We've Become Friends...

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...