One in A Million

I am amazed at how many times I hear people make comments about how little people care about each other in this day and age. On a personal level I have found this to be quite the opposite. When I announced at work, I had Parkinson’s Disease many of my co-workers were visibly upset. And when they threw a going away barbeque for me, many tears were shed, it was nice to know how much they cared.

Fast-forward to today and I am again surrounded by a group of people who truly care about me. How do I know, because they tell me every time I see them. For those who don’t know, I am dealing with an issue with my left foot. The pain I deal with on a daily bases is indescribable, and as time goes on it continues to get worse. Everyone I box with has issues or they would not be there, yet every class I go to everyone asks how’s my foot doing? For sure I sound like a broken record….. yet there they are asking me how I am.

I am writing this because a few days ago one of the boxers with dementia asked me how my foot was? When I told him it is getting worse, he became visibly upset. What he is going through I hope I will never experience. But in spite of all he has on his plate, his concern at that moment was for me. I felt very small at that moment, he was not engulfed in self-pity, his concern was for others within his boxing community. He is a good man battling a horrible disease with the strength and courage of a Lion.

 Our conversation made me realize just how lucky I am. When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s my mind was filled with very dark and depressing thoughts. I was consumed with wanting to know my future, the how long do I have, how bad will I get, you know the normal stuff. In my wildest dreams I never envisioned the world I currently live in. My world today is comprised of compassion, love, humor, and support by others who fight the same fight as I. I have learned so much about humanity since my diagnoses, and believe me when I say, the world is a beautiful place.

And to the boxer who inspired this article, “Happy Trails”, and thanks for your concern, I will never forget that moment for as long as I live.    

By Mark Hitechew