When you know you have made a difference

I work at Sanford hospital in their rehab department. We have many patients that come and go but there is a patient that we are currently seeing that is different than any other patient. He started coming to us a few months ago. When he started he was always down, never, smiling, and frequently rude to the staff. I made it my personal goal to greet him with the biggest smile every time I saw him. In the last month EVERYONE in our department has noticed a huge change in his attitude, dress, and facial expressions. He grin is now beaming through the halls as he walks in, he says hello to everyone, and starts an in depth conversation with me every time. He brought me flowers a few weeks back because the day before I was having a bad day and he could tell that I wasn't myself. Last week after his appointment he left with a smile and not long after he called me saying that he really wanted to thank me and everyone else for being there for him when no one else was and thank you for always having a bright smile. This really made me think of Caring Cougars and how something as small as an honest smile and hello can really make a difference in someones life.