"Growin' up, I always assumed I'd get married someday. Boy, did I luck out!" The aged man rocked gently in his chair, his regular smile lighting up the room. He had a way about him that I showed he had been through a lot, but had always come off the better man. It's an aura that only people who have lost something and now appreciate everything can emit.
As I have had the privilege to write this man's memoirs, the infectious aura invaded my thoughts and actions, making my own life more joyful along the way. "I would say so too, Bruce." I smiled in return. Not only had Bruce married the prettiest gal this side of Heaven, but she gave him two wonderful children along the way.
"I was only twenty-four years old, you know? Knew nothing! Straight out of junior college, I found my beautiful wife and I knew that she was the one for me. That sounds like some cheesy hallmark card for World War Two vet's don't it boy!" He chuckled at his poor english. In fact, I shouldn't mock him. It is the reason why I have had a job for the past three months after all!
"No it sounds fantastic, Bruce. It's one of my dreams to meet a woman as great as Chloe! How she settled for a man like you . . ." I gave him a little friendly nudge to let him know I was joking.
"Don't worry my boy, your wife is out there somewhere wondering where you are. Just have the courage to believe in love and you will find it."
Something so profound had changed in the room that it gave new meaning to "the winds of change". It's like that moment when someone asks the wrong question at a party and the atmosphere is completely destroyed.
"What's wrong Bruce?" I studied his demeanor out of the side of my eye as I scribbled out a few lines in my notes.
After pausing for a few moments, he looked down at his hands. "I had two children who showed me what love was all about, son. They changed my life forever." I got up the courage to look him in the eyes, but as I tried to meet his gaze, his eyes were sealed shut trying to block the tears running down his cheeks.
"I am sure they were absolutely wonderful souls, Bruce. I am deeply grieved that I never had the chance to meet such great people, children or not."
"I think it's time I told someone the story of my little Jake and Abby." He opened his eyes, no longer ashamed of the tears. He had in fact turned his face into a smile. The happy memories of his children flooded his brain as he told me of the pair of them.
This is the story of Jake and Abby, Bruce's wonderful children.
In 1964, a little girl named Abigail (Abby for short) was born to a recently married couple in Indianapolis, Indiana. This being their first child and having a wonderful marriage, they raised the young baby as a princess; loved and adored by her two amazing parents. If there was a perfect family award, it would have gone to this one.
Due to complications with Chloe's first pregnancy it took seven years for their next child to be born. His name was Jake. This little boy was the most beloved little boy. As a baby, his parents could count the times that he awoke crying during the night. He was always smiling, always loving. This pattern continued with this boy for the rest of his life.
In 1976, Abby was diagnosed with a crippling blood disease that could only be treated by an immediate blood transfusion. Abby being only twelve years old did not fully understand the process or the treatment, all she wanted to do was feel better.
On June 8th, after spending three days in a coma, the doctors finally found a blood match for young Abby. It was her brother, Jake. He was only five, however, so his parents could sign off on the process without his consent. It was a fairly painful process in the 70's because they used a long needle to obtain blood from deep within the thigh, believing it to be richer in the red blood cells which Abby needed.
Bruce and Chloe talked for a short time and were agreed that they must get Jake's permission to do the transfusion or they'd have to find another match. Bruce would do it, but he was a different blood type. Chloe would do it, but she was pregnant with a third child and due to her complicated history the doctor wouldn't allow it.
So, the couple gathered up the courage to ask their five year old son if he would save his sister's life. Taking only a moment to think, Jake unflinchingly said, "If it will save her life, I will do it."
Twenty minutes later, Jake was in a gown laying on his back, with a gigantic needle staring him in the face. Gripping his father's hands tightly, he closed his eyes and kept repeating, "For Abby, for Abby, for Abby," over and over to himself. The needle went deeper and deeper causing Jake to flinch and cry, but he never stopped repeating, "For Abby".
The doctor came back in the room with a second needle that he hooked up to Abigail, connecting the lines as the blood flowed from Jake to his sister. Hearing the doctor come close to him, Jake called out, "Doctor, will I start to die right away, or will I have time to say goodbye to my sister?"
Present-day Bruce sat rocking in his chair, a single tear running down his face now. "You see, Jake thought he had to die for his sister to live. That act of pure love and innocence has never left my mind. That kind of thing changes a man, and I've never looked back."
"You raised a fine child, Bruce."
"No. My son raised a fine father." The far-distant look in his eyes told me exactly where he was; back in that hospital, holding his boy. "When my son got sick just two years later, I wanted to do everything I could to save him. . . back in those days though, cancer wasn't nearly as understood as it is now, especially brain cancer. We raised enough money after a year for surgery, but it was too late. The tumor had grown inoperable and Jake was too far gone for there to be anything left of my boy. 8 years old. . . at 8 years old he knew more about living, loving, and what it means to be part of a family than I did." Bruce leaned forward putting his hands to his face, wiping away the wetness.
"Whatever happened to Abigail?" I mustered up the words through my emotions.
"She passed away giving birth to her fourth child in 1996. The way I look at it, my boy saved five lives that day. The only one he couldn't save was himself. I just hope one day I can be half the man he was and return to see him again."
) is that the story kinda beats the reader over the head with how great the children were. The characters (especially the kids) are a little 
