“We find no greater happiness than to make a difference in the lives of our patients, says Geoff Fraser, partner of Clear Choice Health Care in Melbourne FL.
It was a special anniversary band. Four diamonds set next to each other commemorating 55 years of marriage. Two months ago, 89-year-old Elvira Pearson lost her ring at Aldi’s in Melbourne.
“I was looking through the strawberries,” says Pearson. She holds up her hand, “But my fingers are so skinny that the ring slipped off my fingers. “The funny thing is, I didn’t know I lost the ring until we were heading back home.”
“I just couldn’t ask my friend to drive me back… She was really doing me a favor by taking me to the store every week and I didn’t want to be a burden… I have no car and can’t get around too good.”
She promptly called Aldi’s but got the corporate answering machine and no number was listed for the local store. So, Pearson resolved to live without her ring. She said, “I thought it was going to be gone forever.” “You know, a valuable diamond ring is something that doesn’t get returned.”
Pearson says, “Of course, I was sick about it, but I just hope the person who got it is happy.”
Two months later, Pearson fell at home. It took hours for her to find her way up to the couch and put on her oxygen. By that time, she felt she was slipping. “I felt so weak I needed to call 911 to take me to the hospital.”
After she stabilized, she was transferred to admissions at Melbourne Terrace Rehabilitation Center, a facility that specializes in the active and aging population.
“I was helping out that day,” says Transitional Care Manager for Melbourne Terrace, Elizabeth Torres, “and couldn’t help notice that Elvira was distraught.
Torres asked a few pertinent questions during the admission process and found out that Elvira lost her anniversary ring given to her by spouse, Joseph Edward Pearson.
“He was always doing special things for me,” says Pearson. “When he died on my birthday in July, I didn’t know that he prearranged flowers to be delivered to me on Christmas… “I couldn’t believe it when I got this Bonsai tree with a note saying, ‘From your loving husband.'”
Pearson admits that her ring is another reminder of the thoughtful acts done by her spouse and Torres was determined to go the distance to find the ring. First thing, she called Aldi’s but was not able to speak to a person.
Next thing, she was asking Pearson if she could go to store and try and find the ring.” “You would do that for me?” asks Pearson. “Of course,” said Torres.”
Torres left work, went to Aldi’s, and asked if there was a ring there. She found out that a store customer found a ring and was keeping it until the rightful owner came forward. Torres called the store customer.
“I was so disappointed that Elvira’s ring description did not match the customer’s ring,” says Torres. Before she left the store, Torres asked if they could search the lost and found department for a 4-diamond ring.
To everyone’s amazement, the ring was in lost and found.
“I couldn’t wait to get back to show Elvira,” says Torres. When presented with the ring, Elvira started to cry.
“I believe that Ed was trying to remind me that he still is here watching over me… And to think that we found it on Valentine’s Day, that was another sign of his love for me,” says Elvira.
Torres says, “She reminded me that even the smallest gesture can make a world of difference.”
“When we go out of our way to show we care, that’s what healthcare is all about,” says Fraser.