Doctor "Ed"

November 1, 2002 · By Jim Lee

For fourteen years I've known this man, and that's a long, long while,
    Now I look up and honor him, and he looks down and smiles.
He gives advice and councils me, several times each year,
    But there were special times when we, have also shed a tear.

He's not a common Doctor, the ones that make you whole,
    He's more than that because of me, he also healed my soul.
He challenged me to do a job, I thought I could not do,
    But challenges are things I've had, and not just one or two.

It's easy to "throw in the towel," when things get dark and bleak,
    Now looking back I wonder if, self-pity I did seek?
I knew life would be different, and maybe I was scared,
    A stroke is really humbling, but there were those who cared.

My wife and family all were there, and quick to give me aid,
    And friends and neighbors were so kind, but still I was afraid.
Though I did not want pity, I needed something more,
    To fill the void I had to have, a challenge as before.

And Dr. Ed was wise enough, to understand my need,
    He gave me a prescription, and I ad it filled with speed.
He understood my problem was, I needed to compete,
    Without a challenge he just knew, my life was incomplete.

And every time I see him with that large, brown cup in hand,
    I've seen what's in that cup, but now I understand.
Though it's a huge brown vessel, it is very much too small,
    For the milk of human kindness, that he gives to one and all.

Artists Jim Lee and James Reeb, a grandfather and grandson team created "The Guardian," a 6-foot bronze sculpture of a nurse cradling a heart. It was unveiled at a special ceremony Nov. 1, 2002.