A Gift of Grace and Time

For Ellen, faith was nonexistent until faith was all she had to cling to. After 24 years together, life partners, Ellen and Paul were married nine months before his passing to the spirit world. When treatments ran out for Paul's dreaded health issues, he confided to Ellen that he was very tired of exotic drugs, daily doctor visits, and feeling terrible. He wanted peace and comfort. So together, they decided hospice was not the only choice but the best choice. Before making the transition to his final reward and eternity, they shared his time going over memorabilia, listening to favorite Big Band music, watching movies, laughing, and telling stories about seashells. Ellen read his Tin Can Sailor magazines aloud, and much time was spent in expressions of love. Ellen stood guard 24/7. Sadly, they were wrong to believe family and lifelong friends would be their support system. Instead, many angels in human form stepped in to give support, camaraderie, and comfort. Ellen, an outspoken believer in science, was presented numerous miracles; miracles that science could not explain. These miracles and the subtle comfort she felt through prayer led to a profound epiphany in belief. The smell of English leather permeating the night air- Paul 's brother used that brand of cologne, but he had been dead for several years. Another incident, Ellen being violently shaken awake, just in time to untangle her beloved from the blanket and side rail. No one else was in the house, so whose hand shook her shoulder? This is Ellen and Paul's intimate hospice journey. The lessons learned are being shared with the deepest of intentions of easing the load of those facing a hospice odyssey of their own.