One night six years ago I arrived at the hospital to work an overnight shift, Mr. Milne a kind elderly gentleman was one of my assigned patients that night. When I entered his room, I introduced myself and ask him if there was anything, I could do for him before I got busy with other duties. No, he told me, I don’t really need anything but there is something I’d like for you to do for me. No problem, I said What’s that? Sometime tonight while you’re here I’d like for you to come an get me up out of this bed, I’d like to take a little walk around this place you know to just get up and move around for a while. I assured him that could be done as soon as I got things rolling and found a lull in the schedule, I would take him for a walk.
I promised him that.
It was a promise I would soon almost regret. The further I got into my shift the more chaotic
things seem to get. One thing after another sprang up to demand my attention. The constant
flow of just nuisances and details were interrupted my Mr. Milne’s call button. When I
arrived at his room he asked if I’d found a little time for that walk yet? Looking at my watch
I realized that the two hours of my shift had flown by already. I talked with him for a moment
and I reassured him that we would get to it. There were just a few more details I had to clear
up first, but I’d be back. Then I was off like a flash down the corridor. An hour later one of
the nurse’s aides came to me and said that she had answered another call from Mr. Milne and
that he was asking for me. I sent back the message that I’d be there soon. Seemed that the
only thing that was greater than Mr. Milne’s persistence was his patients.
He really hadn’t complained he just continued his request. An hour later another one came
and finally shortly before 5am when I answered Mr. Milne’s 5th call of the night, I entered
his room and he was serious but pleasant. Could we PLEASE go on that walk now? I began
to apologize and try to explain how typical a night it had been and all the things that had
happened. That’s fine, it’s not a problem it’s just that the walk is important, and I’d like for
you to help me, could we do it right now? The tone in is voice and the look in his eyes said
something I didn’t understand.
Mr. Milne, what is it? You see, I’m going into surgery this morning in about an hour and
their going to amputate both my legs just above the knee and I’d kind of like to take a walk
on them one last time. It would mean a lot to me. I swallowed hard and held back tears as I
helped him from his bed. We walked him around the unit until it was time for his surgery.
Mr. Milne’s story teaches up an important lesson. Don’t get caught up in the living that you forget the people around you that need love and care.
The Walk
