Michael Fahmy
"Hello! How was everyone's summer" Professor Critelli asked with a small smirk. A great sense of fatigue floated about. Booom! Booom! Large bells signaled noon. The first day of calculus class had just begun, and amongst forty adults, my fragile-like body suggested I was merely a boy. When my turn came to share my summer, all eyes were turned downward towards my seat. Shrunken in my chair, I opened with a brief sigh and nervously stood up. "Hey, my name is Michael Fahmy, I occupied my summer volunteering at the Little Company of Mary Hospital where assisting medical professionals, running errands for staff, and comforting patients summarized the bulk of my vacation". Relieving myself from glaring eyes impacting me into the ground, I sat down.
I was journeying into the past. Throughout my services there, I visited the emergency room only once; an unforgettable and meaningful event. During what appeared to be an ordinary day, a general practitioner sent me with paperwork (regarding insurance) to the ER for authorization. Preparing for home, I grabbed my bag and walked downstairs briskly.
Wee-ooh! Wee-ooh! Exiting the staircase, sirens tore into my ears, progressively approaching closer and closer. Soon, sliding doors were making way for paramedics rushing in with a terribly ill adolescent. They reported the boy collapsed in his bedroom prior receiving a call from his parents. The two anxiously explained he had been complaining from severe headaches, extensive periods of dizziness, and problems concerning memory. Awaiting approval for the paperwork, curiosity directed me to educate myself on the patient.
"David! Hang in there baby!" The distressed mother repeated several times advancing from across the room. Arriving moments later, looking deeply terrified, David's father recognized his pale-faced son. Paramedics promptly transported the child onto a large machine for extensive MRI testing. While closely examining David, staff tried relieving the parents of tension, with their mental health in mind.
Beeeeeeeeep! The MRI had finished. After examining David's cranium internally, doctors determined he needed one final test. Within minutes, he received computed tomography scans of his head. At that point, a beautiful, young doctor carefully revealed she had discovered something interesting. Feeling flattered, nothing could've prepared him for what followed. "Honey, I'm afraid you have brain cancer". Realizing the situation, David paused as tears made way down his immobilized face. The neurologist ushered his parents into her office to discuss the catastrophe. David's parents didn't comprehend. A nurse gently explained the situation in Spanish. Both parents were crushed as sadness massacred their optimism and faint hope. My heart dropped, denting the concrete below me. Imagery of dark realities clouded my mind.
I shifted my attention towards Professor Critelli as he paced himself back and forth while introducing his life story. He incredibly managed to explain sixty years of life within the matter of minutes. Coincidently as he concluded, large bells suggested an hour had passed and class finished. I immediately left without looking back.
Heading towards my Honda Accord, I started to contemplate the world around me, my future, and David's life. I'm sure everyone has heard the phrase "life is short", but millions, even billions, still manage to ignore the statement's significance. I learned an important lesson that day changing the way I would think forever. Life is precious and time can't be wasted. If anyone fully my realization, it was David who had his life ripped away from under him. I understand time cannot be wasted because at any given moment, a tragedy could compromise someone's full lifespan. From that point, my life has been sacrificed for the well-being of others with diseases. Some day, after being diagnosed with cancer, I envision people won't have to worry because a cure will have been already found. I wish to participate in this honorable journey to provide humanity with a cure, as well as another chance.
Michael Fahmy
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