An encounter with a great soul

Yesterday I had to visit a young patient in the hospital. A beautiful young boy, with a halo like glow, sharp intelligence and an almost ethereal quality. His beautiful mother lay beside him as he examined the Spider-Man toy I had brought him. He was held captive by it. It may have crossed his mind that he was being treated really special for a reason. Or maybe he was too young for that at six. Beside his bed on the floor was a bag of goodies. Gifts that doctors and nurses had showered on him for going through the MRI and a myriad other tests like a trooper, for following all instructions while being fitted with the mask that he would wear while undergoing radiation. It all seemed surreal. This was an amazing place, SickKids, I thought, so cheerful in its decor, with friendly, kind staff who normalized the experience - no panic, pain or pity in anyone’s face or demeanour. But it would have also been the last place I wanted to be with my kid, with the words “terminal” buzzing around in my brain.

But there she was this mother so graceful and poised. When we had a moment alone, she asked me in a calm voice, not laden with self pity or “why me” sentiment, if she had been bestowed this as punishment for not being the best she could be in her treatment of others. She then said she was blessed that she had had six good years of amazing memories, no matter what the future held. I held her tightly to my chest, tears streaming down my eyes and said in response the following, though in not so many words. I believe in karma and since I have known you to be a deeply spiritual and poised human, over the 20 years I have known you, I can only say that you are exhausting any negative karma you have accumulated over lifetimes. I have no doubt you will experience the highest truth and the fullness of your true being right here. Your child was born in a sacred womb to exhaust his. I know of no other way to explain this. I realized later that her poise is testament to her being present and accepting everything in the most open way without the clutter of emotional reactions. Yes, miraculously, this is giving her the clarity to do everything right by everyone in the here and now. This is evident in her manner which is infused with boundless compassion and respect for all even at a time when she could get away with being her most self indulgent and self absorbed self. She is and always will be my role model. I know she will scale this challenge in a most exemplary way! My heart is with her and her little boy!