A Man’s Last Wish Fulfilled By Caring Officers, Guards

STONE HARBOR – Jim Handy and I met on Aug. 2. As a hospice nurse, I was scheduled to see him that day. Jim had cancer and was in the hospice program because he had come to terms with his disease and was tired of fighting it. His goal was to spend the last days he had left with his wife Susan and his family. Jim and Susan Handy both held their strong faith in God and willingness to see God’s hand in many of the situations that had already occurred in their lives.
Jim was slowly relinquishing control of jobs he used to do when he was well. Susan was allowing him to progress into that loss of control that was very difficult for Jim. Jim was still able to get around with assistance but was not really able to eat much (although he occasionally enjoyed a cherry Slurpee).
One day, Jim expressed to Susan that he wanted to go to the beach. Again, I was scheduled to see Jim over the weekend. I arrived Saturday and again discussed his symptoms with them both: his decreasing appetite and increasing weakness. Susan said that she was able to get Jim to the beach Friday night but really could not get him near the water as he had wanted. She was going to try again. I finished my visit and expected to return Sunday to pretty much of the same situation.
When I arrived Sunday, Jim had taken a turn for the worse. He required more pain medication and was anxious, and it appeared that he was starting his journey to his final resting place.
When patients enter the pre-active to active dying phase it can occur suddenly or over a week or two. Sadly, Susan was not able to get him to the beach again to “put his toes in the water.” While he was lying in bed I asked him if he still wanted to get to the beach. To my surprise he said “yes.”
If he had the energy to jump out of the bed he would have done just that. Both Susan and I were very surprised at his response. Now I was faced with the task of trying to make that happen. I said a silent prayer and asked God to make it happen.
I walked to the Stone Harbor Firehouse to see if I could gather a few firemen to assist. Unfortunately, there were only two EMTs present who could not leave the station. Undeterred, I walked across the street to the police station and told the dispatcher my story.
After a few minutes, Officer Matt Minutolo and Officer Jess Lettieri came to talk with me. They seemed eager to help; unfortunately they were shorthanded and it was a very busy weekend. At this point I felt I did what I could do and the rest was up to God so I went back to Jim and Susan and told them that the officer would call them if they could help.
I was preparing to leave when Susan’s cell phone rang. It was one of the officers who stated they were going to elicit help from the Beach Patrol and they would be over. The officers were concerned that if they received a call, they would have to leave and we would be stuck on the beach. I decided to hang around in case they needed help.
The two officers arrived and initially we were going to put Jim into a car and drive him to Beach Patrol headquarters two blocks away where lifeguards would assist in our venture. The weather was beautiful and it was easier to walk him over in the wheelchair. So that is what we did.
Jim was wheeled to the meeting spot by Minutolo and the rest of us followed. We arrived to lifeguards Dennis and Zach who were waiting with a beach wheelchair that could be pushed into the water. Both lifeguards were very friendly and eager to help Jim. They lifted Jim into the rolling chair. I believe that if we had had to carry him to the beach, Dennis and Zach would have happily done that.
They pushed him into the water past his feet and he stayed there for about 30 minutes. He enjoyed feeling the water splashing on his legs and, of course, kept eating his cherry Slurpee.
I had to leave early because there was another patient to see but my heart was very happy that several strangers were able to come together and make one man’s last wish come true. The officers and Beach Patrol involved were able to experience something that is usually not in their job description.
I was scheduled to see Jim on Monday. I got a call from his wife that he had become unresponsive after breakfast and had passed away. When I arrived, his loving wife and family surrounded Jim.
Susan said that during the night he was still talking about his trip to the beach “to put his toes in the water.”
In this profession, there are several situations and patients that stick in one’s memory forever. This was one of those situations.
(ED. NOTE: Permission to use names and photos were given by Susan Handy. The writer felt the need to share the kindness and “out of the box” thinking exhibited by Stone Harbor Police and Beach Patrol on a bright, sunny August day.)