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View Full Version : Dying Hospice Patient Gets One Last Ocean Hurrah Thanks to Officials



Vitalux
22nd October 2013, 16:20
I read this article and was touched how people took some time out of their day to help someone who was dying experience some happiness.

It is a worthwhile read, and I believe it helps to brighten your day.:tea:





A hospice nurse recalled last week a sunny day back in August when everything came together to give Jim, a dying cancer patient, a brilliant return to his beloved ocean one last time.

The nurse, Cathy Betham, discovered during Jim Handy's final days that his wish, as a resident of Cape May, New Jersey, was to once more dip his toes in the ocean, so she set out to try to make it happen.

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/images/stories/health/wheelchair_into_surf-family_Jim_Handy_photo.jpg

Even though his mobility was very limited, perhaps people could carry him down to the beach. She had no luck going to the local firehouse. Only two EMTs were there on duty. She went to the police station across the street and found the same situation. A busy summer was tying up these valuable officials. But the officers said they would call her if they could find a solution.

Cathy was just about to go home when Jim's wife received a call. Officer Matt Minutolo sought help from the beach patrol a few blocks up the road and said he would be "right over".
Instead of bundling the patient into a police car, they decided to take Jim for a wheelchair stroll on the sunny afternoon. Big sun hat on his head, Susan rolled her husband up the road to the meeting place. They stopped first to get him a favorite drink, a cherry slurpee.

It turns out two members of the Stone Harbor Beach Patrol were waiting for them with a big beach wheelchair with smooth, wide tires that could be pushed straight into the water. With an air of friendliness, Dennis and Zack hoisted the patient into the chair and the family walked onto the sand.

"They pushed him into the water past his feet and he stayed there for about 30 minutes," wrote Cathy in the Cape May County Herald. "He (felt) the water splashing on his legs and, of course, kept eating his cherry Slurpee."

Jim passed away the next morning but his wife Susan said that "dduring the night he was still talking about his trip to the beach 'to put his toes in the water.'"

Cathy said she won't ever forget that day when strangers were able to come together and make one man’s last wish come true.

Source of article Here (http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/people/stone+harbor/95752-man%E2%80%99s+last+wish+fulfilled+caring+officers+guards)

selinam
22nd October 2013, 16:26
What a great story!

MorningSong
22nd October 2013, 18:44
Thanks so much for these positive posts, Vitalux!

Craig
23rd October 2013, 02:21
wow how sad and yet beautiful at the same time.

Kristo
23rd October 2013, 06:11
Beautiful *sniff* All the things that matter. Thank you for sharing♥

Anchor
23rd October 2013, 10:33
That got me right in the feeling parts.

Awesome story.

4evrneo
23rd October 2013, 15:32
Very touching and beautiful story. Thanks Vitalux :)