Little Polynesian Angel

Little Polynesian Angel

When our son was only six months old, he became sick with a severe respiratory infection, and had to spend two months in a hospital, located in Honolulu, Hawaii. He required breathing treatments, and eventually had to have a tracheostomy tube put in, which was later removed. He spent his first Easter in the hospital, which was bad enough…. But we also went through a memorable experience there that will remain with me forever. The room he was in was located in a children’s ward, at a military hospital. They didn’t have private rooms; they had shared spaces separated by curtains.

One day, we watched a little girl about age 10 walking down the hallway with an IV cart, her Mother and sister were walking alongside her. I had asked one of her visitors what caused her to be in the hospital? She told me that the little girl had been a recurring patient for years, and that she had rheumatic heart disease. She then told me that it is a “side effect” from having developed rheumatic fever as a baby.

I felt terrible for this little one, so young and facing so many challenges and literally fighting every day for her life. How slowly she walked, and how labored the effort.

One night, my son had gone to sleep, and I was sitting by his bedside watching his quiet, rhythmic breathing. I heard a gasp, and heard some crying … then whispers… “noooo”… and more crying coming from the space next door. I knew something terrible had happened, they called a “code” and medical personnel came running to this little girl’s side… I just had a feeling.

This little girl, who was so young and had fought so hard for her life, had lost her battle sometime in the night. She left us, and since I have the belief that all little children that pass on go to heaven, she went to heaven sometime in the middle of a warm, soft breezed, starry Hawaiian Spring night.

That next morning, the mood in the ward was somber. I had never personally known a small child that had passed away. Everyone was totally silent as they wheeled her out of the ward, a little sheet covering her. Her relatives were crying and walking alongside of her… they didn’t want to leave her side. No one was prepared for someone this young to leave… not yet….not ever…..

                                                           Little Polynesian Angel

                                                                Free from pain

                                                      Dancing in the softly falling rain

                                                               Little one so fair

                                                           With not a single care

                                                      Dance Little Polynesian Angel

                                                          As the Scent of Plumeria,

                                                       Hibiscus, Kukui and Orchids

                                                           Waft softly through air

                                                         Fill our souls as a prayer

                                                           Sounds of pahu drum

                                                         Ukulele and steel guitar

                                                             Playing, floating

                                                        On gossamer wings afar

                                                    Dance little Polynesian Angel

                                                           Run like the wind

                                                               Never tiring

                                                       Double rainbows appear

                                                        Dance little angel fair

                                                         Flowers in your hair

                                                           Barefoot tapping

                                                       On the floor of heaven

                                                   Dance Little Polynesian Angel

                                                          For you are today

                                                       And will for eternity be

                                                         Mau Loa – (Forever)

                                                         Ke Aloha – (Beloved)