You Are My Angel

I was thinking about the quote in last month’s paper, “Find a need and fill it.”, Ruth Stafford Peale.

A few years ago, I was planning a trip to St. Louis to visit my son and daughter-in-law. I arrived at the airport at the appointed time to see that my flight was delayed. After hours of waiting, we were finally told that a snow storm out west would cause our flight to be cancelled.

Disappointed and annoyed, I headed back to the railroad for my journey home. I settled into my seat and watched a young man limp into the seat across the aisle. The car was not crowded, and no one else sat in our section. Several minutes into the ride, the young man removed his sneaker and began rubbing his foot. It was obvious that he was in pain. I continued reading my book. From the corner of my eye I could see him rocking back and forth. Finally, I said what was wrong with his foot. He said that he didn’t know exactly but he was in constant pain and sometimes he could not walk. I inquired about the doctor’s prognosis. He said he went to the emergency room several times but they only put cream on his foot, bandaged it up and sent him home; after a few hours the pain was back.

We all know the scene of the emergency room, many patients, few nurses and fewer doctors. Their hope is to fix you up enough to send you home to visit your doctor the next day or if serious enough, to admit you. The young man said that he had no insurance and no money so he never saw a doctor.

I reached into my pocket and felt 4 crisp 100 dollar bills to be spent in St. Louis, sightseeing and having a wonderful time with my family. I passed him the money, he said with tears rolling down his face, “I can’t take this from you.”, I replied, “You have to, you are a young man who needs to walk without pain and to be able to work.” As he left the train, he looked back and said, “You are my angel.”

I settled back for the hour and half remainder of my ride and read my book. When my husband picked me up at the station, I told him about the young man and the money ($400 was a lot of money for us). His response was “WOW”. That night when I was trying to fall asleep, I said what if he spends the money on something foolish or drugs or alcohol? My husband said that I gave him the money and now it was his to decide what to do with it, just let it go. For a couple of days the thought of the exchange would pop in my head, but then it stopped.

A few months later I did go to St. Louis and had a wonderful time. We visited famed Forest Lawn cemetery, took a sightseeing bus tour of the city, went inside the Arch and ate famous St. Louis ribs.

Early summer I was on my way into Penn Station for a luncheon with a group of friends. The train was slightly delayed as we pulled into Penn Station. As I exited the train, I saw the escalator in front of me was out of order. Almost everyone from the train ran up the long flight of stairs to the main floor. With a new hip replacement, the climb would have been long and painful. I saw an elevator at the far end of the platform and started my journey. As I got closed a young man held the door open so I could enter. When the doors closed I said thank you because I couldn’t do the stairs. He replied, “You are my angel.” I asked how he was doing and he wiggled his ankle and did a little dance as the doors opened. He said he found a doctor and after 3 or 4 appointments he was better. The doctor told him if he feels pain again to come right back.

We all know that $400 doesn’t go far in a medical office. This doctor saw a need and filled it. The young man and I hugged as though we had lived through a crisis together. I don’t know why I never asked his name. We went our own ways. What did I take away from this experience? I believe that we can all give or share. While most giving is planned, some can be spontaneous. And mostly, trust when you give. I was weak in doubting the young man, my lesson came in a railroad station with thousands of people, meeting that one person again. He filled my need to believe.