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| Andrew Nelson |
Such was the case in January of 2025. Inez was ill and could not be present. Because our facility is small, we are a fairly close-knit family. I knew Inez, so I told my charge nurse that I would cover for her when it came time to deliver meals. She agreed and thanked me, and that seemed to be the end of the matter. I was happy to help. I couldn't cook, of course, but taking food to the patients was something I could do.
Joy called me that morning around 1:30 a.m. to say there were only 14 meals to deliver, just a few for each of our five floors. I reported to the cafeteria on the third floor to find that Rose had already made it easy on me by loading the food cart. I took it and headed out the door.
Our building is constructed in such a way that you can look into the distance and see through glass windows that reveal the other side of the floor. I looked in that direction. And then I looked twice.
81-year-old Mr. Andrew Nelson was shuffling down the hallway in his gown and pulling his IV stand along with him. I was shocked to see the poor dear walking, especially unassisted, and on the third floor. Mr. Nelson was not healthy. He was bedridden, or so I thought. I had been told that he was in the winter of life, and rapidly approaching the end of the season. He was supposed to be released later on the same day to go home with family - and with hospice.
Since I was already there, I distributed the plates on the third floor. I then made my way to the first and second floors, where I continued to serve the meals. After this, I arrived on the fourth floor. I stopped at our station and asked how Mr. Nelson was feeling.
Kathy, my charge nurse, gave me a pained look. I gave her a curious glance and tilt of my head. "I'm sorry," she said. "About 30 minutes after you left, Mr. Nelson passed away. His family is in there with him now. Some are on the way."
I finished up serving the hot meals. I then returned to my duties. Since that time, I've volunteered to deliver food on several occasions. It doesn't bother me. I never told anyone about that morning, and I've never seen anything else that was unusual. However, I will certainly never forget about the time that I saw the ghost of Mr. Andrew Nelson, walking down the hallway.
The End
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