The Boy With No Name
We all have moments in our lives when someone touches us on a level that impacts us forever, this is such a story and I would like to share it with you.
My father died from cancer in 1988, it impacted my life in many ways, in fact it impacted me more than I understood at the time. My father was in the cancer ward at the hospital and everyday my mum and I would visit. To give my mum private time with my dad, I would often wander around the wards chatting to other patients, and on one of these occasions I saw a young boy, no older than perhaps 7 or 8 laying in one of the beds in a ward down the far end of the corridor.
His hair had disappeared and his features were sunken, his skin pale from all the chemotherapy, and his eyes were the saddest eyes I had ever seen in my life.
My father died from cancer in 1988, it impacted my life in many ways, in fact it impacted me more than I understood at the time. My father was in the cancer ward at the hospital and everyday my mum and I would visit. To give my mum private time with my dad, I would often wander around the wards chatting to other patients, and on one of these occasions I saw a young boy, no older than perhaps 7 or 8 laying in one of the beds in a ward down the far end of the corridor.
His hair had disappeared and his features were sunken, his skin pale from all the chemotherapy, and his eyes were the saddest eyes I had ever seen in my life.
I wandered in and sat down on a stool beside his bed, and proceeded to chat with him. He was hesitant at first, weary of this stranger whom had sat at his bed side, but soon enough we were chatting about light hearted things, it seemed to bring relief to this little face that he had someone to converse with.
He asked me out of the blue, “what will happen to me when I die? I am scared, and no one has told me if it will hurt, and where I will go”. My heart buckled under the thought, and I questioned, whether or not I was qualified to answer the most important question man had asked himself since life began.
I answered back saying that he should probably ask his parents, as they would perhaps have the answers he was looking for. He told me he had not seen his parents since coming to the hospital and missed them a great deal. He went on to say he did not know if he would see them again before he died and he wanted someone to answer that question for him before it was to late.
I held my composure as the tears were rising in my eyes, I felt compelled to tell this young boy something. I started off by asking him, where did he think he would go? He answered, he did not know. I then went on to tell him that many people have different ideas about the afterlife, but I thought he would go to a place where all his pain would be gone, no longer would he need his body, for he had more important things to do once he departed this life.
He asked me out of the blue, “what will happen to me when I die? I am scared, and no one has told me if it will hurt, and where I will go”. My heart buckled under the thought, and I questioned, whether or not I was qualified to answer the most important question man had asked himself since life began.
I answered back saying that he should probably ask his parents, as they would perhaps have the answers he was looking for. He told me he had not seen his parents since coming to the hospital and missed them a great deal. He went on to say he did not know if he would see them again before he died and he wanted someone to answer that question for him before it was to late.
I held my composure as the tears were rising in my eyes, I felt compelled to tell this young boy something. I started off by asking him, where did he think he would go? He answered, he did not know. I then went on to tell him that many people have different ideas about the afterlife, but I thought he would go to a place where all his pain would be gone, no longer would he need his body, for he had more important things to do once he departed this life.
I told him friends would be plenty and he would want for nothing that he would be loved and he would be happy. I felt my own anxiety whelming up inside myself, feeling very unqualified to answer such an important question to a child.
Suddenly, like a light had gone on, a smile emerged from the pale face, and a laugh that echoed throughout the ward. “OK” he said, he asked no more questions of death and then went on to tell me all the things that he had missed since becoming ill. We chattered and laughed so loud together like old soul mates. It seemed to me by simply answering this one question he seemed to have somehow changed in some way, his burden had been lifted and he was ok with what was to come.
A nurse came in at that moment, very upset at the noise and laughter, she pulled me out of the ward and asked if I was family, I proceeded to tell her my story of why I was there, but she asked me to leave and said that it was inappropriate for me to return to see this young boy as I was not a family member. I was not even able to return to him to say goodbye in person, just a wave for him through the glass window.
I returned the next day to visit my dad and the urge to go down the corridor and peek through the glass window was overwhelming so that's what I did. I made sure the nurses were not around and I walked down the corridor and looked through the window but the boy was no longer there, and the bed was empty and prepped for the next patient. My heart sunk, I wandered around to find an approachable nurse and asked where was the boy, she told me he had passed away in the night, I asked if his parents had come to his side before he passed. The nurse quietly mentioned to me that his parents had not been seen in the hospital since their son had been admitted many weeks ago, but that his parents had been notified of his death.
I struggled to hold back the tears, this boy had left such an impression on me, his courage and strength was all I could think about. I felt blessed that I had the opportunity to speak with him if only for a short time. His innocence still remains in my mind, his laughter and his smile, his soul was beautiful and it stood out like a shinning beckon of hope against the pale grey skin and those sunken eyes.
He was in a much better place now, where he could smile and laugh and laugh.
Suddenly, like a light had gone on, a smile emerged from the pale face, and a laugh that echoed throughout the ward. “OK” he said, he asked no more questions of death and then went on to tell me all the things that he had missed since becoming ill. We chattered and laughed so loud together like old soul mates. It seemed to me by simply answering this one question he seemed to have somehow changed in some way, his burden had been lifted and he was ok with what was to come.
A nurse came in at that moment, very upset at the noise and laughter, she pulled me out of the ward and asked if I was family, I proceeded to tell her my story of why I was there, but she asked me to leave and said that it was inappropriate for me to return to see this young boy as I was not a family member. I was not even able to return to him to say goodbye in person, just a wave for him through the glass window.
I returned the next day to visit my dad and the urge to go down the corridor and peek through the glass window was overwhelming so that's what I did. I made sure the nurses were not around and I walked down the corridor and looked through the window but the boy was no longer there, and the bed was empty and prepped for the next patient. My heart sunk, I wandered around to find an approachable nurse and asked where was the boy, she told me he had passed away in the night, I asked if his parents had come to his side before he passed. The nurse quietly mentioned to me that his parents had not been seen in the hospital since their son had been admitted many weeks ago, but that his parents had been notified of his death.
I struggled to hold back the tears, this boy had left such an impression on me, his courage and strength was all I could think about. I felt blessed that I had the opportunity to speak with him if only for a short time. His innocence still remains in my mind, his laughter and his smile, his soul was beautiful and it stood out like a shinning beckon of hope against the pale grey skin and those sunken eyes.
He was in a much better place now, where he could smile and laugh and laugh.
I left that day with so many questions, but I felt so blessed to have had the moments I did with this young boy, I did not know his name, but this young boy gave me more than I could ever have given him, and I cherish those moments even today years later.
This little boy taught me to believe in my intuition, for every moment in this journey we are here, we get given opportunities to make someone’s life a little better.
I am sharing this story because it's a very important point I would like to share with each and every one of you. If you feel inside that you should do something, do it. Don't reason it out, don't stop to question and analyse, but go with your intuitive feelings.
These moments are special and should not be overlooked. They are the keys to your journey.
This little boy taught me to believe in my intuition, for every moment in this journey we are here, we get given opportunities to make someone’s life a little better.
I am sharing this story because it's a very important point I would like to share with each and every one of you. If you feel inside that you should do something, do it. Don't reason it out, don't stop to question and analyse, but go with your intuitive feelings.
These moments are special and should not be overlooked. They are the keys to your journey.
I will remember him for the rest of my life, the boy with no name.