HEALING HOPE FOR YOUR GRIEF & BEREAVEMENT

Keeping a vigil when a loved one is dying is a very sacred and life changing experience, when family members may gather to say their goodbyes and provide caring comfort to their dying loved one. All care at this point is focused on keeping the patient as comfortable as possible, rather than treating any medical conditions. But the thought of being present when someone is finally dying or taking their very last breath is scary to many people. Learning to recognize the signs of imminent death, knowing how to talk to the dying person, and knowing what to do after death occurs will help alleviate your fears and allow you to stay with your loved one through the closing of the sacred circle of life and death. He\she may be communicating to the last minute while others are in a comma. It is said that even when they are in a comma and unresponsive, the last sense to go is hearing. We are therefore encouraged to say our goodbyes and assure them of our love now and always. If possible and while your loved one is still able to hear and communicate with you, it is important to discuss any unfinished business, get them to tell you their personal wishes, especially for after they are gone out of this life. It would be important to write down some of these things on paper especially where some family members live far away and may need to know the dying persons final wishes and plans for their survivors. A living will outlining what they would like done or not done for them if they became critically ill and unable to communicate is very important. The presence of such instructions will alleviate misunderstandings between those left behind. It will also ensure that nothing is done to them in their dying moment that they did not want, like codes and other aggressive measures when the circumstances clearly indicate that they are not getting any better. The absence of such written instructions leaves no choice but for the medical personnel to take whatever measures they deem necessary to keep the dying patient alive until their bodies give up. The worst thing is that it places traumatic and unpleasant responsibility on one’s family at such times, putting them through experiences that might haunt them with guilt for the rest of their lives. This is just a touch of the wealth of information in the recovery from life changing impact of grief and bereavement which every human being will encounter at one point or other before the end of their lives. Read on. Be Blessed & Encouraged.