6:00 AM. “Time to get up, Mr. Henson! I need to get your blood pressure and heart rate recorded and then the doctor will be in. After that we will take care of personal hygiene.”
The blood pressure was 120/80 and the heart rate was 85. Blood sugar was 80 and vital signs seemed to be exactly where they should be. The oxygen monitor helped to keep a steady flow of air so that the patient could breathe better. The nurse’s aide recorded the information. She left to get prescriptions for her patients and would return shortly.
Dr. Shandel entered the room and checked the chart. Mr. Henson was not the ideal patient and he could be grouchy but since he was 86 years old, most of the staff tried to tolerate him. The patient had been admitted for an infection due to diabetes and he had been having problems keeping his blood sugar under control. He went through periods of depression and even on medication he wasn’t always in the best mood.
The next few minutes went without incident. Medications were taken on schedule and breakfast was delivered. It was time for the morning bath. Most patients could handle this by themselves but Mr. Henson needed help. That morning LeSandra was on duty. She would be handling the bath.
Within a few minutes there was a yell from room. Everyone on the staff came to see what had happened. Mr. Henson was screaming out in anguish and LeSandra was in shock and crying. What should have been a typical morning suddenly took a new twist. The patient’s body was covered with small red patches and the bath water looked a light yellow color. No one had any idea about what happened except for LeSandra.
The interrogation began as the staff tried to unravel the mystery. Finally, the answer came. Mr. Henson had been thoroughly cleaned with a household cleaner. The Mr. Clean had been diluted but it was still strong. The chemicals in Mr. Clean were just too harsh for the human body and the skin over Mr. Henson’s body was already red and irritated. Never in the history of the nursing home had anyone ever done this!
Everyone focused attention on Mr. Henson. LeSandra was taken from the room and would be questioned out of the sight of Mr. Henson. Dr. Shandel was called to help assess the situation. Now, it would take a lot more work to help the patient over another obstacle. For the rest of the day the patient would be monitored. It was critical to keep a watch on the slightly blistered skin.
8:30 PM The halls were quiet and most patients were already in bed. The rest were getting ready for bed. The whole staff had heard the tale about the bath and the effects it had on Mr. Henson. He seemed to be having more problems and the staff had kept a constant watch over him.
11:30 PM Mr. Henson had tolerated the pain for hours and it was excruciating. He was having trouble breathing. He had struggled all day and nothing could give him any relief. The red patches had turned into blisters and at 11:45 PM, Mr. Henson passed away.
No one ever completely figured out exactly why LeSandra had used the Mr. Clean solution. She had never been directed to use anything except for water and soap. The incident made the evening newspaper and when I read the article I couldn’t believe that this had actually happened. Common sense told anyone that this would never work and the reaction could be fatal.
Our lives are unclean when we live in the world without Christ. We struggle with problems and wonder what is missing in our life. Sin dwells within our body. The sin keeps us from Christ and makes us feel dirty. We think we are living a fulfilled life but our mind tells us that something is missing. We don’t know how to fill that void and achieve peace within. If we listen to the voice of Christ and ask Him to come into our heart we are cleansed by His blood and become a new creation under His umbrella of love.
Two songs come to my mind I think of the way that Christ cleans our life. The words to "Whiter Than Snow" express the desire to be a new person in Christ by allowing Him to come into our life. ["Whiter Than Snow"---Lord Jesus I long to be perfectly whole. I want Thee forever to live in my soul, Break down every idol cast out every foe. Now wash me and I shall be white
than snow. ]
The other song that questions our relationship with Christ and the way He reaches into the deep recesses of our heart and soul is “Are You Washed in the Blood?” We come face to face with the sinful nature of our lives. The song repeats a series of questions dealing with our need to be cleaned by God’s precious blood. ["Are You Washed in the Blood?" Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r? Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you washed in the blood, in the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb? Are you garments spotless? Are they white as snow? Are you
washed in the blood of the Lamb? ]
Cleansing our soul from sin and keeping our lives clean is very much a part of our life in Christ. No person can clean away all the dirty smell of sin. Christ's death on Calvary gave us a chance to live a life washed by His blood. When we accept His gift we are preparing for an eternity where we will dwell with others who have also been cleansed by Christ’s blood. His blood will prepared for us a new life where we can have a spotless body with others who have claimed His saving grace.
**This story is based on an actual event that happened.
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