This thread has reminded me of an awe inspiring woman. She has attended
my church for a number of years and was in the choir at one point.
She is of oriental origin. I think part Chinese.
Then about 5 years ago she had a dreadful car accident and it wasn't even certain that
she would live. She ended up spending many months in intensive care, physio and
suffered brain damage.
Fast forward to the present, she is paralysed from the waist down and has to use
an electronic wheelchair. As if that wasn't bad enough (bearing in mind she has the
heart of a worshipper and loved to sing) she can no longer speak properly and form
words, just vague utterances which you have to listen carefully to, to understand.
The speech centres of her brain were affected by the accident.
But yet she has all the intelligence there and understanding, she can still read and
write, and understand what people say to her fully. She just cannot get the words
out to talk properly.
But she is such an inspiration and meets every challenge full of courage. Never
complains, always has a smile, greets everyone with enthusiasm. She went to church
this morning by herself and got on the bus ( our buses are designed for wheelchair access
in the Uk, they have kerb drop platforms so wheelchairs can wheel onto them and
wheelchair space).
Just that massive task of going on a bus to church by yourself when you can't
communicate, can't walk and everyone around you thinks you are demented or something,
must be so hard for her. But she is determined to live her life as normal as possible.
After church me and a friend popped into town and we ended up in a cafe. To
our surprise this lady was there with her brother who she had met up with.
They had order "afternoon tea" which which came with dainty sandwiches, scones,
buns, cream cakes etc. Yummy.
We all said hello and chatted a bit. But what was apparent was the people around
who didn't know her looking at her strangely just because her voice was odd.
I just wanted to tell everyone that her brain works fine, she is intelligent, she
still speaks 3 languages just can't get the words out properly. But you could tell
people just assumed she was mentally retarded or something. It got me mad and
i felt very sad for her.
But you know what, it put all problems I have into perspective. I'm so blessed
and I just wish I was even half the person she is.