I still know who she is.

t was a busy morning, when an elderly gentleman, in his 80s arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb.

He told the nurse he was in a hurry and 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 be able to see him.

The nurse saw him looking at his watch and decided, since she was not busy with another patient, she would 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 redressed his wound.

While taking care of him, the nurse began to engage in conversation. She asked him if he had another appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman said no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. The nurse then inquired as to her health. He told her that she had been there for a while and was a victim of Alzheimer's Disease.

As they talked and she finished dressing his wound, the nurse asked if his wife would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, and hadn't recognized him in five years. The nurse was surprised, and asked him, "and you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?"

He smiled and patted the nurse's hand and said, "she doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."