My work can often be both heartrending and rewarding at the same time. Last night was one of those moments. A 1st. floor resident came to my desk to say she had just heard a terrible thud from the apartment above hers. Knowing that 94 year old Bill lived above her I grabbed my pass key and cell phone and ran to his room. Upon opening the door and entering I found Bill lying on the floor with his chest of drawers lying over his legs. My first question was "Bill are you hurt, in pain or not?" He responded that he was OK so I righted the chest and knelt down beside him to better ascertain his condition. He was lucid, but groaning. I told him I was going to call 911 so they could check him out and help him up, (we are not allowed to move them if they've fallen) and got him a pillow for his head. When I put the pillow under his head he calmly said, " I just wish I could die." I proceeded to call 911 but those words kept playing through my mind. When I went back to him I asked why he'd want to die and he said "I'm such a burden to everyone." I assured him he is not a burden, as a burden is something heavy and oppressive but when you love someone their care is a blessing not a burden. Later as I wrote up the accident report I had time to ask myself, "Do I view those under my care as burdens or blessings? " I hope and pray it will always be the later.