During these times it is very easy to lose faith in people and the world around us. Recently I had my faith restored that people are good and thoughtful and caring just because. Not because they're clocked in, not because they think people are paying attention. Just because.
I was standing outside your cancer treatment building one morning recently waiting for a friend during her treatment. Many nurses were (I'm assuming) getting off. I noticed an older gentleman walking across the street coming toward the cancer building. As he got closer a nurse tells him that his shoelace was untied, he thanks her and says he doesn't even know if he can bend over to tie it. Without hesitation, the nurse drops to her knee right there and tells him come'on and pats her knee (this makes me laugh because she had a strong southern accent and I am very northern, but since that day I try to sound "country" and say "come'on" the way she did). He tells her she doesn't have to do that, but she insists and ties his shoe for him, then made sure the other was tied tight. She then stood up the leave, but the gentleman started talking so she stayed and talked. He told her all about his wife, who was receiving treatment and she just listened. I could tell she tried to politely end the conversation a couple of times, but he kept going so she kept listening. She told him that his wife was a lucky woman and that she bets he is her hero. Start to finish this was one of the sweetest interactions I've witnessed, I'm sure the nurse was tired and just wanted to get home, but so unselfishly she made this man's day and, I would think from his smile long after, reassured him that he was playing a very important role in his wife's recovery. I have told this story to many, many people and say with nurses like her I will never go to another hospital. She is a very special person.