Determined To Live!

“Congratulations Mr. Zach Herney”, said the stern yet joyful voice of his new boss, “You’ve been selected for this job!” Zach couldn’t believe his ears. Hurray! He’d been selected in his first interview itself for this well-paid job. His excitement and happiness knew no bounds! At last, his hard work had paid its fruit. Zach, a twenty-three year old struggling graduate from a poor family had given the interview for this job and had been selected out of two thousand deserving candidates.

But when he was happily returning home to convey the good news, he experienced a severe head-ache. His head started turning and it felt as if the whole world was going around him in a long circle. Suddenly, his eyes closed and he fell motionless on the ground. His friends picked him up and admitted him to the hospital.

Tears of frustration dwelled in his eyes and poured down continuously. “Only 48 hours? Is that it?” he asked his irate self. Zach had been having severe head-ache and bouts of weakness since the last few days. But when he had fainted on the road returning to tell his family the good news, he had been admitted to the hospital. The doctor told him to return the next day for further tests but Zach sensed a bit of disappointment in his voice.

Well dressed and a bit scared yet enthusiastic he went to the hospital for his check-ups. When the doctor told him the results of these painful tests, he felt his enthusiasm ebbing away and anger taking its place. The doctor had told him that he had a brain tumour which was on its serious stage. In a reassuring tone he averred, “I’ll put my best physicians on your case. But you just finish all the work you have and get admitted to the hospital in 48 hours.”

He couldn’t believe his ears. “Why me out of these billion people on Earth?”, he asked the great Lord. He had got so much to do ……. join his new job the next week, support his widowed mother and look after his younger brother’s further education. How could he do it all in 48 hours?

He quietly went home and lay on his bed wondering how to break this news to his family. He was determined not to die. How could he? “No…no..no..have confidence in the great Lord…I won’t die”, he told himself. He then quietly told this bad news to his supportive family and they all wept in unison.

His family thoroughly supported him through this bad phase in his life. He admitted himself to the hospital the next day with his mom at his bedside, day and night. The doctors worked hard but there was only slight possibility of life. A few days later, the doctors were called hurriedly to Zach’s room. The patient had crept into coma!

The doctors were now certain that there was no chance but …death. Nevertheless they worked hard. After an hour’s operation, all was left to God’s mercy. The doctors had now surrendered. But they were taken aback by a strange miracle in the next few hours. Everyone heard Zach’s low breathing which developed with every passing moment. He had survived!

Doctors then told his family that it was only Zach’s mere determination to live, to support his family that had him in good health today! If it had been something medically, he wouldn’t have been alive today.

I’m inspired to write this story from a friend who had experienced similar fate. Now I think Zach is doing well with a good job in hand and supporting his family. His family must be proud to have someone like him!

I’m sending this story for the Manicastic Short Story Award on Manicastic’s Blog. The prize is a funky looking banner-thingy to put on my blog. I hope you all can see that banner on my blog soon!

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