A Touch Can Mean So Much

Greetings Happy People,

Back in 1982, I was an adventurous kid living in the beautiful city of Seattle. Whether I was at a park, in the playground, or at recess, I found different adventures that took me as far as my imagination could go. At that time, I was living in my own renaissance.

One day, my adventures took me to a pine tree at the front yard of my house. I looked at this majestic piece of wood and knew I had to climb it. Why? Because I wanted to!! As I began my trek to the top, I set foot on each branch while my hands were reaching for the ones above my head. When I got to the middle of the tree, I made one error that prevented me from getting to the top. I looked down. When I saw the ground, I lost balanced and fell from the tree.

After the fall, I did what any macho, daring, adventurous 7-year old would do. I cried like a 5-year old.

Hearing the wails from outside, my dad asked what was wrong. I looked up at him and said that I skinned my leg from that tree. With great care, he took me inside the house and slapped some rubbing alcohol on the bruise. After some excessive screaming, he put a bandage on the wound, patted my leg, and told me that everything was going to be alright. I did not know it then, but a simple touch made things a lot better than what they were. A touch can mean so much.

Almost thirty years later, I find myself living in Las Vegas. One Saturday evening, I got a phone call. It was from my mother. She told me to come to the hospital at once. Something in my gut told me that there was something wrong with the ol’ man. For the last month and a half, he has been in the hospital due to diabetic complications. A few weeks ago, the doctors amputated the toes from his right foot. Everyone thought that things were going to get better, until they found more infections in his leg. Having no choice, they amputated his right leg from the knee down.

Before I continue with this story, this brought back plenty memories of relatives on my dad’s side suffering from this disease. My grandmother and four of my uncles lost their battles to this disease. Unlike the ol’ man, my uncles lost their battles in the mid 40’s to the early 50’s. This is too young.

As I got to the hospital, I found out that my dad was in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit. His blood pressure was extremely low, and his heart rate was getting weaker and weaker. In my mind, I was not ready for this. I have seen this road many times before and was not ready to see another one lose this battle. The doctors were doing their best to save him. My mother, filled with emotion, started talking to my dad. She told him to stay strong, everything will be alright. She caressed his hand and held it tight. She gave him as much love as she could. My sisters and I had our chance to talk to him and tell him how much we loved him. We touched his hands and arms, ensuring him that everything was going to be alright.

Miraculously, his blood pressure increased. His heart rate increased. And his vital signs started to improve. The doctors may have given him some medicine to make him better, but I knew that a simple touch can mean so much.

A touch of love can do miracles that no medicine can do. It not only shows that people care, but it makes people feel a lot better. It was shown when I fell from the tree years ago. It was also shown at the hospital last weekend. It can be shown at any situation and any moment we have in our lives. Whether it is by words, heart, or hands, a touch can mean so much. We have the power to make people feel better in times of despair. We can make a difference in others, even when we don’t expect it.

Our power lies in us and nobody can take it away. My dad touched my life and I touched his. Will you do the same for others?

A touch can mean so much.

That is all I have for now. Take care and thank you for your time and attention.

Sincerely,

Jesse I-I-I