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Picture - Lake Victoria in Africa
Innocent Rescue
I
heard the following story a long time ago. It's a story of miracle,
luck, and good chance. And, it's a story that moved me. And, it's
something I've never forgotten.
It
was Vienna. The summer of 1973. I was having tea with the Clarks. I
was a family friend. And, the Clarks had 4 very nice children.
Nicola and Roger who were 18 and 19, and Emily and Peter who were
twins. And, Emily and Peter were still very young. In fact, only 6.
And, the story I heard was all about Emily and Peter.
The
Clarks had recently come up from Africa. Noel Clark, the father, had
worked there as foreign correspondent and was now doing the same in
Vienna. And, the story took place whilst the Clarks lived in Africa.
An
old friend of the Clarks had dropped in for tea. A doctor from
London. He was in town for a conference. And, then came the
sandwiches. But, there was one person missing. Little Emily. She
was up in her room not feeling well. And, then, when the doctor
asked how little Emily was, it was Peter, Emily's twin, who spoke.
“Little
Emily cries very much, she's tired all the time, she never wants to
play, and, she never eats supper. And, there's one other thing, my
sister looks kind of blue”. The doctor stopped eating. He was
taken to Emily.
The
very next morning, Emily and her mother were on the plane back to
London. And, it was all thanks to Peter. In his innocent way he had
accurately described the symptoms of Emily's condition. A hole in
the heart. And, there at the airport in London and waiting for them
was an ambulance. There wasn't much time. Speed was important.
The
operation took place that very same night. It lasted more than 6
hours. And, 3 days later Emily woke up. She had come through.
And,
6 other little children were treated for the same thing that week.
Only 2 survived. Emily and one other child. Emily had been very,
very lucky. She'd had a Guardian Angel. And, Emily's Angel was
Peter her twin. It was Peter's innocent words that had saved
Emily's life.
A
doctor on holiday, little Peter's innocent remarks, and a plane that
was leaving. Good chance, good luck, and very good timing. All
three at the very same time. A story I've never forgotten. And, I
often wonder what happened to Emily. It was all a long time ago.
The afternoon we had tea in Vienna,
Lake Victoria by Nigel A. JAMES
