Poems About My Time as My Wife’s Caregiver During Cancer
Here are eight poems about my experience as a caregiver to my wife during her final days.
As a caregiver to his wife, Charles wrote several poems about their time together during her final days.
I wrote eight poems in chronological order of the events that led to my wife's death, as I spent 77,000 hours as her only caregiver. These poems might be very hard to read in one sitting, but I wrote them together like this, similar to an opera or suite.
STEADY HANDS
“Hey, Lou.”
“How are you?”
Help me up!
Steady Hands
STEADY HANDS
Lock my knees!
Steady Hands
STEADY HANDS
Change my diaper!
Steady Hands
STEADY HANDS
Clean me up!
Steady Hands
STEADY HANDS
Ease me down!
Steady Hands
STEADY HANDS
Empty Closets
Emergency Room
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Intubation
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Intensive Care
Let Nature Take Its Course!
BRCA1
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Chemotherapy
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Triple Negative
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Radiation Therapy
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Respiratory Therapy
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Swallow Studies
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Antibiotic Infusions
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Morphine Shots
Let Nature Take Its Course!
NG Tube
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Leeches
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Bloodletting
Let Nature Take Its Course!
Money
Nature’s Only Course!
Solve for XX
How could you?
Dirty DNA,
BRCA1
Triple Negative
Quadriplegia
Dysphagia
Dirty DNA!
But,
Just tickle me,
I can smile!
Just tell me a joke,
I can laugh!
Just listen,
I can speak softly,
Just see,
I can open my eyes,
Just watch,
I can eat by my left nostril!
“I Got You Babe”
Pair A Docs
I promise my patients
First Do No Harm!
Compassion
No Nourishment
Integrity
No Hydration
Competence
No Oxygen
Hospice
Execution
“Never will I betray them or risk their well-being.”
“If I ever break this oath,
take away my knowledge
of this art
on my own health.”
KILLING TIME
“Life is Good”
According to the t-shirt.
“Let her die
In a peaceful way!”
“Out of the blue
And into the black!”
“Death don’t have
No mercy in this land!”
“The future is uncertain,
The end is always near!”
Death is not peaceful,
Organs decay,
I did not hear a
“fly buzz.”
Discharge Instruction
Current Medications *****
Next Dose *****
No Immunizations Documented
Patient Condition at Discharge: Improved
Vitals: 181/67 119* 18res/98 RP
If you are experiencing
A mental health crisis, visit lifeline.org
Recent Laboratory: 4/4/24 Hemoglobin: 4.2
Nutrition Plan: NPO Starvation: 5/5/24
TELEMETRY
88: GREEN
97: GREEN
102: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA
110: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA
125: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA
131: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA
141: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA
150: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA
40: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA
23: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA
0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA
0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA
0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA
“REMISSION IS NO LONGER USED”
BLINK
Eyes closed
Are you listening?
One blink, yes
Two blinks, no
PICC line,
Morphine?
One blink,
Keep Talking?
One Blink,
Mother’s Day 5/12?
One Blink?
Birthday 5/17?
One Blink,
Wedding Anniversary 5/17?
One Blink,
Eyes Open,
I will see you tomorrow!
Two Blinks.
This post was written and submitted by Charles Elwert. The article reflects the views of Elwert and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.
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