While I was in rehab (for the knee surgery) I met an incredible array of characters. Some of them haunt yet, especially a fellow bed bound and unable to move. His name is William. I imagine he is there yet, likely as long as funds or governments or insurances will allow. I never saw a visitor for him. Another patient down the hall told me that his family said they could not come as they could not stand to see him in that condition. I don’t know if that is true. William said his family did not come to visit as they did not like him.

William could not move and could do little but speak a bit, and could enunciate well enough to be understood. I didn’t ask him what happened to him but it looked as if it could have been a stroke. I visited with him a couple of times and he told me some things about myself and they are special so I keep them to myself. I think it falls into that realm of things that should not be shared. Like certain visions and such.

You could hear William at night throughout the ward. He’d cry out: “Help me. Help me. I can’t move. Please help me. Get me out of here.” Over and over he’d repeat his cries. When I spoke to him he asked me to call the police for him. To help him get out of there. He said he was being held against his will. I told him I was too, as I couldn’t leave for a couple more days. Rehab is not an easy place to get out of. And truly he could not move. Truly he was trapped not only in the bed in the ward in the place, but within his body. It had to be horrific.

I taught him how to chant so that he could say “Ommmmmmm…” rather than his repeated pleas for help. I also chanted “Om ma pad mi hum” with him although he could not repeat those sounds. That night, after he started with “Please help me…” I heard him move into an “Ommmmmmm…” I told him it would bring him peace. I hope it did.

Posted by Ferit Temur