How Goes the Battle?

I remember the VA nurses, usually kind and sincere unlike the doctors who blew through the room and seemed to scoff at questions.  Who would have the audacity to speak in the presence of the almighty doctor?  In 2006, when my dad spent a length of time at the VA hospital, the night staff would take the time to speak to me about my life, goals, whatever.  I recall one nurse who made the evening rounds in the first or second room my dad occupied, who put up with a rude gentleman who shared my dad’s room in a bed next to the window.  She dealt with him gracefully while lending a sympathetic ear to me.  As she left the room to continue her rounds, she put her hand on mine and gave it a squeeze.