The Christmas Miracle

I probably won't live to see the next 2 days... then it's
Christmas," sighed Jed to the only companion who never got tired of
listening to a sad story. The little blue jay cheerfully tweeted back
to him from the sunny windowsill, as if it were offering comfort to the
small boy. "I've had this sickness for so long, that I no longer expect
a miracle from Santa, the doctors, or even God."
Jed toppled out of bed in his white linen pajamas and gazed outside
his window to the world. He hadn't been out of the house for so long,
with the exception of seeing the local physicians, if they were unable
to make an emergency house call.
As Jed gazed to the sunny streets of New
York, his heart grew heavy, knowing that he could not be one of the
normal children playing "kick-the-can" down the back alleys. How Jed
loved to watch them run down the cobblestone streets, out of breath,
without a care in the world. It reminded him of the old days, the days
without all the medications. But Jed eventually tired of watching the
horse drawn carriages, and milk carts going to and fro in every
direction. So, he poured water from a porcelain jug into the small bowl
from the bedside table, and splashed his face. It helped to reduce the
fever and lighten the usual afternoon headaches.
"Jed, it's time for your medicines," said his mother. She peeked into
his room before quietly coming in. Jed's mother sadly looked at the
frail boy of 14 before her. No more happiness looked out from his clear
blue eyes. Knowing that, made her cry everyday. All she could do was
brush aside the grungy brown hair, and offer comfort of long forgotten
hope.
After going through the usual routine of lunch , she left Jed alone to
rest. He fell asleep, shortly after the maids cleaned the
leftovers.
Jed woke in a cold sweat, and reached for the bowl of water and a
towel. After splashing his face once more, he walked to the window and
gazed outside to watch the beautiful sun set behind the tall buildings.
As usual, Jed felt drowsy and faint, almost unable to stand. He was
about to retire to the comfort of his bed when he saw a flimsy, gray,
object fly by the window. He struggled to reach out and grab it, but
the object was stuck in a crack along the building's
side.
Suddenly, the door opened with a squeal, and in walked Jed's brother,
James. Only older by a few years, he trampled in from a long day of
apprenticing as the newspaper editor.
"What are you up to?" he asked Jed suspiciously.
"Just trying to reach that thing, that... gray object which flew by my
window. Could you
get it for me? It's stuck in that crack... over there," Jed
pointed.
After getting the object, which happened to be a newspaper, James made
a quick exit.
Jed brought the newspaper to his bed, and relaxed to read some of the
world shattering
events. One particular headline caught Jed's attention... "70\% of
children die from pneumonia
during the winter season... patients needed to test the new cure,
Penicillin... "
As soon as Jed saw this, he raced down the long flight of stairs, to
the kitchen, where his mother was sewing by the warmth of the stove.
Jed showed the article to her, and as soon as she read it, the family
made plans to take Jed for a meeting with someof the doctors the next
morning.
Jed could hardly sleep, and soon happy dreams of playing with his old
friends down the cobblestone alleys filled his thoughts.
Jed awoke and ate breakfast as fast as he could, almost choking on the
hot porridge and soft buttered rolls. He drank the remainder of the
orange juice, and hopped into the carriage,
accompanied by his brother and mother. They rode through the streets of
New York, admiring the beautiful Christmas decorations and snow covered
sidewalks.
To Jed's disappointment, the carriage arrived all too soon in front of
a drab gray building, with tall columns and a long climb over high
stone steps. As soon as the trio stepped inside the
structure, they were escorted into a small waiting room. Almost
immediately, some nurses escorted Jed to the laboratory for a few
tests, leaving James and his mother to wait impatiently.
After a few minutes, which seemed like an hour, the doctors and Jed
entered the room with Alexander Fleming (inventor of the penicillin).
They discussed Jed's problem, a common case of the severe pneumonia
virus, and how penicillin could be used to cure the illness. However,
the shot was not fully tested and proven, so Jed would be the first
guinea pig. If all went well, he would eventually fully recover, and
help hundreds of others recover from the deadly disease. The injection
was scheduled for the next morning, Christmas Eve.
Once again, Jed could hardly sleep. He was suddenly frightened to go
through with tomorrow's procedures. What if something terrible happens?
Like the medicine would backfire, and the sickness would get worse? It
was then that Jed prayed everything would go well...
"Please," he said, "Just let everything turn out for the best
tomorrow... and let me see at least, one more Christmas... " Thinking
of all the possibilities and events tired Jed out, and soon he
was
asleep.
The sound of a small bird awakened Jed to the bright morning sun. It
was the blue jay, but it flew away and Jed was up and ready to go.
Hardly anyone was on the streets, so Jed paid no attention to the
Christmas decorations that morning. All he could think of was the
results... and what would happen after it was done. As soon as they
stepped into dreary gray, Jed was immediately injected. It was all
over... just like that. But no one would know the results until
much later. Jed was kept in the building for further examination and
dozed off every now and then. Many hours later, Jed was injected once
more, but this time, it was for a blood test, that
would determine whether or not his prayer would come true. After even
more waiting, the results
were back...
Everyone including Jed sat very still. James crossed his fingers for
luck as the doctors explained what happened. But no one paid attention
to that information, all they wanted to hear were the results. There
was a huge gasp from everyone, and Jed was shocked into silenced.
The
results were positive! Jed's only wish came true, he would live to see
the next Christmas after all!