My best friend was diagnosed 3 years ago with MND - Motor Neurone Disease.
At the time he was a fit outgoing 64 year old, playing golf and running regularly.
Fast forward to today he has difficulty walking, eating, drinking and his speech is just about non-existent.
A real pain considering his passion for debate and socialising.
As well as a myriad of other minor symptoms like heightened emotions, excessive saliva production, the list is long !!!
Anyway this was just the intro by way of background.
He recently sent me this message and felt it worthy of sharing.
If it doesn’t bring a tear to your eye it will bring a smile to your face.
"Yesterday, I was sitting at home and my carer, my partner, was out visiting a friend.
I don't drive much these days, Its getting a touch difficult moving the feet!!
However, I decided to go out and put some fuel in the car, the price was down and you never know if you may need the old thing at some point.
So gathering my writing board (for communication) and a handful of tissues, plus my old golf putter as a walking stick, I set off to the Station.
All good, I put in $25 worth and started to hobble, very slowly to the shop.
I noticed from the corner of my eye a big guy also striding towards the shop, He noticed me and visibly slowed to allow me to go first, Very kind!
In I went and up to the cashier, I indicated with my fingers pump 4, I then put in my card, but got my pin wrong.
Take 2, Bugger did it again, Realising I was holding people including "The Big Guy" up, I signalled to him to come forward, while I had a think about my pin.
I was naturally unable to talk and really just babbling incoherently, as well as dabbing my useless lips with tissues to stem the saliva. I guess all could see I was just a tad distressed.
Anyway this big fella pays for his purchase and then unbelievably says to the cashier " how much does "OLD MATE" owe" referring to me!!! to which the cashier responded.
This big stranger then just said “I'll pay for him, add it to mine” - Realising what was happening, I quickly tried to stop him and protested, but as you can imagine being unable to talk and by then so emotional at the gesture, tears were uncontrollably pouring down my cheeks.
He proceeded to pay for my petrol. I was still trying to say "no, I'm fine, and thank you all at once”, when he just said "No worries old mate”, tapped me on the shoulder and marched off out of the shop, jumped in his truck and drove away..
I was left blubbering in the shop, trying to wipe the tears of emotion away, feeling humbled and embarrassed at my condition, all at once.
I hobbled back to my car and drove home still emotionally moved.
The moral here being, There are still wonderful people in the world.
The kindness of strangers, There is hope…."
The second moral is never judge a book by it’s cover!
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