USER'S CORNER -
Doctor's Appointment From Atul Munshi
It was a busy morning, approximately
8:30 a.m., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to
have stitches removed from his thumb. 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 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, we
began to engage in conversation. 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 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, 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.
