This is a true story sent in to Yated about Mr. and
Mrs. David [pseudonym], a couple in their early eighties who
have various medical problems. Their daily lives include
davening and learning, taking care of a house,
shopping and, of course, many doctor appointments. You
should just see their appointment calendar on the fridge!
At the request of a brother-in-law, they agreed to take in
Zelda, Mr. David's sister, for one week while he went to the
West Coast for a family simcha. This was no easy
invitation because Zelda was sickly, forgetful, incontinent
and needed 24 hour care. But they decided they would manage,
and made all the necessary arrangements for her arrival.
Luckily enough, they also checked the calendar and realized
that on the Wednesday of that week, they had scheduled a
routine cardiologist appointment for Mr. D. Trying to keep
their own needs at the minimum for the week of their
sister's stay, they rescheduled the appointment for the
Wednesday before, the only appointment the doctor had.
In the meantime, a great-grandchild was born and
arrangements were made to fly to Lakewood and make it a
triple-header with an upsheren, sholom zochor and
bris. Zelda was scheduled to arrive two days after
their return.
The best laid plans and the best intentions... In the end,
Zelda's husband decided to put her in a nursing home for the
week.
*
At the doctor's office, the nurse took the preliminary tests
which included Mr. D's pulse, a significantly low 42, which
dropped to 35 during the examination. When Mr. D. mentioned
that his weekly routine checkups registered the same lows,
the doctor ordered him to go straight to the hospital!
During the two day duration, the doctor decided to change
Mr. D.'s medication, which proved to be the cause of his
lack of appetite and sickly color as well. They were home
for Shabbos, stayed there, and sent their good wishes to
Lakewood from afar.
When the visiting nurse returned on the following Tuesday,
she sat them both down and said, "Do you realize what
miracle happened to you? You were supposed to fly to
Lakewood. Do you know what happens to a person who travels
by plane with a pulse of 35? Well, he goes in alive, but he
doesn't come out that way!"
Thinking things over, the Davids realized that their
willingness to take in their sickly sister had caused them
to reschedule the doctor's appointment to before their
trip!
The Davids were busy for the next few days, calling children
and grandchildren all over the world, each and every one, to
tell them this miracle. I also received a call because you
see, the David's are my wonderful parents!
