Bubba had been battling a stroke and congestive heart failure for over a year. Dialysis kept him in Georgia, but Bubba wanted to travel.
With his wife Cindy, Bubba longed to make it to Arkansas to go fishing with his old friend Larry. Bubba and Larry had played high school football together many years ago, and were still close friends.
After convincing his doctors to let him skip dialysis, Bubba and Cindy were on their way to Arkansas. This wasn’t their first time making this trip. But each time, Bubba had made the statement that it might be his last.
This past May, he was indeed correct.
After returning home, Bubba’s health diminished rapidly. The physicians agreed to discontinue dialysis altogether, and Bubba was admitted into the hospital. Now it was Larry’s turn to make the eight hour drive from Arkansas to be with his friend Bubba.
At some point during the second night of Bubba’s hospital stay, one of the nurses on rotation made the following statement to Larry…
“When patients make it to my floor, they don’t talk about the ‘stuff’ they have or what they ‘did,’ they just want their family and friends.”
Only a hospice nurse would make a statement like that… but my question is, “Why?”
Why does it have to be that way? Why do we have to wait until we are so near the end to realize what really matters in life?
Why can’t we be more like Bubba?
Bubba made time to go fishing with Larry long before he was confined to his final hospital stay. He didn’t wait until he was on that nurse’s floor to know, and act on, what was important to him in his life. He chose friends and family over “stuff” well before it was too late.
What would you want if you were on that floor?
What matters most to you?
What will you do about it today?
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Tags: Friendship, Fullness, Helping Others
Life is never so important as when facing death. I have not reaachedto the “it’s too late” time in my life. I haven’t had to face time limits on activities or events in my life. It is hard to see myself in bubba’s position. Today was my 63rd birthday. I spent it driving 80 miles to take my husband to an early doctor appointment. After arriving back home, I picked up my friend and drove her 80 miles to the doctor. I make myself readily available for family and friends. Serving preserves quality of life.
“Serving preserves quality of life.” That’s it Branda. One of the best sermons / talks, or whatever you want to call it, that I have ever heard on service was given by Dan Cathy (Chick-fil-A). If you ever get a chance to hear him speak about serving, try to be there. The man’s heart is awesome, and his ability to express his heart in words is amazing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs2jiFkc0wg&feature=related
The longer we live the fewer people we have that either remember or shared a special moment in our lives. There was a time in my life where I found it easier to not reach out to a friend or family member. I’m finding it easier to stop and make the time, if even just for a phone call. One of my new lessons learned is this, “having nothing to say is no excuse for not saying anything at all.” I genuinely appreciate your thoughtfulness in sharing Bubba’s and my dad, Larry’s, story. Thank you.
Wow Robby! “having nothing to say is no excuse for not saying anything at all.” That is HUGE! Look out Facebook… here comes Robby’s quote!
Love the story. You know we have all experienced this and seen it happen time and time again. Maybe this story will actually change some hearts.
I totally agree with you Shea.
When reading this articles It makes me step back and count the times I have faced the real possiblty that my days were number, I have seen in my short life thru my health problems many times when folks ask you those questions about where are you in you faith and do you think you have things in order, and00 as time has gone by facing what seemed the final days , i ask the question to my love ones are you ready for the your last days did you take time and thank a person for something they did for you, or have told anyone that if i can help you even if you have found that you are the one that is sick , I guess what I am trying to say is this, It does seem when a man or woman faces the final days of ones life, instead being so consume with your own feelings , I feel that our job and blessings should be on the ones who will be there when we are not, I know in my time when it finally gets here, I hope I spend my time praying for my loves one and be strong for they will be the with the emptiness when the time comes to watch what would unfold at anyones ends,I just see that the final thing I would like to reme,ber is that I help comfort a love one or a friend.
I couldn’t agree more Tim… and brother, I have seen you fight and win those health battles. You are a champion.