THE LONGEST 18 DAYS

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 5^th 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 12^th 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 23^rd 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.”