Kim stock
Death reveals inner humanity
The last fifteen years have been
an uphill battle for my friend.
She fought an endless string of
heart attacks, cancer and triple bypass
surgeries. Each time she conquered
the problem and came out successful.
But, that was the way people saw her
— as a winner.
In late May, my friend had to go
into the hospital for what doctors cal led
“a routine surgery." That was nothing
to fear because she had seen many
“routine surgeries" and we all had
faith that she would come out of her
hospital stay again a winner.
But it was almost as if there was a
plan God had in mind for her that was
greater than any of us could under
stand. Routine turned into complica
tions and a relatively safe fifth floor
hospital room turned into a rush over
to Lincoln General’s Intensive Care
Unit.
For over a month, I watched my
friend’s body deteriorate until the
point when I could hardly recognize
her. She no longer looked like the
woman that I ’d debate topics with and
feel warm inside because she smiled
at me. Having numerous tubes run
ning through her throat and body, and
being so drugged that she couldn’t sec
or hear us, my friend looked more like
someone who was wrestling with an
angel for her life.
Last Tuesdaynight, the angel m ust
have convinced her it was time for her
to leave. That decision marked the
end of my friend’s suffering and the
beginning of a long road of grief for
those who cared about her.
But, what I want to write is not
about the pain of death, but the strength
of those who survive. There’s nothing
more beautiful than the feeling when
It’s when people are
able to break free from
their egos and inhibi
tionsand bend their
backs so others can
lean on their shoul
ders, is when we
understand what it
means to be human.
people pull together and support each
other. It’s when people arc able to
break free from their egos and inhibi
tions, and bend their backs so others
can lean on their shoulders, is when
we understand what it means to be
human.
For that emotional month, people
came to join in a tiny wailing room to
give warmth and to feel the warmth of
others. At times, the nurses would
come and scold us because our laugh
ter echoed throughout the hallways. I
couldn’t believe how much people
could accomplish when they pulled
together,.
Something special happened in that
waiting room that is hard to describe.
Friendships were made among the
different families, and bonds were
made stronger. When we knew my
friend had died, we still joined our
hands in a circle and prayed. £vcn
then, we knew it was not time to
abandon the hope that had helped us
remain strong.
Yes, sometimes from times of trag
edy people are able to grow.
The first time I learned this was
when I was a sophomore in high school.
Within a week, two students commit
ted suicide, marking the second and
third that year. This came as a great
shock to us and it felt as if someone
had taken a knife and slashed away
our innocence. Youth and death had
united and this was beyond our com
prehension.
But, after the tears were shed and
the pain had healed a little, we were
again able to feel free and laugh.
Despite what we feltat the time of this
occurrence, nothing could destroy our
laughter.
And, to those people who find this
to be loo drippy and sentimental, all I
have to say is, open up your hearts and
allow yourself to feel emotion. It’s
OK to be human.
The funeral formy friend was Tues
day, and I wasn’ t sure how easy it was
going to be. But, every person that
supported her, supported each other
and was there with open aims.
One of my favorite quotes is from
Albert Camus and says, “In the midst
of winter, I found an invincible sum
mer in me.” That quote has always
made me feel belter when limes have
been hard m my life. In this past
month, because of the help of those
around me, I have no doubt that sum
mer is around the comer waiting.
' W ’ - . '■ :i ''
Stock is a sophomore secondary educa
tion English major and a Summer Daily Ne
braskan columnist.
WWW 1)()KS l \L I 111 \ K ?
What do you think about the recent events in the Roger Bjorklund
case?
“He’s trying to give the public the
perception through all this maneuver
ing that he is innocent He’s taking
the emphasis off of himself and onto
the process.”
Lance LaRuc
Senior
Agriculture Business
“He shouldn’t be able to pick a jury.
I don’t think it is right The people in
Lincoln were all affected, so the jury
should be from Lincoln. I don’t think
there’s anyone in Lincoln that thinks
too highly of him.”
Scott Schrocder
Junior
Biology
“It’s noldifferent from any other court
process, it just takes a long time. It’s
pretty obvious there is a serious flaw
in the court system, but nobody really
has the power to change it.”
Tim Timmermas
Senior
Business Administration
— Compiled by Carma Loontjer
The Daily Nebraskan wants to hear from you. If you want to voice your
opinion about an article thatappears in the newspaper, let us know. Just write
a brief letter to the editor and sign it (don’t forget your student ID number)
and mail it to the Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 ‘R’ Street,
. Lincoln, NE 68588-0448, or stop by the office in the basement of the
^ Nebraska Union and visit with us. We’re all cars.
Tub cue of yout s*L
it shows yout srylf!
IMwriry HuM Cum
DmuI Office
fhk 4 U
011472749$
to sdeUk you
SUMMER /^pdNmeNT.
August
Graduation
Personalized
Graduation Announcements
(includes your name and degree)
$28.00 package off 20
</ mlim ■
__‘
qg--..<*
jctySrjuu
y(/mA44dCmy k ^njrr/^Tl -f 4~l~l^
AwmJtoJ mmJ m*m4y Sitm
3*30 0 JkA
$U 9Lmmy StyImA C&*JU
Bachelor Gown, Cap & Tassle
$14.95
lie return needed.
Save your cap and gown as a keepsake.
Big Red Department
Mon • Sat: 9-6
Sun: Noon - 5
Sat: till 8
NEBR4SK4
BOOKSTORE
13th &Q 476-0111
Aviation is more
than flying around ...
the slcy is the limit.
Interested in Aviation careers?
To find out more, enroll in Intro to Aviation.
ANV1000 3 Credits T/TH 3.00 p.m.-4:15 pjn.
Learn to fly without leaving the ground,
enroll in private pilot theory.
ANV 1020 3 Credits T/TH 500 p.m;>.6:40 pjn.
To pre-register for these two classes,
offered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
call the University of Nebraska at Omaha
Aviation Institute toll-free.
1-800-858-8648
or
402-554-3424
University of
Nebraska at
Omaha
The University o» Nebraska at Omaha doe* not discriminate tn Its academic, employment ct admissions
policies and abides by al ted oral, state and regental regulations pertaining to same.
