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. The nurse 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.
She saw him looking at his watch and decided, since she was not busy with another patient, to evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so she talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, they began to engage in conversation. she asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told her no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. She then inquired as to her health, and was told that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.
As they talked, and she finished dressing his wound, she asked if his wife 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.
The nurse 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 her hand and said. "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."
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