It was a very busy morning in the medical clinic where I worked as a nurse. At around 8:30, an elderly gentleman---about in his 80s---arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry because he had another appointment at 9:00 a.m. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before a doctor would be able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch, and since I was through doing the usual chores with each of the patients in the various examination rooms, I decided that I should, at least, evaluate his wound.
Upon examining it, it looked well-healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and explained that the gentleman had another appointment, and asked if he could see the elderly man next. The doctor agreed. I got the needed supplies to remove the sutures and redress the wound. It took less than a minute for the sutures to come off.
While dressing the wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment since he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no but he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. When I inquired as to her health, he told me that she had been in the nursing home for a while because of Alzheimer's. Next, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she probably would not since she has lost concept of time, that she no longer knew who he was, and that she had not recognized him in the past five years.
I then asked him, 'And you still go every morning to see her and have breakfast with her 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 felt goose bumps all over me, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'
True love is neither just physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
Author Unknown
Upon examining it, it looked well-healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and explained that the gentleman had another appointment, and asked if he could see the elderly man next. The doctor agreed. I got the needed supplies to remove the sutures and redress the wound. It took less than a minute for the sutures to come off.
While dressing the wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment since he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no but he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. When I inquired as to her health, he told me that she had been in the nursing home for a while because of Alzheimer's. Next, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she probably would not since she has lost concept of time, that she no longer knew who he was, and that she had not recognized him in the past five years.
I then asked him, 'And you still go every morning to see her and have breakfast with her 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 felt goose bumps all over me, and thought, 'That is the kind of love I want in my life.'
True love is neither just physical nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
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The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything that they have.
'Life is not about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain.
The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything that they have.
'Life is not about how to survive the storm,
but how to dance in the rain.
Author Unknown
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