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 too 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
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 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.
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