The group gathered around the fountain admiring the artisanship.
"Father Kameáloha lived among his flock until his death at age seventy-six from a heart attack. It was remarkable that he never contracted leprosy considering in those days they didn't know what caused it or how to transmit it. Later we'll see the impressive memorial they erected in his honor, just behind the church he also founded. It stands out on the rise overlooking the ocean, facing the direction of his beloved Ireland." Katie stepped back and patiently waited until the group had fully explored the beauty of the fountain. To her, this was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and it was here, in this place of such misery and ugliness.
Leilani watched the group and slowly worked her way to the edge of the fountain. She found herself standing next to the young man as he gazed up at the delicate carved flower.
"It's pretty isn't it?" she asked shyly.
He nodded in agreement. "It really is amazingly beautiful. He must have had quite a vision."
He turned and looked down at Leilani. "Do you like living here?"
Leilani looked down into the water for a moment, trying to decide what to tell this stranger. "It is beautiful and I have everything I could ask for...but, there is more I want to do and see. I don't like being told that I am different and I should not want what is beyond our village." Her mouth tightened and her small hands clenched unconsciously. She had lost the feeling in her fingers many months ago and was not aware of how hard they were pressing into her palms.
The young man studied the young girl. He could see the depth of her discontent and he understood her desire for discovery. She did not seem to be as scarred as other residents he had noticed. A few small patches on her face, arms and legs. She must have received treatment before the disease had spread too far through her system.
"What is your name?" he asked politely.
"Leilani."
He nodded and smiled. "That means 'heavenly flower', very appropriate for such a pretty young girl."
She smiled up at him. He seemed nice. "Thank you. Are you enjoying our village?"
"It is very peaceful. I can see how it could be hard for some to leave it. Would you really want to?" His eyes wandered over the square as he waited for her response.
"I do want to leave. I know there is so much I want to see and do in my life."
"And what would you do little Leilani?" he asked her, his tone serious.
"I would like to teach people that we are not different from them. That we should be happy we are not all the same, how can we learn from each other if we do not see our differences as a good thing?" Leilani replied.
"That is a wise vision from someone so young," he observed.
She just shrugged her shoulders.
"I wish I could spend more time with you, but it looks as if I must move on." He glanced over at Katie and caught her glancing down at her watch. Time was running short and his work not completed.
Katie summoned the group to gather around her again.
The young man looked over at Katie again, but hesitated to leave Leilani.
He turned back to Leilani with purpose, looking deeply into her eyes. She thought for a moment she could see the sun reflecting in his eyes as he said, "Do not lose hope Leilani, if you believe enough in your dreams, you will succeed. Never forget that others have faced challenges, both physical and emotional and many have faced similar prejudices of intolerance and fear. You can overcome these just as they have, you should have strength but be flexible enough to bend as well."
He paused, "Be like your name little flower, reach for the sunlight and continue to light the path for those you touch. Have a good life Leilani. Always believe." He placed his hand on her shoulder for a brief moment and then moved away.
She stood there and stared after the group as they moved out of sight down the path to the beach. Her shoulder still tingled from the heat of his hand.
Katie led the group down the path to the beach. They removed their footwear and played in the sand and surf for a few minutes enjoying the warm white sand under their feet and the gentle ocean breeze on their faces. Katie gently herded the group along the beach to where the monument stood with the small church just behind it. They remained there for a few minutes gazing down at the lovely marble headstone dedicated to Father Kameáloha. Eventually they made their way back to the path that led them to the small museum where the resident teacher would provide a lecture on leprosy in general and this colony in particular.
Katie knew he was a good speaker and the group would learn much from him.
He began with a question to the group. "How many here actually know what leprosy is?"
One of the young boys put up his hand. "Isn't it where parts of you fall off?" His brother giggled and his parents looked embarrassed.
The teacher smiled, "Not quite that bad. There are actually different types of leprosy. The milder form is where the skin forms light red or purplish spots. It still affects the nerves like the more severe form and can lead to numbness in the hands and feet as well. This is the 'tuberculoid' form of the disease. The other more severe type is 'lepromatous'. It forms yellow or brown lumps on the skin and affects the eyes, nose and throat and the nerves as well. The skin becomes thick, especially on the face and ears. This is also the more contagious of the types.
“The cause of Leprosy is a bacterium transmitted through nasal discharge and skin sores. Hansen's disease, its more common name, named after G. Armauer Hansen, who was the Norwegian physician who identified the bacteria in 1874.
“Even though it is contagious, did you know only about five percent of people would actually contract the disease and symptoms can actually take many years to appear after exposure?"
The teacher looked over at the boy who had first responded to him. "One of the causes of such injuries as loss of fingers, toes, legs and arms is the lack of sensation due to nerve damage. It affects the peripheral nerves, which destroys the patient's sense of touch. Disfigurements of the face such as the nose collapsing are due to damage to the nose cartilage.
“This disease is actually easily treatable and takes anywhere from six months to two years using a combination of antibiotics. Sadly, for most of the residents of this and other leper colonies around the world, help came too late and the cost for the medicine too much for most to afford. If it wasn't for the kind generosity of others, like Father Kameáloha most of the people afflicted would have died in the streets, shunned by both their own relatives and strangers. The laws were very strict in the early days of the disease. Relatives forced to turn in relatives or face severe penalties including death if they tried to shelter their sick. Anyone who showed signs of the disease was immediately committed to a colony.
“For those who were committed to a colony, including this one, knew it was the end of the road for them. They rarely, if ever saw their families again and in some places, they were unable to marry, even to another individual afflicted with the disease. They took the children of these individuals away from them and even in those colonies that allowed women to get pregnant, only healthy individuals could raise the babies. Some colonies would allow women to see their children for short visits but most never saw them again. Some countries with colonies were so scared of the disease they sterilized the residents to try to prevent the spread. It was a very lonely, bleak existence for these people for which there was no escape. In some countries these colonies were turned into labour camps and the residents forced to work long, hard hours and they were often mistreated or starved, treated no better than those in prison colonies. Even those who could afford the medicines and were no longer infected with the disease, were by law, never allowed to go back to their homes.
“It hasn't been that long since they struck down the law that forced families to bring their sick ones to these places and even though the residents still living in this village are free to leave, they have no desire to do so. Most have been here for the greater part of their lives and have chosen
to live out the remainder here. The sad part is when someone does leave the colony he or she still bears the stigma of the ravages of the disease and society shuns them, many returning to the colony. For them this is their home.
“Did you know that leprosy has been in existence since about 4000 BC? It is widely believed to be the 'oldest known disease'. There are references to it in all the great civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Chinese, and the civilizations in and around India. Even Hippocrates wrote about it. The first written account of leprosy was on an Egyptian Papyrus in 1550 BC. The earliest proven skeletal remains with what appears to be leprosy was dated to sometime between 1-50 AD in the Old City of Jerusalem. There is also a reference to evidence in Northwest India from 2000 BC. There are many references to a dreaded skin disease contained in ancient documents from all over the world.
“Both the Torah and the Old Testament reference Moses and his sister Miriam as having a 'dreaded skin disease' they called tzaraath or Zara'at, which some believe to have been leprosy. Miriam had used words that were disrespectful towards her brother Moses and by extension, considered disrespectful to God, and therefore God caused her to become ill with this disease. In the ancient texts, God inflicted Zara'at on those that did not practice his laws, carried evil thoughts, or performed evil deeds. Joab, his family and descendants contracted the disease after David cursed them for the act of murder.
“Even the Gospels reference Jesus cleansing the people of their infirmity, also believed to be leprosy.
“Others less known in history believed to have leprosy were the Latin King Baldwin IV of Jerusalem, the Vietnamese poet Han Mac Tu, and a Japanese daimyo Ōtani Yoshitsugu.
“In the Jewish Nevi'im and Ketuvim and the Christian Old Testament, it references Naaman the Syrian and the Prophet Elisha's servant Gehazi as being afflicted. Elisha inflicted Gehazi because he was mean and covetous and this reflected badly on the name of Israel. King Uzziah was suddenly struck with the dreaded skin disease as well when he usurped the privileges of the priests who were tasked with the responsibility to burn incense on the alter at the Temple and made it his own.
“In the Middle Ages, people with leprosy had to wear special clothing and carry bells to alert healthy citizens of their presence. In some countries, the afflicted had to remain outside of the city gates or they could morally corrupt the people living within.
“Even today, there are still cases diagnosed in Asia, Africa and parts of Latin America such as Brazil, South Central Africa and India. Any place that is crowded and lacking good sanitary conditions could lead to the spread of this disease.
“So in conclusion, I hope that you have gained a deeper respect for the tragedies caused by our ignorance and can see how when we work together, we can make this a better world for everyone. Thank you."
He encouraged them to wander around the museum, to see the pictures, read the articles on the history of the colony, and stop at the gift shop, and see some of the wonderful items the people of the colony had handcrafted.
Eventually they thanked him and followed Katie out into the sunshine.
Katie glanced down at her watch again. She had a date tonight and did not want to be late getting back to the office so she quickly rounded up the group and headed back to the square to board the bus. She was completely unaware of the small miracle that was taking place back at the square.
**********
After the tour group rounded the point out of sight, Leilani turned back to the square to see where her friends had decided to wait out the visitors. They were not as tolerant about strangers coming into their village to stare at them as Leilani was.
They told her they felt like freaks in a circus sideshow they learned about through those who had ventured out and returned with such stories. Leilani could understand their feelings. Some of them were not as fortunate as she had been. Her parents had the money to pay for the medicine so she had escaped the more visible ravages of the disease that others had not.
Her best friend Malie had lost most of her fingers and a couple of toes. The disease had even severely scarred her face. One of the other young boys had large nodules on his face and his nose sunken and scarred, giving him a distinct, flat appearance. Others had similar scarring on their faces, some had lost arms and legs, but the worst part of the disease was how it affected them emotionally. Some were angry, some resentful, some withdrawn, some embarrassed, but worst of all, they all believed they were worthless, no better than freaks to be hidden away and brought out to delight the masses.
The village offered them safety and acceptance. They would argue with Leilani whenever she voiced her desire to venture into the world beyond, urging her to be happy here. Accept what she could not change. However, Leilani always believed she was just the same as everyone else, not better nor worse than any other person here in the village or out there in the world and someday she would prove it to herself. She refused to accept the negative comments from her friends and family.
She soon spotted the group of children in front of the restaurant. The boys Kaleo, Idaika, Kai, Keanu and Kamaka lounged against the wall, while Malie and Kalea sat in the two available chairs.
"Good morning," she called out to them when she got close enough, "What are we doing today?"
"Now the gawkers have left, we can head down to the beach. I heard the waves pounding on the shore last night. Probably be a lot of junk washed up," Keanu answered, pushing away from the wall.
"I wish those people wouldn't visit here," said Kalea, "I hate them staring at me."
"I know what you mean," chimed in Idaika, "its worse when they wear gloves and try not to touch anything especially when they should know leprosy is not that contagious. It really makes you feel like you aren't even human."
The others nodded in agreement.
"I'd like to talk to them but I'm too ugly. I can see it when they look at me. I see them turn their head away and make a face of disgust," Malie offered, "It just seems to be human nature to complain or judge others. That's why I don't go on the Internet anymore, why bother with so much negativity."
"I wonder what it would be like if we were normal like them. Would we be any different?" Leilani mused aloud.
"I know I wouldn't be that mean," Malie replied, "After this," she motioned to her face with her damaged hands, "I for one would do something about how people treated each other," she said defiantly.
"Yeah right! What would you do? You can't make everyone love each other," scorned Kai, "People will always be scared of us. Look in the mirror Malie. It's never going to change. We will never be normal." He motioned around the group.
"Amongst the bunch of us, we barely make one whole person," Kai continued.
Everyone laughed and agreed.
Seeing Malie so sad, Leilani reached over and hugged her, hoping to make her feel better, "It's okay Malie. God believes in us and we must believe in him." She felt her fingertips tingling with heat, something she hadn't felt in some time. She let go of Malie and stared down at them. They were pink and perfect. She was still marvelling at the sight when she heard Kai make a strange strangling sound. She looked up at him and he was pointing at Malie, his eyes big and staring, his mouth hanging open.
She turned to look at Malie along with everyone else. There sat a beautiful young girl, her skin clear and glowing. Gone were the disfiguring scars. Malie lifted her hands before her face, and gasped in shock. She had all of her fingers and they were perfect. She quickly bent over to see her feet. Amazing, all of her toes were there as well and she wiggled them excitedly. She jumped up and squealed with delight. She danced around in front of them, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
Malie grabbed Leilani and held her tight. "You were right to keep believing. I don't know how, but something magical just happened. I'm perfect."
She drew back from Leilani, but did not let her go. "You have no scars either Leilani. What is happening to us?"
They both turned to the others. T
hey had not changed.
"Maybe you should hug them too. Maybe you have the cure?" Malie offered in jest to Leilani.
"I'm pretty sure it wasn't me. I don't know how it happened either, but I guess I can try it again," she said reluctantly.
She hugged Kai who was standing the closest to her. Nothing happened.
"Try it again Leilani, but say the same thing," urged Malie.
"Okay, I'll try it one more time." Leilani sighed.
She took Kai in her arms and uttered, “God believes in us and we must believe in him." She stepped away and they waited.
At first, nothing seemed to happen, and then the marks on his face seemed to shrivel and slowly disappear. His nose seemed to inflate and become straight and defined. He reached his hands to his face, forgetting for a moment that he only had one hand, the other amputated two years ago. When the fingers of the missing hand touched the soft skin of his face, he pulled his hands away and stared at them. He had both hands and they worked as if nothing had ever been wrong with them. He reached out and touched Leilani's hair. He let the strands slip through his fingers, feeling for the first time how silky and wonderful it felt. He never thought he would be able to feel something, anything, ever again.