Lawrence by Dan Magee

A week ago Monday, I met Lawrence in the hospital while making rounds with Pastoral Counselor Vinton.  He was tiny and frail.  Having been born HIV+, he never had extended health, and was a regular patient in the hospital over the years.  

We met and talked for a few minutes.  The strength and determination behind his eyes shone through clearly.  He may be in here right now, like many times before, but he had things to do, and a life to get on with.  After we left, Vinton told me a little more about his situation, confirming that Lawrence took life in stride and did not let it get him down. 

A little later in the day, we were walking down a ward, and through the open space, we saw striding down the opposite ward a very purposeful column.  They turned out to be Lawrence’s main teacher, the school principal, and an armed guard escorting them (big rifle on his shoulder).  It turns out that there is a very strict schedule for the taking of end-of-term exams for the students here.  If the exams are not completed before the final date, there is no credit granted for that year’s work, and the student must take that year’s classes over again in order to proceed to the next level.

Lawrence is 17 years old.  The exams to be taken and passed would allow him to proceed to University level.  Vinton advised this is unusual progress for many students, a tribute to Lawrence’s academic ability and desire to succeed with his education.  Further he said, it is highly unusual for a student with Lawrence’s medical condition that took him out of school so often for treatment and recuperation at home and in the hospital, not to have been held back for a school year at any time.

We passed by the group a couple more times that day.  I took great interest in the work that went into creating a spot for Lawrence to take his exam.  The beds in his room all lay flat – no back support for him to sit up.  No desk surface for him to write his answers.  They moved from ward to ward and tried various pieces of furniture before he was finally propped into a sitting position with pen and book in hand. 

The next couple days at the hospital, we saw the group: Lawrence taking his exam, alone in the room, the guard keeping watch, the teacher or principal nearby.  Apparently, the exams took three full days to finish.  Vinton told me everyone receives the results of their exams when they are posted in the newspaper sometime in December or January.  Pass or fail, everybody knows; many before the students themselves. 

Last night, Vinton told me that Lawrence passed away over the weekend.  I cried.