Mendy Pellin 42 mins · So I jumped around like a monkey last night in the ICU of Ceder Sinai Medical Center. Why? About 18 years ago, I was a camper in a camp called Machane Menachem. My bunk bed came with a very thin mattress that would be considered a blanket in some countries. Under the mattress were spine-damaging metal springs. Therefor, most campers put a piece of wood under the mattress to prevent caving-bed-scoliosis. I was one of the lucky few that managed to find a piece of wood AND a second mattress. I was so proud of the luxury accommodations that I set up. One evening I returned to my bunk to find that some Shnowzal Whopper ripped off my second mattress. At that moment my counselor walked in. Holding back tears, I told him what had happened. Instead of immediately launching a three month investigation, he took a very different route to try to cheer me up. He started jumping around the room like a monkey. Now, instead of holding back tears, I was trying my best to hold back laughter. I figured if he saw me laughing, he would consider it cased closed and not hunt down the mattress thief. It was one of the hardest laughter hold-ins Ive ever done. Thats why I remember it so clearly. On the inside I was rolling on the floor laughing but somehow maintained my sad face. Last night I went to visit that counselor in the ICU. Hes suffering from ALS. His endless energy and joy is helplessly trapped inside his body. Our only form of communication was a slight thumbs-up for YES and a thumb-shake for NO. I sat with him for a while telling jokes, reminiscing and singing some songs. On my way out I gained the courage to pay him back for cheering me up 18 years ago. I jumped around his hospital room banging my chest and making ridiculously loud monkey sounds. After alarming his nurse and staff in the hallway, I leaned over and asked him if he was laughing on the inside. He gave a thumbs-up. I told him: now were even. My counselors name is Yitzi Hurwitz and Im sure he has sprinkled sparks of joy on this world to countless people. He deserves to smile and laugh again - on the outside! May Yosef Yitzchok ben Brocha have a complete and speedy recovery!
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:54:08 +0000
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