touching..

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 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 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 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."