"We got a heart beat, we got a heart beat !" with a gleam of hope in his eyes, the fire fighter, returned once again, but this time baring wonderful news, advising us that Israel was still alive.
Israel, was clinging to life by a single thread, with forty percent of his body suffering from first, and second degree burns, along with extensive damage to his lungs resulting from the intense heat, and smoke inhalation, his condition was listed as critical. Israel was air lifted from the local Hospital in Eureka California, a distance of two hundred and fifty air miles, to Saint Frances Memorial Hospital's burn unite, in San Francisco.
My son in law boarded the plane headed for San Francisco, along with Israel and the paramedics. My wife and I stayed back in Eureka to tend to the other four sibling in our family.
The same evening of the incident, I woke in the middle of the night, to find that I had lost control
of my bodily functions. My arms were waving in the air, my legs were kicking repeatedly uncontrollably. I'm not quite sure what was happening to me at the time, Perhaps I was experiencing a nervous breakdown.
Friends and neighbors, all got together and established a fund for our family. Although at the time money was the very least of my worry's. An acquaintance met with me later on the following day to deliver the money that had been collected, he delivered it to me in a small brown paper bag..
I didn't even bother to look inside the bag to make a count. I thanked him and started to make my way to my daughters home where we were all staying temporarily until our housing problem was resolved.
I walked and walked the streets of the city of Eureka for hours that day trying to remember where Eva my daughter lived
I was lost, I simply couldn't remember the location of her home, even though I had been at her residence many times before, I lost all sense of directions
Suddenly out of the blue, this R.V pulls up next to me, "What are you doing man, where are you going ?
The man in the R.V. looked familiar. I had never really met him on a personal basis, other then a casual "Hello, or how's it going ?" he was a friend, of a friend that occupied the first floor of the house in which we lived in prior to the fire.
"Hey man you don't look so good !" "Why don't you get on and I'll give you a ride home."
He must have been notified of the fire and the near tragedy of my son, by Mark my next door neighbor.
So I got in the R.V. and he asked "where are you staying ?" I can't seem to remember where I live."
He asked me," how's you're son doing? " I really don't know" I responded. He's in San Francisco
at the burn unite.
"Would you want to take a drive down to the beach and have a beer or two ?"
I answered, "sure, why not"
He popped open a couple of beers, and handed me one. I started drinking the cold beer
and I couldn't help it, my emotions took over, I wept, and wept, as I sat there with a man I hardly even knew and cried my heart out.
He put his arm around me with compassion and said, "thats all right man ,let it all out."
You're son is going to be alright" But regardless of his optimism, I couldn't find any comfort,
But what I did find was a new friend, one of whom I will never forget for as long as I live.
After an hour or so, we started driving around the vicinity of my daughters house I wasn't quite sure
where the house was located, but we eventually came across a familiar surrounding and I recognized
her house, I thanked him, and he was on his way. I never got to see him again, but I wish I could have met him under different circumstances.
As my Wife, and I, along with our youngest son Issac, age two, made the drive to the Bay area, to be present at Israel's bedside, I recall, that Nothing mattered to me at that point in time, other then the life of my son. Every ambition, every dream vanished, there wasn't any amount of silver, gold, or precious stones, in the earth that could ever possibly replace the gift of life, that God had graciously delivered to us on August 5, 1975.
A young nurse entered the waiting room of the maternity ward at Tucson Medical center, with a small package weighing 6,lbs 8,oz bundled up in a tiny blanket, decorated with images of various Disney characters. I asked "Is it a boy, or a girl ?" She hesitated for a moment, with a smirk on her face, the nurse released her grip on the blanket to reveal the gender, "It's a boy, Its a boy!" I began to jump up and down with joy, my wish for a son, had been granted.
Through the years, our Father, and son relationship flourished and could be considered to be exceptional. We would often spend long hours in training sessions at the local gym, preparing for upcoming boxing events.
Israel possessed an exceptional talent. At the early age of eleven, and weighing between ninety to a hundred pounds, friends, and acquaintances, ranging in age, from late teens, through, mid thirties, would often challenge the young gladiator. It was rather amusing to witness a child defeat opponents, twice his size, in the manner, resembling the biblical account of the battle between David, and Goliath.
Upon our arrival to San Francisco, the citizens of the city of Eureka California, had made prior arrangements for our stay at the Ronald Mcdonald house.
All of the patrons staying at the Mcdonalds house had one thing in common. We either had a child, or a young adult that was grievously ill. Everyone there pretty much kept to themselves. I don't ever recall making any kind of conversation with anyone there, other then, "good morning or have a good nite"
I guess there wasn't really any need for a conversation. it was evident by the expression of sorrow on our faces that left anyone without doubt of what we were all going through.
Alcohol beverages were not permitted on the premises, however I always managed to sneak in a six pack of beer up into our room.
My son Isaac was of great comfort to me in those days and he became my best friend even though he was only three years old.
Every morning during our stay, I would take my son Isaac, by the hand, and we would proceed to make the two mile journey on foot to Saint Francis, burn unit.
My wife, Grace, would spend the entire day sitting at my sons bedside. As for myself, it was a battle for me to even walk into his room. I was always terrified he would die during my visit, and I would have to witness his departure.
I would spent countless hours at a pizza parlor a few blocks away from the hospital. However, it was not my intention to dine, but rather to just sit there and drink beer. It seemed to me at the time, that alcohol was the answer in helping me to drown away my sorrows.
I felt comfortable in my surrounding. It was a very quiet place. And after a while I became acquainted with Joe, the owner of the establishment. He was such a fine man. I'm not sure what part of the world he was from. He was of a tan colored skin, perhaps from the middle east,
He would often sit there alongside of me and listen to me for long periods of time, as I went on about Israel. I can honestly say, I'm very thankful To God for providing someone like Joe who found the time to listen.
I preferred drinking at the Pizza parlor rather then one of the many taverns in the area. The reason being, most of the places in the vicinity were gay bars, However, there was an occasion when I accidently stumbled into such an establishment, fully unaware of my surrounding. I entered the tavern and asked the bartender to serve me a glass of beer. It wasn't long before the tears started rolling down my cheeks. The Bartender, walked over to me and asked,"whats wrong "? I explained , that my son had been seriously burned and was in critical condition at St. Francis burn center.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the bar sat two men and their conversation consisted of their sexual encounters. The bartender with a stern voice asked them to refrain from having that type of conversation "There's a man here that is having a very tough time, so you guy's lighten up."
I was surprised by the bartenders remark, I'm pretty sure they were regular patrons at the bar, yet he was willing to jeopardize relations with his old clientele, for my sake.
My wife and I, are not strangers, to the danger, of the possibility of losing one of our sibling.
My daughter, Sharon, Age two, on a Friday afternoon, managed to climb, up into our medicine cabinet, and swallow an undetermined amount of my wife's prenatal iron tablets.
Our 5 year old daughter, Gracie, knocked, on our bedroom door, " Mommy, Sharon, ate some of your red pills mom!"
My wife got up to investigate I remained in bed, resting, after spending a long hard day at work in the construction field.
Suddenly, I could hear my wife screaming from the other room,"Sharon what did you do?" Oh my God! Joe, Sharon swallowed some of my iron tablets."
My wife induced vomiting immediately and we honestly believed at the time, that Sharon, would be just fine. Unfortunately, My wife, and I, were unfamiliar, with the devastating effect's an overdose of iron tablets has upon the body of a three year old child.
We were planning on going out for dinner that afternoon and taking on a movie afterwards.
I rested in bed for an hour or so following the episode with my daughter, and everything appeared to be just fine,
My wife Grace, got all three of the children dressed and ready to go. We all hopped into the family station wagon without a care in the world.
As we were driving down the road, I looked into the rear view mirror, to check up on the kid's, that's when I noticed that Little Sharon's eye's were rolling in to the back of her head. Immediately, I changed course, and headed to the nearest hospital emergency room.
The Hospital personal made Sharon a priority, and for all good reasons.
After receiving the results of the blood tests, they advised us, that the iron count in her system was extremely high, and potentially lethal.
The Attending physician at Kino hospital, felt it was necessary, under the circumstances, to have Sharon, transferred to Tucson Medical Center, where they were better equipped in dealing with this type of emergency.
My wife accompanied Sharon, as she was being transported by ambulance, to University Medical.Center I followed in close pursuit of the emergency vehicle. As the driver sped through traffic, with his siren on, and the flashing red lights, I came to grip at that moment of how serious
Sharon, was immediately admitted into the intensive care unit of the hospital. More blood was draw en, the results of the tests confirmed, the diagnosis made by the staff, at kino hospital were accurate.
"Iron overdose has been one of the leading causes of death caused by toxicological agents in children younger than 6 years."
The thought of losing my child, was a burden to heavy for me to bear. I left Grace, at Sharon's bed side, and found my way to the chapel, provided on the premises.
A few minutes later, Grace confronted me at the chapel, and advised me, that the attending physician from the emergency ward desired to talk to me about Sharon's condition, that it was of great importance. But I was so overcome with grief, and sorrow, that it was impossible for me to have a conversation with anyone else other then my own wife.
I was so afraid of what the doctor had to say, that I decided to leave the hospital altogether and just go home to leak my wounds.
Meanwhile, my lovely wife had the conversation with the physician, that I dreaded. " Sharon's chances of surviving are slim. The iron is all her system, and is invading the vital organs of the body, and even if Sharon is to survive, there will be long lasting consequences. Unfortunately we don't believe she will ever be the same."
My wife responded, "Doctor, I know that my God has the power to deliver my little girl and even if he doesn't he is still my God."
"To be honest with you, Grace, you're God is the only one that can perform this miracle"
My wife got on the phone and called me at home, regarding the analysis of the medical staff. As she spoke to me concerning the matter, suddenly her voice sounded optimistic" Joe, Sharon is sitting up, and playing with the doctors flashlight. The doctors seem to be very excited about it, Ill call you back.
The doctors that were at her bedside were astonished by what they were witnessing. Immediately they withdrew more blood from Sharon, to make another analysis of the iron in her system.
When the results of the test came in, the doctor called my wife to the side and said," You're God is the true God, there is absolutely no logical medical explanation for what has occurred within a matter of minutes . The Iron in her blood has gone down significantly. We tested her not more then 10 minutes prior to the new test, and the results of that old test indicated the iron level was extremely high. It's a miracle, there's no other explanation. You're daughter is out of danger now, she going to be fine.
" I told you doctor, that my God is the one true God" And the physician at the time, had no other alternative, other then to agree.
The following day Sharon was released from the hospital. Miraculously all the tests performed prior to her release indicated that Sharon was just fine.
