A Driver's Story

I wanted to share a story with everyone on why I volunteer to drive and why I continue to drive.

Volunteering to drive seemed simple enough, take someone to and/or from an appointment, shopping, etc, all on my lunch hour or work break. I could do it at my convenience when I had the time. My first ride was truly life-affirming and life-changing all in one instance.

The ride was simple enough: drive a couple of miles from my work and take Jack 2.5 miles to see his wife in a nursing home and pick him up a couple hours later. He is legally blind and his wife requires round the clock medical assistance. They have been married for almost 50 years and the only time he can see her is Friday afternoons. Fridays are theirs...it is their special day.

Being blind, Jack needs an arm to guide him around; and living on the second floor of an apartment building he has memorized the number of steps he has to walk down, counting along the way. In the car, Jack responds to any questions I have, with simple answers in broken English, yet there is something genuine about his responses. Although he is blind, he knows when we are close because he has memorized the route to get there.

Once we arrive at the assisted living facility he is almost leading me, having memorized the path to the elevator to visit his wife. "268, 268 that's where my wife is," Jack anxious tells me. I am absolutely thrilled for him and excited that I had something to do with this happening.

Upon exiting the elevator, the staff all recognize Jack and all say hello, Jack says hello back with a smile that goes ear to ear. As we walk down the hall, his wife is in her wheelchair and upon seeing Jack she instantly comes alive and shouts out, "Jack! Jack!". Immediately Jack lets go of my arm and is at his wife's side holding her hand with all of his might.

Jack gets to stay for almost two hours and when I return, Jack is sitting beside her bed holding her hand. I tell Jack that I am back and ready to take him home. He and his wife embrace and continually say I love you over and over and that they will see each other in a week. They are holding each other like it’s the last time they will see each other; those seven days apart must feel like an eternity. I offer my arm for Jack to grab hold of and he simply takes my arm, says good-bye to his wife, and we are on our way home.

The entire car ride home I fight back the tears. What a range of emotions in a few hours; the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. When we reach Jack's apartment, Jack speaks and says in his broken English, "I love my wife and thank you sir for today. She's my life and today's the happiest day." Trying even harder to fight back the tears, I tell him it’s my pleasure and I will see him next Friday. As soon as I turn to walk down the stairs the tears come pouring out.

Fridays for me not only means the weekend is near but that I get to see my favorite couple!