A Cripple Walks Again

By: Abdool A. Aziz

HIS parents were very religious and stoic. The prayer regimen was too severe for him. He believed in a God but also believed in himself. Prayers were good but self-motivation and self-esteem were better. We must discover our potential and be productive – that was his motto. So at age 16, when he ran away, they all condemned him as satanic. He became an outcast. But while he had no money, no relatives, no friends, he had one vital asset – ambition.

He did odd jobs to sustain himself, and he began to ‘burn the midnight oil’ through self-studies. He became a teacher and won an award for Literature. He acquired a teaching degree via a correspondence course from England. He became a social worker having completed two years’ studies at the University of Guyana in 1973. At age 25, he landed an executive job in the public service. Life was good; he served Guyana for over 10 years as a Community Development Officer.

The Call of the North
At age 35, burning with the call of the North, he migrated to Canada. Finding no suitable job, he was forced to accept manual labour. Alone, subsistent and weak, he fell ill. This led him to depend on medication for acute arthritis. Eventually, he lost his job, was busted financially and became a cripple. Canada is usually cold and harsh, and now it became cruel to a man who was wheelchair-bound. He was 40 by then. Medical treatment did not help. Arthritis has no cure but he knew of one source that would yield a cure – our creator. So he packed up and headed home to our beloved country, to pray. He depended on no one. He rented a small room in Albouystown and began to teach privately at his residence, and a ritual of prayer filled his life.

Renewed Faith
During his meteoric rise to success, he actually forgot his maker. His philosophy was simple: know thyself, exploit your potentials, and serve humanity. With no cure by man for his osteoarthritis, he turned to the ‘Best’ doctor – our Creator. Night after night past midnight, he knelt and prayed one to one with God. He simply begged for his feet back so he could resume his commitment to his responsibilities. After two years of dedicated supplication, his plea was answered. Our merciful Creator delivered. Early one morning he felt a surge of electricity in his legs. His muscles began to twitch and his feet got life. Little by little he swung them off the cot and stumbled to stand up like a newborn calf. He wobbled around and the limbs gained strength. He walked again on Friday July 28, 1984. He said goodbye to his wheelchair and donated it to The Palms.

Profound Gratitude
Now up and about, he opened a private school in Albouystown and earned a living. He hired a maid to be his caregiver. She was a divorced with six children, the last one 12 years of age.
He earned enough money to buy her a home. He became her husband and father to the children. His gratitude to God is profound. He is born again. Now at 74, he is a social worker and writer, but sadly a widower, hoping again to raise another family.

Most of his money goes to charity especially for the needy children. Readers please do not forget the needy children’s donation box in the private commercial banks. Charity is the hallmark of a good person, and we must always remember to give thanks and praise to our merciful Creator.