This is a
story about the unfathomable mercy, abundance grace and the unmeasurable love
of God for one man. It is also the story of what it is like to let God manage
the work that He has ordained.
Mid August
2018, the relative of apotential resident, let’s call him Ed, whom would
eventually check into De Home. The relative told us that it is for his uncle
who had a tracheostomy and needed a place to care for him. We were told that it
is easy, all we have to do was suction
every 2 or 3 hours, that Ed can walk and do things himself. The reason
for the tracheostomy was to do a simple operation and to do biopsy on the lump
and it was not confirmed if the lump was cancerous.
So I visited
Ed in GH Klang and discovered from the specialist that Ed needed high care,
suction every hour or so and that he has severe back pain and cannot walk. The
wound at the throat needs cleaning daily. I asked the Doctor the reason for the
tracheostomy, and she confirmed that it was to remove a growth. I asked why the
tube was not removed and the doctor replied that it was for potential further
procedures and to prevent the lump to grow again and closed the throat.
Based on the
doctor’s information I decided not to take Ed in, Ed needed real nursing care.
At that point De Home has over 20 residents with 80% immobile and needed assistance and high care.
We were also short handed, with everyone stretched to the limit. This plus the
fact that none of the carer was trained to perform suction and care except one
nurse and we cannot depend on one person to care for Ed based on the doctor’s
information. I needed a team. I told Pastor Alan that we seriously can’t take
Ed in. Pastor Alan was supportive of the decision. At that point I did not know
that Ed was from the church that founded De Home.
After turning
down Ed, I was burdened by the text from Matthew 25:40 which says , “……….Truly,
I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did
it to me.” Please read the entire text from Matthew 25:34-40.
I started
talking to the team from the top to the bottom to explain the mission of the De
Home, to explain the conditions of Ed and to explain that we are to look beyond
ourselves for we are here for ministry. Some agreed, some disagreed but all
said they will support whatever decision I made with Pastor Alan. So it was set
to bring Ed in.
Now, to
manage Ed’s condition we need to separate him because it may traumatized the
other residents, but all rooms were occupied by someone so making separation
difficult, not until 1 September, A resident on short stay in a double room
downstairs checked out and the room was immediately available , it was the best
room because it is near populated area where we can meet Ed’s need at a moment
notice. It was also enclosed. So Ed got the best room.
So Ed checked
in on 5th September, we were definitely not ready to receive someone
like Ed. He called us every hour or so, he demanded special food, he has many
whims and fancies and worse of all he smelled like dead rats. Training was
given to all by the relative’s wife to perform suction to remove phlegm from
Ed’s throat. At first only the nurse, me and a few others were willing to do the suction. But slowly and
surely all the other staff slowly chipped in and started to do the suction. Ed
continues to demand all sort of exotic food like curry laksa, fried kueh teow,
KFC and what not, so he got his friends to get it for him. Ed is actually an
obnoxious person, he called some of us stupid, actually he meant idiots. He is
unappreciative, not that we crave for it, but at least don’t call us idiots.
Here is the
best part, Pastor Alan told me the Board has agreed to cover his entire cost,
which means it was free for him. Now the staff did not know about the free part
except for a few.
Care for Ed
was 5 times harder than anyone of the high care residents. By the 12th
day Ed was there , none of us could take his stench of death, in fact we tried
putting minyak angin or deodorant on our mask to enter his room. He attracted
flies into his room and also most part of De Home.
I saw on the
CCTV one day when Ed rang his bell, all the staff froze and waited and watched (including
me) to see who will go to Ed to do the suction or clean him, by the way his
stool was the darkest black I have ever seen. I said to God , “Help” and
suddenly an Indian couple contacted me and appeared in front of De home and
they were perfect for the job. The wife had taken care of someone like Ed
before. Here is the miracle among many
miracles, we cannot house the couple who came with a baby. Miraculously, we
found a room right opposite of De Home that belongs to a lady who is the sister
of one of our resident. The couple moved in and started work the next day.
The entire
team were relieved after 14 days, and Ed got the best care for four days right
before his demised on the 23rd of
September. We handled all the proceedings from the home to the parlour.
Ed’s daughter later told me personally that she was thankful that her father
was cared for not in just another home but departed from the best home, God’s
home. She thanked the team and to the home for making the final funeral
arrangement so effortless.
By the time
of Ed’s departure, he had rang the bell over 300 times for service or suction
in 18 days, an average 1 ring every 1.5 hour. The team was exhausted. We even
had a resident complaining to us for neglecting her because she saw us rushing
to Ed’s room all the time. I am not sure if other residents felt the same way.
Ed’s room took over a week to remove the stench.
But here are
the real outcomes, when the 4 children came to pay the bill, we told them that
De Home’s bill was covered and they were
stunted. Finally, the children offered a donation as a gesture of thanksgiving. But most important was that Ed’s final days
and death brought reconciliation to the family for they saw the grace and mercy
of the home and church of God.
The De Home
team were strengthened and I told Ed’s daughter that, her dad’s final moments
taught us all many things. His presence in the De Home taught us what is love,
mercy and the grace of God. The team in De Home also learned to trust God even
more and knew that De Home is the Home of God and He will manage it through us
all.
Matthew 25:40
which says , “……….Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of
these my brothers, you did it to me.”
