This patient shared with me how Alec was his nurse when he was admitted. He was telling Alec how his cellphone was dropped in some water and now it wasn't working. Alec suggested that he try the "rice" trick. The patient said that the next day Alec arrived with a zip lock bag of rice and asked for his phone. He placed it in the zip lock bag with the rice and soon after his phone was working again. The patient was so grateful because his phone was his lifeline with all the information that we all find so valuable in our phones. It's devastating when our phones get lost or get broken.
The patient proceeded to tell me that he was just told by his doctor that he had about 6 weeks to live because he had stage 4 cancer with mets. One of this patient's final tasks on earth was to make sure his 22-month-old granddaughter was adopted by his sister before he passed. The patient's daughter was currently addicted to heroin and unable to care for her daughter. The patient's wife also struggled with a chronic illness. It was just 2 years ago that his only son died from a heroin overdose. This patient had such a sense of urgency to have his only grandchild officially adopted before he passed.
Alec's connection with this patient and going above and beyond to repair his phone meant everything to this patient. The patient could not believe that Alec did that for him. He was able to make the necessary calls to move forward with the adoption plans while he was in the hospital. This would allow the patient to die in peace knowing his granddaughter would be taken care of. Alec's act of kindness meant so much to this patient. You just never know how the smallest act of kindness can make such a difference in a person's life.