Narrated by Chen Zhi-wei
Compiled by Zhang Li-yu
Translated by Wu Hsiao-ting
Graphic by Claire Guo
Helping an elderly woman brought unexpected emotional rewards for two nurses.
One recent weekend, an 84-year-old man arrived at the emergency department of Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital. He was diagnosed with pneumonia, requiring hospitalization. After our nursing shift ended, my colleague and I made our way to the hospital parking lot, where we noticed the man’s wife limping slowly, using an umbrella for support. She told us she was heading home to gather toiletries for her husband.
Wanting to help, we asked if she had any younger family members we could contact to bring the items for her. She replied that their children had already passed away and that she and her husband relied solely on each other. My colleague and I exchanged a glance, feeling a deep sense of sympathy. We decided to offer her a ride home on my motor scooter to collect the items, with my colleague following close behind on her own scooter.
As we helped her onto my scooter and secured our helmets, we shared warm smiles. The woman held tightly to my waist as we rode. Along the way, she shared that despite losing their children, she and her husband hadn’t lost their sense of purpose. They still wanted to use their remaining strength to help others.
We arrived at her home, helped her gather the items, and returned to the hospital. We stayed with her as she rejoined her husband in the emergency room, waiting for him to be admitted. During that time, the couple embraced us with heartfelt gratitude, which deeply moved us both. My colleague started to cry, and honestly, I was also overwhelmed by emotion.
In the high-pressure environment of our work, it’s easy for the initial passion for nursing to fade. I often hear younger nurses say, “I’m so tired,” or “This is so hard.” But that day, my younger colleague said to me, “Thank you for letting me do this with you. It reminded me how important our role as nurses really is.”
The positive energy we receive from patients nourishes us, helping us become a source of strength and support for others. I hope to pass on this energy, inspiring younger nurses to serve with even greater passion for healthcare. As medical professionals, we don’t just heal bodies—we heal hearts, too.
