Over the last few months, I have
had the pleasure of taking care of a patient, who is indeed, a miracle.
He is a miracle because doctors, science, medicine, nurses, and even
common sense gave up hope for this patient. This young man’s whole life
changed in an instant. One minute he was a bright college student with
his whole life ahead of him, and the next he was comatose and found by friends
and family. Doctors and nurses had no explanation; in fact they could
find no reason of why this had happened. Many bold and outrageous
diagnoses were thrown out and tested for, but everyone knew it was a desperate
measure with no hope. For once medicine and science did not have an
answer for the ones who had studied for so many years. The patient went
through a rough path until finally he woke up a little. His eyes opened
and he was able to trace people with his eyes. He was able to respond
minimally, but he could not move his arms or legs. He could not speak or
communicate. Yet his nervousness and fear was evident throughout his
whole body. Many questioned how much he knew, understood or comprehended
throughout all this.
However, he is not the only miracle
in this story. This other miracle is also a hero. One woman,
traveled close to 6000 miles only to devote months of her life to caring for
her child. She held onto the one promise that would help her through each
long day and night. She had one mission in caring for her child and that
was to prove that her God could and would heal her son. She was
relentless. On days that doctors and nurses felt lost, tired, confused,
defeated and like failures, she was there reminding us all that this was not
the end. Sure she got frustrated, tired, angry, and sad however, her biggest
concern was for the welfare of her child.
There were tough days, days when
she wanted to give up hope, days she wanted to quit. However, she always
returned with more reserve and more strength. Throughout those days, she
and her son became the rock and joy of the nursing staff. The patient
quickly grew close to all of us. He would respond to each of us and it
was almost as if he recognized us. We rejoiced over every milestone and
lamented over every set back. His mom became a companion to each and
every one, almost a part of our work family. We would share stories and
facts about our lives and she of hers, we prayed, cried, screamed, questioned,
and hugged together. While I learned many lessons from the son such as: value
every day, say what is on your heart, enjoy moments with your loved ones, life
your life to the fullest it was the mother that taught me the most important
lessons.
She showed me what being a mother
means and looks like. She taught me to never give up hope, pray until
your knees bleed, always say I love you, be selfless, accept life is always
changing, go with the punches and get back up swinging, stand strong, continue
to trust and to never lose faith in God and in his wonderful ways. This
woman who changed my life made me realize that life is more valuable if you
have something to live for, than if you live for nothing at all. Words
can’t describe what I gain for doing what I do, but her deepest thanks to me
today has touched me in such a way that I will never be the same again.
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