THIS IS WHAT TRUE LOVE IS ALL ABOUT
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 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 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 has 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.
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 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 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 has 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.