Peek into an event at City of Hope in Duarte, CA

[MrBubbles]

 I recently revisited City of Hope in Duarte, after nearly 14 years. I was so touched while approaching the buildings there, seeing all the ribbons on the trees that represent the number of patients they have treated, successfully and otherwise. Back when we were there, Valerie and I together placed her ribbon on their second tree. The number of trees now is outstanding. At 11:30 A.M. they had a line out the door to register patients, which also touched me.

 

 

  I spent a couple of hours with one of the Fathers assigned by the Catholic Church. I asked him if he knew who was responsible for the life-saving changes in the Bone Marrow Transplantation program. He thought long and hard, he seemed puzzled when he answered, no. He knew of the changes, the number of lives it changed. The only part he didn’t know was, who? I reached out my hand, while holding his; I said ever so gently, “I’m that person”. I shared with him for two hours, was only able to tell so little.

 

 

    It is time to tell the complete story. Here is just one day, everyday occurrence there with Val and I – honestly, nearly every three hours such events occurred. This is one that touched me the most.

 

  

 

   Valerie’s wishes were that each night, I put the children to bed, soundly, which I did. One particular evening after putting the kids to bed, upon my return I was met by Valerie and team of doctors and nurses wheeling her back into her room after just having lifesaving surgery. One of the ICU doctors informed me that she had nearly died from choking on her own tongue. They had to remove a large portion of her tongue to save her life. In all sincerity, the doctor explains that she will never speak again. I smile, “Really?” I could hear her as if nothing had happened. I was rather blighted within my heart; she was not, still screaming at me.

 

 

  She was scared and screaming at me, basically yelling at me in this shrieking, scared, stuttering tone, “Where were you?” She knew better than anyone that I should have listen to my heart, and been there for her. She had good reason to be upset with me. This is what I did in response:

 

 

   After the nurses and doctors left the room, I approached her ever so gently, with this smile on my face. She was quite upset! I gently reached down to her hand, putting her index finger on my lips and then placed my index finger on her lips. I spoke to her without my earthly voice rather than with my soul. I said this to her, “Since the first time hearing your voice, I’ve been longing to hear your true voice, as you are hearing mine now. Ask me a question dear, anything you wish to know? (I would have told her the meaning of life.)” She asked this with her lips closed, my finger on hers, with an exciting tone, “You can hear me?” Her fingers still on my lips I said, “Yes, I can hear you dear.”

 

 

   Her reaction was childlike, she had fun with this. She couldn’t wait to show people how we could speak to one another without voice. What she didn’t understand is that I could hear her from great distances too, no cell phone necessary. She hadn’t developed into this nor had the chance before falling into a void/ coma. They tested us, friends too. Losing her tongue meant nothing, rather the opposite, huge positive. She knew that this was extraordinarily special. She was just so beautiful, childlike.  

 

 

  This is just a mere glimpse into the whole story. I’m planning on telling this story soon. The story actually began 10 years before heading to City of Hope, and has continued. City of Hope is a large event; however, I’ve kept on my walk, witnessing to those who’ll listen. If some of you happen to have interest in hearing this story, please let me know? I’m heading back to tell it soon, I can always arrange a time.

 

 

  For those that stopped by this past Saturday. If you send someone to monitor again, which I don’t mind, I have nothing to hide ( Fyi, You’re all cute! You truly need to be fairly far away from me not to notice you, sillies.) If they return, I will invite them in and share. Send them back! I hope they have the courage to knock, I’m very friendly! Ask these lug heads, message hellkid  or enter TeamSpeak, I can talk to you there too. Say hi to Hellkid for me.

 

 

Oh,

 

 

I chose to share a different story with the Father, not the City of Hope story. What I shared was a more recent event. The event took place in a Burger King near where I live, not the closest one, close enough. Present were two families, husbands and wives together with their two kids. Cutest story ever!

 

 

God bless you all,

 

Bill 

 

 

 

Valerie’s and her sister Holly’s idea!

Edited August 31, 2015 by MrBubbles

[Damage_inc-]

thanks for sharing .