Narration and Description Essay

Jill Smith

Professor Jon English

Eng106

September 17, 2013

My Final Moments with Dad

On March 5th my Dad was hospitalized for the pneumonia and after ten days of treatments they decided to move him to Crestwood Care and Rehabilitation Center in Milford. Hopes were very high that he would get better and be able to return home. In fact, we were so confident that we purchased an adjustable twin extra-long bed and placed it in the living room. Moving him downstairs would accomplish his need to reach the bathroom, kitchen and watch his new flat screen television.

I worked Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm and then attended classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Each day I would call him during breaks and lunch to check in to see how he was feeling and he would typically respond with an “I’m still here”. On nights when I didn’t have class I would drive to Milford to see him and watch the “Final Four Championship Series” that he loved so much.

It was a Wednesday evening and a beautiful sunset could be seen as I drove along Route 101A from Nashua to Milford. I wondered if Dad could see this sunset from his window. Dad would often stop to take pictures along his journey of sunsets or beautiful fall foliage. At the next traffic light I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture of the sunset to show him.

When I arrived to the center and entered through the front door a very familiar smell of bleach, rubbing alcohol, Bengay and that smell that can only be described as a nursing home stench greeted me. There was a bingo game in full swing in the function room to my right and I could hear a person call B10. As I slowly walked down the white walled and grey tiled hallway I could hear conversations between people in the rooms when I passed. I saw many familiar faces as I made my journey to the Nurses’ station.

I arrived at the Nurses’ station to see how he was doing. Dad’s nurse Carrie looked tired and a bit withdrawn. She...