We all go through life knowing that someday we won\u2019t be here forever. I\u2019m not afraid of dying and see it as a natural part of life. But what does worry me is growing old and not being able to take care of myself. The idea of relying on a hospice nurse makes me a bit anxious.<\/p>\n
The thought of needing help with everything, being unable to do simple things on my own, and forgetting my loved ones\u2019 names scares me. It\u2019s not the kind of life I\u2019d want. This fear reminds me of Maria, a music teacher who was cared for by a hospice nurse in 2016.
\nOne night, as I was leaving at the end of my shift, I said \u2018Goodnight, Irene.\u2019 Then I asked her if she knew the song \u2018Goodnight, Irene,\u2019 and I sang a little bit of it. She looked at me and smiled,\u201d Berg said. \u201cFor someone who didn\u2019t usually talk much with the nurses, that smile meant a lot, and I knew I had made a connection with her.\u201dAs Rosipajla\u2019s health got worse, it was decided to move her from the hospital to hospice care. \u201cThe last time I took care of Irene, I wanted to do something kind for her and her family, so I brought my guitar,\u201d said Berg, who had studied music in college. \u201cI sang \u2018Goodnight, Irene,\u2019 and it was a really special moment. I was nervous about singing in front of someone, but when I started playing and singing, she was so focused, and her family was really touched.\u201d<\/p>\n
Michelle Naypauer, Irene Rosipajla\u2019s daughter-in-law who saw her as a mother, was in the room and moved to tears. \u201cIrene was a wonderful person who treated me like a daughter,\u201d Naypauer said. \u201cIn the last few months, Irene was in and out of the hospital, and we got to know Annamarie well.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the song, Annamarie had already done some great things. Our middle son, Eric, got married in August, and Annamarie helped set up FaceTime so Mom could be at the reception bridal table. It was beautiful,\u201d Naypauer shared.<\/p>\n
Naypauer, who recorded Annamarie singing to Irene, wanted to capture the special moment to share with the family. \u201cThere were so many tears, and it was just so beautiful,\u201d she said. The song was a heartfelt farewell to Irene, who passed away a few weeks later at home, surrounded by her family.<\/p>\n
Watch Joshua sing to Maria while she was in his carehttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=uGFRHyt1sFQ
\n1. \u201cMaria is dying. Then carer takes something out of his pocket and fulfills her last wish..\u201d Newsner. Norhan Elhakeem. October 26, 2017<\/p>\n
2. \u201cNurse sings to patient moving to hospice care in touching moment.\u201d ABC News. Haley Yamada. March 2, 2020.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"