The Swiss Ophthalmologist and his Teddy

He was once known as the best ophthalologist in South Africa. He has humour, he has wit, he also has immense wisdom.

He tells us of a difficult childhood. A poor family with five children in Switzerland.

A mother who would always give some soup to the needy, no matter how much she had to dilute it with water. As long as everybody got something.

His father with his faithful watchdog, working as a guard.

And this brilliant little boy whose intelligence wowed his teachers. Teachers who told his parents it would be a sin not to let this boy continue with his schooling straight through to tertiary education.

He took a job and his father took two, just to get him the very best education.

And look at him now. Wealthy. Intelligent. Well-known. STRONG.
Battling cancer and muscular dystrophy, an ex-wife and ungreatful children.

One story from his childhood still makes me cry. He had one toy, just one. A teddybear that was his best friend. He was a little boy of about eight during World War 2 and his teacher told the class about all the little boys and girls whose homes and toys had been destroyed by the bombings. They were going to have a toy collection for these poor little boys and girls and all the children were to bring at least one toy as donation to school during the next week.

This little boy went home and looked at his favourite, loved little companion. And he took the teddy to his teacher the next day and he cried, he cried so much, but he gave it up, and the teacher said not to worry, he is doing a good thing. And for the rest of that week, his teddy-friend sat on Teacher's desk and watched him, and the little boy felt such loneliness.

Could that teacher not see that this boy was poor to, and needed a toy - his ONLY toy? Could she not secretly give it back to him? Did she perhaps at least notice the amazing sacrifice he was making?

I wish I could go back in time and hug that little boy and give him his teddy back.

Because of all the stories the doctor has told us... this is the only one that still makes him cry when he tells it.