2DREZQ

One of my patients several years ago was a man in his late 80's. His health was failing rapidly, and he knew he didn't have many days left. It was said that he was a millionaire.
Near the end he was asked if there was anyone we could call, and he said no. I know that he had grown children and even grandchildren, but there was nobody there for him. He told one of the nurses about two days before he died that he had spent his whole life making himself rich and letting his wife raise the kids. He thought that providing money and the trappings of wealth would be enough. He never attended events or spent time with the kids, thinking he'd prefer to relate to them when they were grown-up. After they were adults he found that there was nothing between them and they had little time for a man they barely knew. When his wife died, the only real connection with his children was gone forever and he was alone. He had the misfortune to outlive his friends as well, so there was no one at all. He said to the nurse that he would give every penny if he could turn back the clock and be a father, just make enough money to provide the neccessities, and play with the kids. The kids, of course, got the money. What is more important than money? Your children.

Another guy I cared for, a man of about 60, who was dying of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease). There is, in all the world, no worse way to die. For the last two weeks of his life he never slept. All he could do was thrash about feebly in the bed, sweating and crying and begging for relief. "I can't breath!" he would cry as he gasped for air. "Oh God, I'll give anything for air!" (This would take several breaths to say, as he couldn't get out more than one word between gasps.) He was a rich man, and he would have traded places with the poorest beggar for air. What is more important than money? A peaceful death.