Thank You, Sister Marianne: A Childhood Memory of Healing and Kindness

Thank you Sister!

It was the seventies. I was a small kid and had been admitted to a big big hospital.

I was scared in the strange place, with whitewashed walls of the room making me more scared. The doctors in white coats terrified me, when they came to probe my throat.

I was wheeled into a huge OT room and then I woke up in terror. My throat ached badly. I could not swallow, the saliva pooled in my throat. I had difficulty breathing, my heart beat wildly and I thought I would die soon. I hugged my mom and tried crying but no tears came.

I hated the doc who came to see me and examine my throat. I refused to open my mouth. It hurt so badly.

The serious lookin doc advised my mum to start giving water after 6 hrs. It hurt so bad, I decided there is no chance I would eat ever. I refused my mum. Dad had no chance. Nurses came n tried, but no way.

I felt sore, the throat hurt very much. And besides I was so angry.

It was early morning. In walked a tiny sister with a kindly look and big sparkling eyes. She came n sat down near me n started speaking to me in soft voice. Paapu, I am sister Marianne, she said kindly. Shall I tell u a story? And began a story. She kept speaking to me, even though I did not respond.

In the middle of the story, she asked would u like a small sip of water? My throat hurt, I felt dry n thirsty. Only one sip, I said. The water burned through my throat. But I was engrossed in the story, she was telling, so one sip became a glass of water. Next tender coconut went in ..and I then welcomed ice-cream the whole day, hand fed by the sister. ...And finally the next day, the sister spoon-fed me with soft rice with dollops of laughter n engrossing stories.

It is more than fourty years. I don't remember the doctors, nor the hospital. Sister Marianne, I never met her again. But, I can see her clearly. All of her bright face with shining teeth and sparkling eyes. The kindness, the tender care and the soft voice still shines in my mind's eye.

We will forget people and we will forget events. But a kind person and their caring actions are never forgotten.

The difference we make in people's lives, the care and kindness we bring to their day, is remembered for life.

We all do our duties, but the extra mile we go, the extra effort we bring, the extra difference we make to touch people, and the value we add to their lives makes a imprint on people and is remembered forever with thankfulness.

Thank u sister Marianne... U touched my heart n made a mark on my life forever..