Rich Man in SUV Blocks Ambulance in Traffic Unaware His Son Is inside — Story of the Day
Taylor developed such a strong distrust of doctors as a result of a painful childhood experience that he refused to move while an ambulance was attempting to pass through a traffic congestion.
However, he eventually realized that his stubbornness could have cost him everything.
“Darling, we must have a nanny.
After they finished supper and the children went back to their rooms, Taylor’s wife Polly remarked, “I can’t handle three kids, my job, and the house.”
“A babysitter?
Taylor shook his head and said, “They’re really pricey, and it’s not worth it.”
He got up from their dining table and walked over to the couch in the living area.
“Please, Taylor.
The children still require attention, even if they are a little older now, and I have meetings in the afternoon.
Polly said, “I can’t do it alone anymore.”
“You’re lying, no.
It won’t help to take him to the doctor, even if you’re not.
Without apology, Taylor declared, “I’m not moving.”
Taylor let out a grunt.
The idea did not sit well with him.
Furthermore, he didn’t think his wife was incapable of managing everything.
He would never say it out loud, but he thought, Her work isn’t even real.
He said, “No, it’s too expensive,” once more.
Desperately, Polly said, “We have tons of money,”
“We don’t have to squander our money on pointless items just because we have it.
My father didn’t care, so I took care of myself after my mother raised me alone for as long as she could.
And have a look at me!
I became a millionaire in my later years.
A babysitter is not necessary for them.
With an uncompromising tone, Taylor added, “Just tell them to behave after school.”
With a sigh, Polly walked away from him.
Since their kids were between the ages of nine and five, they were able to take care of themselves while their mother was at work.
That’s what Taylor believed, anyway.
Polly worked from home as a writer.
It wasn’t as complicated as everything else he did, like traveling to the office, filing, meeting with clients, and setting up proposals.
The thought of a nanny made him laugh.
Only parents should raise their children.
He reflected to himself once more, “That’s how I succeeded in the world,” and he had no regrets about turning down his wife’s request.
Mark, Polly’s oldest child, called Taylor at work after she fell in the middle of the living room a few days later.
He inquired, “Should I call 911?”
“No!
“Definitely not,” Taylor answered.
Make a call to Mara.
Next to the home phone is her number.
I’ll be there shortly.
Before rushing home, Taylor added.
Their neighbor, Mara, was a compassionate nighttime nurse.
She was unquestionably superior than any doctor, but he hardly trusted her.
When Taylor arrived home, Mara was checking on Polly, who was already awake.
Concerned, the children gathered around their mother.
“So, how is she?” Taylor enquired.
Mara responded sharply, “Let’s talk in the kitchen,” nearly dragging him.
“I believe Polly should visit a physician.
It is not typical for a young woman to faint.
We’re not exactly young.
I’m 38 and she’s 35.
Taylor gave a headshake.
Taylor, that’s young.
She might be anemic.
“She needs a check-up and blood work,” Mara insisted.
“No.
No.
Without a doubt not,” he said, crossing his arms.
“Look, I understand that you don’t trust physicians, but she needs one, or it might happen again.
Your children are afraid.
“Please, listen,” Mara said, giving him a fierce look.
“No physicians, but we’ll get the blood work done.
My mother passed away as a result of an inept fool failing to detect her cancer.
Taylor disclosed, “I grew up with my abusive father only because she didn’t receive treatment in time because he misdiagnosed her.”
Only Polly was aware of that.
“As a result, Mara, we gave birth at home.
And our children are doing well.”
Mara let out a sigh.
“All right.
I’ll have a friend look over the blood tests and make recommendations.
However, you must eventually overcome your fear.
Polly had mild anemia, as Mara had predicted, but she appeared to improve after taking some medicine.
She asked Taylor if they could finally get a nanny after that episode, but he continued to say no.
“No, you’ve improved.
It’s a waste.
Saving money should only be used for necessities.
What might occur?
I own an oil company as CEO, but what if I eventually have to work as a minimum wage employee?
Taylor provided justification.
Polly only asked once.
“I have a meeting, and I’m late.
I won’t be answering today, so don’t phone me.”
One morning, Taylor shouted as he hurried out of the house.
He wanted to be on time for a big customer meeting.
But the world had other ideas because the minutes seemed to drag on forever due to a heavy traffic delay on his typical route to the office.
He shook his head impatiently and slammed on the brakes, waiting for anything to happen.
But until he heard sirens blaring from the rear, everything came to a total halt.
Cars were shifting to the side to make room for an ambulance when Taylor glanced in his rearview mirror.
“Hell no!
They can’t pretend to have patients in order to get out of this traffic bottleneck.”
Unlike others, Taylor shook his head and refused to relocate his car.
He pretended nothing was wrong despite the ambulance’s constant honking.
However, Taylor thought he was still in hell.
In the opposite lane, the driver wound down his window.
“Hey, dude!
He said, “Go for the ambulance!” but Taylor disregarded him.
At last, he noticed the elderly man who was driving the ambulance hurrying over to join him.
“Please move, sir!
I need immediate care for a child in the back.
“That’s what the driver said.”
“You’re lying, no.
It won’t help to take him to the doctor, even if you’re not.
Without apology, Taylor declared, “I’m not moving.”
With a start, the driver said, “Are you serious, man?”
“Yes.
I refuse to move.
“This is illegal!” exclaimed the driver.
“Assault me.
Or contact the police,” Taylor shrugged, averting his eyes from the man.
Looking straight ahead, he waited for the traffic to eventually move.
Spitting on the ground next to his car, the driver stated, “I hope no one you love is ever in this boy’s shoes,” with disrespect.
Other cars let him to pass after he climbed back into the ambulance and negotiated a sidewalk.
The roads cleared after another fifteen minutes of gridlock, and Taylor made it just in time to reach the office building.
His phone rang just as his client was beginning to speak.
He immediately disregarded the call when he saw Polly’s name flash over the screen.
He listened to the client and thought, I told her not to call.
But Polly kept calling until a voicemail appeared saying, “Mark is in the hospital!
Give me a call as soon as possible.”
He stared at his phone and whispered, “Hospital?”
One of his executives said, “Mr. Brown?”
“Take charge of this meeting, Roger.
The hospital is where my son is now.
Taylor hurriedly left their meeting after saying, “I have to go.”
His entire body trembled.
It would take a serious emergency for Polly to take their boy to the hospital because she was well aware of his dislike of physicians.
This was bad, he knew.
Taylor gave her a call, received the name of the hospital, and hurried to get there.
Fortunately, there weren’t any more traffic bottlenecks like the one that morning.
He parked his automobile without even noticing it.
After hurriedly entering the emergency department and requesting assistance from the nurses, he eventually met Polly outside the operation room, where family members typically wait.
Her legs were being held in terror by his other children, Mona and Jason.
“What took place?
“Where is Mark?”
Distressed, Taylor inquired.
“He is currently undergoing surgery.
Taylor, sweetheart.
It wasn’t good.
Polly sobbed as she described how his head was bleeding, and his younger children began to scream as well.
Taylor had to gather his thoughts and give his family a firm embrace.
It’s alright.
It’s alright.
Everything will be OK.
He practically chanted, “Mark is in good hands.”
He tried to persuade himself.
Finally, a surgeon emerged a few hours later.
They all stood waiting for the announcement, their hearts in their throats.
“The procedure proceeded smoothly.
The ICU is where your son is recuperating.
The doctor nodded and continued, “The margins look good, but we won’t know more about his situation until he wakes up.”
“We are currently relocating him.
However, we’ll notify you when it’s time to visit him.
As Polly’s emotions overcame her, she knelt down and told her children that their big brother had arrived.
Taylor, meantime, approached the physician and demanded further information.
“Doctor, be honest with me.
“Is Mark really okay?” he said softly.
The doctor nodded once more.
“Yes, he is, sir,” he said.
However, that’s just because he arrived on time.
We might be having a different conversation if they had taken longer, as we heard about the horrible traffic delay earlier.
The doctor touched Taylor’s shoulder and went back to the operating room, where non-patients were not allowed, without saying anything.
Surprised, he thought, “traffic jam?”
His wife had calmed down a little, so he turned to her.
“Polly, you were in the traffic jam this morning?”
“Oh, I see.
I felt really anxious.
For a while, it wasn’t moving at all.
Even after getting out, the driver reportedly got into a fight with someone who wouldn’t move their car.
“Who does that?”
Scoffing at the notion that someone wouldn’t move over for emergencies, Polly clarified.
For a while, I was afraid, but the driver jumped in and drove the ambulance through a sidewalk or something, and he got us here as fast as he could.
What a champion.
Polly was unaware of Taylor’s increased quietness.
Kids, let’s head to the vending machine to grab some snacks.
Looking back at her husband, she pleaded, “We’ll have to wait a little while longer to see your brother.”
Taylor’s throat had to be cleared.
“Leave.
Just in case, I’ll be here.”
Now that the immediate threat had passed, she grinned a little.
“Alright,” she said.
However, Taylor thought he was still in hell.
He sat down on a chair and gazed at the wall.
While his son was on the verge of death, dad had postponed the ambulance.
If the driver hadn’t been so astute, Mark wouldn’t be here.
“Oh, I see.
“My wife needs help,” said Taylor, grinning and nodding while gazing out the window of his car.
His eyes spontaneously started to well up with tears.
Breathing too rapidly caused his chest to tighten, and at last he put his head on his hands and sobbed.
The knowledge that he was solely to blame for this was too much to handle.
He had disregarded his wife’s calls, refused to move for an ambulance, and rejected a nanny.
“Taylor,” Polly said as she came back to embrace him.
“Kids, come hug your Daddy.”
He struggled to control his sobs as the youngest ones held him.
His daughter, the youngest of their children, ultimately calmed him by saying, “Mark will wake up soon, Daddy,” in her high, precious little voice.
Eventually, he stopped crying a lot, but nothing could remove this remorse.
An hour later, the boy woke up and they went to see Mark.
His motor abilities were examined by the doctors, who found nothing wrong.
He even said a few words before dozing off once more.
His physician assured the family that he was doing well and that he would shortly be transferred from the intensive care unit to a regular room.
It was official—Mark was safe.
Taylor walked outside and spoke with one of the nurses once his son was safely in a regular room with his family, asking to meet the person who had driven the ambulance.
“Oh, that’s James.
A nurse politely informed him, “You’ll probably find him outside where most of the ambulances are parked when they’re not dispatched,” and Taylor left.
He spotted James right away, and the old man recognized Taylor in spite of the morning’s chaos and haste.
“Hold on a second.
You are the one that refused to move his car, aren’t you?”
James pointed the finger at Taylor and made an accusation.
However, Taylor continued to walk toward him and lifted his arms to embrace the elderly man.
That infuriated James, who attempted to yank him away until Taylor responded.
“I apologize.
Thank you.
I appreciate you doing your hardest.
My son was involved.
My son was being brought here by you, and I—I was such a fool.
I’m so sorry.”
When Taylor remarked, “I could’ve lost everything,” the elderly guy gave in and gave Taylor a pat on the back.
“How is the kid?”
“He’s doing well.
He woke up,” murmured Taylor, removing and dabbing at a tear.
“The doctor claimed he will heal, but he is resting once more.
Many thanks.”
“Sir, I just performed my duties.
However, I’m happy.
I was a paramedic once.
I’m happy he’s safe, but I just drive now,” James said, nodding.
“Why are you still working?” Taylor pondered.
“If it’s not too much to ask.”
“My wife’s hip needs surgery.
Retiring is no longer really an option in this economy.”
James sighed, “Unfortunately, driving an ambulance doesn’t pay much, but it helps.”
“Would you be interested in changing fields?” Taylor made an unexpected suggestion.
“What do you mean?”
“How about you become my driver?” he proposed, outlining his place of employment and the compensation he offered.
It exceeded the old man’s earnings by more than three times.
“Is this a real offer?”
“100%,” demanded Taylor.
“I may be an idiot, but I don’t lie about business.”
After giving it some more deliberation, the elderly guy consented.
After two more weeks of employment at the hospital, he started driving Taylor.
It wasn’t until then that the affluent man realized how convenient it was to not have to bother about driving.
“How would you feel, James, if Helena were to work as a nanny for us?
Does she want that?”
Looking from the rear seat, Taylor pondered.
After giving him a quick glance, James nodded.
“That would be wonderful for her.
She adores children.
We didn’t have any.
She would adore it, but it wasn’t part of God’s plan for us.
Sir, would you actually hire her?” James inquired, appreciative.
“Oh, I see.
Looking out the window of his car, Taylor grinned and remarked, “My wife needs help.”
After Mark’s injury, he came to the conclusion that having money was pointless if it wasn’t used to support your family.
You had to make your family happy and enjoy all of your hard work.
And his contempt for physicians had vanished entirely.
Although he still harbored resentment for the doctor who misdiagnosed his mother, the field as a whole shouldn’t be affected by one careless individual.
The ambulance driver was among those who put in a great deal of effort to save Mark.
Taylor turned into a hospital donor, providing donations to help children from low-income families have surgery.
The children loved James and Helena, who were still employed by his family.
Polly no longer fainted and was doing well at work.
Additionally, Taylor was always the first to cross the street when an ambulance came by.
He would never again make that error.
