The Disabled Miracle

Sitting in the valet area of the hospital on a cold morning, I began pondering on the events of this past six months that led up to this day. Starting with the night my wife and I were awaken by the cry of my eight year old son, Bryant. We jumped out of bed and rushed to find him fallen in the hallway.

“SON!” we yelled.

“Daddy, I can’t breathe!” he managed to say before fainting. My wife screamed.

I yelled, “BRYANT!” as I grabbed him.

“Call 911!” I yelled to my wife. I laid him on the sofa to check his vitals. His eyes were closed and wasn’t responding. His breathing was shallow.

Ten minutes later, the paramedics arrived. After checking and asking questions, the paramedics said, “We’re going to have to transport him to the nearest hospital.” Then they whisked him and my wife to Spacey Memorial Hospital.

There he was taken into the ER. After parking the car, I ran to meet them. Shortly thereafter, they were able to stabilize him, but the remainder of the night was spent running tests. The next morning as we awaited with Bryant in the ICU, the doctor returned with terrible news.

“Testing has revealed something lodged in the right upper lobe of Bryant’s lung. This is what caused his collapse and loss of consciousness. Are you ready to hear this?” Dr. Scott paused.

My wife had already burst into tears. Attempting to hold my own, I said, “No, doctor. Please give us a moment. Thank you.”

“Understood. Come to my office when you’re ready,” Dr. Scott replied and left.

My wife shook her head and buried her face in my chest as I embraced her. “Oh, no! What are we going to do, Bryan? I don’t want anything to happen to our baby! I can’t take this!” she cried.

“Charity, Honey...This is a heavy blow for all of us. Let’s pull together and be strong. We must make sound decisions based upon the results. No matter what it is, I promise you. I will do whatever it takes to save our son. He’s going to be okay! Okay?”

She said, “Okay.” We hugged one another and prepared for the results.

“Mr. Sinclair?”… My thoughts were abruptly disturbed. I had nearly forgotten where I was. There stood the hospital valet bending over me asking, “Are you okay? Your car is here, Sir.”

“Yes, I’m fine, thank you. Just a lot on my mind,” I replied and began placing my son’s belongings in the car. I then started driving to the freeway. Bryant was being moved to the Children’s Hospital where he would undergo surgery. I had come to Spacey to retrieve his belongings.

It was now 11:37a.m. and I was running late for my appointment with William Scales, the bank loan officer. I needed to try and borrow $20,000 more and didn’t want to be late.

As I entered the freeway, I found myself again revisiting the moments my wife Charity and I walked into the doctor’s office to discover the diagnosis…

“It’s a tumor the size of a large grape,” began Dr. Scott.“The good news is that it poses no threat in spreading. It will take no effect on him mentally nor physically. It is benign which means we can operate. The bad news is that it’s growing fast. The next eight months are crucial. The tumor could cause his demise if not removed. Concerning surgery, he can go under the knife or have laser surgery. Going under the knife has several risks and complications considering the location of the tumor. Also, without removing a certain amount of lung tissue, there could possibly be a reoccurrence. With laser surgery it can be removed easily without any surgical complications. Bryant could return to a normal life in approximately two months. I strongly recommend laser surgery. Until he is ready for surgery, Bryant will have to remain. I’m sorry to give you this news, but there is yet hope. We will go over the finer details in a few days.” The news fell from his mouth on us like a ton of bricks.....

This past six months were critical as we did everything we could to pay for the laser surgery since it wasn’t covered by our insurance. I purchased a little black notebook to record information regarding medical financial assistance, charities, churches, banks, and anything we could get our hands on. This is what I planned to show Mr. Scales to secure the loan. We sold everything we had and yet were $20,000 negative. Today was the day to make a final decision on whether Bryant would undergo the knife, or have laser surgery.

As I sat in traffic, I noticed my notebook and medical information were missing. I then remembered carrying them into the hospital while waiting on Bryant’s things. I thought maybe I mixed them in Bryant’s things and pulled over to check…no dice.

I jumped in the car and flew back to the hospital. Upon arrival, I spoke to the valet, the hospital staff, and lost and found. No one had found the notebook. Then I got a call from Mr. Scales saying he could wait no longer and was leaving due to a family emergency!

I went back to my car in dismay. I had let Bryant and Charity down. I was going to have to go the Children’s hospital and explain to her what had transpired. She was there with Bryant. I felt like a complete failure. How was going to explain to Charity I had lost the notebook and the medical information? As well as the cancellation of the appointment with the bank? He would have to go under the knife!

Arriving to the Children’s hospital, I received an unusual call.

An unfamiliar voice said, “Hello, is this Mr. Sinclair?”

“This is he,” I said.

The voice said, “Hi, I am nurse Maria. We found a notebook that belongs to you and would like to return it.”

“Yes! I did lose it. I am glad that you found it! How did you find it?” I asked.

Maria then gave me an address and told me I could come today and get it.

“Yes, I am on my way now. But... once again, may I ask how you found it?” I asked again.

She said, “You will find out when you get here.”

Happy, but a bit confused, I got in my car and started to the address. I arrived to a beautiful neighborhood full of two and three story homes. I had never been in this luxurious part of the city! Soon, I was pulling up to the beautiful residence of the mysterious caller. I walked to the door and knocked. A lady dressed in nurses clothes greeted me.

“Mr. Sinclair?” it was Maria.

“Yes, but please. Call me Bryan,” I said with a smile.

I expected her to hand me the notebook but she asked, “Can you come in, please? There is someone who would like to meet you.”

More confused, but happy to oblige, I said, “Uh... sure! Ok!”

She invited me in and asked me to follow her upstairs. She mentioned how this person was worried that I would not get the notebook in time and wanted to see me. Once upstairs, she took me to this room that resembled a hospital room. There I found a small and fragile lady lying on a hospital bed. She appeared to be in a paralytic state.

Maria said, “Mrs. Hildebrand? This is Bryan. The man who lost the notebook. See? He’s here so you don’t have to worry anymore, okay?” Maria told me how Mrs. Hildebrand had been in a bad car accident which left her paralyzed from neck down. As a result, her speech was slow. But regardless of how she looked, she was still very smart! I stood there with tears filling my eyes of sorrow and joy at the same time. This wonderful woman, in such condition cared so much about me.

I stood in amazement for a few moments. “Hello, Mrs. Hildebrand. It is humbling to meet you.”

She began speaking slowly, “It is... even more... an honor to... meet you.”

I cried. “Thank you for taking care of my notebook. Where did you find it?”

She looked to Maria and said, “Tell him... how we... found it...”

Maria stated they were visiting Spacey Hospital for Mrs. Hildebrand’s neurologist appointment. Mrs. Hildebrand spotted the notebook laying on the bench in the valet area as they were preparing to leave. Mrs. Hildebrand asked her to see if there was any information regarding the owner. Maria searched and found Dr. Scott’s information. She gave him a call and asked if he knew whose it was. Dr. Scott asked for some detail from the notebook. She searched the notebook to discover it belonged to a man who had a son named Bryant who needed to undergo a surgery short $20,000.

Then she reached on the right side of Mrs. Hildebrand and gave me the notebook.

“It was Mrs. Hildebrand who found it, and she wanted to see you receive it,” said Maria as she handed me my notebook. Everything was there including all paperwork.

“You are nothing short of amazing, Mrs. Hildebrand,” I smiled through my tears.

“You have.... been having a.... difficult time.... haven’t you?” she said.

“Yes ma’am,” I replied. “The last six months have been devastating for my family. But you have made my day and I am eternally grateful.”

“It was... meant for you.... to come hear today,” she said.

“Yes, it was,” I agreed.

She asked Maria to lift her bed to see me better. “Can I make... your day.... a little more?”

“Well you’ve done quite enough, but yes,” I thankfully stated.

“Look in the.... very back of.... the notebook,” she said.

I opened the back of my notebook and what I saw almost made me drop it in disbelief. There was a personal check from Mrs. Hildebrand made out in my name for the lump sum of $20,000! At that moment, I dropped to my knees and begin bawling uncontrollably. Maria was crying and so was Mrs. Hildebrand.

“Now... your son.... can have the..... surgery you want... him to have,” she said.

“As much as I would love to accept this, Mrs Hildebrand, I won’t be able to pay....”

“Stop.... right there,” she said. “What you don’t know.... is that my... father was an... oil tycoon. When he died.... he left me.... more money than... I could ever.... spend. I can’t… do a lot of.... things now… because of my.... accident. So my pleasure.... is to help others.... and today... is my day... to help your family... You know how... you can pay... me back?”

“Whatever you want me to do!” I exclaimed.

“Continue.... being.... a good father.... to Bryant. And bring... him to see... me... when he is.... well enough,” she said.

I was crying and thanking her. I hugged her from her bed as well as Maria. I felt a joy and a relief I hadn’t felt in months! As I left, I called my wife to tell her the miraculous story.

Later that week, Bryant had the laser surgery and our lives were getting back on track. Just as Dr. Scott said, he was up running after two months; living the life of a normal child. I owed it all to Maria and especially Mrs. Hildebrand. As she asked me to, Charity and I took Bryant to meet her on her birthday as a gift to her. She was so overwhelmed with excitement! My wife and I could think of no better gift to give her than the chance to see our son happy and alive. All because of the love and compassion of a paralyzed Mrs. Hildebrand. She may have been paralyzed physically, but her love and compassion were extremely active. Mrs. Hildebrand... the life changer and The Disabled Miracle!