Unknown Angel
I have many wonderful childhood memories that warm my heart but
sometimes the hurtful ones stick with us forever. Often we can
find inspiration from a hurtful event that will last a lifetime
if we allow it.
I was quite a sick child growing up. One thing after another
would strike me down. Being paralyzed a few times as a child was
devastating. Once from a central nervous system condition and
another from a rare allergic reaction. Both of these incidents
run together in my memories making it difficult to separate each
event.
For some odd reason I was alone one evening. Being surrounded by
loved ones through out my entire hospital stay had been a way of
life. I guess the improvement of my condition prompted my family
to return home for a brief period of time.
I was lying in my hospital bed watching television when a small
girl in a hospital gown walked into my room. I turned my head to
look at her and the only thing I could do was smile because I
was so thrilled to see this her. I guess that's because I had
been spending all my time with adults. She told me her name was
Angela and we chatted away. A nurse had come in my room and
Angela asked if I could go around the ward with her. The nurse,
one of my favorites, nodded her head in agreement and went to
get a wheelchair. She put me in the wheelchair and Angela was so
excited about pushing me around. She had asked me what was wrong
with me and I had replied I didn't know. She had just had her
tonsils removed.
We had a good time strolling around the children's ward. All of
the nurses knew us by our first names and pleasantly greeted us
as we sped by on our merry way. We visited other children
briefly but were in a big hurry to move on. We reached the end
of the line and Angela wheeled me up to the wall around a
corner. She told me it was my turn to push her. When she
realized that I couldn't push her around she threw her hands on
her hips and told me I was being unfair. I begged her not to be
mad at me and although I cannot recall her words I remember the
pain and tears. She left me in that corner, stuck. I cried but
never called out for help for reasons unknown.
I remember seeing a smaller child, a boy. He walked so funny and
looked at me with a tear on his cheek. He struggled to get to me
and I instantly forgot that I was stuck. I watched his
determination in amazement and saw his grief on his little
swollen face. My heart cried out to him for he was struggling so
hard to come to my aid and it was causing him so much pain. Even
though I was in a wheelchair I knew that this child was far
worse than I was. I wanted him to stop but I couldn't say a
word. I couldn't believe that this unknown child who didn't know
me was going through so much to try to help me.
At that very moment a couple and a nurse turned the corner
looking for me. The couple was my parent's friends who had come
to visit bearing gifts. The woman hugged me and got behind my
chair to wheel me back to my room and the nurse was helping the
little boy back to his. As I was being pushed away I turned my
head to see him looking at me with the biggest smile on his face.
I eventually had a full recovery but I never did see that little
boy again. I have never forgotten his courage and determination,
nor will I ever forget how unselfish this child was.
Children can be cruel sometimes, unknowing to them that their
actions can cause another so much grief. I guess that is part of
growing up. I can still remember falling into childhood games of
teasing other children and such, but I was quickly reminded of
that one little boy.
It takes a very special child to see past their disabilities and
pain to try to make this world a better place for just one
person. Although he never got to help me, his actions meant so
much more. Words unsaid but the feat was so much greater. I
often think of this little boy and pray that whatever was wrong
with him, he also found recovery. I was taught a far greater
lesson that evening, a lesson that I hope I pass on to my child.
Love and compassion from a small stranger healed my broken
heart. It opened my eyes and filled my heart.
That little boy was my angel, my unknown angel.