Page 13 - Life's Outtakes 8

six-year-old girl was carried in by her father and set on
the therapy table next to me. She had horrible arthritis
and was all curled up in a fetal position. Her father left
the room, unable to watch his daughter struggle through
the pain.

I watched as a therapist started working her arms
and legs. The tears rolled down her face, and once in a
while she would scream. But then she would always
smile and tell them she could endure it, and asked them
to continue.

At one point, everyone left the two of us alone to
rest for a brief time, and I asked her how she learned to
be so brave. She smiled through all of her pain as she
answered, “I want to be a normal girl, so I come here
twice each week. After they work with me, I can walk
and use my arms for a few days. I do the therapy so I
can be like everyone else.”

As the therapists came back and started working
with the two of us, the little girl’s courage gave me
courage, and I endured more than I ever thought
possible. As we finished up, I watched the little girl
walk from the therapy room holding her father’s hand.
She stopped at the door, turned, smiled, and waved.

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