I was inspired to write this short story in May 2019 after meeting a young couple from northern Ontario at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at CHEO. This fictional story is grounded very much in the reality of life’s very tough moments.
There is a saying “Falling down is part of life; Living is about getting up”, and in many ways this captures for me the tragedy and beauty of being. I come back to this message in other stories and poems but in this case, the story speaks to the power of the human spirit and the importance of perspective.
We can choose the ‘woe is me’ way we see in the world where life’s challenges as they pile up can get to be overwhelming, and contribute to a life of looking up with little hope. It also leads to a victim mentality, and many of the conspiracy theories which seem to dominate the air waves where life is the fault of others.
OR we can choose ‘wonder’ and ‘gratitude’ where we don’t let life beat us up. It means that we live with gratitude for each of life’s moments be they tough or extraordinary; we live with responsibility for our actions and choices; and with love and appreciation for those we meet along life’s journey. What a wonderful world!
I say all of this with respect for those of us who are in situations on the journey which are very serious and at least for a moment, limit our capacity to have perspective. Or for those who live with mental illness, and that when untreated, means that the world is not able to be a pleasant and welcoming place. The coming together as a society to provide support allows us the opportunity to reflect that we are indeed a ‘wonderful world’.
What a Wonderful World
What a week’ thought Jennifer as she stretched in the back seat of her mother-in-law’s sedan, exhausted but unable to sleep. The radio was on low, the hum of the tires steady and the swish of the windshield wipers the only noise. Her mother-in-law, Katie was driving and her husband Ken was asleep in the front seat. Beside her asleep in a car seat was Melissa, their eight-day old baby. The quiet was a welcome respite from the past week.
Jennifer shut her eyes, reliving the days since Melissa had been born and their lives upended. They had been able to get to the hospital in their small northern Ontario community in plenty of time, and the birth had been nothing extraordinary. Melissa had entered the world with lusty crying, and all had appeared normal – for the first several hours. Then all hell had broken out. Melissa’s breathing had become laboured, and her heartbeat became irregular – and the doctor had been unable to do more than stabilize her. The news: she needed to go to Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital, and fast.
Jennifer and Melissa had been transported via helicopter to Ottawa. Ken had arranged for a ride part way, and to meet up with Jennifer’s father for the remainder of the drive. Thus, Jennifer had been alone to deal with Melissa’s arrival in Ottawa and as the doctors and nurses in the neo-natal intensive care unit stabilized Melissa and began their diagnostic work. It had been a very long few hours.
They knew no one in Ottawa, and had no place to stay. They had very little money and Ken could not remain away from his job. Ken was bringing a suitcase but with no idea as to length of stay. But the most important question was Melissa’s health. What was the problem? Was it fixable? What would it mean? All these questions and more… Jennifer smiled as she remembered those first few hours, and the boxes of tissues she had used as she sat, watching and shaking with fear under the blankets provided by the nurses.
Ken and her father had arrived just in time for the first news from the doctor. Melissa was stable and resting comfortably, but there were no conclusive results from the tests. In the doctor’s view, it would be a few more hours before they could get further test results. They had a couple of hours to rest and get settled somewhat as the stay would be at leas a few days.
Reality. Her dad had to head back home later that day and his truck was the only wheels they had to seek lodging and food – in a city they did not know. Tears rolled down Jennifer’s cheeks as she reflected on those first couple of hours running around, thinking about their options, all while struggling with dread about what was happening with Melissa. It was all about her now. The remainder would have to work itself out.
Upon return to the hospital even after not being able to find a grocery store, life took a turn for the better. A Social Worker provided information about the hospital, lodging and services available to them, and undertook to make initial arrangements on their behalf. Then a financial gift – a basket of essentials and a gift card enabling them to buy some groceries. More important than the gift was the caring attitude of the Social Worker, the doctors and the nurses. For the first time, Jennifer and Ken were able to breathe and to feel hope.
They were introduced to the Ronald McDonald Family Room that gave them a place to relax and talk; they had the chance to briefly hold and cuddle Melissa, and to speak with the doctors and nurses; and they began to meet volunteers and other families who would astound them with their generosity and caring. For a small-town couple facing lots of unknowns in a big city, they had been overwhelmed throughout the week with an outpouring of empathy, acts of generosity, and messages of hope and love. Grocery shopping had been done with the help of a volunteer; snacks and coffee had been available in the Family Room; strangers had listened and even spontaneously given them a car seat. The gift of a knitted blanket was now wrapped about Melissa. Every day had been full of special moments.
Melissa had improved significantly once the doctors had discovered the main issue. Her breathing was normal, her heart beating with a steady thump, and her eyes were bright as they looked at Jennifer and Ken. This was more like the life that Jennifer had imagined.
Hugs and kisses had seen them off earlier that day, from people who Jennifer knew they would never see again but who had made such an incredible difference. Jennifer snuggled deeper under the car blanket as she held Melissa’s little fingers, drifting a bit closer to a desperately needed sleep. She smiled contentedly as she heard the faint sounds of a song on the radio, one that now resonated with real meaning…what a wonderful world. Oh yeah….!
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