Life? For Bill

When Papa was recently in the "Skilled Nursing Facility" he shared a room with another man, who appeared to be in very bad shape. We'll call him Bill, and he was in Bed #1.

Bill looked to be about 60, with a full head of gray hair and a neatly groomed beard. He looked as though he was a professional man, before whatever caused him to be in his present condition.

Being human, I couldn't help but take a peek in his direction as we passed his bed to get Papa settled in the second bed. Bill sat propped in his bed and stared straight ahead without blinking. The television was on the QVC channel, which I thought was rather strange, considering the man's present circumstances. We got Papa settled into his new surroundings, and neither of the men made any effort to introduce themselves. As it was early afternoon, we didn't try too hard to keep quiet, and Bill was obviously awake.

I had to pass Bill's bed several times that afternoon, and again I noticed his lifeless eyes that didn't seem to acknowledge my presence. His right leg which was bare except for some type of brace, was sticking out of a thin sheet. I could see what appeared to be the edge of a diaper. His left hand was drawn tightly into a fist. His left foot was partially covered with some cushiony material that was strapped across his ankle with velcro. I noticed an open bed sore on his foot about the size of a quarter.

The nursing facility is in old section of the hospital, and I imagined that it was once filled with young nurses who still wore white uniforms and proudly donned their nursing caps and school pins. The room had pink tiles surrounding a sink that sat on outdated wooden drawers that had too many coats of white paint.

I headed to the sink to wash my hands, and looked in the mirror. I could see Bill staring, and paying no attention to the pretty woman hawking QVC's bargain of the hour. It was then I noticed the books on tape, and player from the Braille Library.

(continued-next entry)