Friday, July 16, 2010

I STILL KNOW WHO SHE IS

I Still Know Who She Is

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00.

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 wasn’t busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On examining it I saw it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors and 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! As she is 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.

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm but how to dance in the rain.

The road to success is not straight. There is a curve called Failure, a loop called Confusion, speed bumps called Friends, red lights called Enemies, caution lights called Family. You will have flats called Jobs.
But, if you have a spare called Determination, an engine called Perseverance, insurance called Faith, a driver called Almighty God, you will make it to a place called Success. Pass it on to ten people whom you want to see blessed.. Don't forget to send it back to the one who sent it to you.

-Author Unknown-

*sent to me by Angela (thanks!).

6 comments:

Tiger said...

I can only hope that at that age, I will be able to remember my wife like him!

Unknown said...

Dear Tiger,

I share the same hope. At my age, I am getting more and more forgetful and sometimes, it takes me quite a bit of time before I can recollect people's names!

Take care and may God bless you and your family always.

Cheers

mokja said...

I too hope that that I would be the elderly lovey,dopey,mopey couple walking wobbly hand in hand and dying in each others arms.True love for sure it will be .

twosocks said...

thanks for sharing

Unknown said...

Dear mokjadeandell

I see you and I are both romantics at heart :-) for I feel the same way too!

Salam

Unknown said...

Dear two socks

You are most welcome...Pass it on to your friends to bless them.

Take care and God bless!