Miss Dorothy #2 The Doll Lady
Miss. Dorothy #2 passed about 18 months ago. I remember meeting her on the very first trip in. God actually "highlighted" several people our very first trip in that I was drawn to. Very interestingly, all but one of these original 6 or 7 have passed on. There was a reason we were drawn to them you see.
Miss Dorothy always had a doll in some state of undress, and was always crying. Always. I suppose it was an odd combination of dementia and her medications. One of the men who usually was belligerent to most everyone else, was always kind to Miss Dorothy. I believed he liked to call her Mellie or something like that. He always tried to soothe her. I suppose he was use to being a fixer in life.
It was about Christmas 2015. Miss Dorothy never spoke a word. Not to anyone, ever. I always acknowledged her, gave her an little arm rub and a smile. I was taking care of GMa Jones at the home, she was in Hospice by then. I was with her 6 days a week. I was spending a bit less time with Miss Dorothy, but felt like I was suppose to get her a new doll for Christmas. I asked one of the top Nurses there in authority if this would be a good idea or a bad idea. If she had one she was attached to I did not want to upset her and would just buy something for that doll. The Nurse thought it to be a great idea and said she was not attached to any particular one and had 5 or 6 always in a state of undress. So I found Miss Dorothy a new doll with a little carrier , a bottle, a pacifier and a change of clothes. I wrapped it and took it up there.
She was so happy her eyes lit up. I helped her unwrap it and she smiled, she wasn't crying. It was then she patted the bed and said something like "sit" or "stay" and looked at the doll and said "pretty". I stayed and talked with her for some time. I told the Nurse she had spoke and I am not sure they believed me. They said she had never spoke to them. I asked someone else why would she speak for me and they said "She knew you cared". That blew me away.
I had seen her have a hard time with her wheel chair and one of the nurses said "You need to learn how to drive". That greatly upset me. For some reason whenever I was there she had a way of finding me even when they moved her into another hall. Her new doll stayed dressed and it was always the one she had with her after that. One day she wheeled herself to GMa Jones room. I tried to act like I didn't see her. I clearly heard God tell me "Don't be like that". So I went over to her and knelt down and simply said "GMa Jones is dying I need to stay with her. But I will come see you before I leave" and she was fine after that and wheeled herself down the hall.
I will never forget Miss Dorothy "The doll lady". I cannot imagine feeling trapped in your own body, not being able to communicate any longer and how frustrating that was for her. Was it really her medication, her disease, or just her desire to be acknowledged and loved for the person she was and the person she had lost that she once was?
Miss Dorothy always had a doll in some state of undress, and was always crying. Always. I suppose it was an odd combination of dementia and her medications. One of the men who usually was belligerent to most everyone else, was always kind to Miss Dorothy. I believed he liked to call her Mellie or something like that. He always tried to soothe her. I suppose he was use to being a fixer in life.
It was about Christmas 2015. Miss Dorothy never spoke a word. Not to anyone, ever. I always acknowledged her, gave her an little arm rub and a smile. I was taking care of GMa Jones at the home, she was in Hospice by then. I was with her 6 days a week. I was spending a bit less time with Miss Dorothy, but felt like I was suppose to get her a new doll for Christmas. I asked one of the top Nurses there in authority if this would be a good idea or a bad idea. If she had one she was attached to I did not want to upset her and would just buy something for that doll. The Nurse thought it to be a great idea and said she was not attached to any particular one and had 5 or 6 always in a state of undress. So I found Miss Dorothy a new doll with a little carrier , a bottle, a pacifier and a change of clothes. I wrapped it and took it up there.
She was so happy her eyes lit up. I helped her unwrap it and she smiled, she wasn't crying. It was then she patted the bed and said something like "sit" or "stay" and looked at the doll and said "pretty". I stayed and talked with her for some time. I told the Nurse she had spoke and I am not sure they believed me. They said she had never spoke to them. I asked someone else why would she speak for me and they said "She knew you cared". That blew me away.
I had seen her have a hard time with her wheel chair and one of the nurses said "You need to learn how to drive". That greatly upset me. For some reason whenever I was there she had a way of finding me even when they moved her into another hall. Her new doll stayed dressed and it was always the one she had with her after that. One day she wheeled herself to GMa Jones room. I tried to act like I didn't see her. I clearly heard God tell me "Don't be like that". So I went over to her and knelt down and simply said "GMa Jones is dying I need to stay with her. But I will come see you before I leave" and she was fine after that and wheeled herself down the hall.
I will never forget Miss Dorothy "The doll lady". I cannot imagine feeling trapped in your own body, not being able to communicate any longer and how frustrating that was for her. Was it really her medication, her disease, or just her desire to be acknowledged and loved for the person she was and the person she had lost that she once was?
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