Branda and Mikala

Branda and Mikala are PDD clients live in a group home. They are both in their late forties . The group home is run by Exodus Society with the funds supported by Alberta Government and other organizations.

Branda, a heap of flesh on the mobility chair weighs four hundred pounds. On the bed, she can barely roll to the left and roll back to the right when her support staff puts a lifting belt around her. She can not raise her legs up of her own. When she is wrapped on the lifting belt and straps on under the arms and loins , a lifting machine pulls her up on the air and the staff moves her to the wheel chair and places with lowering her back down on the same chair. When she has to pee or poop, that is a different story. She is lifted by the machine and placed on the chair with the hole where she can place her butt, and poops and pees. It is tiring job for three people. She is helped by both male and female staff whenever she needs. She yells at the support staff when she gets hurt while assisting her in different activities. Once the staff wipes her ass and the loin, she is left alone. Then she pushes her wheel chair up to the common area for breakfast and lunch.

Mikala, is short and sturdy man with a pair of sharp eyes always looking into something deep. He has a big round bald head with freckles of dandruffs. His forehead looks like a patched sin of frog. His voice is louder than an army commander in the field of training. His back has a bedsore and getting worse as he complains pain. His legs are like a log without movements. When a support staff puts him on the wheel chair, he has to move himself back and forth until he is placed in the wheelchair. Taking him to the bathroom for bowl movement is a nightmare for a single staff. He can not pee when he wants because he has to wait a special medical staff to drain his pee. When the staff runs late than the scheduled time, he has to hold for longer which is so painful for him. Once he ass is wiped and clothes changed, the support staff places him on the wheel chair. He also heads over to the common area where he meets Branda. He always says," I want a job. I want to be a police officer. I want by back fixed so that I can walk myself." Every staff like to ask him," hey, Mika when are you going get training?"
Branda has a long mouth, and a pair of big eyes. When she laughs, her yellow crooked teeth resemble her sarcastic demeanour with mouthful of spit. She can not stop laughing any moment she wants unless she farts so bad and tear rolls down from the corner of her pointed nose. She often yells at the staff without reason to vent her stress. However, she looks nice to her staff while talking to Mikala. Mikala comes closer to her and looks into her eyes with compassion without expressing a word. If she drops something on the floor, he bends from the wheelchair, picks the stuffs up and hands it over to her. Branda not only thanks him but rolls her chair close to Mikala, cranes her neck and kisses in his cheeks in front of other staffs and the clients. The staffs who often sit in the couch while their clients dodging off, or look outside smile and thank Branda for being so nice to him. They also ask often in the absence of one," where is boyfriend or, girlfriend today. They smile and tell the truth.

However, this is not the case always. They fight, yell and throw fist to each other so many times of the day. They have very short tempers. When the staff ask why they fight like a dog and love like a dove, Branda looks into the eyes and smiles. One day I asked Branda, did you go to dating with Mikala yesterday?' she smiled pathetically and replied," No he is virgin'. I laughed for long. She tells her stories from her past lives. One day I was asking her how often did she go to the shopping mall, she was telling me almost everyday. Other staff named Chandra sitting next to me said,' did you go for shopping or, shop lifting?" She laughed until she farted out loud and said,' shop lifting'. She told that she once she was arrested while shop lifting and put in jail for three months. I asked," would you like to go there again?' She opened her mouth and remain quite as if she was a statue.

When I tell her that she has a good boyfriend who wants to be police officer, she looks at Mikala and smiles. Mikala turns to be and request to book appointment  with his family doctor to get his back fixed. He tells to everyone that he is going to police officer after his back fixed and becomes able to walk without assistance. Yesterday morning at the breakfast time I asked Mikala whether he arrests me after he gets into the police. He said." off course yes if you commit the crime". I said,' no Mikala you shouldn't because I am the one who is helping you getting into the police. I will also get you the police uniform and belt. You will have two hand cuffs in your belt." He was looking at me so humbly like a child. In his humility, I saw the ocean of hopes and dreams he has for life.

They love each other desperately despite their physical incapability and distinct behaviours. Their love is the hope for living. There is no much expectation besides seeing each other every morning in the same place, having breakfast and lunch in the same table and look into each others eyes. They have no desire for sex or physical pleasure. Their love was unconditional. There is no rejection for not being beautiful or handsome, not having more assets or a big house. They have only the love that is burning inside them and fueling their desire to love. Their love is protecting them from depression and anxiety. We can see the sparkle of light in their faces when they are together. They have a purpose in their life and meaning for living. Having purpose in life and making life more meaningful is the main source of happiness.
Branda and Mikala are made for each other.