A call for help!

I'm a caregiver too.
I worked for an agency for three years, the pay wasn’t so good but I love what I do. Recently I had a situation that left in pain and I had no one to help me deal with it.
I was caring for an “Angel” in the form of an aging Irish “lil nun”; Sister M. had devoted her life to helping the poor and the needy as most due. Now she is in a hospital, feeling alone, waiting to die. I say this in the most respectful way I know how, because I’m not catholic. Well, this adorable sweet woman was under my care for a few months. I learned so much from her, that it almost brings me to tears to talk about her....I have been a caregiver for over 20 years a Certified Nurse’s Assistant, Medical Assistant etc. (blah blah), all those years of dealing with similar situations suppose to have made me resilient to my “lil nun” Sister M., I was actually exited when I worked with her, every day was so spiritual, she was funny and she had so many wonderful stories to share. Sad to say, one day, she became ill…and she knew, and I knew, that we were probably not going to see each other again. Well, not in this life time, anyway. Sister M. became ill that morning and I had to call 911, but her words are still deafening because that morning, her eyes grew frightened and she said to me “NO, NO, I want to die here at home, don’t call, if you call I’ll have to die in the hospital alone.” I was torn between my duty and her pleads. I had to do it, I did call 911, because she was so sick(I tell my self that everyday). Sister M. was taken to the hospital that hour, and later I was advised by my employer that the other nuns in charge..didn’t want me to visit Sister M. because she might think she could come home, and it would confuse her. I felt that Sister M. would think that I abandon her; I lost days of sleep thinking how she might be, how she was feeling. Later my employer let me know that Sister M. was dying due to complications, and that I still couldn’t go visit her. Yes, I’m upset… Not just because I couldn’t say good bye to my friend, but because Sister M. knew she was going to the hospital to die there alone… As a caregiver I feel that it is important to have others in your job to talk to. Specially about these types of situations. I didn’t have that with my past employer, but now I work with Pro-Respite Care and I have counselors to help with bereavement, they have training programs to helped deal with situations like these, and they helped me Certify for Home Health Assistant, and I'm making more money now than working for an agency.

Other author: (You know in your heart that caring for another is important work, and you give it your best. But sometimes it can feel like you are facing so much more than you can handle... We are here to remind you that you are not alone, and that there are lots of resources to help you, and many others who are in similar care giving situations.)
www.pro-respitecare.com