WhereThereIsLife,ThereIsHope

　　你的能力有多大,成功就有多大.要想得到更多的回报,就不要吝啬付出.只要存在一丝生命的气息,那么我们的希望就不会破灭.

　　WhenIwasinthe8thgradeinOhio,agirlnamedHeleninmyclasshadaterribleaccident.Asshewasrunningtothebusinordernottomissit,sheslippedonsomeiceandfellundertherearwheelsofthebus.Shesurvivedtheaccident,butwasparalyzedfromthewaistdown.Iwenttoseeher,inmy13yearoldmindthinkingshewouldn’tlivenormallyfromthenon.

　　我在俄亥俄州读八年级时,班上有一个女孩名叫海伦,她遭遇了一场严重的车祸.她怕错过公交车,急匆匆地跑过去时,不慎踩到冰块,滑倒在后车轮下.她幸免于难,但腰部以下瘫痪了.去探望她时,13岁的我想,从此以后,她再也不能正常的生活了.

　　Overtheyears,Imovedanddidn’tthinkmuchaboutHelenafterthat.Threeyearsago,inFlorida,myoldestsonwashitbyacarwhileridinghisbike,causingaterriblebraininjury.WhileIwaslookingaftermyson,aladywhosaidshewasthehospital’ssocialworkercalled.Itwasaparticularlytryingday.Iburstintotearsfornoreasonandhungup.

　　数年后,我搬了家,也没有再想起过海伦.三年前,在佛罗里达州,我的大儿子骑车时被汽车撞倒,脑部受到严重创伤.在我照顾儿子期间,有一位女士打来电话,自称是医院义工.那是最难熬的日子,我毫无来由地失声痛哭,然后挂了电话.

　　Ashorttimelater,abeautifulwoman,inawheelchair,rolledintomyson’sroomwithaboxoftissues.After16years,IstillrecognizedHelen.Shesmiled,handedmethetissuesandhuggedme.ItoldherwhoIwas,andafterwebothgotthroughtheshockofthat,shebegantotellmeaboutherlifesincewelastsaweachother.Shehadmarried,hadchildrenandgottenherdegreesothatshecouldsmooththepathforthoselessfortunatethanher.Shetoldmethatiftherewasanythingshecouldgiveme,itwouldbehope.

　　不久,一位坐着轮椅的漂亮女士出现在儿子的病房,她手里拿着纸巾.16年以后,我仍然认出,是海伦.她微笑着,递纸巾给我,拥抱我.我告诉她自己是谁后,我们为此都非常震惊.她开始告诉我,我们分别后她的生活经历.她结婚生子,并获得了学位.这样她能为那些比自己更不幸的人们,点燃前进的希望.她告诉我,现在倘若她有什么可以给我的,那将是“希望”.

　　Lookingatthiswonderful,givingperson,Ifeltsmall.ButIalsofeltthefirsthopeIhadfeltsincelearningthatmysonwashurt.FromthispersonthatIthoughtwouldhavenoqualityoflife,Ilearnedthatwherethereislife,thereishope.Mysonmiraculouslyrecoveredandwemovedbacknorth,butIoweHelenadebtthatIcanneverrepay.

　　看着这位了不起又乐于奉献的女士,我深感渺小.但是,自从儿子受伤后,我也感受到了第一份希望.这位我曾以为没有生活质量的人让我明白：只要有生命,就有希望.儿子奇迹般地康复了,我们又搬回了北方.但是,我欠海伦的情谊将永远无法偿还