Care That’s Different

Every person and journey is one of a kind.

When Mohamed first came to our Inhora home, I had a flow of joy and even smiled. He wasn’t able to communicate upon his arrival and he lived with us for his 5 last, precious days. Mohomed and his wife lived 15 years of devotion - though she was Catholic and he a devout Muslim.

His wife suffered much to see him suffering. She couldn’t walk into his room without crying. While she was faithfully present all day, she stayed outside. And that’s ok.

His faith community came or called. His local relatives and friends visited him. His nephew wept tears of love and gratitude - the last family member to see him alive. There was the quiet chant of the Quran in the room throughout. It was a space of prayer.

We learned that when nearing death, a Muslim’s feet should face East towards Mecca. That after death, there is a special service and death-care that Muslims of the same-sex provide. And that the mouth and eyes should be kept close (sometimes they open naturally - especially the mouth).

At Inhora, we’re honored to be able to care for persons of different religions and non-religions. While it’s good and easier to care for those of the same faith tradition or culture, there’s something sacred about caring for someone with different beliefs. I think that caregiving for someone different than myself is a greater gift.

Inhora has the privilege of being a bridge-builder between faiths and even politics. Death levels the playing field. We’re all in this together. We’re all going to die.

Shout out to Defrino Maasy and Rumman Amin from Unsplash.com for their photos.