When I was in the 8th grade in Ohio， a girl named Helen in my class had a terrible accident. As she was running to the bus in order not to miss it， she slipped on some ice and fell under the rear wheels of the bus. She survived the accident， but was paralyzed from the waist down. I went to see her， in my 13-year-old mind thinking she wouldn't live normally from then on.

Over the years， I moved and didn't think much about Helen after that. Three years ago， in Florida， my oldest son was hit by a car while riding his bike， causing a terrible brain injury. While I was looking after my son， a lady who said she was the hospital's social worker called. It was a particularly trying day. I burst into tears for no reason and hung up.

A short time later， a beautiful woman， in a wheelchair， rolled into my son's room with a box of tissues. After 16 years， I still recognized Helen. She smiled， handed me the tissues and hugged me. I told her who I was， and after we both got through the shock of that， she began to tell me about her life since we last saw each other. She had married， had children and gotten her degree so that she could smooth the path for those less fortunate than her. She told me that if there was anything she could give me， it would be hope.

Looking at this wonderful， giving person， I felt small. But I also felt the first hope I had felt since learning that my son was hurt. From this person that I thought would have no quality of life， I learned that where there is life， there is hope. My son miraculously recovered and we moved back north， but I owe Helen a debt that I can never repay.

在俄亥俄州讀八年級時，班上有一個女孩名叫海倫，她遭遇了一場嚴(yán)重的車禍。她怕錯過公交車，急匆匆地跑過去時，不慎踩到冰塊，滑倒在后車輪下。她幸免于難，但腰部以下癱瘓了。去探望她時，13歲的我想，從此以后，她再也不能正常的生活了。

數(shù)年后，我搬了家，也沒有再想過海倫。三年前，在佛羅里達(dá)州，我的大兒子騎車時被汽車撞倒，腦部受到嚴(yán)重創(chuàng)傷。在我照顧兒子期間，有一位女士打來電話，自稱是醫(yī)院義工。那是最難熬的日子，我毫無由來地失聲痛哭，然后掛了電話。

不久，一位坐著輪椅的漂亮女士出現(xiàn)在兒子的病房，她手里拿著紙巾。16年以后，我仍然認(rèn)出，是海倫。她微笑著，遞紙巾給我，擁抱我。我告訴她自己是誰后，我們?yōu)榇硕挤浅Ｕ痼@。她開始告訴我，我們分別后她的生活經(jīng)歷。她結(jié)婚生子，并獲得了學(xué)位。這樣她能為那些比自己更不幸的人們，點燃前進(jìn)的希望。她告訴我，現(xiàn)在倘若她有什么可以給我的，那將是“希望”。

看著這位了不起又樂于奉獻(xiàn)的女士，我深感渺小。但是，自從兒子受傷后，我也感受到了第一份希望。這位我曾以為沒有生活質(zhì)量的人讓我明白：只要有生命，就有希望。兒子奇跡般地康復(fù)了，我們又搬回了北方。但是，我欠海倫的情誼將永遠(yuǎn)無法償還。