Mrs Beckman kept
repeating the
word “Red”.
But what did it
mean?
By CD Swanson
Red!”
I was so frustrated that we couldn’t
figure out what Mrs. Beckman
wanted. It was the same thing since
her admission two weeks earlier. I’d
walk into her room, and she'd lift her
hands to me and say, “red”
continuously. I'd manage to calm her
after several minutes, while I
fervently searched my mind as to
what “red” could possibly mean.
“Mrs. Beckman, I have to get going,
but I’ll return later on…I promise.”
She nodded and lifted her hands
before saying, “red.”
While sitting in my office chair, I
wrestled with thoughts of “red” and
what red could be.
Mrs. Beckman’s primary diagnosis
upon admittance into the nursing
home was chronic heart failure with
a secondary diagnosis of post
cardiovascular stroke. The stroke left
her aphasic… the only word she
could utter was “red.” She only had a
second cousin who was older than
her and lived two thousand miles
away, so there was no hope in trying
to contact this family member.
Red. I needed to figure this out or I’d
never be able to live with myself. It
obviously was important enough for
her to keep mentioning it, so it must
be of major significance. I went to
visit her before leaving for the night.
“Mrs. Beckman, may I come in?”
She nodded her head and smiled.
“Red.”
“I know, Mrs. Beckman. I’m going to
try and figure this out. Please, just
nod yes or no for my questions
okay?”
JASMINE'S PLACE
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