I first met him at the Intensive Care Unit at what was then Emory Dunwoody Medical Center.
After a disastrous car wreck on April 7, 1996, I finally woke up after being out for seven days. The nurse was excited, running out to call the doctor.
After a few blinks of the eye, a middle-aged man with round glasses and beard, about 5 feet, 7 inches tall, walked into my room and 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,” I replied. “Thank you so very much for saving me!”
I teared up. After all, I was alive because of him.
Over the next three months, I was in and out of the hospital several times. During that time, Dr. Abend came to my room to check up on me every morning at 7 a.m. — never once breaking his “appointment” during my stay.
Though it’s been more than 23 years, I’m amazed when I look in the mirror. To this day, I still find it unbelievable that Dr. Abend could repair my broken insides and put them back into my body, making me live again.
After the surgery, my mom kneeled to show her appreciation to Dr. Abend for saving her daughter. She also called him “Old Doctor.” (To the Chinese, “old” is a sign of respect; it is bestowed upon someone who is experienced and highly educated and skilled.)
To thank Dr. Abend for saving me, my father sent him a banner adorned with Chinese calligraphy and the words, “Rescue the Wounded.”
Because of Dr. Abend, I have been able to enjoy a normal life.
I married in 1997. Two years later, we bought a house, and in 2001, I was even able to give birth to my son.
As the Chinese people say: “If one survives, there will be future fortunes.”
Every year, I sent Dr. Abend a card for Father’s Day, and in April 2008, my own family had the opportunity to thank him with a special dinner in Atlanta.
Indeed, he was very pleased and proud of my progress in life.
But even the best of doctors cannot escape death.
After a battle with cancer, Dr. Abend died in his Atlanta home on Dec. 19, 2011. To this day, I consider it one of the saddest days of my life.
Every day, I think of him — and thank him. He was such a legendary, magical doctor, and I consider him my second father. I always work hard to repay the gift of my life. I would like to tell Dr. Abend that my son is already in college now.
He was truly someone special. He touched so many lives, brightened so many days and lightened so many hearts.
And I am proof that Dr. Abend’s love never really ends.
It’s like a nonstop relay race, going on in my heart forever, generation by generation.
BECOME A COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR
This story was written by Hong Mizelle, a community contributor for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mizelle lived in DeKalb County at the time of her accident.
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