Chapter 2

It hit Veronica hard to see Betsy going through such a trying ordeal.  Then it came to her:  Betsy wanted to go fishing.  Veronica went shopping and found a virtual reality game that would allow Betsy to “go fishing” anytime she wanted.   It was almost like the real thing.

 

Veronica arrived at the Paradise Hills and showed the game to Betsy.

“Why did you bring me that?” Betsy said bitterly.  “A game on fishing?  I hate fishing!”

“But Betsy, the other y-“ Veronica started to say but stopped short knowing it wouldn’t help to remind Betsy.

“Okay, I’ll just leave it here and let you visit with your daughter.” Veronica told Betsy before leaving Betsy’s room, to check on other residents.

 

An hour later, Veronica went to answer Betsy’s call light.

“I wish my family would visit more?!  Don’t they care anymore?!”

Veronica just tried to reassure Betsy, knowing that telling Betsy that her daughter was here an hour ago wouldn’t help matters.

“Do you need a snack or something, Betsy?” Veronica asked Betsy hoping to take her mind off her troubles.

“No, I need to go the bathroom!” Betsy said harshly.  “My call light has been on for an hour and no one came!”

“Okay, let’s go, Betsy.” Veronica said to Betsy, knowing she answered Betsy’s call light right away.

As soon as Veronica helped Betsy with her activities of daily living (ADLs), she helped Betsy lay down in her bed to take a rest until it was dinner time.  Sylvia, another CNA came in to take Betsy’s vital signs as Veronica was leaving Betsy’s room.  But Veronica heard Betsy yell out in pain as the blood pressure tighten around her arm.

Veronica peeked inside Betsy’s door while Sylvia spoke harshly to Betsy.

“Betsy, please, relax so I can get your vitals!” she told her impatiently.

“Get that thing off my arm!” Betsy said as she ripped the blood pressure from her arm and trying to get up but Sylvia shoved her back on the bed.

“Betsy, please, just lay down and relax.” Sylvia yelled at her and slapped Betsy across the face.

Stung by the harsh treatment inflicted on her, Betsy lay still fearing for her life.

Veronica was appalled by what she just saw Sylvia do.  She was just about to report it to the Patti, the director of nurses (DON) when Sylvia came rushing out of Betsy’s room, suddenly aware that Veronica had witnessed the whole incident.

“Veronica!” Sylvia yelled after her.

“What do you want, Sylvia?”

“Don’t think you’re gonna tell on me!”

“You struck a resident, Sylvia!  That’s abuse and I have to report it!”

“You’re going to be sorry if you do Veronica!”

Sylvia saw her chance to keep Veronica from reporting her.

“Oh, Veronica, could you check on Mrs. Campbell.  She needed a change and she wouldn’t let me do it.”

“Yes, Sylvia.” Veronica said sweetly.

As soon as Veronica headed for Mrs. Campbell’s room, Sylvia headed straight for Patti’s office.

“Patti, I need to talk to you.”

“Yes, Sylvia, what is it?” Pattie asked.

“I don’t know how to say this, but I just witnessed something bad.” Sylvia told her.

“What happened?”

“I don’t know how to say this, but I think I just witnessed Veronica hit and shove Betsy and she harshly yelled at her.” Sylvia told Patti.

“Okay, I will handle this, Sylvia.  Don’t tell anyone what you have just said.”

“Yes, than you.” Sylvia said with a sly smile on her face after leaving Patti’s office. 

“Good luck, Veronica.  You’re going to need it!”

Reviews

[C.R. Fritz]

it must be very trying to take care of someone so far gone. But you describe it well.

in the opening sentences, 'Then it came to her: Betsy wanted to go fishing.'

I think the order of the sentences are wrong. She goes shopping, sees the virtual game, and then it hits her. "Betsy wanted to go fishing."

[A Soap Mess Stories]

Thank you CR.