The privilege of witnessing the last breath (2020)
Duration: 5:00 minutes
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano, cello and piano
Premiere: December 19, 2020 at White Snake Projects Sing Out Strong: Essential Voices (online concert) by Sarah Coit, mezzo-soprano, Nathan Ben-Yehuda, piano, Agnes Kim, cello
Notes:
This song sets the words of Andrea Roche, a pediatric nurse in New York City who volunteered to serve in the Covid ward in the devastating early days of the pandemic. I was struck by her strength and courage, but also the humanity and compassion she brought to her patients.
I’m a pediatric nurse, but when Covid hit my city
I asked to serve in the Covid ward
The need was so great
I went home crying each night
I went to therapy to help me
Deal with all the death
My patients and their families
Needed to be with each other
So this became my mission
To make sure my patients did not die alone
When I couldn’t connect a family member
They would ask me, “Were you at her side?”
“Did you hold his hand?”
“Was she afraid?”
I got Covid myself
But I continued to work
Many of my coworkers got sick
But they continued to work
There was no one else to care for the patients
I was afraid to infect my husband
He’s been diagnosed with cancer
I was afraid to move into a hotel
I sleepwalk and he stops me when I walk
I need him and I asked God every day to protect him
I’ve been asked, “Why leave the safety of the maternity ward?”
It’s because I had a mission
I am privileged to be at another human being’s side
When they took their last breath
