A little help goes a long way

Talk about it

WORTHINGTON — On April 14, we made our annual trip to Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

That’s quite a busy place, as evidenced by the number of cars on the unit’s ramp. We finally found a vacant slot and walked slowly to the elevators. Our place is slow because we’re a twocane pair.

A woman in a hurry brushed past us. On seeing the canes, she stopped and opened the doors for us. She apologized for being in a hurry, because she hadn’t seen the canes.

The elevator was full, but the people moved over so we could hold onto the rails. They left ahead of us, but one man held the door so we wouldn’t be hit while it was closing.

The attendant at the wheelchair helped Dorothy onto the wheelchair and asked if I was capable enough to get her to the elevators in another section of the Clinic. We made it to the elevators and rode the seventh floor to the Opthamology Clinic. Everyone waited in the elevator until we got off, and one man stood against the door to prevent it from closing.

At the Opthamology Clinic, I was able to place Dorothy against the wall. There were no vacant chairs near her, but a man gave up his chair so I could sit next to her. I looked for something to read, but a man gave me his paper and said it would be a long wait.

As we waited to be called for her appointment, I realized how many people had gone out of their way to be nice to the lady in the wheelchair and the man with the cane.

It was a long day from one o’clock to 5:30. She changed rooms three times for her examinations. When we left for Worthington, one of the nurses brought apple juice for our thirst. She also told us where to go to the auto ramp elevators. At 5:30, the ramp was almost vacated, and we easily got out and on our way.

Sometimes this can be a cold, cruel world, but that long day at Mayo Clinic, I realized how kind and considerate people can be, going out of their way to help two people who needed help. We could have made it on our own, but their help and concern made the day seem easier.

Al Swanson is president emeritus of the Nobles County Historical Society.

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