He was leaned over a park bench and I stopped to ask, “What is the tattoo on your forehead?” He laughed, “That’s not a tattoo, that is from where I passed out this week and fell on my head.” I asked what occurred that led him to pass out after noticing the hospital bracelet on his wrist. “I am on oxygen and I have emphysema,” he told me, "I couldn't breath."
While talking to him I looked down and noticed the bench he was leaning on was covered in bird droppings, probably not the best place to catch your breath. It was obvious that he was having trouble catching his breath. He told me that he has oxygen tanks that he hauls around with him, which is tough when you are homeless. He was not using the oxygen when I saw him, even though he was supposed to be on it 24-7. The reason why… He wanted to make sure he had enough to sleep through the night.
“Do you have any family,” I asked with curiosity? “My wife died a couple of years ago from cancer, we had an apartment then,” he said while looking towards the street.
“I keep dreaming of a future, a future with a long and healthy life, not lived in the shadow of cancer but in the light.” - Patrick Swayze