It’s right in front of us. Yet for many, who do not see or feel the wonders, it exists all around us.
There is much in life we take for granted. It can be challenging that we ignore ongoing happenings and occurrences that are blessings in disguise. Interactions with other souls – such a simple exchange can create bliss.
Hanukah reminds us to take note of the life we just might be presuming works well all the time. And I’m not talking about winning a lottery ticket. Those gifts are few and far between.
After surviving sepsis, you realize that we all have expiry dates and to be cognizant that life is short.
If sepsis taught me anything in life, it’s that family and dear friends treasure your survival. All pettiness disappears and the larger picture instantly solidifies. There is room for forgiveness and “Menschlichkeit” when someone nearly dies. The fight to stay alive means something. It is a wonder, where hope existed and life ensued. But you don’t fight to come back for more of the same. It changes the narrative. If my beloved father was here, he’d get it in a second. There is no room for estrangement.
Having a granddaughter has altered my perspective. I see my daughter in her and how she inhales all that is new to her each day on her journey. She is another phenomenon to marvel at.
I have experienced other occurrences which have made me take notice.
In March of 2009, my beloved mother had passed away. She was 91. Her life was filled with challenges. She was stronger than she gave herself credit for.
I was sitting at my desk and gazing at a photo of her smiling. Oh, how I miss her. My mom was not a warm, fuzzy type of communicator, but she had spunk.
So, with great surprise I suddenly felt this energy of sorts coming off her photo, where she was sending me a message. “Harriet, you need to take better care of yourself. You need a PAP test and Manny needs to see his paediatrician for a check-up.” Right, I thought; this from a woman who never discussed sex, let alone a pap test. It was beyond bizarre but very clear.
Okay, I’ll play along. So, on my landline I’m calling and setting up an appointment for my son, when my cell phone rings from my gynaecologist. A coincidence? Very eery.
I engage with the gynaecologist receptionist and tell her that I was just about to call them. She said at her end, my name just appeared on their screen. Hmmmm.
The call was for a PAP. I said, isn’t it a year from now ? She replied:” No, it’s first thing next week.” This has never happened – EVER.
“I’ll see you then. Thank you.” I’m left in a state of bewilderment.
At the pap test, my wonderful doctor says during the internal not to alarm me, but that she feels a large mass inside. Now she’s got my full attention. “This needs to get imaged immediately!”
My mom seems to have secured a medical degree up in heaven. She is guiding this journey now.
Without hesitation, an ultrasound is arranged and a colonoscopy as well, all within three weeks. No one is 100% sure about this mass.
Then I am sent to a GI specialist who is amazing, a mensch above all mensches. He believes I have cancer of the appendix. Who has ever heard of cancer of the appendix? Audrey Hepburn died from this.
He doesn’t want me walking around with cancer the entire summer, plus I’m still caring for my dad. Surgery is scheduled within two days. Gosh, do I not need this. I’ve just lost my mom.
I’m terrified of the operation but know I’m in good hands. It’s done laparoscopically, and I feel no pain the morning after. The doctor seems shocked. I too am taken back, as I was taught how to use a morphine pump. But I don’t need anything–Sara Berkal has got this.
The three weeks wait begins for biopsy results. I am prepared for the worst.
My GI specialist calls and says that the pathologist was running down the hallway asking, who is this woman? I don’t have cancer but severe endometriosis. Very uncommon.
I’m assuming my appendix might have ruptured had this not been treated.
Was this all a coincidence? I do not believe so. I am convinced my mom intervened and gave me a gift. I had cared for her for years and now she looked after me.
It happened again in a way when on December 31,2023 I was taken to the HSC ER by ambulance with a perforated bowel and I was in septic shock. Except I didn’t know any of that at the time. I found myself lying on a gurney for 8 hours. I had seen an image of my beloved father when I first hit the bathroom floor that morning.
Begging for help at the ER proved hopeless. A strong intuition inside told me to go home and call another ambulance. That’s insane, right? Who does that? It’s a real game of Russian Roulette. But I did leave and called a second ambulance who identified the danger as I had been told I only had two hours to live. That alone saved my life. Was my father overlooking me to ensure my safety?
I survived septic shock. Someone or something intervened. I was blessed.
These are miracles!
But when a new baby comes into a family, when a child achieves some milestone, or when a new medication alleviates pain, our elders are granted another birthday– are these all not speaking to the wonders of life itself?
On Hanukah, as well as on other occasions, I am reminded that supernatural occurrences can and do occur. We just need to be open to accepting them.
Twenty hostages were returned alive out of the depths of dark tunnels, awaiting their own deaths. But they are back home with their loved ones.
I suspect, this Hanukah, the miracle witnessed by the Maccabees will hit home to many of the hostages who made it out and to their loved ones.
After both my parents passed away, a rabbi told me to be open to signs from beyond. I do and I am receptive.
There are energies out there and I believe karma is real.
Miracles are around us every day. If you have health, love in your life, creativity and offspring, you have joy.
Happy Hanukah to the TRIBE!
