Love

In this series of "Senior Moments with Kate" I want to speak to the truths that I have been awakened to since beginning this company and serving families. The first truth is truly Love Is The Best Medicine.

We all know that love comes in many ways from spouses and partners, families, friends and animals. I have also witnessed beautiful relationships blossom into love between caregivers and their clients. There are so many incredible love stories, but one of my favorite is of a family I met in the last year.

One Saturday morning I received a phone call from a woman asking for assistance with her dear aunt who was battling terminal cancer. She shared that her aunt was another mother to she and her sister and another grandmother to all of the children. Brenda and I went to meet the family and were both moved by the genuine love and respect that both nieces exuded for their aunt. They were involved in every aspect of her life and care, and when we began caring for their aunt 24 hours a day, at least one member of the family was always coming by with food, word puzzle books and just to talk and laugh. When Brenda spoke with the doctor about some medicine changes, the doctor said that this amazing woman was defying all medical reason to continue to live. She was literally loved to life. She lived many months longer than expected, and when God took her, she was surrounded by dozens of people who loved her. She had asked her caregiver to let her family know she was ready. Her family arrived, surrounded her, told fun, happy stories of their times with her, and she got to say how joyous her life was because of the love of these special people. She had never married or had children of her own, but she had a heart full of love. When she was gone, her family didn't mourn terribly, but instead celebrated this marvelous woman and the life she lived. It was amazing to share in this stunning exhibit of true love.

When we get sick, sometimes we aren't very lovable. Remembering the "body of work" of a person's life and loving them even when its ugly is hard but what I believe God intended for us.