The privilege of giving end-of-life care

Anna Chaplain Eileen Simmons

Anna Chaplains do a whole range of activities as part of our roles. One of those is giving end-of-life care. I am a very emotional person. I cry, when singing certain hymns and, as a Methodist, when I am making my Annual Covenant.

Our Covenant begins: I am no longer my own but yours. Your will, not mine, be done in all things.

Later it says: I willingly offer all I have and am, to serve you as and when you choose.

By this stage tears are dripping off the end of my chin.

However, having had the privilege of giving end-of-life care the Holy Spirit has always supported me and I have never cried at such time.

Very recently I visited someone who was part of our Wesley Church family; let's call her Margaret. She was having palliative care in her son’s flat, as she did not want to be in hospital or a care home.

I sat with her, holding her hand, gently stroking it. Sometimes we were both silent. Every now and then her daughter offered her a sip of water. In the hour I was there she would talk to me and I to her.

The last words she said to me were as follows “See you in heaven Eileen” – she died the next day.

I find these times a real blessing to me.

Eileen Simmons

Anna Chaplain and a member of Wesley Methodist Church, Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

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