Rafael Donias
The Reality of Becoming Twice a Child

In the circle of life it is hard to tell as one gets near the end of his or her journey just exactly what they experienced in life. In the eyes of old age; you would not know you are looking at what once was a fighter pilot, circus clown, or factory worker in WWII. Tinamarie a CNA at the Bird Haven Convalescent Hospital has met the likes of these. She is a part time college student seeking a teaching credential and works to help provide for her household. She said, “My passion is to teach children but the economy has altered my ability to be a full time student and I have to provide for my family.”
Taking the job at the convalescent hospital she is greeted every day by the odor of ammonia and industrial cleaning agents that can not remove the stench of death that permeates the air. She said she always has to take a deep breath and focus on her commitment to the elderly residents she cares for. The only distractions she has is the subtle classical music that is piped in the overhead speakers throughout the corridors and the pleasant floral wall hangings strategically placed to avert ones attention from the stench of death. But she is reminded of her surroundings by the handicap ramps and the cold indoor temperature which is set to prevent the growth of germs and bacteria.
Her daily activities in this job include making rounds which consist of feeding them, changing linens and keeping charts of their daily activities for their visiting doctors. The staff consists of one RN an LVN and a handful of CNA’S.
It is not uncommon to see a few of the residents in their wheelchairs along the corridors reaching out their hands to greet her. In their eyes she sees the craving for attention and human touch. She told me they are like little children, innocent and eager for anyone to hear their stories. Tinamarie has taken the time to truly listen to them and find the rich history in each of their lives while doing her rounds.

She mentioned a resident named Mabel who kept 5 dolls on her bed which she played with and talked to as if they were her own children. Often times Tinamarie would see peanut butter and jelly on the mouths of the dolls because Mabel would share her snacks with them. She also tended to a resident named Mr. Miller who served as a Marine during the Korean War. She found it fascinating that after the War, he chose to become a professional clown in the Barnum and Bailey Circus. And then there was Mike, a charro in the Mexican Rodeo. He used to make his horses dance!
As colorful as their lives were in their youth, they all three had one thing in common, old age, which made them frail both physically and mentally. Consequently, they had few to no family visits. Nevertheless, all of us must experience life beginning as a child and ending as one.