She had a diagnosis of emphysema with respiratory failure in need of a lung transplant. I saw her struggling for air and being in pain due to multiple steroid-induced fractures. She was clearly suffering from life which some people describe as the most common STD.
I saw her husband quite involved to the extent of being over-bearing in the care of his beloved wife. As time goes on, as it does in all situations any way, he appeared more and more content with our care. I saw loss of connection between him and her. I saw long hours, days, months and years of care turning from a journey of holding on and digging in until the end, to giving up and backing off right there now.
To some carrying care feels like a burden when they have fatigue of compassion, an attribute only people have when we ignore ourselves as being human.
Others carry care like a soldier, who holds up his ammunition with both arms while crossing a river to protect it, knowing that "nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care".*
*Theodore Roosevelt
