The magic lamp works, or a London dream comes true.

On a sad March day I was lying in the Tűzoltó street children’s hospital. I just had been through a brain surgery, 35 treatments of radiation therapy, and the resulting discomfort.

I was just trying to overcome my nausea, caused by chemotherapy, with the help of Dr. Garami, Dr. Hauser, and the all the nice nurses, when an older lady sat down beside my bed.
She told me about the Csodalámpa (Wonderlamp) Foundation that was brought to life by Eva Patzauer, with the purpose of granting special wishes. Wishes of children who are fighting for their recovery, and who have to undergo many unpleasant but necessary treatments. To make these wishes come true demands lots of joint effort and organization from the members of the foundation.

So it happened that I could make a wish.

I “rubbed the lamp” and was pronouncing my long-time secret wish: to meet the adventurer Bear Grylls, host of Born Survivor on the Discovery Channel.


Without my knowing a group of volunteers with the guidance of Éva started making phone calls, sending out e-mails, until one day in mid-September I found out that my dream was going to come true, and I was going to meet Bear in London.
From the plane tickets to the hotel everything was organized for us. At the airport I met Andrea Molnar, a volunteer of the the foundation, who was our escort and guide for the time we spent in London.

London was wonderful, and fascinating. But I could only think of my upcoming meeting with Bear Grylls. We had to be at the Holy Trinity Brompton Church at 7 PM on September 22nd where Bear was invited to talk about his life and his faith.
When we got there two of the organizers, Keira and Alice were waiting for us at the entrance. From that moment time sped up. We were escorted into a big tent and offered food and drinks, but I was unable to eat even a bite. Only this time it was not the chemo, but my excitement that spoiled my appetite.
A journalist arrived who asked me to tell her my story. Then I was led into the church, where pictures were taken. People started arriving and my excitement rose even higher. Then I was led into a room, where Bear was already waiting for me.

I almost started crying from happiness, but I did not come here to cry, right? He hugged me and asked me many questions. Then he gave me his signed book, a few pictures, and many more hugs.
I also gave him some presents: a bottle of walnut pálinka, a real Hungarian “survivor drink”, and a little movie on DVD that I had made for him about myself. The title of this movie “I won’t give up”, because I know that this is the only way to get better, as I had learnt it from Bear’s adventurous life.
Then we had our pictures taken, he hugged me again, and told me that my strength gives him strength as well.

At the end of our meeting he promised me that after his talk he was going to give me his shirt that had been especially made for him. He said that the only reason he could not do it right away was that he could not do his speech without his shirt!
After our meeting I watched his interview with the reverend from the first row, seated amongst Bear’s wife and friends. Afterwards he came up to me and gave me a final hug.

And he really gave me his shirt, with “Jozsef the Hero” written on its back. We said our goodbyes, and I left floating two meters above the ground.

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My wish came through and this experience has given me lots of ammunitions that I can use on my road to recovery if I need something to cheer me up. I would like to thank Eva Patzauer, Andrea Molnar, all the Csodalámpa volunteers and sponsors for their help.

I have two advices for all the kids and especially for those at the Tűzoltó street Pediatric Clinic:

1. Rub the magic lamp because it works!
   
2. Never give up!

József *****

This wish was fulfilled by the support of the following companies:






Thank you very much toHoly Trinity Brompton, to Mr Peter de Groot, president ofHungarian Oxford & Cambridge Society and Mr Péter Somodji