The year was 1964,two years after the Island of Jamaica had gained Independence from Great Britain and a year removed from the tragic assassination of the United States President John F. Kennedy and In Jamaica we were still morning the lost of a man who we felt was a part of us.I was only 5 years old but I was dying from the deadly sickness call Typhoid fever.I was relegated to the critical unit of "Children Hospital" in Kingston Jamaica to die.My parents were given instruction to make funeral arrangement, and basically give away all the things that were important to me.
I recalled many nights prior to contracting this sickness,I would spread a bed sheet on the ground in the front yard and gazed into the starry sky and wonder who was in control of this planet we know as Earth?, Why the stars not colliding into each other? what is keeping us on the ground? what is preventing the sky from coming down and crushing us like a gigantic blanket?.So many questions as a child, but not knowing what was waiting for me in the near future.
As I continue to search for answers, I started to think within myself,'there must be somebody out there in space greater than me and my parents. It was like somebody was watching me as iI gazed up into the starry sky.Living in a home that religion or should I say the Christian religion was not an option.My step-father was from Hong Kong and seem oblivious to anything with the mention of God and my mom would mostly sing as she worked, about, "one day flying away with the wings of a dove".
There I was now lying in bed, having lost considerable amount of weight, basically a shadow of what I was like. My fever was always high, which seems to baffle the three Doctors who were assigned to my case. I had headache, weakness, fatigue, sore throat, abdominal pain and yes diarrhea. I felt like I was looking through another body, but couldn't make the connection.
I remember what should have been my mother last visit to see me alive, it just seemed so surreal. Mom talked about all the good times we spend together and reminded me about my first day at "Basic" school and then she hugged me while crying, but I was just too weak to even cry and naturally not understanding what was going on.
I remember in my quest to find out my purpose for living and who was really in charge of planet earth and this universe,I truly long for something better, but didn't know what it was.One day I saw some people walking with what I later learned were Bibles, and when I inquired I was told they were going to church. I would see these people religiously every Saturday and wonder why I didn't notice them before.Curiosity got the better of me and so I asked Mom if I could go.
I started attending another church to her liking, but these people went on Sunday instead.Then I started feeling that this is the place that I needed to be, and by going my questions would be answer. Although I was the only among my siblings that showed an interest in going, it served me in my battle with Typhoid fever.
After my mom left the hospital, with my body feeling like I was on fire and still in my wheel chair, I decided to retire for the night with the help of the nurse.Something happened,my room was dark, but a bright appearance just stood in front of me and it was like this "Appearance" threw something cold on me and my body felt different. The next morning I came off the bed on my own and walked without the aid of a wheelchair.There was a spring in my step and so much joy that I reveled in the beauty of the morning, rejoicing as the cool breeze brushed my face.Left to die in the night, but joy came in the morning! in November of 1964.
