Thursday, April 16, 2009

Is there no compassion anymore?

I'll try to keep it short....
I went to Chapters this morning in search of the very last Simple Scrapbooks issue. It wasn't in yet. As I was leaving I noticed a woman stumble on the sidewalk. A security guard is right behind her. I watch them walk by only to notice that she'd wet her pants. She stumbled again and the guard reached out to grab her arm, but I think he spooked her and she became a victim of momemtum and her body went faster than her feet. The sound of a head hitting concrete is one I always shudder at. I went over to see if she was okay while the guard called mall security for 1st aid and an ambulance. I helped put her glasses back on her head. It was obvious she was drunk, but she wasn't homeless, she was dressed nicer than I was, I had on dogwalking jeans, she had nice hair, she was clean. I'm pretty sure the guard said when he called for help "an intoxicated Native woman". I'm Native, I find that doesn't matter, the fact is she whacked her head, couldn't get up, and needed help. She had a purse, a bag and might have been named Diane from Coquitlam. She was probably my age.
The guard told her to stay still, I kept talking to her so she wouldn't go to sleep. I made sure she wasn't bleeding (thank God she wasn't), and the guard said a blanket was coming for her. She didn't like that, told him to get up and move away, to stand by the wall and not touch her. I was okay to be near her. I told her not to close her eyes and fall asleep, and this breaks my heart, she looked me in the eyes and said "Sweetie, I never sleep".
The ambulance came, 4-5 attendants crowded around her and 1, Asshole John, started asking her questions and she got all spooked and was looking around, when her eyes landed on me, I stepped forward and told her they would look after her. To which Ass said "Who are YOU, Who are you to her?" I said no one, I was there when it happened and he looks at me and says "Move along then" and they other guys crowd back around her.
She looked so scared and I left. I cried all the way. I'm still crying.

6 comments:

Jenn said...

I'm sorry, Kelli - that must have been an awful experience. What is the world coming to when someone trying to help gets treated like that? I am glad that you were there for her, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Julie said...

Oh Kelli that is a horrible story. I am so sorry that woman and you both had to go through that. The answer to your question is that yes there is compassion and you showed it to that woman when no one else would. You should be so incredibly proud of yourself for making what was obviously an awful experience for her just a little bit better when she was surrounded by complete and total assholes. HUGS

Oh and those men should be shot.

Veronica said...

Yes some people have no compassion. You however displayed the true meaning of helping your neighbour...and your neighbour is anyone on this planet! Thanks Kelli for your care and concern for someone who needed your help. Love you lots!!

Shannon said...

Things like that really make you think about what this world is coming too. People become numb, and in the process seem to lose thier compassion. I'm so glad you could be a comfort for her in those few moments.

Anonymous said...

That is so sad, at least someone with compassion was nearby to offer help.

As far as my germs go, I was thinking that myself. If I sneeze on a ride, I could get so many people sick. So Im taking hand sanitizer and 2 packs of kleenex to make sure I dont touch anything! And maybe some dayquil before we leave!!

Lisa said...

I'm so glad you were there. She needed someone to be there and you were...at least as much as you were allowed. I'm so sorry for what you had to witness...even sorrier for what the lady had to experience.