I have been so fortunate to be offered a job here in Winnipeg, a job I have never done in my life: a caregiver! It may sound very ordinary because this place have been known to be a place for caregivers because a lot of people in Canada are getting old and less to take care of them among their families which makes care-giving a more common job around. But since I came from another profession, everything is new to me. At times scary for the patient is very fragile, but exciting in away because I'm learning something new everyday. But this is not my story. Not about my new job,..rather, the love affair I have been witnessing between  a couple faced with God's challenge!

Situation: a successful Filipino educator had an accident three years ago which ended all his physical activities. The wife is a teacher, a full time housewife and mother to her children. 24/7 the wife has been beside his bed. Their beds are in the room side by side. but she got nurses & health care aides helping her by shifts.(I'm one of them though not certified, just yet,...)

My duty is mornings, e.i., from 7:30am -3:30pm. So, I work for them from the time they wake up and start a new day on weekends only. The wife would greet him good morning with a kiss, asking if he had a dream, instilling eyedrops to him to see her better, while I'm assisting her get him ready to be transfered to a chair. The husband would call her almost every minute just for anything and with all love & passion, the wife would be at his side to respond to whatever he needs or requests to do for him. I haven't counted the number of times he would call her on a day though. Watching only this would dry up my patience I guess if I was the wife. A love for a husband is being tested here and it has been going on for three years long before I came in to their home. What kind of love could that be for her? I envy her.

I have been discovering all the accomplishments of this man before the tragic accident and in a split second everything was gone,....he used to be a powerful man and in a snap, he became powerless. And the wife has made it true that: behind a successful man is a woman! This woman as I see her is a very extraordinary one. Before he is put to sleep for an afternoon nap, thEy have this magic word: "I LOVE YOU". An affirmation of love to his wife. And their song: "A LOVE AFFAIR". I dared ask the wife if that was their theme song when they were younger. She said it's not. It was just her favorite song and her husband knows it. She would always ask him to recite the words of the song for her. Then, the cd will be played to put him to sleep.

How could a wife dedicate all her life, love, patience, perseverance,...unconditionally to her husband? Is this what we said in one of our wedding vows: in sickness and in health? I highly respect the wife for this. She got this great faith in the Lord to keep loving and living with her other behalf.

I was told that the family would celebrate Valentine's Day in their home. This is a tradition for them. So, I had to prepare him earlier for the family lunch. I was asked to bring him to the living room to be with everyone. On our way out, he asked his wife if Mrs Mendoza came already. She asked him who that was. Was she a friend, a relative, a co-worker? He said "a friend" and she is coming today, he told his wife. "I don't think I know her. But if she's your friend, I will entertain her when she comes." So, lunch time was over and all their kids left. When I was pushing his chair leading to the room, he asked again if Mrs, Mendoza came for the nth time. Finally, I heard the question I had been wanting to hear from his wife: "Who is she? Was she your girlfriend before?" And the old man said "YES"! I told myself OMG! After all these years and out of the blue, for the first time she heard this name and with all honesty, he admitted that he had a love affair once upon a time,....The wife looked at me, winked, smiled and asked her man why he didn't marry that woman. And the only reason was because she was from Marinduque and that she is the one that he loves. Then, he asked his wife to kiss him on the lips, and they said I Love You to each other.

They have reached this age(70) in their lives and they could express their love for each other openly. He may be losing some part of his memory but that part of his brain where LOVE resides is still very evident. I presume the rest of their wedding vows would be realized especially this one: TILL DEATH DO US PART!

God bless this couple! This is: A LOVE AFFAIR to remember,.....