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Bravery
NMB, Florida December 9, 2001 A.H. Schectman
THINKING ALLOWED
Essays on Issues, Ideas and Reflections on the Times. Published Now and
Then. Opinions Pro or Con Are Welcome.
BRAVERY
If you are like me you tend to think about bravery in terms of fighting for
your life or in order to save someone else's life. We sometimes superimpose
the word "Hero" on "Brave". And, we usually do not think of ourselves as
brave or heroic. Carol Schectman is both.
I cannot accept the title of sainthood awarded to the people killed in the
Twin Towers' disaster. The Firemen were brave. The policemen were brave
and those who helped others and will never be acknowledged, were brave.
Heroes? I am not so sure. They were all victims certainly.
I am a coward; I know this for sure. I had my teeth ground down and root
canals without novocaine because I am afraid of needles. Carol accepts them
and calmly and insisted that she have a "port" installed on her neck instead
of allowing the automatons on her hospital floor continue to puncture her
arms, wrists and hands in order to take blood for testing. I don't know if
I could have had the heart to have both my arms and hands blotched with the
bruises Carol bears. The port was inserted AFTER one of her transfusions.
She has been acknowledged by all to be brave to have both knees replaced at
the same time. We both think this is just prudent because if one was done
and the other needed it the pain would be endless. Now the pain is receding
as the days from November 20th add up and she exercises.
Her appetite disappeared. She picked at her food and she felt sick. You
cannot get well quickly in that atmosphere. So, she had a setback. Yet all
along the way her spirit was and is great and she keeps to the forefront the
goal of going home and resuming her way of life. Her setback is over.
Carol is buoyed by the good thoughts and wishes expressed by all who know
her. The cards and telephone calls help to keep her spirits high. Her
right leg is performing as desired by her doctors and technicians. The left
one is vexing and will take its own time in flexing to the proper
percentage. To me Carol is the epitome of "bravery". (Out of modesty Carol
declines to evaluate this.).
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