Hospice received a referral today for “Liam”, an eighty-one-year-old Vietnamese gentleman, who lives in a downtown Residential Care Facility. He has no family in America, but has two children living in Vietnam. When the nurse and I walked into his room at the facility, he so gently smiled at us and softly said, “Hello”. He spoke gently due to weakness, but one felt the strong kindness from his heart.
He shared
his amazing story about his life during and after the Vietnam conflict. He stayed very low key about it all. I was so fascinated by what he shared. He has only returned to American a year ago
and does not know many people with whom he could share. I honestly expressed to him the impact of his
stories on my heart and on my soul. I said,
“You are a true hero,” which brought him tears.
I feel so honored to have met
him. He is someone I will never
forget.
HERO
He resides
in a facility downtown.
He has only
been there three months.
He has a
private room, just for himself
and the
staff just totally adore him.
Walking into
his room, he looked so thin; so pale.
He stays in
bed most of the day due to weakness.
He’s been in
a recent two-month decline, but
he had me
with his hearty smile and kind, “Hello”.
He was born
in Vietnam but speaks English very well.
He came to
America during the Vietnam conflict;
to become a
translator for the CIA.
The only
Vietnamese ever, before or later, to do so.
His own
country sees him as a traitor;
a criminal
supporting the enemy abroad.
They
captured him on one visit home.
He spent 13
years in a Vietnamese prison.
He was
rescued by Americans last year.
He has since
repatriated to the United States.
He knows he
will never see his family again;
a thought
that appropriately brings him tears.
I cannot
even imagine his deep emotions; his grief,
but what
stands out to me was all the good he has done.
“I feel so
honored to have met you today
to have heard your incredible
story.”
“Stand up
tall and be proud
as you have
made such an amazing difference.
You have
sacrificed so much to do good;
helping so
many along the way.”
There is no hesitation
in me at all,
that he is
definitely, without a doubt,
A hero.
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