Every day when I start my day always wish that there would nothing go wrong that day that I can come back to my family without any accident. I also wish that my day would go very well and that I would not hurt anyone by my action or word. Since I start writing this blogsite, I wish everyday that something funny or interesting will happen so that I can write a new post when I come home but I would never want that something would go wrong and I could take the benefit of that situation. I don’t want to write about someones pain and suffering but things does not go according to my plan only. Nature has it’s own way of working. I may sound selfish for wanting a story to write about but the truth is I am farthest from being selfish. I would rather loose that gain on someone’s misfortune.
About two weeks before around 4.45 a.m. I was cruising along Broadway and 96th St. There was no one on the street. I saw someone with a raised hand two blocks away. I stopped near him and it was a nicely dressed old gentleman who wanted to go to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center at 68th St and York Ave. I started to ask him my usual concerned questions about his health. He told me that he was not feeling well during the whole night so as soon as he could get up he just decided to go to see his doctor whom he already called from home and let him know that he was coming to see him. The gentleman seemed to be a very well dressed, well groomed ( I am sure he had his shave done before he stepped out of his home even in that early morning), and very articulate person. While I was going through the 79th St transverse to go to the other side of the Central Park ..he stopped talking to me and I thought he was just not feeling well …but as soon as I came to 5th Ave, I stopped the car and looked back, I saw him lying on the back seat and a moaning sound was coming from his mouth.
I had to act quickly as I thought of two possibilities. One is to drive him straight to the hospital and the other one is to call 911. I was not that far from the hospital but the problem was I did not even know where to take him. Should I take him to emergency and I knew that the emergency room was not in the 68th St..but I did not waste any time. I called 911 and they came within few minutes and took him away. The meter was about 12 dollars and one of the Fire fighter told me to write down my address and put in his small bag the man was carrying. Of course, I was not thinking about my few dollars because all my attention was for the man.
I was sure that he was someone’s father and I was thinking what kind of family this guy has who let him live alone knowing that he was not well. This is where our parents are more fortunate than those of here. When our parents grow old, we take care of them by keeping them with the family. That way the parents get their share of love and security and we keep getting the blessing from them and our children keeps getting the love from the grand parents. By engaging with the grand children they actually feel much better and live longer.
Anyway I put my cell phone number in his small bag and the ambulance took him away. The officer in charge thanked me for calling the 911 and told me that I probably saved his life by acting very quickly. It felt great to save someones life and it gave me a new appreciation towards life.
I got a call few days later from someone I did not recognize the number. Sure enough it was that gentleman. I was happy to hear from him that he survived. He thanked me for my help to save his life and then he wanted me to send me a check as the cab fare. He asked me how much it was so that he knew how much to send but I did not tell him. He told me repeatedly but I told him that I did not want any money from him as I already got my money back when he made the call to me. I told him to give some extra money to the cab driver next time when he takes a cab and he promised me that he would.
Tell me friends who in the right mind would expect to get back few dollars from a dying man..? At least not me. I was happy that I could come to help someone..and that’s the reward I will choose anytime.