Nelson Mandela鈥檚 eyes are filled with calm and purpose, a benevolent, steady determination that occupies the space between us. His brilliant, endless smile radiates the unmistakable joy of existence, an unquenchable spirit. As his hand squeezes mine, his grip is firm and strong, that of a much younger man, with much work still to do.
To my amazement I hear him thanking me. 鈥淭hank you to all the people of sa国际传媒; they have shown great leadership in the struggle against apartheid.鈥�
This is all impossible. Neither of us is supposed to be here: me an impostor, he a fragile and ill-appearing old man when released from imprisonment by the South African apartheid regime.
Our meeting occurred in late 1990 when, as a final-year University of sa国际传媒 medical student, inspired by the heroism of anti-apartheid activists, I was on an obstetrical elective in a black hospital in Durban. My partner Stephanie took to the pediatric wards, caring for black infants, many near death from completely preventable illnesses.
Surrounded daily by the overwhelming, horrific health consequences and human suffering imposed by the apartheid system, we were educated and mentored by resilient and courageous South African medical colleagues of all ethnic backgrounds. They had enormous excitement at the upcoming African National Congress convention to be held in Johannesburg. This would be the first legal meeting of the ANC in the country; they urged me to attend, to witness history in the making. They were passionate and categorical: 鈥淵ou must attend.鈥�
A long, storm-buffeted car journey brought us finally to a ramshackle conference facility on the outskirts of Soweto. Excitement, song, dance and uncertainty pulsated in the air around us. We rushed forward to enter the facility, only to be stopped at the door by imposing security guards, requesting that we present our delegate passes.
鈥淥nly elected party delegates are allowed to enter,鈥� we were told sternly. All appeals rebuffed, crestfallen at this missed chance of a lifetime, we turned to head back to Durban, hearts heavy with our failure. How could we know then that this failure would change our lives forever?
At that moment, a sign improbably beckoned to us: Press Room. Several deep breaths later, sweating, hearts exploding, we brazenly and fraudulently presented ourselves as freelance Canadian reporters to the inexperienced, volunteer press-credential co-ordinators, our story buttressed only by our passports. They scrutinized us briefly, but uncertainty was overcome by goodwill: success!
Dazed, we were quickly photographed for press passes; soon our trembling hands clutched the treasured laminated cards and we were in the front row of the convention, shoulder to shoulder with the world鈥檚 media for the speeches of Mandela and other ANC leaders. Later, our still-unsteady legs turned to see Mandela bearing down on us for that handshake 鈥� casting aside time and age, unleashing the benevolent and compassionate life force improbably stored and perhaps even strengthened through his imprisonment, moving ahead relentlessly as the driver of his nation鈥檚 long walk to freedom.
In 2000, I returned to South Africa as an HIV physician 鈥� a path inspired by that moment of failure nine years earlier. The World AIDS conference in Durban was a turning point in South Africa coming to terms with its AIDS pandemic, in correcting the misguided policies of Thabo Mbeki, Mandela鈥檚 successor as president.
As Mandela, Madiba, was introduced to conclude the meeting, a soaring choir of joyous ululation and adulation erupted, voices from all corners of the globe, celebrating and thanking him. Another incredible South African, the brilliant physician and anti-apartheid activist, Hoosen Coovadia, introduced him as simply: 鈥淭he greatest man to ever bestride the Earth.鈥�
As we say goodbye to Nelson Mandela and give thanks for his life, let us all ensure that every child, every person on this Earth knows his name and finds hope and inspiration in his accomplishments.
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Dr. Chris Fraser is a physician practising inner-city medicine in Victoria. His practice focuses on people living with HIV and hepatitis C, and he is a volunteer physician for the sa国际传媒 Africa Community Health Alliance at an HIV clinic in the Kilimanjaro region of Tanzania.
