Dear John

It was April 13th, 2015. It was John Philips's birthday but he didn’t feel much like celebrating. Three years had gone by since his wife had passed away and now his daughter, Eve, is in a fight for her life. She needs surgery, a bone marrow transplant and he was the perfect match. Of course there wasn’t any hesitation. Looking after your children, taking care of your own flesh and blood is a parental responsibility and losing Eve, after losing her mother, would have thrown John into a whirlwind of depression and self-destruction. He knew it because that is what happened three years ago.

Sarah was the love of his life. They had been together for 24 years; since high school. It was “meant to be” and “everything happens for a reason” and “love at first sight” all thrown into one. After high school they went to the same college, graduated with degrees from The University of Georgia and as planned, because Sarah's family had a business there, moved to North Carolina. John opened his practice and Sarah started in the family business. John’s parents both lived at The Villages in Florida and they were as happy and content as any retirees should be.

They were blessed with Eve five years after they were married and were planning on having a second child when the news hit hard. Sarah had scheduled an appointment with her doctor to let her know the future plans and needed to make sure she was in good health. Sarah had complained of headaches and dizziness recently and that was abnormal. She wanted to make sure everything was alright. It wasn’t alright. The next day the tests came back and Sarah had developed a tumor on her brain and by the looks of it, it had been there for at least a year. Surgery would not fix the problem.

After three years of doctors, hospitals, treatments, medical bills and unfortunately, a funeral, all their money, outside of what insurance covered, was depleting fast. For what? That was the question that haunted John and still does. They had always followed Christian values. They were a large part of the church and community. John’s Pediatrics practice was thriving and Sarah was always involved in helping the kids at the community center, which they built. She still passed away and over the last year, she suffered more and more every day. John was struggling for answers but knew he had to remain strong for Eve and he found it harder day by day. He stopped going to church, work was mundane. His business and the foundation were struggling because of his absence and Eve was struggling as well.

After a year of depression and self-imposed misery, John knew he had to climb out of the hole and he did with help from a lot of friends and family. He was able to secure a loan using the practice as collateral. He upgraded his locations with the latest medical technology, took out ads touting his many years of excellence in the community and called his friends from the local news. Philips Pediatrics was reborn, so to speak and so was John.

Then, two years later and after a very successful two years, the news hit hard again. Eve had started to complain about headaches and dizziness. She was tired all the time and was missing ball practice and games. The diagnosis came back and it was bone marrow failure, the decreased ability to produce blood cells. She needed a bone marrow transplant within the next few months, maybe sooner, and her dad was the only person that could help.

John had to get to work. As usual, he stopped and got a coffee at the Dunkin drive-thru.

"Four dollars and thirteen cents please," the bubbly teenager said.

"Four thirteen," John thought bitterly amused, "happy birthday to me" which was followed by, "$4.13? What the hell? I should start saving money by having coffee at home". Which he always thought and he never did.

On the way to work he thought of nothing but Eve and what lies ahead for both. One thing is for certain though; he needs the sale to go through. John and Sarah had been approached before about selling the practice. They had built Philips Pediatrics into the best practice in the valley with four locations. When Sarah fell ill, John almost did sell to help with all the bills. He almost gave in but Sarah convinced him not to. He was at a crossroads but he knew what had to be done. He had to save Eve and by selling, he could also save all of the families that have been with him for a decade. He had to do it this time.

The mail crew, at the swank new high rise where John and Sarah had their corporate office, was just arriving back from lunch. They noticed an old package wrapped in brown paper sitting on the sorting table that wasn’t there before. It was worn; like it had been delivered, forgotten, sent back, forgotten and eventually delivered here. In fact, the only non-dirty part was the thin line where the strings were tied in both directions to keep the package secure. The return label was ripped off but the mailing address was clear. It said Dr. Philips Office 413.

“Where did this come from?” Dave asked the crew.

The table was certainly empty when they went to lunch. That was the way the boss man liked it and then there was the sense of accomplishment. Like waking up and making your bed in the morning.

“Looks like it came from the back of a storage room” said Mark

“Good ole USPS” added Luke. “I’ll take it up.”

John arrived at his office around 1 pm. He had a light schedule that day and expected a very important call. His secretary was still at lunch when he arrived. Walking into the office gave John a warm feeling. Sarah had put her touch on the décor and he never changed it. He walked past his desk barely noticing the worn-out package and stared out the window. It was a gorgeous day and the floor-to-ceiling windows painted a picture of the city with all of its beauty and charms. He and Sarah used to watch the sunset through those very windows.

He finally took notice of the worn package on his desk and a note from Hannah, his assistant.

“This came from the mailroom…looks like they had it for a while. Smiley face!”

John examined the package. It HAD been somewhere for a while. The postmark was barely visible; something, something 2012. “What?” John said out loud. He took out a pair of scissors, cut the string and started to tear the paper to get to the box. Then the phone started to ring. He opened the box and saw a bible. The phone rang a second time. On top of the Bible there was a letter addressed to him. The phone rang a third time. John started to read the letter and the phone kept ringing. In only a few minutes, after finishing the letter, John was on his knees crying like he never cried before.

The letter read –

April 13th 2012

Happy Birthday Johnathon!

You gave me your card three years ago. You may not even remember. I came to see you speak and then you approached me in the lounge later. You must have known something was up. Heck, your whole speech was on cognitive awareness, focus and motivating yourself to get back up. I was going through a rough time and you changed my life. Truth is I didn’t even want to go to the conference but my friend made me get off of my ass. My world was in disarray and you listened. You listened to how my wife, Mary, was dying of cancer; you listened to how my business was struggling because of all the doctor bills; how ALL the bills were piling and how we lost our only son in a car crash. You didn’t have to, but you did and I thank you for that. You’re a lifesaver John, in many ways. You gave me your card as we were leaving and said to call if I ever needed to talk. Maybe I would have if I hadn’t misplaced your card. I certainly needed to.

As I was going through the most difficult time of my life and had to get out of our family home. I came across your business card stuffed in a drawer and remembered our conversation. You had Phil 413 on the back of your card. I looked at it and set it on the counter not knowing what it meant at the time, but knew I had seen it before. My friend, Ruth, was helping me move. She had been my rock through all of my turmoil. The depression was overwhelming. While she grabbed the box full of canned goods from the cabinet she noticed your card on the counter.

“I didn’t know you were religious, Joseph?” she said to me.

“Maybe once, but after Mathew and then Mary…” I couldn’t finish the sentence. She could tell and stopped me.

“Well maybe this is a sign.” She said. “You should look into it.” And she was the second person to hand me your card.

Well, John, I did look into it. I was at rock bottom and needed a reason to survive, to live. My once booming business was on the brink of closing and I was losing the battle within. The employees that worked so hard for me all those years needed their jobs and they depended on me and I needed them. So after the move I pulled out my computer and looked up Phil 4:13.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

I knew I had seen it before. My dad had a tattoo of a cross on his left arm. It also had my name, my sisters name and the scripture Phil 4:13. You brought back great memories John. It had been twenty years since I thought of that, twenty years since my dad passed and twenty years since I looked at a bible; this bible John. The one you are holding in your hand right now and I read it cover to cover and I believe it.

I said you were a lifesaver Johnathon, “in many ways” I added. You may not have ever known it but I needed to share it with you. You not only saved my life but the dozens of employees who work for our company, their families and the hundreds of others we have been able to help through our foundation programs. I was able to sell my company and now all I do is help others.

Your life story turned me around and I wish I would have never misplaced your card but everything does happen for a reason. I looked you up too John. I learned about your Pediatrician practice and how you help all those kids. I learned about yours and your wifes philanthropy efforts through your foundation and how you built the community center for the kids to have a place to go and yes I learned about Sarahs illness. I am so sorry and truly do know what you are going through. I was there brother and I’m here for you. Just ask. I’m always listening.

It’s your birthday John. You’ve led a great life and inspired many. You certainly inspired me and saved my life. It’s your turn Phil 413. Please open the bible and turn to Philippians Chapter 4 verse 13.

You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, if you believe.

JC

Inside the book was a certified check for one million dollars.