It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30
am, when an elderly
gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed
from his
thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an
appointment at 9:00 am. I took >his vital
signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an
hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him
looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy
with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On 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, we began
to engage in conversation I asked him if he had a 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 then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had
been there for a while and that she was a victim of
Alzheimer Disease.
As we talked, and I finished dressing his
wound, I asked if she would be worried 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 wa! nt
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 are some that come along that
have an important message, and this is one of those kind.
Just had to share it with you all. Oh, by the way, peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who
to thank.
"The happiest of people don't
necessarily have the best of everything; they just make
the best of everything that comes along their way."
