Jorge was a gregarious guy who lived by the water he loved. Before retiring, he was a yacht broker and spent much of his time sailing and deep-sea fishing. He had been ill for a long time and the cost of his health care had depleted his savings and forced him to sell his boat.

Abe was a sweet, pleasant, polite gentleman who, prior to his illness, enjoyed taking his grandchildren out in his boat on the Intracoastal Waterway and out into the Atlantic Ocean. He too had been ill for a considerable time and had sold his boat years ago.

Jorge and Abe were both on VITAS service and were cared for by Team 153 in Broward. They had never met, but due to similar interests and a creative VITAS psychosocial staff, that was to change. Art, the chaplain, and Isaac, the social worker, arranged for the foursome to spend the day out on the water.

Art and Isaac picked up Jorge and Abe and drove them to the Bahia Mar Marina, where they met Captain Dan aboard his 24-foot fishing boat. It was a windy day and the seas were rough, so they decided to stay on the calmer Intracoastal Waterway. Captain Dan headed north and the two patients and their VITAS caregivers sat in the back of the open boat soaking up the sun and enjoying the open water. Periods of conversation were interspersed with long periods of silence, as Jorge and Abe simply sat in the sun and smiled.

Four hours later, the group returned to the dock and concluded the day’s festivities with a fresh seafood feast. Jorge and Abe, whose appetites normally were small, each ate a big meal. Pictures were taken of the foursome by the boat and later delivered to Jorge and Abe. Jorge and Abe talked and bragged about this day to all who would listen. They also were quick to show off their photos to nearly everyone who came into their homes.