A Broken Rosary

[dalesmom]

A patient I have is a Catholic. I made a special point of safely putting his rosary on his bed rail so it would not come off and he could always reach it easily. Today,before I got to work, he had to go back to surgery. When he got back, the OR team had taped his rosary to his IV pump. He left to the OR on his bed and came back on the same bed. When I untaped his rosary to replace it on his rail for him, it was in 6 different pieces!!! It hurt my heart so bad. You know how everyone has a favorite rosary and these people had disrespected his. Of course, no one owned up to it or apologizes for it. When the family got there to visit him (he was still asleep) I apologized profusely and gave them my rosary and offered to fix it. I felt so bad for him! But they were so sweet and said it was an inexpensive rosary, not a special one, and not to worry about it. But I still feel like something sacred was so disrespected and nobody cared from the OR.

Isn’t that sad?

 

[Rawb]

It’s probably nothing to worry about; if I was going into the hospital I would specifically bring an inexpensive rosary with me. The family was probably telling the truth when they said it wasn’t a ‘special’ rosary.

The others in the Operating Room may not have even noticed the rosary, and it probably got damaged in an accident. At least they were aware of the fact that this was something important - they saved the pieces in probably what was the best way they knew how.

The person who broke it may have not realized it, or it may have been a group accident, or the person may be so embarrassed that they don’t want to 'fes up, but are genuinely sorry for it, especially if they think it was something much more important than it actually was.

 

[Lorrie]

Yes, that’s quite sad, but it’s so sweet and caring of you to give him your rosary and to offer to have his fixed. It’s no surprise that the family said, “Don’t worry about it”, simply out of common courtesy. The gesture on your part was still very nice though.

Inexpensive or not, it could’ve meant a great deal to him and the family possibly just wasn’t aware of it.

 

[dalesmom]

I guess another reason that this hurt me is that we were bought out by a Catholic hospital last year. Recently, the nuns put up crucifixes in the halls and rooms. I thought it was so peaceful and reasuring to have Christ at my side during the day. The remarks of others were so ugly about them. " oh I guess the Catholics are using Jesus to spy on us now" and stuff like that. I guess it was kind of the final disrespect when I saw that rosary in so many pieces.

It’s just so sad the state this world is in right now. Nobody has much kindness, tolerance, or respect for anyone or anything. No wonder the world is in such a mess. I thank God I am a Catholic now and feel his real presence every day to at least try to do the right thing. No I’m far from perfect. But I thank Him for trying to keep me right and forgiving me if I slip. Just wish others would at least try.