Today I got off of work at a decent time (anything before 5p.m. is decent to me lol) and on my way driving home, I spotted a man lying in the grass by a tree in the beginning parts of a local park.  There was a shopping cart full of "things", which were probably the only things that he has to his name, on the sidewalk not far from where he lay.  I saw people sitting on a nearby bench having some laughs and looking out at the small pond there, there were people taking a walking through the path only a few feet from where Mr. D was laying, and yet no one seemed to see him.  I turned around and parked to see what was up, mainly to see if he was even alive since the position he was lying in made it appear as if he weren't.  Cars drove by and still no one stopped to see if he was okay.  I walked across the grass and called out to him  a few times before he lifted his head up to look at me.  Next to him was an empty bottle of vodka that he apparently had consumed on his journey.  I asked if he was okay, and he said, "no, I am cold and I am hungry.  All I need is $2 to get me some food."  I started to give it to him because I didn't wanna see him hungry, but changed my mind and called 911 instead.  I explained to them that there was a gentleman in the park, lying in the grass, he is homeless and hungry and had a bit too much to drink.  The dispatcher asked me if he had a bike because he's been there for a while.  My reply was "no, and can u send someone to Park St. across from the Save-a-Lot".  10 minutes went by, then 15, then 20, so I called back.  The dispatcher seemed to be annoyed that I called back to inquire about how much longer Me and Mr. D would have to wait for them to arrive.  While waiting in the cold grass, watching people continue to drive by staring at me like I was crazy, I begin to feel really sad for Mr. D. I also begin to feel very angry.  I was sad for him because he had no place to go, I felt sad because he was hungry, unkempt, and cold.  As he lay in the grass and I knelt down beside him, asking him where he lived, why was he over there, did he have some place safe to go for the night, etc., in mid conversation, or my endless questioning, he said "your a really nice lady, because you stopped and you care."  That only broke my heart into a million more pieces, because it made me think about all those people walking and driving by, in their nice warm cars, going home to their nice warm meals, or just having some place to go period, but the one thing that wasn't warm was their hearts.  When the ambulance people did show up (33 minutes after I had spotted Mr. D., yes I counted their response time), they treated him like he was a piece of trash, they acted like they didn't want to touch him for fear they may catch something lethal.  They addressed him as if he was nobody of any importance, just street trash.  I  talked to him to let him know what was going to happen.  They brushed me off until they saw the "almighty stethescope"around my neck, and then and only THEN did they take what they were there to do more seriously. Mr. D promised to go with them so I would be sure that he was safe.  I felt angry afterward because so many people had driven by, and he had been lying out there in the cold, damp grass "for a long time", yet no one gave a damn. I was angry because I think had I NOT stopped, he would have been there for God only knows how long in the cold, drunk, hungry , and lonely while everyone just drove/walked by like he was invisible.  I am angry because it seems the value of life has gone down to nothing.  I got angry because here I am complaining about not having the living room set I really want, having to pay my cell phone bill, having to go home and wash dishes, and being down right selfish when all Mr. D cared about was getting something to eat.  Being there with Mr. D made me realize how much we take for granted in our day to day lives. Most of us can at least meet our basic needs with little to no problem, but for Mr. D meeting basic needs is a constant struggle.  We are quick sometimes to pass judgement upon others, not knowing what they may have done in life prior to their down fall, what made them fall so hard and give up, who they are, or where they may go.  Sitting there waiting for the ambulance to come raised some questions in my mind that will remain forever... What if that was me, would someone stop to check to see if I was okay, would they just drive and walk by like I was a piece of garbage, would they even want to know my name, mainly DO THEY CARE.  We all come from different walks of life, we all worked hard to get to where we are, but just as we worked to get there, we could end up like Mr. D for whatever reason.  Our dedication to preserve the well beings of others doesn't stop when we punch out, and it is not subdivided by status in the community.  It is for everyone from the botttom of the barrel to the most elite.  Being with Mr. D for that short period of time, Reignited that fire and drive that keeps this underpaid, overworked nurse well... nursing on and off the clock.  I don't have a mercedes, a mansion or even a house to show for the hard work I do 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week.  What I have is a bunch of smiles and thank you's both verbal and nonverbal to keep me going.  Mr. D also made me realize that there are still many changes that need to be made in healthcare, I am only one person, but today I was one person who made a difference in the life of somebody that everybody has forgotten.  I can rest tonight knowing that at least for the next couple of hours Mr. D is warm, fed, and safe.  I can sleep knowing that I have not forgotten that a person is a person a person not matter what they look like, smell like, or where they come from, or where they live.  We all need a little TLC and sometimes you will get it where you least expect it.  Today I "paid it forward", and I will be rich for the rest of my life, thanx to Mr. D. for making me remember what I thought I had forgotten, but it was still there all along in the background, just like I know it is there still in each and everyone of you.... Ther is still a lot I have not said here about Me and Mr. D, but someone told me, that "somethings are better left unsaid", so I will leave it at that. Keep  Nursing with the passion and dedication, care and concern, healing hands, and words of compassion that has been given to us who chose this field as a career, like never before for all the Mr. D's we encounter.

I am gald that you stoped. I am even more happy that you learned from this encounter how some people are treated and just thrilled that you posted this. I hope everyone on this link sees this. It is truly heartbreaking they way we treat our fellow humans.

That's fantastic! What a great thing you did! An inspiration for all!

Thank you for reading and/or replying  to this post.  I must admit that it took me a while to get through it with tears in my eyes, but I do appreciate the time you guys have taken to look at this. I am deeply touch because the spirit of nursing is still there, better yet the human spirit still remains.  I will remember to care for myself too in the process of caring for others:-)

My mom raised us to treat all persons alike.  We use to drop off Christmas presents at a house each year.  We left only the packages on the door step. Then, we would leave.  My father-in-law had many coats and after he passed away, a homeless man got one of his coats.   There is so much bad luck in this world.  You never know why someone is in the position they are in.  I have given money to a person with a grocery cart picking up cans on the side of the road.  It makes me so sad to see those doing without.  It reminds me of how blessed I am.  Helping other is always the right thing to do. 

Thanks for the article.

very touching story. Nurses have a heart. Nursing is not all about the money and it shouldn't be. There are people like Mr. D that need help. We shouldn't be so ignorant society.