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A HEALING VISIT

A cold blast of air hits me as I pull open the door to the Franciscan Long Term Care Facility. I wipe the sweat from my brow, peel back the strand of hair that's been stuck on my face the entire ride over and say a loud "hello everyone!" One by one they turn to look at who's come to visit, showing a mixture of emotions on their faces.. sadness, loneliness, pain, curiosity. They sit on their wheelchairs with their toothless, drooly smiles and confused eyes, shaking arms and hands. Some stare right at me, a few seem to look right through me, but happily most seem darn happy to see me! With their arms reaching out to grab me as I pass, I smile as I return their touch and say my hello's. "Oh what a pretty dress you have on!" the lady with the blanket on her lap says to me. I don't know her name, so I just say a cheerful "Thank you!" as I walk down the hallway to my mother's room. Room 108B.

It was a blistering summer afternoon and my air conditioner was on the blitz. I was hot, tired and just about ready to head on home when, on impulse, I changed my mind. Whenever I'm feeling bad, I know all I have to do is visit my mom. She's 100 years old and living in a home in Merced, California. She has Glaucoma and is very hard of hearing. About 7 years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease. She's been living in the home for the past 5 years, ever since it became too hard for my sister Lorrie to care for her in the home they shared. Ma had started wandering around the house at night after she was put to bed, so we thought it was time for the Franciscan. I work in the same city where she lives so I try to visit her as often as I can. I'm her youngest daughter.

When I walk in her room I see that she and her roommate are both dressed and sitting up in their wheelchairs. It's dinnertime at the home and they are patiently waiting for their nurse to push them into the dining area. I walk up to her bending over so my mouth is close to her ear as I say loudly "Hello!". Instantly she smiles and says "Well hello". She no longer remembers my name, but she always remembers my voice. "Are you ready to go to dinner with me? We'll go shopping and go out to eat, how's that?" "Well of course" she laughs.. "Yes, I'm ready". "Ok, you hold on tight to my purse for me." and I smile to myself as I push her down the hallway. She's having a good day. I sign her out and off we go.

"Can you feel the sun on your face?" I ask as I push her wheelchair down the sidewalk onto

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