Revised: Iron Lung : A True Life StoryWritten by Arthur Zulu
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She says that at that time, paradise, which Adam and Eve lost, would be regained. She would direct me to read what Jesus Christ told a thief at Luke 23:43. “And he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, you will be with me in paradise.” And she firmly believed that if she dies, she will be resurrected to live again, pointing out what Jesus told Lazarus’s sister, Martha at John 11 verse 25 which reads: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am resurrection and life. He that exercises faith in me even though he dies will come to life.’ ” I must confess that I was not a Christian when I started working for her. She was one that preached to me and converted me to Christianity. And that was what she did to numerous other curious passersby and strangers who came to see her. Instead of being encouraged, she was one that encouraged her sympathizers; and her faith in Bible made many to become Christians. She was always praying to God in behalf of herself and others; and despite her condition, she was full of compassion for people. In fact, her courage inspired all who knew her. Her two children were always with us too. How sad they always look, not being able to hug their mum. But she always told them to look toward bright future. Of them all, it was her little dog Mercy that added a touch of drama to whole thing. She would sit there all day long, barking at and biting machine, which held her owner prisoner thus preventing them from playing together. At these times, I would always have a hard time trying to quieten dog and preventing her from damaging iron lung. Sometimes, I wonder how foolish dog is; trying to destroy iron lung—the preserver of her owner. I also wonder what Hope thinks of euthanasia. I never mentioned subject though. Hope’s only regret is in not being present at wedding ceremonies of her two children. For she was in respirator when two teenagers became adults, married and had children. She only saw wedding pictures. Looking back, I think that it was actually a paradox that in glitz and glamour of Hollywood—the entertainment capital of world—one woman in same city, was having all troubles in world. What am I going to relate? Is it ordeal of washing her once a week? Or task of knowing which part of her body to scratch? Come to think of what it takes to even feed her. Yet, she endured. And I did not give up on attending to her needs. In fact, it could be said of her that she is a cat with nine lives. Because on top of this, she had an emergency appendectomy without anesthetic when her appendix burst, endured cancer, had major surgeries and chronic skin disorders. But there is a time for every affair under heaven. Even a time to live and a time to die. So, one day she went for her seventh surgery. And after that she was removed from Iron lung for first time in 37 years, attached to a modern respirator using her tracheotomy, and placed on a hospital bed. She was not getting enough air. Fear gripped her. She knew she was going to die. Three days later as she struggled for life, she spoke her last words to me: “Comfort, don’t ever leave me.” I nodded. I was holding her. I didn’t want to cry. Then she died. Tears flowed freely. After one week, she was buried in city cemetery. Wreaths of flowers covered her grave which was marked with words: “Here lies one who waits upon lord.” Darkness falls on cemetery. And we go home to mourn our beloved Hope. Twenty years have passed now. I have since then grown from a lady to a married woman with a family. Perhaps she has been forgotten. But I still visit grave yard on every anniversary of her death to lay wreaths of flowers on her tomb. Today is another anniversary of her death. And I take a bouquet of flowers to lay on my friend’s tomb. As I enter cemetery, I raise my eyes toward gate and I see words of Solomon at Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 2: THE GREATEST VANITY! EVERYTHING IS VANITY. I walk in to see vanities of life in this cemetery for all kinds of people. On my left tomb of an American war veteran who fell in battle in Vietnam. (Some old soldiers question why their comrade should be buried there). I move on and I see tomb of an Indian ancestor from lineage of Crazy Horse. (Native American Indians do not understand how he came to be interred in this cemetery). A little further lays a black slave from family tree of Olauduah Equiano, called man with loud voice. And immediately after that is burial place of a long time state governor (Nobody remember his name now). I walk ahead to marked tomb with epitaph: HERE LIES ONE WHO WAITS UPON THE LORD. I lay my wreath of flowers on Hope’s tomb and sit to think of this loved one who suffered and died, waiting for Lord. As I sit, I remember everything: Iron lung, Hope’s strong faith, her husband Job (he is very old now), her children Paul and Endurance (they now have grand children), and Mercy barking doggie (it barked herself to death one week after Hope’s funeral). I remember bible says that we are like a mist that appears for a while and then disappears. I remember Shakespeare said that life is like a stage and we are mere players. My friend has played her part. We will all play our part. I was awoken from my meditation by a flash of lightning and roaring of thunder. I looked up. It was going to rain. I gather myself and kiss goodbye to Hope as I hurry home. As I go, I remember her last words and I was ashamed that I was leaving my friend. On my way, I walk pass tombs of governor, slave, Indian and war veteran—all vanities. I step outside cemetery, look back and see those words again: THE GREATEST VANITY! EVERTHING IS VANITY. But I remember Hope used to talk of a bright future in paradise where sickness and suffering will be gone. I was encouraged. So life may not be in vain after all. She took ill one black winter morning. My resolve now is to be faithful to God so that I will meet my friend during resurrection in coming new world. Them one bright summer evening we would gladly hold hands together as we walk through gardens of paradise. And I will say to her: “I’m here, Hope. You see, I never left you.” (EXCERPTED FROM THE BOOK, “IRON LUNG,” TO BE PUBLISHED SOON. IF YOU ENJOYED READING THE STORY AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TOWARD ITS PUBLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE AUTHOR.)ARTHUR ZULU is an editor, book reviewer, and author of Chasing Shadows! and How to Write a Best-seller. For his works and free helps for writers, goto: http://controversialwriter.tripod.com mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com Web search: Arthur Zulu
The story of a woman who spent over 30 years in an iron lung.
| | Don't Weight--You Can Be Active At Any Size!Written by Larry Denton
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Cool down. Slow down little by little. If you have been walking fast, walk slowly or stretch for a few minutes to cool down. Cooling down may protect your heart, relax your muscles, and keep you from getting stiff and achy. Get support. Get a family member or close friend to be physically active with you. It will be more fun, and you can cheer each other on for moral support. Track progress. Keep a journal of your physical activity. You may not feel like you are making progress, but when you look back at where you started, you may be pleasantly surprised! Have Fun! Try different activities to find ones you really enjoy and will continue to do. Most very large people can do most physical activities. You do not need special skills or large amounts of special equipment. You CAN DO: weight-bearing activities, like walking and golfing, which involve lifting or pushing your own body weight; non-weight-bearing activities, like swimming and water workouts, which put less weight on you joints because you do not have to lift or push your own weight. If your feet or joints (knees, ankles) hurt when you stand, non-weight-bearing activities may be best for you; and lifestyle activities, like gardening, mowing lawn, washing your car by hand, walking your dog, which do not have to be planned. Physical activity does not have to be hard or boring to be good for you. Anything that gets you moving around--even for only a few minutes a day--is a healthy start to getting more fit. Healthy, fit bodies come in all sizes. Whatever your size or shape, get physically active now and keep moving for a healthier life!
Larry Denton is a retired history teacher living in Hobson, Montana. He is currently Vice President of an Internet business providing information on a variety of topics. For additional advice, tips and suggestions about losing weight and becoming more active, visit http://www.ObesityAide.com or http://www.DietDoor.com
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