It was a busy morning, about 8:30 AM, when an
elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have
stitches removed from his thumb. He said he
was in a hurry and he had an appointment at 9 AM.
I took his vital signs and had him take a seat,
knowing it would be over an hour before
someone would be able to see him. I saw
him looking at his watch and decided, since I
was not busy with another patient, I would
elevate his wound. One exam, it was well
healed, so I talked to one of the doctors,
got the needed supplies to remove his sutures
and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if
he had another doctor's appointment this
morning, as he was in such a hurry.
The gentleman told me no, that he needed to
go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with
his wife. I inquired as to her health.
He told me that she had been there for
a while and that she was a victum of
Alzeimer's Disease.
As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if
he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he
was, that she had not recognized him in
five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, "And you still
go every morning, even though she doesn't
know who you are?"
He smiled as he patted my hand and said,
"She doesn't know me, but I still know who
she is."
I had to hold back tears as he left. I had goose
bumps on my arm, and thought,
"That is the kind of love I want in my life."
True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has
been, will be, and will not be.
With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails,
sometimes there is one that comes along that
has an important message. This one I thought
I could share with you.
The happiest people don't necessarily have
the best of everything; they just make the
best of everything they have. I hope you
share this with someone you care about. |