A priceless gift

This past weekend at work I saw my smiling, but very sick patient I had a few weeks ago. Because of insurance reasons, he was still on our floor, but I didn't know it until walking past his room...there he was sitting in a chair off the ventilator looking like a different, much healthier man! When people are on breathing machines, they can't talk and sometimes you wish that you could just hear their voice and have a conversation with them. Actually I specifically remember telling this patient I wish I could just hear his voice and encourage him that one day he would have it back. Well as I walked by he remembered me and spoke!!!! Such a strange phenomenon. A large and rougher man, I expected a deep, coarse voice. To my surprise, in a cheerful alto tone he greeted me...smile on the face. He is going to make it! What a priceless gift!