A Memoir

Two months ago, on 20^th February 2014, Alan Joash Samuel, our dear friend and classmate, passed away due to Rabies. The weeks that preceded it, and those that followed, have been the toughest phase of my life, emotionally. I tried to write, but I wasn’t in a state of mind to blog about it. Now that I am back here after a long break from blogging, I feel that it would be unjust if I don’t record the event that impacted my life in such a big way. So, I’m putting together here what I wrote at different points during the last two months.

It’s been over a week from that dismal day, yet our hearts refuse to be comforted. His sudden and unexpected death has left us all shattered. We didn't get a chance to tell him how much he meant to us, how precious his role in influencing our lives. We didn’t have the time to bid him goodbye. Even though my mind is still fogged by the sorrow weighing my heart down, I now recollect the events of the past few months.

In late October 2013, Alan was bitten by a pup in our college. Although he met the campus doctor and received a tetanus injection the same day, he did not take the anti-rabies vaccination course prescribed as appropriate treatment for the bite. Months went by and the incident was soon forgotten. Only on 12^th February 2014 did the rabies virus, that had entered his body during the dog bite, begin to show visible symptoms. Alan complained of back ache and hydrophobia. He was first taken to the Government General Hospital (GH) in Chennai, where it was said that nothing could be done. He was then shifted to the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, where expert doctors tried their best.

It was a time when thousands of people around the world united in faith, praying for the charming 24-year old who never ceased to say a kind word, never ceased to encourage, never ceased to light up someone's gloomy day.

Personally, it was a spiritual journey for me, as well as for my classmates. Alan’s family, so beautiful in their faith, strengthened all those who seemed to have lost hope. Alan did not survive the rabies. The virus had gotten too strong and attacked his central nervous system. But he had definitely succeeded in becoming a witness for Jesus, just like he said he wanted to, a few minutes before he was taken to the Intensive Care Unit at CMC.

It’s true that there are unanswered questions: “Why Alan? By taking him away, has God been unfair to us? ...” We are unable to comprehend God's ways, and we are unworthy to question them.

However, Alan's death is a wake-up call for each of us. In fact, we have re-learnt many of the lessons that we had learnt in school, but had forgotten over time. It has taught us that we cannot compromise when it comes to a matter of our health. Like the wise old saying goes, prevention is definitely better than cure! The price you pay for lack of awareness and self-care can be too costly. Your life is way too precious; so take care of yourself.

I have compiled some useful information about rabies, which we used for the awareness campaign in our college. You can read about it here.

While his death has taught us some important lessons, Alan’s life has also taught us some valuable life lessons. He had been a delightful young man; always with a toothy smile on his face, not ashamed to laugh out loud, always up for a little adventure. There was never a day when he didn't try to make more friends, never a day when he would ignore someone he knew. You know, he just made the best out of what life had to offer him, and he made sure that he did his best to make life a little better for someone every day.

Although I only knew him for a few months, looking back at the life I saw him live, I am reminded of the simple, yet profound lessons Alan has left behind for us.

Live life to the fullest while it is still yours to live: you never know when it will be time to go.

Tell the people you love the way you feel about them, or it just might be too late.

Touch lives in your unique way during your lifetime. It is good to be remembered after your time.

Make memories that are worth remembering even when you are not around.

Find your purpose in life, and fulfill it.

Finally, the most important lesson of all: In the prime of our youthfulness, we tend to think that we have all the time in the world. But here’s the truth; our days are numbered. For each of us, there are a set number of days to live, a God-given role to play, and a purpose to fulfill. So let’s not just sit around there doing nothing. Our life is a precious gift given to us, and every moment holds the potential to create something beautiful.

In the words of Diane Ackerman, “I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find out that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” That, (I’m sure) everybody who knew Alan would agree, he did.