Nothing left to give to the world, take from the world, feel in the world, see in the world....
Today I embalmed a young suicide. My colleagues informed me that the deceased's love life went adrift and that is what prompted the untimely demise. The post mortem was carried out and a drugs overdose was ascertained to be the chosen method.
The blotching of the skin, and redness of facial tissues were gently massaged away during my embalming injection, leaving a natural skin tone. Phew! It could have gone either way to be honest, as sometimes the post mortem staining doesn't like to move with the fluid. This means the decomposition has generally progressed to haemolysis and the staining won't be budged. Cosmetics are the only way to give a good presentation if haemolysis has occurred.
Today, a family can say their goodbye looking at their once full of life adolescent. Tragic, awful, unspeakable. Such sadness.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Friday, 23 September 2011
Enucleation - eye removal
Wiki - Auto-enucleation (oedipism) and other forms of serious self inflicted eye injury are an extremely rare form of severe self-harm which usually results from serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.[2] The name comes from Oedipus, who gouged out his eyes in penance after having sex with his mother and killing his father.
Enucleation - removal of the eyeball, but the adjacent structures of the eye socket and eyelids remain. In a deceased person, the cornea can be used for a living person who needs a corneal transplant by a surgical operation called keratoplasty.
Got to love Wikipedia eh?
So today, my gentleman had donated his eyes. I love embalming donors of any kind, merely because of their final sensible act of generosity. Embalming speaking, it has its problems, and in enucleation it is ensuring the eyes look exactly as they should. Also making sure leakage doesnt occur after the embalming treatment is complete.
Good for you Mr Man. Respect.
Enucleation - removal of the eyeball, but the adjacent structures of the eye socket and eyelids remain. In a deceased person, the cornea can be used for a living person who needs a corneal transplant by a surgical operation called keratoplasty.
Got to love Wikipedia eh?
So today, my gentleman had donated his eyes. I love embalming donors of any kind, merely because of their final sensible act of generosity. Embalming speaking, it has its problems, and in enucleation it is ensuring the eyes look exactly as they should. Also making sure leakage doesnt occur after the embalming treatment is complete.
Good for you Mr Man. Respect.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Ooh my aching feet!
Another quite busy day today and my feet are killing me!
The theatre is a solid floor, covered with marble-like flooring, so its freezing in the colder weather and barely above freezing in the summer! This also means its really hard going on the feet when standing all day.
I had trouble from a little old lady today. She was a tiny dolly dot dot of a thing, but she took ages to inject the fluid into. I have no idea why, even now, but as her vessels were small I had to use a small tube, and then it just took aaaaaaaaaages!!
She looked lovely when I was done though and thats what counts!
The theatre is a solid floor, covered with marble-like flooring, so its freezing in the colder weather and barely above freezing in the summer! This also means its really hard going on the feet when standing all day.
I had trouble from a little old lady today. She was a tiny dolly dot dot of a thing, but she took ages to inject the fluid into. I have no idea why, even now, but as her vessels were small I had to use a small tube, and then it just took aaaaaaaaaages!!
She looked lovely when I was done though and thats what counts!
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
On Teeth
Sometimes when I have completed embalming, I hang around and help the other funeral workers to dress and 'coffin up' the deceased. Today, I did that and discovered teeth when opening the bag containing clothes.
You wouldnt think that was so bad, after all, Granny needs her dentures doesnt she? The frustrating thing about this is that her features have already been set and its one helluva task to change them. If you find a special hair band, or rollers, lipstick or nail polish, its easy enough to apply. Teeth? Not so.
I enjoyed embalming a Hindu gentleman today. It is a far more subtle job, and I didnt pack or suture the mouth as some Hindu families have a tradition of feeding rice to their loved one before washing, dressing and carrying out their death rituals. He looked so sweet, I felt very happy knowing that his loved ones will have a pleasant experience in carrying out their final tasks for him.
I also transformed an elderly lady from a dishevelled, bunched up little thing by washing and setting her hair and giving her a jolly good top to toe during the embalming treatment. This is all usual practise, but sometimes I notice it makes much more of a difference than at other times. Someone who is very poorly before they pass, may not have the strength to ensure their nails and hair are clean and embalmers can return that dignity to them.
You wouldnt think that was so bad, after all, Granny needs her dentures doesnt she? The frustrating thing about this is that her features have already been set and its one helluva task to change them. If you find a special hair band, or rollers, lipstick or nail polish, its easy enough to apply. Teeth? Not so.
I enjoyed embalming a Hindu gentleman today. It is a far more subtle job, and I didnt pack or suture the mouth as some Hindu families have a tradition of feeding rice to their loved one before washing, dressing and carrying out their death rituals. He looked so sweet, I felt very happy knowing that his loved ones will have a pleasant experience in carrying out their final tasks for him.
I also transformed an elderly lady from a dishevelled, bunched up little thing by washing and setting her hair and giving her a jolly good top to toe during the embalming treatment. This is all usual practise, but sometimes I notice it makes much more of a difference than at other times. Someone who is very poorly before they pass, may not have the strength to ensure their nails and hair are clean and embalmers can return that dignity to them.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Seasonal changes
Seasonal changes really affect my line of work. In between seasons we see temperature changes which seem to affect the elderly and infirm. Its sad, its someones loved one they are having to say goodbye to. We are there at their time of need and hopefully we provide a discrete and sensitive service.
Today, I embalmed five people, one of whom had had a post mortem carried out. The work involved in embalming someone who has had a post mortem is very different and requires a little more time and patience. The results of the extra effort are rewarding and ensure their loved ones get the same chance of a goodbye as those of a person who has not had a post mortem.
Today, I embalmed five people, one of whom had had a post mortem carried out. The work involved in embalming someone who has had a post mortem is very different and requires a little more time and patience. The results of the extra effort are rewarding and ensure their loved ones get the same chance of a goodbye as those of a person who has not had a post mortem.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Wet and windy
The weather is getting more and more autumnal every day. Winter will draw in fast and before you know it I will be moaning about having more work than I can fit into my working day.
I am a self employed embalmer, working for a couple of family firms, as and when they need me. Due to my family commitments, I work after school drop off and return for pick up so my working hours are limited. Sometimes, when we are at our busiest, I pop to work in the evening. Not ideal but at least it means I can be around home when needed. I consider myself very fortunate to be working for such caring family run firms that happily fit in with me, safe in the knowledge that if they need me urgently or out of hours, I will do everything I can to be there.
No work for me today. My colleagues are busy so I expect the rest of the week to pick up. We usually run side by side and know that if one Funeral Home in the area is picking up, we all shall soon enough.
I am a self employed embalmer, working for a couple of family firms, as and when they need me. Due to my family commitments, I work after school drop off and return for pick up so my working hours are limited. Sometimes, when we are at our busiest, I pop to work in the evening. Not ideal but at least it means I can be around home when needed. I consider myself very fortunate to be working for such caring family run firms that happily fit in with me, safe in the knowledge that if they need me urgently or out of hours, I will do everything I can to be there.
No work for me today. My colleagues are busy so I expect the rest of the week to pick up. We usually run side by side and know that if one Funeral Home in the area is picking up, we all shall soon enough.
Sunday, 18 September 2011
First blog post....
There are some blogs available about my kind of work. Embalming. Death. Funeral Services. So I just thought I would start one with a mind to use it as a diary. Now that I am here, I'm not really sure how to start!
Safe to say, I will be waffling on and on, not really making much sense but if you stumble across me on your journey round the net, say hi and let me know what you think....
Safe to say, I will be waffling on and on, not really making much sense but if you stumble across me on your journey round the net, say hi and let me know what you think....
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