The adage ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is well known. On social media, this image of a state official and a father from North Carolina has gone viral.
Let’s examine what happened. Dr. Ashlye Wilkerson had just left Duke University Hospital in Durham and was heading home.
Stage 4 colon cancer was being treated in her father. But an NC State Trooper trooper pulled her over for speeding while she was passing through Rowan County.
She received a ticket when the trooper approached her car. Deacon Anthony Geddis, the father of Wilkerson,
spoke out for his daughter despite being exhausted from chemotherapy. He said, ‘I had chemo. This is my baby girl; she’s driving me back home from treatment.’
The trooper, Jared Doty, went back to his vehicle. However, Geddis’ comments had an effect on him.
You see, Doty also struggled with his health. He got ulcerative colitis, which necessitated having his colon surgically removed.
At the time, Doty admitted, ‘I knew there was no way I was writing this lady a ticket.’ To simply gather my thoughts before determining what to say when I returned, I had to sit in there for a long.
He then returned to Wilkerson’s vehicle and addressed Geddis, asking him, ‘Sir, do you mind if I ask what kind of cancer you have?’
Geddis replied, ‘No, I’m fine. My colon is cancerous.Doty inhaled deeply and then enquired about offering to pray for him.
Geddis happily agreed. Of course, I firmly believe in prayer, he responded. They knelt together, bent their heads, and began to pray. Doty prayed to the almighty father.
After the prayer, Doty presented something to Geddis. ‘I just wanted you to know that you have someone else praying for you on your journey,’ he said after informing him.
On her smartphone, Dr. Wilkerson captured this lovely event. Sadly, her father passed away two months later.
She shared the picture as a tribute to her father and as proof of the trooper’s generosity.
This tale demonstrates how kindness and understanding can bridge gaps between people in a diverse environment.