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
2 comments:
Deep and profound thought !
Your parable I reread many times. Many applications for the "fatigue of compassion."
Would you care to share more details about the fatigue of compassion, "an attribute only humans have when we ignore ourselves as being a human."
I desire to understand more. Perhaps another detail to enlighten myself and others because ignoring ourselves I believe must be taught...
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