A leg is saved

by John Banks

Recently a friend called to tell me her father, who only a year ago suffered an amputation of his leg, was having similar pains in his other leg and she was quite worried about it. After admission to the hospital, the doctor announced that there was only a 50/50 chance of saving the leg. My friend, felt by the attitude of the doctor, that he was really humouring them and that the in fact felt the amputation would be necessary. She tried to put a good face on the situation, but inwardly she told me she was sure it would be amputated and she started thinking of how to make the best of the situation. She researched various wheelchair options and generally looked into the issues faced by people with no legs. At this point she called me and shared her concerns. I asked her if she could stop for a moment and consider her approach to the situation. She asked what I meant. I told her that from what I was hearing she had assumed the worst and was bravely trying to make the best!

Of all concerned, I said an alternate path is available. What is that she asked? Why don't you reverse that attitude and in stead think only that the operation will be a success. Thinking negatively only attracts the result. If you and the rest of your family change the attitude that the operation will not succeed and assume that it will be successful you can bring that result instead. In fact, your father who has been a little depressed because he only has one leg might shine as a result of the successful operation and be grateful that he has the one and can at least get around. This whole scenario could in fact work out to be a boon for your Dad. She immediately knew what I was talking about and said she would try. She even had to reverse the attitudes of her other family members who are not as naturally positive as she is. Well, after a nerve wracking 11 hour operation (9 hours longer than anticipated) the doctors were able to bypass the problem and save the leg. To kill the pessimistic view is always the easy way out, that way!

We should never suffer disappointment because we have assumed the worst. Her courage in reversing that attitude and insisting on a positive outcome saved her dad's leg. She had not read The Secret, but instinctively understood how it works!

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