When You Aren’t Even Looking

A strong, self-reliant farmer who did not often express his emotions outwardly, had to rush his wife to the hospital with a ruptured appendix. The ensuing operation was successful, but the woman’s condition deteriorated. Despite the blood transfusions and intensive care, she continued to lose strength. The doctors were puzzled because by all medical standards she should have been recovering. They finally were convinced of the reason for her deterioration: she was not trying to get well. The surgeon, an old family friend, went to her and said, “I would think you would want to be strong for John.” She replied, weakly, “John is so strong he doesn’t need anybody.” When the doctor told the husband what she had said, he immediately went into his wife’s room, took her hand in his and said, “You’ve got to get well!” Without opening her eyes, she asked, “Why?” He said, “Because I need you.” The nurse who was monitoring the blood transfusion said she noticed an immediate…