Momentary Hero (for May 21 and 22)

The rescuers worked tirelessly moving the rubble.  It was their third day straight and the doctors made it clear that no one could survive three days under the rubble, that only corpses would be found. But it was then they uncovered them, three children lying underneath the rubble. The oldest of the three, a girl named Maizy, lay slightly on top of the smaller children, arms around them, shielding them. To the amazement of the rescuers and doctors, all three children survived. The younger two children were barely harmed. But the girl had suffered multiple injuries, including a broken back.

The doctors marveled at her courage, saving the other children from the earthquake, and at her strength. Her wounds healed in record time. However, it quickly became clear she would never walk again. Exactly one month after being brought to the hospital, Maizy’s wheelchair was rolled in front of a room full of reporters fighting to ask questions of the little hero. She answered each question with minimal words but she didn’t like being called a hero.

She knew she was only a momentary hero. They would forget her, and then she was left to live as a paraplegic.