City nurse writes touching poem after patient’s death
We aren’t sure how much his family know of his last few months in Glasgow
AGLASGOW nurse has immortalised the final moments of a Covid-19 patient in a heartbreaking poem after an emotional shift on the front lines.
Sarah Pirie was there to bear witness to a patient’s last words in the city’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and was instrumental in helping their family have some closure.
The 30-year-old, who has been a nurse for three years, penned a poem after her shift ended to help cope with the emotional few hours, where she said there had “been many tears”.
“It’s the first time I have been so intimately part of a patient’s last words,” the Southsider explained. “It was beautiful and heart-warming but also overwhelming.
“I wrote the poem at the end of this difficult shift during which there had been many tears.
“In our teams we’re getting great support from each other in this very difficult time, but as well as being nurses, we’re human beings and we have good days and bad. The poem was just my way of dealing with one of those difficult days.”
Her heartbreaking poetry came ahead of the International Day of the Nurse, which will be marked across the world today.
She shared her work with her family, who quickly urged her to post it online. Since then, she has been inundated with messages from people across the world.
“I hope families take comfort knowing that even if they can’t be there, we are trying to do everything possible to help them stay connected to their families,” she said.
Sarah’s poem reads:
Tonight I held you,
As I fought back the tears. And grieved for your family, That have loved you for years. You became unwell,
There was nothing to do, We watched through the window, And increased your O2.
I called your family,
To see if anyone could attend. Your family needed to know, That this was the end.
But this virus is terrifying, And people are shielding, How can they be there,
When Covid is so unyielding.
I held your hand,
I wiped your face,
My gloved hand on skin,
As your breathing slows pace. You’d still smile behind your mask, And I’d try smile back.
To comfort and reassure you,
Is now my one and only task. Your family called,
To say their goodbyes,
We stood with the phone,
And listened to their cries. With tears rolling down our faces, Into the masks we all wear. We really wanted to help them, And show them we care.
We woke you up,
So you could hear their voice. We described your actions.
We had no other choice. Their words filled with sorrow, Their hearts played bare. They wanted the time,
To show you, they care.
You looked peaceful,
And smiled at their call,
I hope it brought you comfort, Standing there took my all. We deal with death,
But not like this,
No family allowed,
To give you one last kiss.
But the next family will need us, We will need to do the same. But I hope I gave you good care. And I will always remember your name.