More about John and Lisa
John was doing better adjusting to the news that his sister, Lisa, was going to die of cancer. He felt tired and worried lots of the time, but remembered to use relaxation and happier images when he needed a break from his stress.
John's parents were so busy taking care of Lisa and working that he felt like he didn't see them enough. He decided to talk to his parents about his feelings. One evening, John sat with his parents in the living room and he told them he felt lonely and he was kind of confused about what was going on with Lisa.
The next weekend, John and his parents went to the hospital to see Lisa. John brought a favorite game from their house to play with Lisa. John and Lisa had a great time together playing the game.
When John asked, Lisa told him about the machines by her hospital bed. Lisa knew so much about her equipment! John met Lisa's nurses when they came in to check on Lisa.
When it was time to leave, John was really sad. He and Lisa hugged for a long time and they both cried a little bit.
In the car on the way home, John's parents told him they were really sad to leave Lisa, too. John talked about some of his good memories of Lisa. John remembered about the time he and Lisa had friends from school over to play games and watch movies. John told his parents about his memory and they all smiled for the rest of the ride home.
As time passed, Lisa became weaker. She didn't always wake up to see John when he went to the hospital to see her. John's dad asked John one day if he would like to come to a special meeting at the hospital to plan for Lisa's care and final days. John was a little scared to go, but he did have questions about what would happen and he wanted to understand the decisions.
At the special meeting, John saw Lisa's nurses whom he had met before in her room. John also met Lisa's doctor and a social worker. The people from the hospital talked to John and his parents about where they would like Lisa to spend her last days and where they would like her to die.
John asked some questions about words he didn't understand. He was very sad and a little scared to be talking about Lisa dying, but he sat close to his parents and remembered he wanted to understand what was happening and do the right thing for Lisa.
In the meeting, John's parents and the hospital people decided Lisa would be moved to a hospice. John had learned that a hospice is a special sort of hospital for people who are dying and the people who work there are really good at making dying people and their families comfortable.
John thought his parents made the right decision about Lisa going to hospice. As the meeting ended, John and his mom held hands. They were all getting really sad again about Lisa dying. Talking about it had been the right thing to do, but it made them miss Lisa so much.
The hospital social worker asked John's parents if they would like to sit or pray in the hospital chapel before going home. She told them people of all religions and spiritual preferences are welcome to use the chapel.
John told his parents he would enjoy that. They headed off toward the chapel still holding hands. John's mom looked down at John with tears in her eyes. She said, "John, we will get through this together."
John hugged both of his parents and said, "That is just what I was thinking."