Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley

Author:Maggie Callanan & Patricia Kelley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks

MICHAEL

Born with muscular dystrophy, Michael found even the smallest activities to be real challenges. But he was a determined young man, bright and creative, with a sunny disposition.

“My body doesn’t cooperate with me, so I depend more on my mind,” he said.

His illness and weakened condition left Michael prone to infections. Even a simple cold could develop easily into pneumonia; consequently, he was no stranger at the local hospital, where the doctors and nurses all knew and admired him. As he got older and more disabled, the infections became more frequent. The doctors were increasingly concerned about his dwindling strength and weakened lungs; they explained that any serious infection could be fatal. None of this daunted Michael, who still planned on going to college.

Because of his many hospitalizations, Michael was nearly twenty when he graduated from high school—with honors, as class valedictorian. He was thrilled when the state university accepted him; despite his parents’ concern, he persuaded them that he could live on campus—“like a normal kid!”

They agreed to let him try. Wheelchair-bound, Michael needed help showering and dressing. To prevent his lungs from becoming congested, his position in bed had to be changed twice a night—something he couldn’t do without help.

“Don’t worry, I’m a Rambo on wheels!” he told his parents. “I’ll figure it out.”

Michael soon formed a loyal group of campus friends who took turns helping him; dorm neighbors set their alarm clocks so they could help him change position during the night. The nurses in the student health clinic also kept a close eye on Michael, urging him to stay in the clinic whenever necessary. His buddies would camp out with him in the clinic to “make sure those nurses were taking care of him right.” Laughter followed this crowd wherever they went, and the nurses never objected to “Michael’s pajama parties.”

He survived his first year of college with only minor setbacks. But in his second year a flu epidemic spread across campus and Michael became ill. He developed pneumonia and was immediately sent to the hospital. So many times before Michael had been very ill but had recovered. Although his friends were also very concerned, Michael once again seemed to be responding to the antibiotic treatments. They all breathed sighs of relief and returned to their daily routines. The next day his father received a puzzling phone call at work.

“I love you, Dad,” Michael said. “And I want to thank you for being such a good father.”

“Michael, I’ll see you this evening when I get off work,” his father said.

“Oh, Dad, I won’t be able to tell you then,” he answered.

Remembering the crowd of young people that always seemed to fill Michael’s room, his father assumed he was referring to the lack of privacy.

“I love you too, Mikey. You’re a good kid and I’ll see you later,’ his father said, not knowing that all afternoon Michael had been placing similar calls to his mother, brother, and friends. When they all arrived at the hospital that evening, he was in a coma from which he never awoke.

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