Encouragement

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As a nurse I have seen a lot of unforgettable things, but I will never forget Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. I had only been a nurse for a few short months when Mr. Johnson was brought to our medical floor. The information I had was that he had terminal cancer and was being admitted for end stage management. He would be under our care so that we could administer pain medicine if needed and also give the family support.

The amubulance personnel brought him to the floor keeping his face covered until they placed him in his bed. When we removed the sheet covering his face I gasped in shock. Mr. Johnson's cancer had started in his upper lip and nose area and had progressed from there. He was left with a gaping hole where his upper lip, nose and right eye should be. After recovering from the initial shock of his appearance, I noticed the smell. The odor of rotting flesh was so overpowering that it permeated the whole room and wafted into the hallway. We had to set up a special deodorizing unit in the room to try to control the smell. It was still so bad that the staff had to wear surgical masks when they entered the room to care for Mr. Johnson.

Mrs. Johnson stayed faithfully by her husband's side, even though she looked completely exhausted. She would hold his hand and talk to him. I recall watching her lean over the bed and kiss him on the small area of his face that had not been destroyed by cancer. She was completely oblivious to the smell and appearance of her husband. Mrs. Johnson stayed by her husband's side until his death, not wanting to let go when he finally passed on. It truly amazed me that the ugliness of cancer and the horrible smell of death could not keep this woman from loving and tending to her husband.

Mrs. Johnson's love and devotion reminds me of God's love for us. When Jesus walked on the earth he was not repulsed by the physical appearance and odor of the sick and the dying. He would touch the lepors and the deformed with his merciful hands and heal them. His concern was not with physical appearance but the beautiful person that existed inside. I thank God every day that the ugliness of our sin cannot keep God from reaching down to our decaying souls and lifting us up. Like Mrs. Johnson, God will never leave us even in our darkest hour.

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the Lord thy God doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, not forsake thee.
Deuteronomy 31:6

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