In honor of Older Americans Month, Take Care is inviting readers to share the stories of seniors who have inspired or supported them in a memorable way, or perhaps older Americans with whom they have enjoyed a special relationship with over the years. We’ll be featuring selected stories throughout the month of May. To follow here is Katherine’s story of her remarkable friend, Daisy:
“Anyone who spent time in the mid-1990s on the cancer floor at Virginia Beach General Hospital probably met Daisy. A petite woman who always dressed in white and wore her hair in a smart gray bob, Daisy visited with the patients on the cancer floor, giving hand and foot massages to those who wanted them. Daisy wasn’t a paid employee. What she got paid for her work was the peaceful heart that comes from what she called “taking care of” people. Daisy is from India, and a follower of the Zoroastrian religion. I met Daisy when my husband was in the hospital. He and Daisy became fast friends. He loved her soothing hands; she loved his beautiful smile. After he left the hospital, Daisy came by the house regularly, bringing spicy Aloo Gobi (potatoes and cauliflower) for me, and comforting massages for David. Her gentle nature, her quiet wisdom, and her loving soul became a force in all our lives. And we weren’t the only ones. Daisy takes care of her neighbors. She takes care of older people without children. She takes care of people with debilitating diseases, widows and grieving children. Although she has since moved away, she still calls me every year on my birthday. Daisy brought a place of peace into our crumbling worlds, and I am forever grateful to her.” Katherine
To share your own story, click here.
