蜡烛一直亮着…… 悼念我的救命恩人—— 亚特兰大新闻宪政报刊载英文版

《亚特兰大新闻宪政报》（The Atlanta Journal-Constitution）2019年1月11日刊登了作者的怀念文章。

【作者: 梦影（北卡温斯顿·塞利姆）】

8年前的12月19日对我来说是最难过的一天。 麦尔文·N·艾本德医师，给了我第二次生命的人，在与癌症斗争多年后在这一天去世了。

当我在顿伍迪医疗中心的加护病房中第一次见到他时，是1996年4月14日。我因一场灾难性的车祸昏迷7天后醒过来，护士激动得跑去叫医生。 一眨眼的功夫，一位中年络腮胡带着圆眼镜，身高约5.7英尺的男人走进了我的病房。 他说：“你好，红女士！很高兴见到你。我叫麦尔文·艾本德，是我给你做的手术。” “很高兴见到您，艾本德医师。非常感谢您救了我！” 我情不自禁地哭出了声儿。因为他，我还活着！

1996年12月6日在艾本德医师的诊所。

进进出出医院三个月，直到1996年7月4日我终于走出医院大门。在我逗留期间，每天早上7点，艾本德医师准时来到我的病房看望，从未“失过约”。医院里所有医护人员都非常负责，和蔼可亲，严格按照医嘱精心治疗，并照顾我的吃喝拉撒。(碰到男护士时特尴尬，但身体太虚起不来)

医护人员后来告诉我，艾本德医师是当时唯一可以为我做手术的医生。 一次偶然机会读了艾本德医师记录我手术的报告，他与死神搏斗了8个多小时才把我拉回来! 尽管已经过去23年，每当我照镜子时，仍然感到惊讶，外表一点儿也看不出自己曾遭过那场车难! 艾本德医师运用他高超的医术(曾在越南战场主刀)修复我被撞的内脏(右肾太碎只好切掉)，并将它们放回体内，使我重生！

作者和麦尔文·N·艾本德医师夫妇。

我母亲跪谢他的救命之恩，并称他为“老医生”。 对于中国人来说，“老”意味着最受尊敬的人，一个受过高等教育，在其领域经验最丰富，驾轻就熟的人。 我父亲托人给他带来一条中国书法锦旗“救死扶伤”感恩!

因由我的救命恩人艾本德医师，我在康复之后可以过上正常的生活：我于1997年结婚；1998年移居北卡罗来纳州温斯顿·塞利姆（我丈夫的故乡）； 1999年买第一套房子；2000年开始在邮局工作； 甚至在2001年生了健康的儿子！(当年有中国医生说好像缺个肾不宜生孩子) 我的经历充分验证了我们中国人所说的真理：“大难不死，必有后福！”

每年父亲节我都给他寄卡，他就是我生命中第二个父亲。2008年4月我们家三口儿专程赴亚特兰大，终于请到他和他太太在他忙碌的工作日程之外共进晚餐答谢，特别要让儿子拜见我的救命恩人，珍惜生命学会感恩。 他很为我的生活进步感到高兴和自豪。

2008年4月在亚特兰大中餐馆。

在此高兴地告诉您一个好消息: 我儿子已经上大学啦!

艾本德医师是一位神奇的医生！ 我一直努力在各方面都做好，回报我得到的世界上最好的礼物——生命！

他是最好的外科医生，但他却没能拯救自己。 他的一生就像：“一支蜡烛点燃别人，却燃烧自己。”衷心祝愿您天堂快乐祥和！

麦尔文·N·艾本德医师是一个特别的人! 他救助了许多生命； 点亮了许多颗心。 他的爱永远不会停止，就像不间断的接力赛跑，永远代代相传！

Keep The Candle Lights on…
Mourning My Savior,
Dr. Melvin N. Abend

By Hong Mizelle

Eight years ago on December 19th, was the saddest day for me. Dr. Melvin N. Abend, who gave me a second chance at life in America, passed away that day, after struggling with cancer for years.

The first time I met him while I was in the ICU at Dunwoody Medical Center, I woke up after being out for seven days from a disastrous car wreck on April 7th, 1996. The nurse was excited, running out to call the doctor. After a few blinks of the eye, a late middle aged man with round glasses & beard, about 5.7 feet tall, walked into my room. He said: "Hello, Ms. Hong! I am so happy to meet you. My name is Melvin Abend, I did the operation on you." "Nice to meet you, Dr. Abend. Thank you so very much for saving me!" I teared up; I was alive because of him!

For three months I had to go in and out of the hospital several times before finally being released on July 4th, 1996. During those three months, every morning at 7, Dr. Abend came to my room to check up on me, never breaking the "Appointment" during my stay.

I was told by hospital staff that he was the only physician at that time who could perform the surgery I needed. It took him 8 plus hours to get done. I had read a report which Dr. Abend wrote of my procedure. Though it's been 23 years, I'm still amazed when I look in the mirror, unbelieving that Dr. Abend could repair my broken insides and put them back into my body, making me live again!

My mom kneeled to appreciate him saving her daughter. She also called him "Old Doctor". To the Chinese, “old” means to be the most respected person, one who is experienced, highly educated and most skilled in their field. My father sent him a Chinese Pennant which had the words "Rescue the Wounded" to thank him saving me.

Because of my savior, Dr. Abend, I could enjoy a normal life after recovering: I got married in 1997; moved to Winston-Salem, NC (my husband's hometown) in 1998; bought a house in 1999; started working at the USPS in 2000; and was even able to give birth to my son in 2001! Just like what our Chinese people said: "If one survives, there will be future fortunes!"

I sent him a card for Father's Day every year, and finally my own family could thank him with a dinner in Atlanta April, 2008, away from his busy working schedule. He was very pleased and proud of my progress in life. I would like to tell you that my son is growing up, he is in college already!

Every day I thank him, Dr. Abend, my 2nd father, such a legendary magical doctor! I always work hard to repay the gift of my life!

He's the best surgeon doctor, but he cannot escape from the "Grim Reaper" himself. His life epitomized the saying: "A candle lights others and consumes itself." Wishing you the best of peaceful and happy in heaven!

Dr. Melvin N. Abend was truly someone special, who touched so many lives; brightened so many days; and lightened so many hearts. His love never really ends, like a non-stop relay race, going on in my heart forever, generation by generation!

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