We all go through life, and at some point, we must deal with the fact that we won’t be here forever. I’m not scared of dying, and I see it as a natural and beautiful part of life. However, what worries me is getting old and being unable to care for myself. The thought of being reliant on a hospice nurse does scare me a little.
The thought 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 scary. It’s not the kind of life I’d want. This fear connects with the story of Maria, a music teacher in the care of a Hospice Nurse in 2016.
Being reliant on a Hospice Nurse seems daunting
She spent her last days in a care facility, knowing her time was limited. Maria had been a music teacher all her life, and she loved the comfort that music brought. Luckily, 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’s simple but meaningful wish was to hear the song “How Great Thou Art.” Joshua, wanting to make her last days special, got the song lyrics on his phone and sang it for her.
What makes this story even more touching is that Joshua had known Maria since he was a kid
Marti Adkins Redmond, reflecting on this special connection, thanked hospice workers like Joshua. She highlighted the unique bond between Joshua, who had once been Maria’s student in voice and piano, and Maria, his caregiver in her final days.
Even though Maria is no longer here, her memory lives on through this heartwarming moment. The relationship between teacher and student, now caregiver, shows the incredible kindness and compassion that hospice workers, especially people like Joshua Woodard, bring to their jobs. Joshua’s actions exemplify the significant impact one person can have on another’s final moments, bringing comfort and grace to the human experience.
Read: The Story Behind The Mom Who Wrote The Most Heartwarming Love Letter To Nurses
There are many documented cases where Hospice Workers aid in their patients’ final few days and it’s beautiful
Annamarie Berg looked after patient Irene Rosipajla for a minimum of 20 days while she was in the hospital, she shared. “She didn’t really talk a lot [while at the hospital]. It wasn’t anything personal, but, you know, [Rosipajla] just didn’t feel good,” said Berg.
But Berg said she was able to break through to Rosipajla with a song
“One night, when I was leaving for a shift change, I said ‘Goodnight, Irene.’ Then, I looked at her and asked if she knew the song ‘Goodnight, Irene,’ and I sang a couple of bars from the song, and she looked at me and smiled,” said Berg. “From somebody who doesn’t really like to talk [to the nurses], that meant a lot and I knew that I had connected with her.”
As Rosipajla’s health deteriorated, it was decided that she be moved from hospital care to hospice. “So the last time that Irene was in my care, I wanted to do something kind for her and for her family, so I brought my guitar,” said Berg, who minored in music in college. “I sang ‘Goodnight, Irene,’ and it was a very special kind of moment. … I was nervous to sing in front of somebody, but once I started playing and started singing to her, she was so focused and listening and her family was moved.”
Closer than ever
Michelle Naypauer, Irene Rosipajla’s daughter-in-law who considered her like a mother, was present in the room and moved to tears. “Irene was a wonderful person who took me in as a daughter,” said Naypauer. “In the last couple of months, Irene was in and out of the hospital, and we got to know Annamarie well.”
“[Before the song], Annamarie had done other great things. Our middle son Eric got married in August … [Annamarie] helped set up a FaceTime for Mom to be at the reception bridal table, and it was beautiful,” said Naypauer.
Naypauer, who recorded Berg singing to Rosipajla, expressed her desire to capture the heartwarming moment to share with the family. “There were so many tears, and it was just so beautiful,” said Naypauer. The performance served as a touching farewell to Rosipajla. She passed away a few weeks later at home surrounded by her family, as shared by Naypauer.