1.4 This Is
What 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 histhumb.
He stated that 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
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 examination, I found that 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
engaged ourselves in conversation.
I
asked him if he had a doctor’s appointment that morning as he was in such a
hurry. The gentleman said no, and added 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's 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 for five years now. I was surprised and asked him, “And
you still go to see her 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. With
all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there are some that come
along that have an important message and this is one of those kinds. I just had
to share it with you all.
“The
happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just
make the best of everything that comes along their way.”
Internet
