English Original
Last month, I cared for a 91-year-old hospice patient named John, who was dying of congestive heart failure. His wife had passed away two years prior, leaving him alone. He had long been unable to care for his 16-year-old pet dog, Pepper—a small, yappy dog with a rat-like appearance. Weeks earlier, Pepper had been taken to live with John's daughter, ten miles away, to ensure proper care.
I was called to see John after his condition deteriorated to the point that his doctor discharged him from the hospital to spend his final hours at home in comfort.
By then, John was comatose, unresponsive to his family, and clearly near the end. Only his son-in-law and I were in the house; the rest of the family kept vigil in their own homes, awaiting my call.
Suddenly, John opened his eyes, said "Come on, Pepper," and passed away.
Although expected, his death was so sudden and strange that we were stunned. Less than two minutes later, John's daughter called to tell us that Pepper had also died.
中文翻译
上个月，我照料了一位91岁的临终关怀病人，名叫约翰。他患有充血性心力衰竭，已至弥留之际。他的妻子两年前去世了，留下他独自一人。他早已无力照顾自己16岁的宠物狗佩佩——一只长得像老鼠、爱叫唤的小狗。几周前，佩佩被送到十英里外约翰的女儿家，以便得到妥善照料。
在约翰病情恶化到医生让他出院回家安度最后时光后，我被请去照看他。
那时，约翰已处于昏迷状态，对家人的呼唤毫无反应，显然生命即将终结。屋里只有他的女婿和我；其他家人都在自己家中守候，等待我的消息。
突然，约翰睁开眼睛，说了句“来吧，佩佩”，便去世了。
尽管早有预料，但他的离世如此突然和奇异，令我们震惊不已。不到两分钟后，约翰的女儿打来电话，告诉我们佩佩也刚刚去世了。