This is a forwarded email from Mary Anthony in Yangon, Myanmar.
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The Rain
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 to 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.
