A Hoagie is not just a Hoagie!
Hoagie

A Hoagie is not just a Hoagie!

A hoagie, simple enough, right? If you are from Philadelphia, then eating hoagies, is a part of your life, just like eating cheesesteaks, water ice and pretzels. Yes, we dip our pretzels in water ice and yes, there is mustard on the pretzel. It's like pouring yourself a glass of water on a hot summer's day, you have to have it. Now, the disclaimer, every hoagie is not the same :). Depending on where you grew up, whether West Philly, South Philly, Northeast Philly, North Philly or Germantown, you have your own hoagie spot and no one and I mean no one can tell you their hoagie is better than your hoagie. So today, is my father's birthday and of course, he wanted a hoagie. Now, our hoagie spot was Melino's, but the store closed during the pandemic, and didn't reopen. Their rolls were a staple in South Philly and no matter how long the line was, you waited, smelling the meat, cheese, rolls and the oil, oh the oil. As I walked in my dad's nursing home today, I was excited with a balloon in hand, and in my sister's hand the lemon meringue pie he requested. My father smiled, and laughed when he saw us, but didn't 100% fully grasp, it was his birthday. Dementia is the robber who walks in the store, steals the money but then turns around and steals candy too. This disease steals the memory within seconds, minutes or hours and then turns around and steals the joy of the memory. Though, we had a wonderful time, I was surprised no one knew it was my father's birthday, there was not a card or balloon celebrating his day. In all fairness to the employees in the nursing home, staff shortages and trying to provide the basics to all residents, I am sure it is overwhelming and a birthday card or a balloon is not on the top of the list of things to do. I remembered when I toured the nursing home I was advised by administration, "we treat everyone like family" and "your father is our family". The reality, he is not, and his family remembered and celebrated his birthday. I'm always the person, who challenges those statements, because we can unknowingly give people a false sense of care when we share those statements. I always say, treat people how you would want the person you love the most in your life, to be treated. Guess what, not everyone loves or even likes their family, so as soon as I heard those words, I cringed. I know the constraints employees are under in my dad's nursing home and more so, the stress of caring for so many residents, as a family we see it every day. I thought about the residents who never have visitors, their birthdays pass by and there may not be a cake, balloon, card or a celebration. As a resident, you are not an island to yourself, you are not always the number one priority and as families walking through this journey, this is a true, harsh reality for us and a needed one. As, we sat with my father, we were grateful for another year with him but more so for another moment. The hoagie for me represented a reminder, to remember! Remembering to celebrate the small things, can change someone's life whether your family or someone else, just remember. #hoagie #philadelphia #dementia #prostatecancer #stage4 #nursinghomes #wawa #bonecancer #hospitals #patientexperience #nursing #cna

要查看或添加评论,请登录

Nina Roulac的更多文章

  • Leonard's Daughter

    Leonard's Daughter

    It is finished, but has begun! I captured pictures throughout my dad's journey, so I could remember, as well as share…

  • I like Peaches too!

    I like Peaches too!

    Nursing homes and Hospice Care have been part of my life for the last year. It has been emotional, day to day turmoil…

  • I know you don't want to

    I know you don't want to

    Those are the words I spoke to my father when he had to transition from a cane to a walker. The very words I spoke to…

  • You can get on!

    You can get on!

    My father cracked me up yesterday when I visited him. I decided I would ride my scooter because it was such a nice day,…

  • Permission Granted

    Permission Granted

    Last week was a challenging week, as my father lost 7 pounds within days, and I wasn't prepared to see the numbers on…

  • Nurses are holding us!

    Nurses are holding us!

    Nurses somehow understand that wiping tears away starts before the moment they hold your hand. Through this process…

  • PEAS

    PEAS

    Have you ever witnessed something with someone and you have two completely different perspectives? That happened this…

  • The hand you hold

    The hand you hold

    I visited my dad yesterday and of course I stopped by to see Ms. Mary.

  • What I want and what my father needs?

    What I want and what my father needs?

    There was a lot of "I" syndrome happening in my life this week, I, I and I. I had a serious case of the "I's" and "I"…

  • "I'm not putting my dad away"

    "I'm not putting my dad away"

    Visiting my father one day I notified a nurse that my dads foot was bothering him. She checked on my dad immediately…

    2 条评论

社区洞察

其他会员也浏览了