This four-letter word belonged to an elderly couple that I took care of last night. The patient was an older gentleman, accompanied by his wife of over 50 years, who came in complaining of recurring back pain. I checked in on him a number of times during my shift - EKG, vitals, bed pan, blood draw - and briefly chatted with the pair during each encounter. They both seemed like wonderful people, and the kind of long-lasting couple rarely seen anymore.
During one of my trips into the room, I turned to the wife and told her she was welcome to step outside while I helped her husband off the bedpan. She in turn deadpanned, "Why? It's nothing I haven't cleaned up before."
Later I walked in to find them hard at work on the crossword. The wife asked if I knew a four letter word for "5th stroke." Her husband ran through a list of sports that involved strokes, and then received a flash of inspiration. "What if it's a real stroke, a medical stroke," he asked. "I haven't had one of those yet."
The wife considered that for a moment, and then replied, "D-E-A-D. After your fifth stroke you'll be dead, dear."
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