We all go through life knowing that someday we won’t be here forever. I’m not afraid of dying and see it as a natural part of life. But what does worry me is growing old and not being able to take care of myself. The idea of relying on a hospice nurse makes me a bit anxious.
The thought of needing help with everything, being unable to do simple things on my own, and forgetting my loved ones’ names scares me. It’s not the kind of life I’d want. This fear reminds me of Maria, a music teacher who was cared for by a hospice nurse in 2016.
One night, as I was leaving at the end of my shift, I said ‘Goodnight, Irene.’ Then I asked her if she knew the song ‘Goodnight, Irene,’ and I sang a little bit of it. She looked at me and smiled,” Berg said. “For someone who didn’t usually talk much with the nurses, that smile meant a lot, and I knew I had made a connection with her.”As Rosipajla’s health got worse, it was decided to move her from the hospital to hospice care. “The last time I took care of Irene, I wanted to do something kind for her and her family, so I brought my guitar,” said Berg, who had studied music in college. “I sang ‘Goodnight, Irene,’ and it was a really special moment. I was nervous about singing in front of someone, but when I started playing and singing, she was so focused, and her family was really touched.”
Michelle Naypauer, Irene Rosipajla’s daughter-in-law who saw her as a mother, was in the room and moved to tears. “Irene was a wonderful person who treated me like a daughter,” Naypauer said. “In the last few months, Irene was in and out of the hospital, and we got to know Annamarie well.”
“Before the song, Annamarie had already done some great things. Our middle son, Eric, got married in August, and Annamarie helped set up FaceTime so Mom could be at the reception bridal table. It was beautiful,” Naypauer shared.
Naypauer, who recorded Annamarie singing to Irene, wanted to capture the special moment to share with the family. “There were so many tears, and it was just so beautiful,” she said. The song was a heartfelt farewell to Irene, who passed away a few weeks later at home, surrounded by her family.
Watch Joshua sing to Maria while she was in his carehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGFRHyt1sFQ
1. “Maria is dying. Then carer takes something out of his pocket and fulfills her last wish..” Newsner. Norhan Elhakeem. October 26, 2017
2. “Nurse sings to patient moving to hospice care in touching moment.” ABC News. Haley Yamada. March 2, 2020.
Hospice Nurse’s Heartfelt Gesture Fulfills Dying Patients’ Final Dreams
We all go through life, and at some point, we must face the fact that we won’t be here forever. I’m not afraid of dying; I see it as a natural and beautiful part of life. However, what worries me is getting old and not being able to take care of myself. The idea of relying on a hospice nurse does make me a little scared
The idea of depending on others for everything, not being able to do simple tasks on my own, and forgetting the names of my loved ones is something I find frightening. It’s not the kind of life I would want. This fear connects with the story of Maria, a music teacher who was cared for by a hospice nurse in 2016.
**Relying on a Hospice Nurse Can Be Daunting**
Maria spent her final days in a care facility, knowing her time was limited. She had been a music teacher her whole life and found comfort in music. Fortunately, one of her former students, Joshua Woodard, worked at the care home in Austinburg, Ohio.
Joshua and Maria had known each other since he was just nine years old when she taught him music. Before she passed away, Maria had a simple but meaningful wish: to hear the song “How Great Thou Art.” Wanting to make her last days special, Joshua got the song lyrics on his phone and sang it for her.
Marti Adkins Redmond, reflecting on this special connection, expressed her gratitude for hospice workers like Joshua. She emphasized the unique bond between Joshua, who had once been Maria’s student in voice and piano, and Maria, who became his caregiver in her final days.
Even though Maria is no longer with us, her memory continues to shine through this touching moment. The relationship between teacher and student, now caregiver, highlights the incredible kindness and compassion that hospice workers, especially people like Joshua Woodard, offer in their roles. Joshua’s actions show how much of a positive impact one person can have on another’s last moments, bringing comfort and dignity to the human experience.
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