A few weeks ago, I wrote about this old lady whose room I passed who was moaning and crying in pain and who kept saying "I promise I won't bug you anymore" everytime I got her something...She was definitely very miserable the last time, and as I held her hand and she eventually went to sleep after about an hour, I whispered a little prayer for her.
Before I left her room, I left her a little note on her bedside table wishing her well.
Imagine my surprise when I went in to the hospital this week, and this happy old lady greeted me! I knew something about her was familiar but I couldn't really place her, having seen countless of happy old people. But there was something about her that felt vaguely familiar.
I went about my daily routine, and found myself in one-wing of the hospital that I only go to if I have the time (it's under my jurisdiction, but I usually don't have time to cover there), and I saw her again, and this time, she called my name.
She: "Daphne, it's me, X. You left me a card and I still have it!"
Me: "Oh my God!!!"
At that point, I was going to cry. She looked amazing. For someone who could barely lift her head a few weeks ago, here she was sitting on a chair, reading a book.
Me: "You look great! The last time I saw you..........."
She: "Yeah...You helped. Thanks, sweetie"
Me: "Hey, you wanna go for a walk? I could wing you a wheelchair and we could sneak out"
She: "Ooooh, that would be awesome"...
The nurses were alright with it, and even gave us the suggestion of going to the coffeehouse, so I dropped all the other stuff I was supposed to do, and the two of us made our way there. The old dear even asked all the nurses and staff if she could bring them a coffee or a donut!
On the way:-
She: "You'll let me buy you a coffee and a muffin, right? You have to. I'll be depressed if you won't"
I finally agreed to a coffee...
And so, we spent another hour or so together. And she invited me to come visit her at home ("When I get out of this place, of course!")...
But this is the first time a patient has remembered my name, a few weeks later.
And what a stark contrast from the first time I saw her...
No more "I promise I won't bug you anymore": We've become friends...
11 Comments:
That is so nice...
my my...dah lama tak datang sini..you're still the same you daph. always make me smile with all your special encounters :)
sweet indeed
Well, good begets good. Great going!
Btw, would be you be kind enough to write to me at this email addy:
jrichard1800 [at] yahoo.com
I would like to contact you for a project - no worries, I know you are busy and it won't take up a lot of your time. Thanks.
richard
daphne, that's a beautiful story. you brought back the sunshine into her life.
Continue to touch the lives of those you connect with.
Hi WP,
Hey, thanks!
Ello Akmal,
Wah, lama tak nampak...
I didn't know I was supposed to change, lol. Of course I'm still the same! Tigers don't change their stripes (or whatever the saying is...)! Muahaha...
Hi Tee Heng Giap,
=)
Hello Richard,
Thanks.
Re. your project, feel free to contact me (you can get my email from my profile page).
The reason why I don't take up offers like this is because there is a lot of SPAM offers that come in through my blog and I don't want to shoot of an email and get syphoned in...
So if it's a genuine project I can help you with (title your email appropriately, please), I will get back to you asap!
Cheers!
Hi Aunty Teh,
Good to have you back. How's England? The snow just started here, and I need sunshine too, lol.
Thanks for sharing in the story though...
Hi Uncle B (Zorro),
Hey! Thanks! You always seem to read my stories of old people...*Winks*
Thanks for your response, Daphne.I am afraid I can't locate your email addy on your profile page. This is a genuine project, not spam, and not a frivolous project, I assure you. Could you kindly write to
jrichard1800 [at] yahoo.com?
Thanks.
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