Mary Jo Bellner Swartzberg
There are times in our lives when we are reminded of the strength of the human spirit. These experiences illustrate to us that often our challenges are, really, not so difficult at all!
On a sultry Ohio summer day I pulled up in front of a house to visit a home-bound church member. I approached the door and knocked. A lilting voice from inside the house said, “Come in, honey! I’m in the back room.”
I entered the front room and walked further into the house; this is where I found Pat who was seated in a wheelchair. As I came closer I saw that Pat’s arms and feet were not fully formed but rather, were like “flippers” or wings. I quickly deduced that Pat was the victim of a Thalidomide pregnancy. Thalidomide was the drug that was given to pregnant women in the 1950s and 1960s to help with morning sickness. Babies born to mothers who took Thalidomide were born with severe birth defects of the arms and legs.
Pat started making small talk. “Gee, isn’t it hot outside?” And “How are you today?” We chatted for quite a while. I felt that Pat was eager to have company and was very grateful for my visit.
Arriving back to my car I felt completely overwhelmed by what I had seen – the experience was so profound. Despite her disability, Pat was every bit a lovely, ingratiating person who made me feel comfortable in my discomfort.
And then.
Seven years ago Charla Nash visited a friend. She did not know it then, but that visit would be life-changing.
Charla’s friend had a 200-pound pet chimpanzee that went berserk. Without provocation, the chimpanzee attacked Charla, ripping off her hands and most of her face. Doctors tried to reattach her hands, but her body rejected the transplant. Because of the horrific incident Charla was permanently disfigured and blind. But, thanks to an anonymous donor, two years after the attack Charla had a face transplant.
Charla now lives alone. She has a caretaker five days a week, but she basically manages her day to day living skills by herself. And she has the temerity to ride, alone, on a bus to go shopping.
In a recent interview Charla explained in her soft but cheerful voice that she is doing well. And as an afterthought she said, “I could use more money!”
Some days everything seems to go wrong – the dishwasher stops working and needs to be replaced; you have a flat tire; your computer gets a virus. (This was my life a month ago!) But really, these are just blips on the calendar of life. The quote, “The heat that melts the butter also tempers the steel,” comes to mind as I reflect on these two incontrovertibly strong women. Remembering these examples have helped me keep my life in perspective and remember how blessed I am. This I have learned.