It was a busy morning, about 8:30,
when an elderly gentleman in his 80's arrived to have stitches
removed from his thumb. He said 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, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment
this m orning, 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 victim of Alzheimer'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.
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. I just did.
'Life isn't about
how to survive the storm, but
how to dance in the rain.' |