By MANDY NGUYEN
Dallas, Texas
The night I came to help Yi at the hospital, Yi shared with me the story that 20 years back Shipeng got into an accident in a highway that nearly cost his life, and took him almost 2 years to recover. And now, he was again dealing with life and death situation. I was quietly looking down where he was lying emotionless, and my heart was rapidly pounding. “He is a true survivor…” I thought to myself. I was hoping, actually more than hope, that if he already once fought death to come back to live, he can do it again. That night after Yi left to go home with some of her guests that came to visit from Houston, Dean came to visit and left, before Martin arrived to change for my shift, I was alone in that room with Shipeng. I spent about 15 minutes to pray with my own words to my own god to give Shipeng more power and will to live, and I talked to him just like I talk to myself. I told him: I want to witness a miracle, if his god has a special mission for him to do, that he needs to be in a coma to do it, that is OK, but he has to remember his way to come back because people still want him here.
I related what happened to Shipeng to what happen to my own that how fragile life can be. I was once went away and come back, I did not remember where I went, and what I did, but I did leave this world for a short while. The only thing I can remember was that I wanted to see my mom and dad. I was in a situation (at a time I was still very young), I think only death can take me to my parents. I decided to let go and I felt good to go. Our spirit is a wonder add to thing happens without much of clues. I can’t explain why I was brought back to life even though I wanted to leave, assuming that I still be needed for this world? so can my same assumption be applied for Shipeng 20 years ago (maybe)? And now, we can’t explain either why Shipeng decided to quit after 10 days, but not in his first day of his accident. My theory is that he had done a wonderful job with his life here. He fought hard for his first near death experience, to be with his wife and to raise his little girl to the day she can be a productive, young adult. And in his last 10 days, he had seen the support from family, friends, and co-workers. He believed his beloved one are in good hands, so he might want to take the new challenge by himself, I think he was happy leaving. And so we should say farewell to Shipeng, to his new adventure with waving hands, bearing hearts, full of support, and no regret. I sincerely hope that his wife and daughter will find peace if they think the same.
My heart is to Yi and Aurea!
Mandy Nguyen