Cherish what you have.

My blog's title might have you believe that I write about the passing away of an old friend. In some ways, it is related to this sad event- but it is about something that happened while I was in the ICU, watching him as he slowly faded.

I'd been in and out of the ICU for about 8 hours, trying to do what little I could to help. The hospital ICU was like most other ICUs - a glass pane separating the ward from the rest of the hospital. 2 rows of beds with curtains drawn were all I could see from the outside, and I could also sense that everyone there was on the thin line between life and death. I mean, that's why it's called an intensive care unit, right?

It was while I was in thought about my friend's situation that I was approached by a woman in her early 40s. She wanted to know if I would come and meet her son, one of the ICU patients. I agreed - and she led me to the bed of a young boy who couldn't have been more than 16 years old. His eyes were alert, but the rest if his body seemed inert, paralyzed. His mother introduced us and I saw a smiling flicker of recognition as the boy recognized me. All this while, half my mind was thinking about getting back to my sick friend.

Around 5 minutes into the meeting, I asked her -
"How long has your son been here?"
And my world came to a stand-still when I heard her say -
"8 years."

Now guys, we all have our lives to lead. We all have our goals - be it career, family, money - and we all (me included) spend our lives running a race for the ever-distant future. Sometimes the race gets so involving, we do not hesitate to shout and yell when things do not go our way. Me? If my shot is delayed by an hour, I give my unit hell! One hour! And here I was standing in this dark, quiet ICU, with someone for whom life had frozen for 8 years. 8 years!

I hope you see what I am getting at. This blog is my expression of the age old saying - "Cherish what you have, NOW!" There is no saying what tomorrow brings. All we have is now.

Keep smiling,
Ram