"Every HOME has a story"

Last week I worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday days. I had the same patient all 3 days. She had been diagnosed with cancer of the lungs with met to the spine and liver and had just found out about a week ago. On Wednesday she started radiation. I continued to take care of her and on Friday we decided to discharge her because she just wanted to get home to take care of some things. She was failing slowly, but was still alert and oriented, able to move and walk and in most ways was still "normal." I took her out on the beautiful Friday afternoon and helped her get into the vehicle that was taking her home. I helped her into the car and she gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek and told me thank you for the good care. Then her daughter gave me a hug with tears in her eyes and told me thank you for taking care of her mom. I saw them away, and turned back into the hospital pushing the empty wheelchair.
I see many patients everyday and every patient has their own issues going on. In doing so, I feel like many of us nurses and healthcare professionals distance ourselves from our patients and become very hardened to situations because it's just another patient, and there will be new patients and new situations and issues every day. If we became attached to every one of our patient's situations there probably would be a shortage of Prozac and Valium.
As I pushed that empty wheelchair back into the hospital, I walked past the hospital gift shop and saw a sign that says "Every home has a story." As I pondered that quote, I thought about the patient I had just discharged and how no matter how they appear on the outside, every home and every person has a story and is worthwhile and loved by God.
That thought stuck in my mind thoughout the weekend. I went back to work on Monday night and I got word that my patient had passed away on Saturday, a mere 24 hours more or less since I discharged her.
I will remember this situation forever. I went back to the hospital today and bought the sign that I saw in the window of the gift shop. It will be a constant reminder to me that no matter how many patients go through my hands, almost like the sand slipping through your hands on the beach, that every home has a story and everyone is special in their own way.