Find A Need And Fulfill It

A few years back, I received a disturbing phone call, in the early morning hours. It was my son, Mitch. He was in a frantic state. As I wearily sat up in bed from a deep sleep, I intently listened. Startled by his desperate cry for help, my heart began to hurt. Calls like this are a parents nightmare! Not knowing what exactly was going on, I couldn't make out all he was trying to convey. His words were muffled and ran all together. I tired to calm him but it was not possible. He was sobbing. He was angry and bewildered. I could also deeply sense Mitch was in excruciating pain. My sweet child was injured but how bad? I didn't exactly know.

I asked where he was and what was going on? Mitch told me he was mugged. He mentioned he was in a hospital emergency room and it was packed full of people. He had already been there over an hour, with no assistance. I suggested to seek attention to get something for the pain. I kept asking him what happened? He was cryptic in his description. He was so focused on his agonizing pain, I got what I thought happened and let my unimportant questioning go. He needed my attention. My support. A listening ear. He wanted to get off of the phone quickly after this idea of pain assistance as his focus was relieving the unbearable misery. I asked Mitch to call me back with an update. I felt totally helpless and wanted to cry.

"Why, dear Lord? Why? Hasn't my son had enough to endure?" I began to go back in memory to the day of his major surgery, to remove a brain tumor, 5 years prior. Not only this major life event but Mitch endured ill health and all that goes with it, leading up to his surgery.

Mitch called a hour later. He was seen, had the necessary x-rays and given pain meds. Mitch's jaw was broken in several places. He needed to see a specialist immediately as there wasn't anything they could do for him. He seemed a bit calmer as the meds were taking affect. I asked if he could drive to the area where I lived to see a specialist near by. I could then take care of him, if necessary. He was anxious to have me assist and said he could drive. I checked in with him while he was on his way to my home, to make sure he was OK. When Mitch showed up to my door, I was shocked to see my precious son's bruised, swollen and battered face.

Mitch was a victim of a mugging. He was leaving a restaurant in the Central Valley, two guys jumped him as he innocently walked out to the parking lot to his car. One beat him with some sort of an iron glove, while the other held him down. My son's 6'2" He's muscular and fit. Mitch could protect himself if needed. He was on wrestling teams growing up, to high school level. He has decent wrestling abilities. It was very important to me both my boys growing up knew how to protect themselves, if they were ever in a tough situation. I thought wrestling was a better way then boxing. I never cared for boxing. Hitting people in the head and body felt barbaric and cruel to me. What happened to Mitch was barbaric and cruel! Two lost souls, jumping an innocent young man and using a weapon to make the abuse worse. I just couldn't believe it! I suddenly felt very dizzy and ill. I wanted to find them and shake them. Shake some compassion and holy light in their dark and hardened hearts.

I drove Mitch to Kaiser in Walnut Creek. We waited an hour for his emergency appointment. He was in a lot of pain. Eventually we were told they couldn't help him. His injury was too severe. We had to drive to Oakland as there was a specialist in Oakland who took on severe cases. We immediately drove to Oakland and Mitch had to wait for the doctor another hour, which seemed like eternity.The pain got worse. He was finally wheeled to surgery. I blessed him and walked down to the lobby. It was now 9 in the evening .There was just a few people waiting in the large room. I tried meditating and then praying for my son. I couldn't calm myself down to meditate long enough and just focused on prayer. I then prayed and blessed everyone in the hospital. I asked God and Blessed Mother for assistance as tears streamed down my cheeks. I was hurt. My child was violated. My son didn't deserve this treatment. My mind kept going back to the entire ordeal over and over.

I looked around the room and found a woman wiping her own tears. I heard--- "Go over and ask her to pray with you." I slowly got up, a little aprehensive as I had never asked anyone I didn't know, espy in a hospital setting, to pray with me. I walked across the giant room.
"Excuse me. I noticed your sadness. Do you believe in prayer?"
She nodded yes.
"Do you want to pray with me? My son's in emergency surgery. May I ask why are you here?"
She proceeded to share, her young daughter was critically ill and the doctors couldn't find out what is wrong. We sat for over two hours praying, talking, crying- about our children. We both found solace in comforting each other through a very challenging moment. I was then told Mitch was out of surgery, in recovery and would be ready to go home. The woman and I hugged. My angels nudged me and shared, her daughter would pull out of this situation and be well again .I told her what I heard and I would continue to pray for her and her daughter. I never share information like this unless I get a huge confirmation. I blessed this dedicated mother and her daughters journey. I took my son home to recover.

I tended to my son who had his mouth wired shut for many weeks. Only liquids could reach the small space in his mouth, which was tightly closed off by threaded wires. Inch by inch he was healing. Step by step I began my compassionate journey to forgive the two guys who violated my son. I prayed. I meditated. In mediation, I was shown their lost souls and indirect cry for help as they recklessly were walking the edge of a darkened dead end road. I thought about their own mothers, their lives, their choices.

Mitch and I shared many thoughts and magical moments those crucial days that I will hold close forever. I'm very grateful he healed. I'm truly blessed that I have had the honor to share his life journey with him.

Tending to my son was a given, but not knowing I would be of service to a virtual stranger, espy because I was drowning in my own grief. somehow I found a way to open a space in my heart for another. The need was steps away and I fulfilled it without even knowing at the time. I believe, some people do this automatically. If most of the world reached out to the unfamiliar, our world would change.

Blessings to all,
Cynthia M.Long