By Richard Mabey Jr.
In early September of 1965, I had just turned 12 years old and started the seventh grade at Chapel Hill School in Lincoln Park. I was looking forward to being in a school setting where the students changed classes, every hour. My social life centered upon the Youth Group at First Reformed Church and Boy Scout Troop 170 of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church.
Little did I know it at the time, but my life suddenly changed that early September when I awoke with a very sore throat. Mom took me to our family doctor. Although well meaning, he didn’t take my sore throat quite as seriously as he should have. Within a few days, my sore throat worsened, and Mom took me back to our family doctor and I was diagnosed with strep throat. Sadly, my strep throat led to full blown Rheumatic Fever.
Mom took me to see a wonderful young cardiologist, who had just opened up his medical practice. Dr. Martin Rosenthal immediately had me go to the hospital. This was in early October of 1965. I spent three weeks in the Barnert Hospital, in Paterson. I remember Dad brought me a book that I had just begun reading, simply titled, “Eagle Scout” by Wilfred McCormick. To say I read that book is an understatement.
In those three weeks, I read this book, from cover to cover, three or four times, during my stay at Barnert Hospital.
For nearly one year of my life, from early October of 1965 till late August of 1966, my feet never touched the ground. I was to have two more long-term hospital stays. I had a very wonderful tutor. I was a very serious student and did well on the tests that my tutor gave me. But my real passion lied in reading and rereading my favorite book, “Eagle Scout.” I would dream of being an Eagle Scout. During my year of battling Rheumatic Fever, a fury burnt in the deepest chambers of my heart, to one day become an Eagle Scout.
In September of 1966, I started the eighth grade and returned to Boy Scout Troop 170. At that time, in the midst of the baby boomers, there were well over 50 boys in Troop 170. I was the most unlikely of all to have the physical strength and endurance to earn the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. I failed the tests for the Swimming Merit Badge three summers in a row. My outlook for becoming an Eagle Scout looked rather grim.
I prayed and prayed every night, for years during my time of being a scout in Troop 170, to become an Eagle Scout. As if the odds were a million to one, a good friend told me about swimming classes at the Paterson YMCA. To make a long story short, I took the swimming classes and became a fairly good swimmer. Enough to earn the Swimming and Lifesaving Merit Badges. The only two merit badges I still needed to earn scouting’s highest rank, that of Eagle Scout.
During my struggles of earning the Swimming Merit Badge, I kept a burning desire in my heart. I prayed and prayed and prayed for God to bless me with the strength and stamina to earn the Swimming Merit Badge. A lion roared in my heart. Flaming determination burned in the sinews and chambers of my heart. Nothing was going to stop me. Failure was not an option. I was not going to give up on my dream to become an Eagle Scout.
As a teenage boy, I was thin and shy. But my closest friends knew there was a deep inner strength that surged through my veins. Nothing was going to stop me. Nothing. It was a proud moment for me, when the badge of Eagle Scout was pinned to my scout uniform.
If you have a dream, a goal in life, something that is very near and dear to your heart, never, ever give up! Never give up! Fan the flames of determination in your heart. Focus with all your inner strength, within the marrow of your bones, to see your dream to come true. Never, ever give up!
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t reach your goal, that you don’t have the stuff to see your dreams come true. Ignore the naysayers. Walk away from them. Or for that matter, run away from the naysayers.
Miracles happen! God will guide you to help you see your dream come true! Burn these words into the deepest chambers of your heart, “I know, I can, and I will!”
Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.