Poems About My Time as My Wife’s Caregiver During Cancer

I wrote eight poems in chronological order of the events that led to my wife's death, as I spent 77,000 hours as her only caregiver. These poems might be very hard to read in one sitting, but I wrote them together like this, similar to an opera or suite.

STEADY HANDS

“Hey, Lou.”

“How are you?”

Help me up!

Steady Hands

STEADY HANDS

Lock my knees!

Steady Hands

STEADY HANDS

Change my diaper!

Steady Hands

STEADY HANDS

Clean me up!

Steady Hands

STEADY HANDS

Ease me down!

Steady Hands

STEADY HANDS

Empty Closets

Emergency Room

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Intubation

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Intensive Care

Let Nature Take Its Course!

BRCA1

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Chemotherapy

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Triple Negative

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Radiation Therapy

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Respiratory Therapy

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Swallow Studies

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Antibiotic Infusions

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Morphine Shots

Let Nature Take Its Course!

NG Tube

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Leeches

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Bloodletting

Let Nature Take Its Course!

Money

Nature’s Only Course!

Solve for XX

How could you?

Dirty DNA,

BRCA1

Triple Negative

Quadriplegia

Dysphagia

Dirty DNA!

But,

Just tickle me,

I can smile!

Just tell me a joke,

I can laugh!

Just listen,

I can speak softly,

Just see,

I can open my eyes,

Just watch,

I can eat by my left nostril!

“I Got You Babe”

Pair A Docs

I promise my patients

First Do No Harm!

Compassion

No Nourishment

Integrity

No Hydration

Competence

No Oxygen

Hospice

Execution

“Never will I betray them or risk their well-being.”

“If I ever break this oath,

take away my knowledge

of this art

on my own health.”

KILLING TIME

“Life is Good”

According to the t-shirt.

“Let her die

In a peaceful way!”

“Out of the blue

And into the black!”

“Death don’t have

No mercy in this land!”

“The future is uncertain,

The end is always near!”

Death is not peaceful,

Organs decay,

I did not hear a

“fly buzz.”

Discharge Instruction

Current Medications *****

Next Dose *****

No Immunizations Documented

Patient Condition at Discharge: Improved

Vitals: 181/67 119* 18res/98 RP

If you are experiencing

A mental health crisis, visit lifeline.org

Recent Laboratory: 4/4/24 Hemoglobin: 4.2

Nutrition Plan: NPO Starvation: 5/5/24

TELEMETRY

88: GREEN

97: GREEN

102: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA

110: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA

125: YELLOW! TACHYCARDIA

131: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA

141: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA

150: RED!!! TACHYCARDIA

40: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA

23: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA

0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA

0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA

0: RED!!! BRADYCARDIA

“REMISSION IS NO LONGER USED”

BLINK

Eyes closed

Are you listening?

One blink, yes

Two blinks, no

PICC line,

Morphine?

One blink,

Keep Talking?

One Blink,

Mother’s Day 5/12?

One Blink?

Birthday 5/17?

One Blink,

Wedding Anniversary 5/17?

One Blink,

Eyes Open,

I will see you tomorrow!

Two Blinks.

This post was written and submitted by Charles Elwert. The article reflects the views of Elwert and not of CURE®. This is also not supposed to be intended as medical advice.

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