He was just a homeless man, a bum, but no one really cares!

I don’t know his name. He just arrived day before yesterday. He had a coronary some time early this morning. Now he is dead, but does anyone really care? Did he have a family? Where are they? Who is his emergency contact? How long was he unresponsive before the staff member discovered it and called it in?

The staff at the shelter tried to save the man, continuous chest compressions and electric shock for twenty minutes before the paramedics arrived. After the paramedics took over they did chest compressions and electric shock for another thirty minutes before they called the man as deceased.

Now we sit here and watch as they work behind a make shift screen wall with the police overlooking as the mans meager possessions are inventoried by staff. He will probably be buried in a paupers grave, with just a few who knew him from the shelter in attendance. The shelter will hold a memorial service for the man so everyone can pay their respects.

Isn’t it funny one minute you are alive, the next you’re dead. No fancy parades, no bells, no whistles, just dead. We all sat on our beds and watched as paramedics performed CPR trying to save the man. Then we watched until that area was totally clear again. Tonight they will fill his bed with someone else, because they need the spot. Because there are more people on the streets than there are beds available.

It doesn’t matter any more because he was just a bum, Right?