Shall we Dance…….

There are moments I witness that will stay with me forever.

I have two patients, husband and wife, who live in Ridgeville, SC. For the purposes of this story and to keep from having the HIPPA police come after me I will call them Dick and Jane. Dick and Jane are both in their late 80’s. They live in one of several old wooden houses in a relatively remote area among other family members. Their home is open most of the time and has developed quite an aroma from the effects of weather along with their love for cats. There have also been times when I have witnessed a chicken or two walking through the forever open doors. Although their belongings are sparse and it is obvious that they live on a shoestring budget, they always have a pot of something on the stove cooking for their supper later.

This is the fifth year that I have provided them with their diabetic shoes. They look forward to these shoes each year with anticipation and I look forward to bringing them. Always with a smile on their faces and joy in their hearts I know they are happy to see me. Dick will be inside in his tattered recliner and Jane always runs onto the porch and waves as she sees my car make it through the trees on what used to be a better maintained driveway but now is overgrown with grass and weeds. There are always great grandchildren playing in the yard. I know I would be welcome without the shoes and feel perfectly at home there.

One day when I visited I happened to have a freshly baked loaf of banana bread in the car and brought it in to Jane. They stopped right there, joined hands and prayed for the gift they had been given and prayed for me.

I usually deliver both pairs of shoes together, and once I have them both in their shoes I play this game. I have them both stand up and tell them I need to see them dance together to make sure the shoes are working and fit right. They’re used to this drill by now. Dick will get up from his seat, take Jane’s hand and they dance around on the well worn area rug and laugh out loud. Just for a moment I can see how they must have danced in their youth as their steps still show the signs of those who have danced together many times before.

This year, I received Jane’s shoes earlier than Dick’s and rather than have her wait because I don’t know how long his will take to arrive, I delivered hers. Once I had her shoes on, and before I could say anything, Dick, with a wide grin on his face, rose from his chair and reached out his hand to her. Without saying a word to each other, she took his hand as he twirled her around the floor and said “I just want to make sure they work”.

I can’t wait to get his shoes so that I can spend some more time with this amazing couple who still look at each other with such love and devotion. They are a true inspiration. I love my job.