I’m so terribly alone. And so awfully, dreadfully afraid. There is nobody to help me – no family, no friends. My wonderful neighbor is out of town, and no one else ever stops by to visit me or even say hello. Why won’t my body allow me to get up off this couch? Where did my strength go?
Just yesterday I was able to move around, but then I had that fall, and those nice people had to help me up. But then I became weaker and weaker, and now I’m stuck on the couch and I cannot get up at all. If I can just give it one more try, then maybe… Oy, my body just will not work anymore!
Ohhh, now here comes another terrible wave of panic. It’s roaring, crashing all over me, and I just feel sick and overwhelmed. I can’t take it anymore, but there’s nobody to help me… Wait, the phone is ringing, who could it be?
Deep breath, in and out. Reach out slowly, laboriously, and pick up the phone receiver. Hard to talk, big effort to get the words out. Try to stay calm, try not to cry.
“Your name is Rabbi Wolf? You want to come over and help me? Yes, Rabbi, please, please do come as soon as you can. I’m in a terrible situation and I really need someone to help. I’m stuck on the couch but you can just push the door open, it’s not locked.”
Such a nice-sounding man, so helpful and kind. Maybe he will be able to help me. But in the meantime, I’m feeling so weak and lightheaded – I can barely muster the strength to move at all.
* * * * * *
“Rabbi Wolf, thank you for coming. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. No, I don’t usually feel this way, not even after my chemotherapy treatments. But now I’m terrified, because I cannot get off the couch at all. I really don’t want to go to the hospital, but I have no strength and I feel like I may pass out. What am I going to do, I’m so afraid!”
The Rabbi is such a nice man, and he really seems to care. He looks very concerned about me, but his manner is so reassuring. He said we have to call an ambulance, so I said ok. I really don’t want to go to the hospital, but Rabbi Wolf is right – there is no choice. Maybe, just maybe, someone at the hospital will be able to figure out and help fix whatever is wrong with me. In the meantime, the Rabbi is going to stay with me and make sure that I am ok. I am so grateful that he called and that he came.
* * * * * *
“Rabbi Wolf, thank you so much for calling to see how I am feeling! It’s been a very hard ordeal, but thank G-d, I am actually starting to feel a little bit better. The doctors and nurses here at the hospital have been wonderful, and it was so nice to receive the visit and CMC care package from Rabbi Jaworowski.
Today the nurse reassured me that my blood count is already looking better. She emphasized how fortunate it was that you came when you did and called the ambulance, because by the time I arrived at the hospital my blood count was already so low that they were worried I wouldn’t be able to make it.
Thank you, Rabbi Wolf, you saved my life!”