An ironic thing about misfortunes is that people would seldom change a thing about them even if given a chance. Because as unbearable as those times were, they were ultimately metamorphic experiences.
And proving that a series of misfortune could simply be a fortune in disguise is Edward Brockbank.
Driving buses for thirty long years, Edward Brockbank believed that being a bus driver was all he would ever be. So when his thirty-year-old career was cut short, a massive piece of him went away with it. But what he thought to be the worst thing that could have ever happened to him turned out to be the tipping point of a beautiful tale of hope.
Edward’s story began when he suffered a heart attack during a trip to Oklahoma. And as if this was not already bad enough, things got worse when the bus company he was working for gave him an ultimatum. Either he would have a stent put in or he would stop driving for a living.
Compelled to see a cardiologist, Edward received a piece of news that got him down on his knees. He was never going back to work again. He could hardly believe that something he held on for thirty years would be taken away from him in just a matter of days.
Devastated, Edward was not only without a job because he would also be without a home. Having lost his family’s sole source of income, he had to give up the house for which he just paid the first installment. And because he could also no longer afford the cost of living in Las Vegas, he moved out with his family to Bullhead City in Arizona.
Having sold his gold necklace and precious eagle pendant for a reasonable price, Edward was able to find a place for him and his family. However, his problems were far from over.
Years after settling in Bullhead, Edward had to undergo a heart bypass surgery while his wife had to struggle with recurrent breast cancer. So while he was recuperating in an intensive care unit (ICU) at Kingman Regional Medical Center, his wife was there as well for her own treatment.
Growing more and more despondent each day at the center, Edward could have easily given up. But proving to be a man of faith and resilience, he fought just as he wanted his wife and his family to continue fighting.
To lift his spirits up, Edward would always play upbeat disco music and would even have nurses and doctors dancing outside his room. And he may have been unaware of it at that time, but by putting on a brave face, he was giving strength to those around him.
Fast forward to today, one could only marvel at the dramatic turn Edward’s life has made. With a house and two cars that are fully paid for, he shows the world how powerful persistence can be.
Edward’s story carries an inspiring and enlightening message for people to reflect on whenever they get tired, frustrated, or disheartened. Looking back, he had every reason to be angry, bitter, and resentful. Instead, he never gave up and rose above adversities.
