Years ago, I was at the ear doctor with Ricki. A rather eccentric fellow (he had a large
earing in one ear) He had been highly recommended to me as the “really good ear
doctor familiar with patients with Down syndrome”. And indeed he was very nice , and explained
things quite thoroughly… in short, very professional.
Ricki was quite
young at that time-about 5 years old,
and had as-up-to-then-undiagnosed-ADHD in addition to her Down syndrome. And
Mr. Ear doctor shared office space with his gynecologist wife. In short, while
there Ricki managed, among other cute tricks, to spill some lubricating fluid
in an open container next to the gynocologist’s exam table ALL OVER the carpet.
I was embarrassed as could be, but the slightly
unconventional doctor waved his hand as if to say ”It’s OK”. I was still
mortified.
Leaving from his
office I schlepped (that’s Yiddish for “dragged myself”-remember, I was
still very overweight then) the three or four blocks to the main road, and then
several additional streets to the bus stop I needed. (I must have turned the
wrong way on the main road….). Then the bus took FOREVER to arrive. And all
this time, Ricki had been acting absolutely atrociously. I was tired, and
really in a black mood.
Finally, on the
bus, I sat down, and pulled out the letter the doctor had written. The first
line was the diagnosis: “cute little girl with Down syndrome”
That one line
reminded me what she REALLY was (“cute”), and made the remainder of the day SO
much better. I mentioned that to the doctor the next time I went and he was
flabbergasted…. He had never dreamt that this one sentence would have such an
impact on me.
Often we do not
realize the effects of our actions. Sometimes a small tiny action we do for
someone else can have a much larger effect than we could ever imagine. Those tiny little things we can do for
others, in a moment, can have lasting effects. We have all heard of people who
inspired others with a single act or a few words.
Who has inspired
YOU, or effected you, with a kind action, or a wise sentence? Please share !!!