“She was put on the ventilator six days ago,” said the nurse. “She comes in and out. She’s on heavy painkillers.” The nurse patted her patient’s hand. “She’s a real sweetheart. She was in the Army. It’s just awful it’s come to this.” She paused. “What sort of questions did you have?”
Robie pulled out his creds. “I’m with the DOD. We were just making some inquiries into a military matter and her name came up as a possible source of information.”
“I see. Well, I don’t think she’ll be of much help. She’s in the last stages of her disease.”
Robie studied the ventilator and the monitoring systems hooked up to the shriveled woman lying in the bed. “So the ventilator is helping to keep her alive?”
“Yes.”
He looked at Julie, who was staring at Van Beuren.
“But she’s in hospice,” said Robie.
The nurse looked uncomfortable. “There are many levels of hospice. It’s all in what the patient or their family want.” She looked down at the woman. “But it won’t be long, ventilator or not.”
“So the ventilator is what the family wanted?” asked Robie.
“I’m really not at liberty to say. Those matters are private. And I can’t see what this would have to do with any military inquiry,” she added with some annoyance.
Julie had wandered over to the windowsill and had picked up a photo. “Is this her family?”
The nurse looked curiously at Julie and then at Robie. “You said you were with DOD. But why is she with you?”
“I’m really not at liberty to say,” answered Robie, causing the nurse to purse her lips.
Julie brought the photo around to show Robie. She said to the nurse, “My dad was in the same Army squad as Mrs. Van Beuren. I was hoping to find out some things about his past from her.”
The nurse’s stiff expression vanished. “Oh, I see, sweetie. I didn’t realize. Yes, that’s her and her family. There used to be more pictures in the room. But her daughter and husband have been slowly taking them. They know the end is almost here.”
Robie took the photo. It showed Van Beuren in healthier days. She was in her dress greens, her chest awash in medals. A man was beside her, presumably her husband. And there was a girl about Julie’s age.
“So that’s her husband?” asked Robie.
“Yes. George Van Beuren. And that’s their daughter, Brooke Alexandra. She’s older now, of course. That photo was from a number of years ago. She’s in college now.”
“So you know her?”
“She’s been in to visit her mother quite often. That’s how I know her. Brooke’s a lovely girl. She’s very torn up about her mother.”
“And her husband?”
“He comes here regularly. I know he’s devastated too. They’re barely fifty and they have to face this? But who ever said life was fair.”
“Anybody else come to see her?”
“A few people. At least that I know. I’m not assigned to this wing all the time.”
“You have a guest log?”
“It’s out front by the receptionist. But not everyone signs in.”
“Why not?”
“This is not a high-security facility,” bristled the nurse. “People who come here to visit friends and family are usually very emotionally upset. Sometimes they forget to sign in. Or one person signs in for the group. As you can imagine, we’re a bit flexible on that. They come here to show love and respect and support. But it’s just not the sort of place anyone wants to have to visit.”
“Understood. How long has she been here?”
“Four months.”
“Isn’t that a long time to be in hospice?”
“We have people here for longer and shorter periods. It’s not a one-time-period-fits-all sort of place. And until a couple of weeks or so ago Ms. Van Beuren wasn’t like she is now. The drop-off came relatively quickly.”
“But the ventilator will keep her alive so long as it’s on, right? I mean, even if she can’t breathe on her own?”
“I really can’t talk to you about this. Federal and state law prohibits me from doing so.”
“I’m just trying to understand the situation.”
The nurse once more seemed uncomfortable. “Look, normally the use of a ventilator would decertify a person for hospice care. Hospice is to allow a patient to pass with dignity. We’re not a place where someone goes to be cured of her disease, or to artificially sustain life.”
“So the use of the ventilator in a situation like this is unusual?”
“It could be grounds for decertification and the transfer of the patient back to a hospital or other care facility.”