Nurse: "It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am ,
when an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, presented to have sutures
(stitches) removed from
his thumb.
He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an
appointment at 9:00 am . I
(nurse) 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.
Asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning
somewhere else, 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 are still
going 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."
Message : True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love
is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
