How Laughter Heals. Lions Attack 80 Year Old Woman In Zimbabwe, She Survived By Laughing Out Loud!

Quote from Abraham-Hicks, (December 16 Calendar) “Is there any limitation to the body’s ability to heal?” And we said, None, other than the belief that you hold. And he asked, “Then why aren’t people growing new limbs?” And we said, Because no one believes they can.

No Separation In Spirit

On May 1^st 2008, we put humor to the test. The opportunity to heal massive, physical and emotional wounds came the day after my mother’s eightieth birthday in Zimbabwe.

When disaster strikes, we have a choice. We can sink, believing we are doomed, or like the lotus we can float by focuing on the ligh. We are supposed to rise above all murky, earthy depths. The easiest method is to float on ripples of laughter; laugh away the tears.

Rhodesians Are Beautiful People

We Rhodesians, (Zimbabweans), of all colors and shapes are beautiful people. As a nation we have had more than our share of troubles. To survive we developed a keen skil. It is the transformational power of laughter that helps us triumph over tribulation. Laughing is a brilliant empowering source of healing. It feels good to laugh. Laughter not only heals but it liberates.

Was it Premonition?

Was it a premonition, or some kind of ‘knowing? I woke up early in the morningon may 1st. and could not go back to sleep. While making a cup of coffee, the thought, “What if they call me because my mother has been attacked by a wild animal?” Such a bizarre thought for one living in West Virgini. Who could come up with such nonsens?.

It is true, my mother still lives in Zimbabwe, Africa. But she was quite safe in the city of Harare, living behind a high secure wall. There were certainly no wild animals romping around looking for a little old lady to eat. I dismissed the thought. But I couldn’t quite shake off the uneasy feeling. I decided to call my sister for a chat.

“No, Mom’s not home right now,” said my nephew, “But here, I’ll let you speak to my dad.”

“No, no, there’s nothing important, I was just phoning to chat with your mom.” I replied getting ready to end the call.

“I really think you should speak to my dad, here he is.”

Mark explained that since it was a holiday in Zimbabwe, he'd taken the family to a lake near Harare…..

Cute Lion Cubs

After a scrumptious lunch, my sister, mom, my nephew and niece went to see three lion cubs at the ‘Bird Garden’. Not really interested in ‘cute cubs,’ Mark stayed behind, relaxing in the shade with a tall cold drink.

Instead of three cuddly, kitten-like, bouncing balls of fluff, they were greeted by huge, make-your-heart-skip-a-beat, lions. The giant muscular felines rubbed up against their burly owner. Proud of the regal creatures he’d raised from cubs, the man enjoyed sharing the up-close-and-personal thrill of his majestic beasts.

“Are you sure that it’s safe?” Mom asked before going into the enclosure. He assured her that it was.

One Tough Cookie Of Pioneering Stock

Now, before I go any further there’s something you should know about my mother. She is not a fragile, sweet little eighty year old. She is one tough cookie of African pioneering stock. I've seen her chase elephants from her flower beds, dodge a spitting cobra and narrowly miss being run down by a lion chasing a buck. As the daughter of a hard-hitting, Welsh prospector, Mom was a don’t-mess-with-me, pisto- packing force to be reckoned with. Furthermore, Mom single-handedly raised her four equally high spirited daughters. She is Africa’s equivalent of Mammy Yokum combined with Annie Oakley.

Pavlovian Response

Evidently the two lionesses and a male lion were adult size, but still considered young. Meals consisted of a dead pig, thrown over the fence into the enclosure. As soon as the pig hit the ground, that was their Pavlovian dinner bell response to feast.

While mom was petting these giant cats, one of them curiously nibbled on her leather sandal... then with a quick jerk, mom was pulled off her feet. The thud, when she hit the ground, triggered the dinner bell response.

Can you even begin to imagine the horror my sister went through seeing her mother being carried off by three lions? It goes even beyond one’s worst nightmare.

Just Boisterous Teenagers

I called my sister who was with mom in the emergency ward. The nurses were carefully shaving mom’s tattered head, but they graciously allowed us to talk, since I was calling from the States… also I suspect that they did not think that mom would survive.

Putting up a brave front, I cheerfully said, “Hi Mom! What’s this I hear that you’ve been feeding the lions?”

Without missing a beat and in spite of being groggy from sedatives, mom responded with a chuckle, “No, I wasn’t feeding them; they just got a bit boisterous, that’s all. You know how teenagers are.”

The Magic Of Mirth

Yes, this was indeed a disaster. But if my mother and her family can recover from such a horrendous experience and dilute it with laughter, then surely its proof of the magic in mirth and the power of hilarity to heal.

It was around nine in the morning when I found out about the attack. Thanks to South African Air, I was on a flight heading back to Africa by eleven that same morning. On route to the airport, I picked up the Tetnus injection that a physician friend of mine had prescribed, because Harare did not have any.

As we drove to the airport in stunned silence, my husband turned to me and said, “You know, there are not many men in America who have to go to their boss and say, ‘I need some time off to take my wife to the airport, because my mother-in-law has just been attacked by three lions’.”

Prayed For Her Release

I confess to going weak in the knees and almost fainting when I first saw Mom the night after the attack. I actually prayed that she’d be released from pain and suffering.... even if it meant she’d vacate her body. I honestly couldn’t see how anyone could survive such an ordeal. But I should have known not to underestimate the strong, indomitable spirit of my mother.

It was decided that if any of us wanted to cry or imagine the worst, we would do so in private, behind closed doors. In front of mom, we would be cheerful and upbeat. One day, while my sisters and I were with Mom in the Intensive Care Ward, the nurses had brought us tea and it was more like a party than an IC room. The four of us were rarely together, because we didn’t all live in Zimbabwe anymore.

A Lovely IC Tea Party

Mom said, “It‘s so lovely having you all here for tea.” She pushed her head bandage, as if adjusting a tight scarf over curlers, she continued, “I apologize for having my hair in curlers. In fact, I must take them out; they seem to be rolled a bit too tight.”

We burst out laughing. “Mom you have no hair and that’s not a scarf, it’s a bandage!”

“Why? What happened to all my hair?”

“They had to shave it off to give you stitches from the lion dragging you by the head!”

“Hmph, no blooming hair... I really liked my hair.” She grumbled

"Do You Mind If I Cry?"

On another day mom was feeling overwhelmed with pain. We stood beside her silently praying for the pain killer to hurry and take effect. Mom asked, “Is it all right if I cry? Do you mind?”

We laughed and said, “Of course, Mommy, you go right ahead and cry all you want.”

Mom bawled on cue as if only two years old. After allowing her to sob for a while, I playfully said, “Mommy, everyone is allowed a pity party or two, but if you are going to throw a party of any kind, you must make it a good one.”

Mom stopped crying and looked at me with big puzzled eyes, “What do you mean?”

“Well, if you are going to cry, let’s be sure you cry buckets! We don’t want you to be stingy with just a few tears. You DO want your pity party to be a huge success don’t you?”

My teasing obviously derailed my mother’s thought process. Still clutching her damp tissue to her large teary eyes she stared at me. (Probably wondering how she gave birth to such a weirdo.) Another pity party bites the dust.

Miracles Out Of Africa

Mom said over and over again, “Now I know why God gave me four daughters …” (I think she’d been burdened with doubts about why she’d had four daughters up until then.) “It was so that you would all be here for me now.”

Amazing Medical Miracles

Not only did mom survive a lion feeding frenzy, but at 80 she also survived two operations, (the first 6 hours, the second 4 hours), in a hospital with many limitations, including such basics as pain killers and other advanced medical supplies.

Even though the lions went for Mom’s throat and ate large chunks from her legs, not one major artery was severed! (I can only imagine invisible angels helping her crafty old arteries to dodge, duck the lions jaws.) This helped to survive the 45 minute dash to the hospital as well as the interminable wait in the trauma ward.

Mom's broken hip had minimal impact because it fractured a non-load bearing bone, so no hip replacement needed. The bone healed on its own. Mom’s guardian angels were definitely busy that day.

The hospital did not have any tetanus shots, and yet thanks to a USA Doctor, I was able to take the medicine with me, so it was administered within the required 48 hours.

I was able to spend precious time at my mother’s bedside, caring for and talking to her; priceless moments that I'd not made time for before.

Due to Alzheimer’s, Mom has absolutely no conscious memory of the incident. The Alzheimer’s totally removed all mental suffering allowing her body to recover not tortured by shock and traumatic memories. What a blessing indeed. (My sister and her children still have vivid recall.)

Mom is an amazing example of how well a body is able to heal when not encumbered by traumatic memories. Such is the power of the mind.

Fit As A Fiddle

Mom turns 83 on April 29^th 2011. She really is as she affirms that she is: “fit as a fiddle”. She still bends over and picks up trash as if she is an athletic youth. She’s a strong, independent and determined woman who loves to laugh. She often entertains others in the group home in where she now lives in Harare.

Laughter A Spiritual Path To The Heart

This all goes to show that when you learn to truly laugh at yourself and your misfortunes, whatever they may be, the powerful energy of laughter becomes a spiritual path to the heart.

No matter what the catastrophe, the Spiritual mind and attitude pave the way to healing. No matter what has happened in the past, you can always go beyond what once was.

In Monty Python’s ‘Life of Brian’, they sing, “Always look on the bright side of life.”

Laugh, laugh, and laugh some more.