel joyful at this time of year.
If retirement gives you better quality of life, then please do it. You deserve it.
 
I have retired now for 22 years and I'm sure glad I did. I have traveled to many places and enjoyed 2 winters in Texas, 2 winters in Mexico and a winter in Portugal/Spain. It was the right decision for me because so many of my friends have "kicked the bucket." I feel sorry for old timers when I see them working but I guess either they have no money to retire or have no interests in keeping them busy. My secret to early retirement is to have many interests in life. Too many people, especially men make the mistake that their job is their life. You have only 1 life and the more money you make the more your relatives and neighbours will hate you; unless of course, your relatives stand to inherit your money but that presents other problems. They probably want you dead ASAP. LOL
 
CinnamonSugar said:
I can’t imagine losing a baby; I would be a basket case.
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Many years ago... I had a run of 7 kids killed in 3 months time.... It almost ended me.... not just my career. And to my death bed I will carry those memories. They seem to come back and leak down my face on occasion. But I must admit it made me a stronger medic and person.
 
old medic said:
Many years ago... I had a run of 7 kids killed in 3 months time.... It almost ended me.... not just my career. And to my death bed I will carry those memories. They seem to come back and leak down my face on occasion. But I must admit it made me a stronger medic and person.
Click to expand...
I pray for peace and strength in your heart. You have made a difference in this life.
 
I'm 75, which today is not that old, with so many living 100+. But when I think of all the people I met in my life, at least half are not here. More than half of my high school, male, classmates are gone. At least half of my Navy pals are gone. I am, now, the eldest member of my family, after my older brother died. Almost none of the TV stars, I used to watch, are alive. It is just sheer luck, and maybe some healthy genes that I'm here, and all those others aren't. The fact is we are all here between two dates.- date born, date of death,. It's the way the universe works. Unfortunately, we are often hit with this reality.
 
Bless you! Over the past few years I’ve received some assistance from Medics, and they were all so kind. I appreciated it so much.
 
old medic said:
Well My last day of work was Thursday, got off 2 hours early... didn't last long...
Was back on the truck last night helping bring our son to the helipad to fly him out for emergent surgery....
Hes now 2 1/2 hour drive away since no hospital around here has room.
Click to expand...
Our local noon news was showing people from Michigan being airlifted to our hospital 15 miles from me. Hospitals here in Indianapolis are moving patents over to Illinois hospitals. It's a madhouse to get into a hospital now.
 
old medic said:
Well My last day of work was Thursday, got off 2 hours early... didn't last long...
Was back on the truck last night helping bring our son to the helipad to fly him out for emergent surgery....
Hes now 2 1/2 hour drive away since no hospital around here has room.
Click to expand...
Oh no! How was the surgery; is he alright? Are you alright?
 
squatting dog said:
Your life is made up of 2 dates and a dash... Make the most of the dash.
Born - died.
Click to expand...
The Dash Poem (By Linda Ellis)
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning...to the end

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth

For it matters not, how much we own,
The cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what's true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering this special dash
Might only last a little while

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent YOUR dash?
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I'm 75, which today is not that old, with so many living 100+. But when I think of all the people I met in my life, at least half are not here. More than half of my high school, male, classmates are gone. At least half of my Navy pals are gone. I am, now, the eldest member of my family, after my older brother died. Almost none of the TV stars, I used to watch, are alive. It is just sheer luck, and maybe some healthy genes that I'm here, and all those others aren't. The fact is we are all here between two dates.- date born, date of death,. It's the way the universe works. Unfortunately, we are often hit with this reality.
Click to expand...
I was talking to my brother the other day and he mentioned that he was reading the obituaries in the local paper. His comment was that he was surprised that the major of those that died were in their 50s. Both my brother and I are in our mid 70s. We must be doing something right or just plain lucky. Those that died in their 50s must have done something wrong or were just plain unlucky?
 
My wife spent her working life in the ambulance service. As a paramedic she experienced the high's & lows. One tale that she told me happened when she was off-duty. She was travelling along the M25, the circular motorway around London, on her way to stay with her sister.

Ahead of her she could see a commotion, there was a car on it's roof. She parked her car, put on her hiviz with AMBULANCE emblazoned across the back and went to the scene. A young woman, no more than twenty was sitting in the driver's seat, strapped in by the car's seat belt. My wife got rid of the "rubber neckers," it's ambulance speak for those who morbidly want to see. She didn't have her full medical kit, but the sponge collar was enough to hold the victim's head in place.

Minutes later, police arrived, my wife briefed them, they got everyone back. The fire & rescue arrived at the same time as the ambulance, having told the crew all that she had done, she left them, asking which hospital they would take Lucy, (the victim,)to. My wife went on her way.

On her way home she thought about Lucy, and knowing where the hospital was, on a whim she went to see how the young lady had fared. Lucy was sitting up in bed, wearing a strong neck brace, the doctor talking to her turned out to be her surgeon. He asked my wife if she was the off-duty paramedic who took charge at the scene. "Yes she was," Lucy said, before my wife could answer. The surgeon told my wife that they had discovered a hairline crack in Lucy's neck and that sponge collar had saved the young woman from a lifetime in a wheelchair.

"Good shout," was all the surgeon said, hold his hand, palm out. My wife slapped his palm with her's and they all smiled. Later, when my wife regaled me with her tale, she admitted a sense of euphoria, adding that she was walking with her feet three inches off the ground for days after.
 
old medic said:
Many years ago... I had a run of 7 kids killed in 3 months time.... It almost ended me.... not just my career. And to my death bed I will carry those memories. They seem to come back and leak down my face on occasion. But I must admit it made me a stronger medic and person.
Click to expand...
My son in CA is a first responder, Captain of his fire station now, but a trained EMT and Paramedic too. He said the WORST calls were the kids. 😢 While he is a deeply compassionate person, and felt for every one of the patients he treated and/or transported, the children affected him deeply.

He told me those times where he had to deal with a child, he’d go home after that shift and often just wanted to cry as he interacted with his kids…sad for what he’d seen, and grateful that his kids were whole and healthy.

I appreciate all that you do @old medic, thank you so much for your service. 💕
 
old medic said:
With in a week, I delt with a baby born way to early and even knowing there was no chance, we tried...
Today, a 100 year old, still independently living at home, with a DNR, no major complaint, go to sleep and pass away
while we bringing him for a check up....
I'm ready for retirement
Click to expand...
What is a DNR???
 
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