PEOPLE YOU MEET

My flight to Kl was uneventful except for the conversation I struck with a fellow on board. His name was Haji Nordi - excuse me, you mean Nordin? No, it's Nordi. He was talkative - naturally as he is the head of Corporate Management with Telekoms ( translated to Human Resource Manager-lah) . So I found that he has a daughter who has just graduated - looking for a job. A son who's in Form 4, a young boy who should be in Form 1 but now only in Standard 6 - he has ADD and is hyperactive. And his youngest son, who's 10, is now in coma - cancer of the stomach ; had 3 chemotheraphy and went into coma after the 3rd dose. I asked him what he valued most in life now - his family - he treasured the closeness as everyone rallied to care for the comatose boy. And what has he learnt from all his trials? That sickness and death is a great leveller. When he was in ICU with his son, he observed the pain and trauma of suffering parents and he felt for them, even as he waited for his son's impending end. He made friends with parents of all walks of life and he is now involved in project to visit and help grieving parents. His story rang a bell in my mind and I gave a silent prayer of thanksgiving that God had spared me this kind of pain.