A dying Vietnam Vet is going to a Boston Red Sox game tonight...
I just got off the phone with my daughter.
She's a hospice nurse. When she was assigned to a small facility that houses veterans, she was elated.
She immediately connected with her patient, a Vietnam vet.
Her father was a Vietnam vet...
Sadly because of circumstances...she only got to know and love him during the last year of his life.
I'll try to keep this brief.
There is a volunteer who visits the facility to see my daughter's patient. The volunteer is a young military woman in her thirties. She knew that this vet loved the Boston Red Sox, so bought tickets and made handicap arrangements.
He is in a wheelchair....dying of liver cancer.
Nicki has a strong bond with him, and all the vets. When reporting this event, her employer told Nicki that the volunteer had no rights to take the patient due to liability issues. My daughter was extremely upset, yet understood the rules. The volunteer made all the arrangements without consent.
Nicki called her husband. He already had tickets to tonight's game! They were not going to use them. My daughter immediately called the vet's family to offer them the tickets so that their father could attend the game. He has been so excited.
My daughter called me after dropping the tickets off to her patient at the veteran's center. Family is meeting up with their father. Although the seats are not together, the family now has legal responsibility for their father.. My daughter is in heaven....so very happy.
I was in tears on the phone with her...as usual. She always goes the extra mile for her patients.
Nicki is fighting so many AO related diseases /illnesses ... and keeps on going.
She is the epitome of love.
Through the bittersweet tears, I asked her:
"Nicki...do you know what day it is?"
"No."
"Nicki...it's your father's birthday."
"It is? ....."
"Yes....isn't it ironic that you did something so beautiful...from the heart...for a Vietnam vet on your father's birthday?
I've been thinking of him all day."
Nicki is never lost for words ...for a moment she couldn't speak.
Joe, Nicki and me when he was in drug rehab in 1972:
Our Nicki...the first picture I took of her at a nursing home...her first job...about five years ago.
I wish Joe had lived to see his children become what they are....
I don't watch sports.
Tonight....I hope it's a great game. I want the Red Sox to win one for the vet!
And for Nicki....
peace and love to all~
= new reply since forum marked as read
and first among the survivors of war victims are the men who had to make war. I was once married to a NamVet. There is no 'getting over' what they witnessed and I identify strongly with your loss of hope.
Your daughter, though, is enough to make a mother's heart burst with gratitude. She is indeed a special light to all she ministers to and to all who witness what she does. 
Great story, Dystopian, and I love seeing the pics. That is some daughter you have there--you must be very proud of her. Nicki's been through a lot in her life, but she always seems to be focused not on herself, but on others. Wonder where she got that?
Wonderful daughter, wonderful mom, wonderful family. You all are SO predictable. 
Love and Peace to you and Nicki and the family,
pinboy3niner
R.I.P., Brother Joe 
pinboy3niner
I've been meaning to get back to this post ... timing...strife of life thing...
But things are fine now...
Your words much appreciated ... You're a treasure.
The vet's daughter called Nicki ... they cried on the phone together.
Life ... As it turned out, it was so very much more than a baseball game for the family.
It was just a miracle that Nicki's husband happened to have those tickets...
Some things we just can't explain...
The make-a-wish comment...I'm smiling.
Much peace and love to you~
your daughter is an angel. Thx for sharing.
There are fewer and fewer of us each year.
R.I.P. Brother Joe.
And welcome to DU, glacierbay
I hold a special place in my heart for all Vietnam vets....
peace and love to you~