(...) - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Dan · 08-12-2005, 05:31 PM

A nurse escorted a tired, anxious young man to the bed side of an elderly man. "Your son is here," she whispered to the patient. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack and he dimly saw the young man standing outside the oxygen tent.

He reached out his hand and the young man tightly wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing a message of encouragement. The nurse brought a chair next to the bedside. All through the night the young man sat holding the old mans hand, and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing as he held tightly to his son.

As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding, and then he went to notify the nurse.

While the nurse did what was necessary, the young man waited. When she had finished her task, the nurse began to say words of sympathy to the young man.

But he interrupted her. "Who was that man?" He asked.

The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father."

"No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse.

He replied, "I knew he needed his son, and his son wasn't here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me..."

author unknown

Phinneas · 08-12-2005, 10:03 PM

Beautiful.

My dad had a valve replacement surgery a couple of months ago and because of recovery, I was able to be with him - be present - the whole time he was in the hospital. What broke my heart was seeing other patients there day after day with no family or visitors to give them comfort in their time of fear and pain. I am profoundly grateful that I could offer the only gifts I had - my love the simple act of being there. Today I know what it means to give like that. I will forever be grateful for those 8 days.

My prayers go out to all who suffer - be it from alcoholism, addiction, illlness or lonliness.

phinny

**Ann** · 08-13-2005, 06:42 AM

Amen, Phinny. I learned the same lesson in my mom's final days, maybe that's why this post moved me to tears last night. Love is so simple, just being there is enough. When all the complexities and complications of our life is done, all we really need is someone to be there.

Hugs
Ann

Phinneas · 08-13-2005, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ann

When all the complexities and complications of our life is done, all we really need is someone to be there.

((((...))))

This is such a profound Truth. All we really need is someone to be there.

Wolfstarr · 08-13-2005, 10:06 PM

OH how very very moving...touching...beautiful...

na4today · 08-15-2005, 09:33 AM

Dan...that was great!! Shows that poeple can care for a total stranger.

Kathy

bikewench · 08-15-2005, 09:41 AM

That is love... in it's most basic... God like form...

.. crying in my coffee here...

cwohio · 08-15-2005, 10:40 AM

beautiful beyond words! thank you

CAPTAINZING2000 · 08-15-2005, 11:01 AM

that's tough dan real tough

08-12-2005, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dan Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,710	(...) A nurse escorted a tired, anxious young man to the bed side of an elderly man. "Your son is here," she whispered to the patient. She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened. He was heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack and he dimly saw the young man standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand and the young man tightly wrapped his fingers around it, squeezing a message of encouragement. The nurse brought a chair next to the bedside. All through the night the young man sat holding the old mans hand, and offering gentle words of hope. The dying man said nothing as he held tightly to his son. As dawn approached, the patient died. The young man placed on the bed the lifeless hand he had been holding, and then he went to notify the nurse. While the nurse did what was necessary, the young man waited. When she had finished her task, the nurse began to say words of sympathy to the young man. But he interrupted her. "Who was that man?" He asked. The startled nurse replied, "I thought he was your father." "No, he was not my father," he answered. "I never saw him before in my life." "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?" asked the nurse. He replied, "I knew he needed his son, and his son wasn't here. When I realized he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, I knew how much he needed me..." author unknown

08-12-2005, 10:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Phinneas Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: fumbling towards ecstasy Posts: 2,614	Beautiful. My dad had a valve replacement surgery a couple of months ago and because of recovery, I was able to be with him - be present - the whole time he was in the hospital. What broke my heart was seeing other patients there day after day with no family or visitors to give them comfort in their time of fear and pain. I am profoundly grateful that I could offer the only gifts I had - my love the simple act of being there. Today I know what it means to give like that. I will forever be grateful for those 8 days. My prayers go out to all who suffer - be it from alcoholism, addiction, illlness or lonliness. phinny __________________ If ten people tell you that you have a tail... you might want to turn around and look.

08-13-2005, 06:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ann Forum Leader Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 25,173	Amen, Phinny. I learned the same lesson in my mom's final days, maybe that's why this post moved me to tears last night. Love is so simple, just being there is enough. When all the complexities and complications of our life is done, all we really need is someone to be there. Hugs Ann __________________ “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Winnie the Pooh~

08-13-2005, 10:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wolfstarr Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Deeeep South Posts: 767	OH how very very moving...touching...beautiful... __________________

08-15-2005, 09:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
na4today Learning as I go Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 731	Dan...that was great!! Shows that poeple can care for a total stranger. Kathy __________________ I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened to me and heard my cry -Psalm 40:1 Take my will and my life Guide me in my recovery Show me how to live Just for today Clean Date 8/20/05

08-15-2005, 09:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
bikewench Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: western canada Posts: 1,441	That is love... in it's most basic... God like form... .. crying in my coffee here...

08-15-2005, 10:40 AM	#8 (permalink)
cwohio Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Litterbox City Posts: 6,142	beautiful beyond words! thank you __________________ *Learn to write your hurts in sand. Learn to carve your blessings in stone! - Unknown*

08-15-2005, 11:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
CAPTAINZING2000 Psalm 118:24 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: ILLINOIS Posts: 9,445 Blog Entries: 1	that's tough dan real tough __________________ LIFE IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR LIFE IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD J - Jesus first O - Others next Y - Yourself last John 14:6

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