Danny Rowland was granted his dying wish to see his wife, Shirley, for a final time. Photo / Queensland Ambulance Service
Danny Rowland was granted his dying wish to see his wife, Shirley, for a final time. Photo / Queensland Ambulance Service
A team of paramedics have been labelled "angels" for granting an elderly man his dying wish to see his wife one final time.
Paramedics Allan, Samantha and Joshua were transporting terminally ill man Danny Rowland back to his Torbanlea home, on the Queensland Fraser Coast, last weekend when they overheardhim talking about his wife, Shirley.
After a brief trip to hospital to have an issue with his medical equipment solved, Rowland, who had endured a long cancer battle, was being transported home to spend his final days surrounded by family.
According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, he had already "accepted that a conversation months ago would serve as the final goodbye with the woman he shared his life with".
"Facing the end of his battle with cancer, a courageous Danny took solace in the fact he was leaving on his terms; in his own Torbanlea home and surrounded by family," a post to the ambulance service's Facebook read.
"There was one piece missing however, with his wife Shirley receiving care in a nearby nursing home."
When the paramedics became aware of Rowland's heartache, they decided they would make sure the pair were reunited for a final goodbye.
"Allan and Samantha were returning Danny home when they overheard his inability to see Shirley. Realising Shirley was close to their route home, the officers sought permission for a brief detour," the post read.
The pair were soon together again, even if just for a brief moment, with a heartwarming picture showing them laying in their hospital beds hand-in-hand.
A few days later, Rowland passed away, "comforted by the memory of holding his wife's hand and a promise his love would last forever".
Danny Rowland died a few days after his final visit to his wife, Shirley. Photo / Queensland Ambulance Service
The "missing piece" was put into place as a result of the "compassion, patience and humanity" shown by the paramedics.
The "touching moment" was one the Rowland family and health staff will remember for a long time, the QAS post said.
More than 1200 people have commented, sharing their condolences and praising the paramedics on the post, which has been shared 1700 times in less than 24 hours.
"This is just such a beautiful gesture by these superheroes. Thank you for being so human to this elderly gentleman and his wife," one person wrote.
"How beautiful the Ambos went above and beyond to help someone at the end of their time so he could see his true love for one last time," another said.
"So beautiful. I love the empathy shown here by QAS officers," a third wrote.
