At the doctor's office

**sunshine** · 07-19-2004, 03:53 PM

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when
an elderly gentleman, in his 80's, arrived to have stitches
removed from his thumb. He stated 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 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. I asked him if he had a 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 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 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 held back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arms,
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.

**KKCondrey** · 07-19-2004, 04:01 PM

I love that story, I've had it saved on my computer for awhile.

It is very sweet.

**Heather** · 07-19-2004, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by sunshine
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 held back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arms,
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.

Be still my heart.....to have a love like that anyone should be so grateful!

**AmyMCGS** · 07-19-2004, 05:20 PM

I have witnessed this exact thing in real life- it gave me goose bumps then, too.

When I first started working at the nursing home I told DH about a very devoted husband who spent every day with his wife even though she didn't know him-- Dh just looked at me and said "you know I'd do that if it were you, don't you?" (or something along those lines). I cried... I knew he was a good one!