IPR Workshop (A Mash-up Story)

ROMEO

          Romeo is a 20-year old boy.  He is ambitious, that's how his neighbors call him. Too ambitious, at times, that he often finds himself daydreaming.  But never did he stop on achieving his dreams, and believing in himself.

          He has a wife.  She is pregnant for 9 months.  Romeo loves her.  So much that he does everything for her, to feed her and their child-to-be.

          One day, Romeo is stuck in thought of where he wants to be when he was 10.  He dreams his whole family lives in a place where no man ever lived – the outer space.  He knows someday, he can do that with his invention his scientific mind has been busy with for many years.  While lost in thoughts, his wife is crowning.

          Romeo is inflicted.  He is caught between choosing to follow his dream, or his current duty to his wife. It is a choice that determines where his priorities lie.  His wife will give birth to their first child, will prove all her strength in labor.  While here he is, still overwhelmed by his inflicted thoughts.  He knew right there and then he could not afford to chase his dreams.  He has to do what he must!

          At once he brings his wife to the hospital.  He helps the nurses and doctors rush his already-laboring wife, on a stretcher, to the delivery room.  As soon as they reach the room, he is forced to stay outside.  He can see the pain painted all over his wife's face.  In mind, he asks himself how big the skull of the fetus is.  He can't help but think of it!  Yes, even in such life-or-death case (lols). It takes to have 8 to 10 centimeters of opening for the fetus to be born.

          His anxiety grows as seconds turn into minutes, and minutes into hours.  He thinks of so much this time his mind seems to explode!

          Outside the delivery room, he is shaking.  He finds it hard to recover from the adrenaline rush.  It's as if an 8.0 magnitude earthquake is confined right exactly to where he stands.  He is
severely worried. He calls gods as many as he can recall. He calls saints, angels, fairies, dwarfs, white ladies! Name it. Lucky not for him his tranquilizer was left at home.  He panics. The only thing that keeps him calm, at least a bit, is his trust to his wife.

          "Are you the husband of Magdalena?",  a voice emerged out of nowhere.  Romeo is even more startled!  "Hey hey, I'm here, r-i-g-h-t here. (Clears her throat) I am the doctor..."  She introduced herself.  Romeo is astonished!  The doctor defines the word petite.  So short. The doctor has dwarfism. A burst of laughter is about to exit from Romeo's mouth.  "Hello... Are you OK?!"  the doctor blurts out in a high-pitched voice.  He suppressed his outburst of cackle. Romeo nodded.  The delivery is successful.

          At that very second, he could feel his chest burst with relief. He could not wait to see his wife. He could not anymore wait to see his first child...

          His heart constantly trips hard in his lean chest.  Upon seeing his family; his wife, his son, love flickers in his eyes..  His tear rolls down his cheek like raindrop – A tear of untainted joy!

          A few hours go past, a man barges-in to the room.  So angry!  He is claiming that the child is his, and not Romeo's.  Upon hearing that, Romeo is tongue-tied.  He does not know what to say.  He is also angry. So angry that he punches the guy right to his lying face.  He managed to do it despite his gaunt and bony physique.  He loves his wife so much that he could not believe of what the guy said!

          The knocked-out guy was forced to exit the room by the guards.  At once, Romeo confronted his wife.  He asks about the man's words.  Still weak from the delivery, she confesses.  Neither of the two is the father.  Romeo is mad!  How could she lie to him?!  She confessed that the father of the child is the twin brother of Romeo..

          Romeo is stunned!  His eyes dim with tears.  His heart breaks.  Not paying her further heed, he left her with no head turned.  Words of her tongue are like poison.  It sucks his strength from its very core.  He can't dare listen any longer.

          He dashes out of the room.  His heart bleeds without a halt.

          All the happy thoughts he spent with his wife start to haunt him as he exits.  They were so happy.  One day, love filled the air, warmed them in winter days of their lives.  Now, it's all gone! Tears drip off his nose.  All he can do is cry the hardest he can!

          He finds it hard to move on.  He cannot do it quickly.  Anyone with a broken heart knows the feeling.  But he does his best to forget.  He does not want to lose altitude also in his dream.  Despite the pain pulsing through him,  he went on with it.

          With no second thought, he rides in his invention.  Takes a flight, and bravely pushes the red button of journey to nowhere...

          Just within a few minutes, he reaches the outer space-- his new Home.  A place where he can live his life anew.  Using his brilliant invention, he continues to live up to this day.  He watches anyone on earth who reads his story.





      



                                                                                     ---END---

  

Reaction Paper for the film

“The Gifted Hands— The Benjamin Carson Story”

The movie, with the title stated above, is without a doubt A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!  It is a showcase of dramatic, exasperating, and inspiring scenes materialized into one..  It teaches hope and faith in God, despite the awful and scary situations we may go through in life.

The trials,, perhaps,, may seem as "bunch of bulls" running their way to us,, ready to trample our every single part..  But despite these,, we ought to show no fear,, for we know they will do no serious harm to us..  Surely because of our healthy mindset and GOD-given wisdom, and HIM on our side, these bulls that scare us, putting us to our knees, soon will surely vanish into thin air..   Benjamin Carson,, the main character of the story,, dealt with the same "bunch of bulls". Though problems, in the form of worries and doubts, arose in his workplace, he never let himself be defeated..  Before he performed any surgery, what he did was pray..  Why pray?  One might ask. Pray for what? For the success of the operation? Yes, exactly..  And not only that, he prays for his patient as well..  He prays for him to recover swiftly..  He prays for him to be wholly made well..  So remarkable!  How often do we find doctors like him.  Him who wholeheartedly ask God for help.. for healing of his patients?  How often do we find physicians who possess such love and care to the sick?  Or might as well ask can we find the same person as him? He is unique, perhaps. He is a blessing.

It is indeed rare to find a doctor so meek to know his bounds,, and look up to GOD for HIS help..  Surely,, he is exemplary.. He always puts his best into actions. Though trials came pouring from all directions, he didn't give up. He didn't lose his faith to Jesus Christ.

Not everything was roses with Benjamin’s past experiences.. He started out not-so-good in class - that's one, and one of most unforgettable paths of past he traced.  In fact, he even got zero in his many exams, and got frustrated then.. Extremely frustrated. He grew pessimistic.. He seemed to be a man built up with negative thoughts in the world..  He was blinded by it.  He felt so bad that he could not even see his potential of a person who can excel..  A person worthy of honor and esteem; one, who is worth applauding!


Indeed, he failed to pause and take notice.  But his mother didn’t..  When he was about to swerve his way and prove to the world how stupid he think he was, he was brought back in track by the words uttered by his mom.. Those kind, warm, heartfelt inputs of a loving mother,  “Y-o-u just   have to see b-e-y-o-n-d what you can see...  Do not give up..."  

It was not all easy for him to fight off his fears, and anxiety..  He stumbled numerous times..  But the good thing?  He stood up. He braved the odds and continued his way to become better individual . 

One might imagine him not staying in one corner, with hands clasped together in knees, SOLELY waiting for the skies to rain down blessings on him..  Instead, he worked for his progress.  He made a miracle out of his own faith and work..  He believed deep in the gut that he could change..  That he can still be BETTER, and WISER..  That he can SURPASS his limitations and be more than best he can ever be..  

He read books. Lots of them. He wallowed into wholesome activities to enrich his mind with learnings, KNOWLEDGE, that were served like food so delicious for him to eat..  He set his feet wandering into a world he has not gone into ever since -- The world of WISDOM.

Thereafter, his road was smooth..  He emerged brightest..  He comfortably placed himself in the highest pedestal, garnering the highest grade amongst all other students..  He was no doubt very happy..  He received his certificate of recognition with fists held in front his chest, energized with smile alongside a victorious ‘YES!’ quietly spoken..  


His mother could not help but felt proud, and extremely GLAD for him..

Years have passed and he finally became what he always desired to be -- A medical doctor..  A man once deemed pessimistic turned into someone exemplary. Someone POSITIVE to people around him. A man with hope he profusely beams to those who are out of it.

Benjamin is excellent doctor. Excellent, in the field of pediatric neurosurgery..  A once impossible to do in an operation, became possible with his GIFTED hands..  No wonder he became the head of his own field..  As one physician aptly said in the movie when he talked to Benjamin, “If you cannot find a solution to this disease and patients' problem, no one else will.”  That's how excellent he is that no doctor, of his own field, can surpass his God-given knowledge and extraordinary skills.  Despite this, he remained humble and prayerful.

------------------------------------ INSIGHT ------------------------------------

The “Gifted Hands” story not only shows how extraordinary Dr. Carson is,, but it also points out the how important a parent's guidance to her child is..  How relevant his loving mother’s words are..  Excerpts like, “You don’t need the book, you've got the book inside you”, and “You can do anyone else can do, only you can do it better”, are just few of the words unforgettable of the said movie..  In addition,,  this story also serves as WAKE-UP call to each and everyone of us,, that WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER TO SPEAK TO GOD IN PRAYER,, AS HE REMEMBERS US ALL THE TIME..  

The movie is without a doubt hands down awesome!  

Kudos, then, to all the makers of the film.   Kudos to Dr. Benjamin Carson!

Now,, if you are a sort of downhearted, and do NOT have enough SELF-CONFIDENCE within you, this one heart-rending, inspiring masterpiece fits you..  It is very healing in an odd way =)