Baruch Hashem, I haven’t really ever seen a hospital. Even now, after sitting near my daughter who was hospitalized, I have no idea what a hospital looks like. How is that possible? That, exactly, is my story.
When my daughter was hospitalized for a few days, the time came for me to do my part and take a turn at her side. I thought to myself, What will be? How will I manage? The girl is hospitalized in some anonymous room on the seventh floor, and in order to get there I’ll need to pass through several hallways, passages, bridges and tunnels. In every one of these passages one could meet up with forbidden sights, and I so want to guard my eyes!
I asked Hashem to help me. I called out to Him sincerely. “It is known and revealed to You,” I said, “that for my part, I would have continued my regular day in kollel. You, Hashem, are the One Who planned this itinerary for me, and You are the One Who will help me to guard my eyes.”
After I davened, I called my mother, who was so concerned about her granddaughter in the hospital, and I told her that on the following day I was going to take my turn and go to the hospital to be with her. “Oh, that’s perfect,” she said. “Tomorrow I’m also going to the hospital with one of the girls for a certain examination. You could join us in the taxi.”
I was so happy to be able to save the travel expenses, but the greater help was that when my sister heard in which department and room my daughter staying, she said, “I know exactly where it is. That’s the very room where I was once hospitalized. I’ll show you the way.”
My sister brought me to my daughter’s room, and I did not have to lift up my eyes even once.
Furthermore, when I arrived, to my daughter’s joy, and in order to give my tired wife a rest from sitting at our daughter’s side, I discovered that we had a private room. There was no other patient in the room, and throughout my stay there, I was able to learn and daven undisturbed.
I really felt how Hashem heard my tefillos, and Chazal’s words – “One who strives to improve spiritually receives assistance from Above” – were fulfilled for me.
