Paid in Full

One of the best doctors in America, a wealthy, respected Jew who cared for his people was coming close to retirement. His friends and acquaintances arranged a magnificent, special ‘retirement party’ for him as was befitting his stature.

The important doctor – the guest of honor – was very emotional, and in his farewell speech told an amazing story that happened to him when he was made head of the department in one of the large hospitals in the United States.

* * *

‘Really’ – the doctor started his story – ‘everything began many years ago when I was a young boy. This was the start of Jewish immigration to America after the liberation of the camps. My father was not a religious man, who barely survived the terrible death camps and without the potent medications that we have today and without the doctors that we have today he died young and I was a very young boy. He left behind a widow and orphans without having anything. There were no rabbinical committees or charity funds at that time and there was also no one to worry about us or our needs and we were left simply hungry for bread.

‘One morning before I left for school, my mother had nothing to give me for breakfast, my stomach was growling from hunger and there was nothing in the house at all!

‘“Go to school now” - my mother said – “perhaps when you return I will find something.” I cried a lot because I was embarrassed to go to school without anything “and what would I do when all the children in the class would take out their treats and bread and only I would sit there with closed eyes and nothing in my hand?” I argued, and I would not go to school without anything.

‘In the end my mother found a ‘sugar packet’ hidden in one of the corners, she placed it in my hand so that I would have ‘something’ with me and not leave the house without something to eat.

‘At recess I suffered heartache seeing the children satisfy their appetites, I could not take the hunger pains any longer so I decided to go for a walk and see if I could find some food to quiet my hunger.

‘I left the class to go into the big city, a small child alone, and I started to knock on the doors of the holy Jews who are always giving. For a long time I went from door to door but to my disappointment no one opened up for me, it seemed that at that time no one was home as it was typical for Americans to be at work.

‘It happened as I was nearing a house I heard voices and noise, apparently they had not yet left the house… I hesitantly approached and lightly knocked on the door and it was opened by a young girl who asked me: “Who are you? What do you want?” I was very embarrassed but I gathered the courage and stated: “I am studying at a nearby school, I am a ten-year-old orphan and since my mother is a widow she is unable to provide for me, I come seeking a little water”…

‘”By us” – responded the girl with a wise smile – “we do not drink water in the morning!”

‘”Then what?”

‘”In our house, the beverage we drink in the morning is ‘iced coffee’! Along with some cookies!”

‘”That would be fine” – I happily responded.

‘She must have seen my condition and sensed my great hunger, and with a broad heart brought me a tasty drink and some delicious cookies which literally revived me at that time.

‘As I was drinking the coffee, she told me that usually no one is home at time of day either… and aside from the fact that she never opens the door to strangers as she was trained in her house, but today she did not feel well and she was a little late and she opened the door thinking that it was her father. “See how everything was destined for you from Heaven so that you could find something to quiet your hunger!” – the bright young girl rightly noted.

‘”What is your name?” – I asked in my embarrassment.

‘“Chana Rachel Rose” – she answered.

‘I thanked her from the bottom of my heart and I told her that she literally saved my life and I continued to thank her very much. I immediately returned to my seat in the classroom.

* * *

More than fifty years after that the story, the boy had grown up to be a specialist, head of a department in a very large hospital in the United States. From his nicely appointed office he would lead the department with a strong hand. Under him were tens of doctors and hundreds of nurses.

The protocol in that hospital was that the venerable head of the department did not go himself to the patient rooms on a daily basis. This was done by the residents and interns on daily rounds who would record in the patients’ charts their diagnoses and the various treatments prescribed for the patients’ specific needs. Afterwards the charts would go to the head of the department for review and to confirm the treatments.

One day as the specialist was reviewing the patient charts and their details he stumbled upon the name of an older woman “Chana Rachel” and next to her married name was entered her maiden name: “Rose”. The name Chana Rachel Rose” rang a bell in his head and he should have recognized it. He tried to remember where he knew the name and after some hard thinking he remembered the story that happened more than fifty years ago!

He immediately got up from his place, left his office and went to the patients ward. Everyone moved out of his out of respect for him and they wondered why the chief doctor himself was coming to the patient rooms.

The doctor went directly to the room number listed in the chart, entered the room and asked, “Who is Chana Rachel Rose?” – When she was pointed out to him he did a thorough examination and ordered the nurses to give her exceptional care and that he was overseeing her case and was in charge of her recovery.

The members of the department were all confounded, why was this woman so important and why did the head of the department take on the care of this woman?

The doctor kept his word and came every day to track her recovery and after following the special treatment and dedicated management and with great effort she began to overcome her severe illness. Her medical condition stabilized and she began to recover and get stronger until with the help of Heaven she was able to stand on her feet and she made a complete recovery from her illness.

* * *

The day came when she was to be discharged from the hospital and she approached the nurses’ station in order to receive her ‘discharge papers’ which is customary. The head nurse told her that since she received special treatment from the head of the department she would have to pay for the special treatment in addition to the cost of the expensive medication that was prescribed for her.

When she tried to clarify the exact amount owed, the nurse told her that the doctor determines the exact amount, but because of the extensive treatment it would be in the tens of thousands of dollars! Because she was treated by the head of the department himself, his services cost a large fortune!

“But I did not ask for his services at all!” – Chana Rachel exclaimed – “For some reason he decided to come to my bed and offer to treat me, of course, I am very grateful and I appreciate his kindness but I did not think that I would have to pay so much! How can you treat a patient with such expensive treatments without letting them know in advance?” – wondered the patient who did not know how she would come up with large amount of money.

“Wait here a moment” – said the nurse – “I will go to the doctor’s office and I will clarify the matter. This does sound strange, as the doctor offered his services on his own without being asked.”

After several minutes the nurse came out with the ‘statement’ issued by the doctor’s personal secretary. The total on the statement was $53,000. However, at the bottom of the statement was a handwritten note from the doctor: “Paid in full more than fifty years ago!”

Now Chana Rachel was totally confused. She did not know what was happening. “What is going on here? How did I get such a large bill? What is the meaning of “paid in full”? How was it paid? By whom?” She did not understand anything at all. She begged the nurses to see if it was possible to arrange a meeting immediately with the doctor in order to understand what is happening here.

The sympathetic nurse who was also curious to solve the mystery arranged a meeting with the head of the department in his office.

Immediately, when she entered the doctor turned to her and asked, “Are you Chana Rachel Rose?”

She wondered why the doctor called her that - now and the first time he entered her room – by her maiden name, but she thought that was the only name he remembered.

“Yes!” she answered concealing her suspicion.

 ‘Tell me, do you perhaps remember a boy of ten-years-old that came to your house and you gave him ‘iced coffee’ and cookies?’

‘No! Really, no!’ – answered Chana Rachel as her astonishment grew stronger and she did not understand anything that was happening with her today.

‘Please sit down” the doctor requested politely.

She was very nervous, but the doctor calmed her and told her that she had nothing to worry about and the bill had already been paid in full. He started to remind her of the story until she remembered the entire incident that she did indeed open the door for a boy who wanted something to drink.

“I am that orphaned little boy!” the doctor stated, “the cup of coffee and the biscuits that you gave me more than fifty years ago saved my life! They were surely payment in full for the entire bill!!!”

The elderly Chana Rachel was overcome with joy and emotions.....

* * *
The wisest of all men has already testified to us: “Send your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it.” (Koheles 11:1)