Tell Them You Love Them!

Yesterday, my little man called me into his room once again. I bent over his bed like I always do and asked, "What can I do for you?" He turned his head up to look at me and he said, " Give me a kiss." I wasn't sure at first what to say or do, so I replied, " How about one on your cheek? Will that do?" I then leaned down and softly pecked him on the cheek. He looked at me again and said, "Thank you. Now I can say I have been kissed by an angel." He then closed his eyes and went back to sleep. This morning, as I was getting report from the night nurse, she said he had a very restless night and complained a lot that he couldn't breathe. As breakfast was being served, I was called to his room. It was only 7:30. Upon entering the room, I noticed he struggling to breathe, his eyes were open, but unseeing. His muscles jerked and twitched with spasms. I immediately medicated him to make him comfortable and phoned his wife. She came about an hour later, and must have phoned some other family members, because people I had never seen before began filing into his room. One young man was so overcome with grief, that he fell to his knees in the hallway, sobbing uncontrollably. My little man finally passed on at 1:00 this afternoon. It was very peaceful....I made sure of that. My biggest problem of the day seemed to be the family members. These people had never come to visit him. The only visitor my little man had ever had was his wife, who was there every day. How does one place a loved one in a nursing home, never visit them, then when it's time for them to pass, act like the whole world is just coming to an end? I wanted to tell that young man he should have come to see his grandfather and spend time with him while he was still fully with us. The point I want to make is to please, please, every day let the folks you love know how you feel. Whether you say it with words, or actions, find a way to let them know. Don't be like this young man and wait until it's too late.