麥克·艾默特

譯/李孟

瑪麗是一個(gè)失去丈夫不久的五十多歲的祖母。最近在醫(yī)院檢查時(shí)她震驚地得知自己患上了艾滋病。

作為慈善機(jī)構(gòu)自愿者慰問團(tuán)的一員，我的職責(zé)是讓他們知道，除了他們的家人和醫(yī)護(hù)人員，還有人在關(guān)心他們。

在我第三次拜訪瑪麗時(shí)，我禮貌地問：“我可以擁抱您吻一下您的臉頰嗎？”瑪麗微笑著伸出她的雙臂等待著，她的聲音低得幾乎聽不見，“是的，我非常喜歡?！?/p>

在我轉(zhuǎn)身離去的時(shí)候，我發(fā)現(xiàn)她的臉上淌著滴淚花，“您哪里不舒服嗎？”我問。

“這是我被診斷患上艾滋病后除了醫(yī)護(hù)人員第一次別人和我接觸，”瑪麗把頭轉(zhuǎn)向一邊， 她雙手捂著臉痛苦地說，“甚至我的兒子都不允許我見我的孫子，”她邊說邊嗚咽著，“當(dāng)我的家人來看我，他們坐在病房的一邊，盡可能離我遠(yuǎn)點(diǎn)。”

我默默地坐在她的身邊聽她傾訴，我惟一能做的就是把紙巾遞給她。

幾天后，我再去看望瑪麗，她的兒子約翰和兒媳薩拉正好去看望她。我輕柔地?fù)肀е橇艘幌滤拿骖a準(zhǔn)備離開，我發(fā)現(xiàn)她的家人擔(dān)心地坐在離瑪麗的床較遠(yuǎn)的地方。

第二天下午，我再去看望瑪麗時(shí)，約翰和薩拉也在那里。不過事情出現(xiàn)了奇妙的變化，約翰和薩拉分別坐在瑪麗病床邊一側(cè)的椅子上，他們握著瑪麗的手。我聽見約翰非常動(dòng)情地說：“我想如連陌生人都能擁抱和親吻我的母親，我們還有什么害怕的呢?！?/p>

幸運(yùn)地，瑪麗又可以和她最愛的孫子在一起了。

Mary, a recent widow and devoted “fifty-something” grandmother.She was stunned to learn of her diagnosis —full-blown AIDS.

As part of a hospital volunteer visitation team, in my role as patient-advocate, I let each person know that someone else cares about them—aside from their family and the medical staff.

After my third visit with Mary, I asked politely, “Would you like a hug and a kiss on the cheek？” Mary smiled, holding out two waiting arms, and whispered a barely audible, “Yes, Id love one.”

As I drew back, I noticed a tear working its way down one cheek.“Whats wrong？” I asked.

“Thats the first time anyone has touched me, since I was diagnosed with AIDS.The medical staff touch me, but ...”Mary turned onto her side, placing both hands over her face.“My sons wont even allow me to see my grandchildren,” she said between sobs.“When my family visits, they sit clear across the room, as far away from me as possible.”

I simply sat by her bedside and listened in silence—handing her tissues and trying to understand.

A few days later, when I stopped to see Mary again, her son John and his wife Sarah were visiting. I giving her a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek. I found her anxious family sat clear across the room from Marys bed.

Later, when I looked in on her, I saw John and sarah were there, but something had miraculously changed.John and Sarah were seated in chairs —one on each side of Marys bed - and they were holding hands.Obviously choked with emotion, John said, “I guess if some stranger can hug and kiss my mother, we have nothing to be afraid of.”

Fortunately, Mary couldstay with her cherished grandchildren— in spite of her illness.