Inspirational Stories

Working at Hospice on Christmas Day - Tricia C.

I choose to work on Christmas Day and it ’s somewhat hard to explain. Perhaps it stems from the old training. When I was a student EVERYONE worked Christmas Day, no exceptions. We were told ”Nursing is a twenty-four hour, seven day a week profession. Illness and death do not wait until after the holidays -this is fair to everyone ”. We didn’t argue -one didn’t in those far off days. On the other hand it was fun, and rewarding. Discipline was relaxed, visiting hours were open, Christmas mince pies and sherry (a medicine measure only nurse!) for morning tea. Doctors dressed up as Santa and his fairies toured the hospital giving out gifts. Somehow knowing we were making it fun; not only for ourselves, but also for those patients, separated from their families, had its own quiet gift.

For me Christmas is about the gift of love. This may be expressed in a home made-present crafted with love, or a gift bought with thoughtful consideration and care, and wrapped in pretty paper and ribbon. The Christmas gifts I treasure most didn ’t come wrapped in shiny paper and ribbons. Quite the opposite, most came wrapped in sorrow, tied with love. But they were special.

Christmas 2000 was my own Dad’s last. He had a progressive neurological illness that had crippled his body and confused his mind. I treasure the memory of his littlest Granddaughter leaning against his wheelchair patiently helping him to open the gift she had chosen for him, her Face alight with anticipation of his pleasure, and his gentle smile of gratitude.

Christmas 1996 was my fourth sister’s last and she knew it.

Our entire extended family received gifts more precious than gold. She had carefully chosen 30 gifts to reflect our differing relationships and personalities. As a school teacher, she was always very well organised. For me her unfinished craft work.

For her teenagers a teddy bear, with a letter attached. Each teddy bear was named, and was charged with reminding the kids that she would be with them forever.

Christmas 1973 is still very vivid in my memory. My own small daughter was terminally ill. If the chemotherapy didn’t work, she had only short weeks to live. That Christmas we were given six months remission, not a large gift. She learned to talk and without that gift we would never have heard the last words she said to us.“ I love you Mummy, I love you Daddy ” a gift beyond price.. When our family volunteers to work on Christmas Day, we offer to staff, patients, and other families ,a gift of ‘time ’ given with gratitude and love.

Nursing is still a twenty-four hour profession and dying continues to have no regard for holidays, someone has to work on Christmas Day. These days we take it in turns.

We still make it fun. Routines are relaxed; there’s lots of yummy chocolates and food. We all wear funny hats, flashy earrings, pull crackers and sing Carols. In amidst the normality of the festivities, we hope other people will find a gift to treasure forever.

Tricia Clarkson