Many years ago, during the initial years of my growing up, I recollect the selflessness of a brother for his sister. We were staying as a Joint family in those Days. One of my cousin's kid was ill, seriously. There was lot of talk going around the house about the kid's treatment in whispers.
I got to know a little later that Noorjahan, I used to call her Noorie, was suffering from a rare and serious disease. It was cancer. She was Just 10 years Old. I was close to both the kids and we used have lot of fun together sharing my room with them. Little did I know then that the beautiful little Noorie would soon embark on a long road of medications and end up in hospital.I was truly heartbroken. They had recently they lost their father and they came to stay with us, in the moment of their crisis and were facing this new unwarranted circumstances.
Her chances of recovery appeared less and she needed a blood transfusion from nearest family members with her rare blood group. The only closed member she had was her 7-year-old brother Jameel, who had miraculously survived the same disease as it was discovered in very early stages and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
After a lot of deliberations, among the family members in hush tones, it was decided that Jameel will donate blood to his sister, Noorie. The task fell on me to explain the situation to Noorie's little brother Jameel, and ask the little Jameel, if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister, Noorie. I just about lost it, right then and there.
I didn't have the heart to ask him to do this donation, just after the little boy himself suffered so much from the same disease. After a lot of turmoil and with heavy heart, I decided to talk to him. It wasn't easy to get the words out, but the empathy and concern I saw in his face as I explained it to him told me I had made the right decision. I saw him to be indecisive for only a moment, before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Didi."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all family members did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up apprehensively at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?". I was taken aback, so were every one of the family. The doctor assured him that He will not die. I am not sure if Jameel was convinced because he eyes rested on me.I can still experience those moments. The Sacrifice!
Later I came to know that being young, the little Jameel had misunderstood me; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. I was a bad teacher and it made me become conscious, that I need to explain things accurately and more plainly. And it also taught me that No matter what position We are in, Giving When It Counts is what matters, no matter what the loss we face.
The sad part is Norrie did not live long after the transfusion; she died a few months latter battling the deadly disease. But Jameel did survive and now is a doctor in UK doing his best to battle the dreaded malady. We all have a Story To Live By, each of us, learning lessons as we go by.
