请给我穿上红色的衣服-Please Dress Me in Red

 In my dual¹ profession as an educator and health care provider, I have worked with numerous children infected with the virus that causes AIDS. The relationships that I have had with these special kids have been gifts in my life. They have taught me so many things, but I have especially learned that great courage can be found in the smallest of packages. Let me tell you about Tyler.

Tyler was born infected with HIV: his mother was also infected. From the very beginning of his life, he was dependent on medications to enable him to survive. When he was five, he had a tube surgically² inserted in a vein³ in his chest. This tube was connected to a pump, which he carried in a small backpack on his back. Medications were hooked up to this pump and were continuously supplied through this tube to his bloodstream. At times, he also needed supplemented oxygen to support his breathing.

Tyler wasn’t willing to give up one single moment of his childhood to this deadly disease. It was not unusual to find him playing and racing⁴ around his backyard, wearing his medicine-laden backpack and dragging his tank of oxygen behind him in his little wagon⁵. All of us who knew Tyler marveled at his pure joy in being alive and the energy it gave him. Tyler’s mom often teased him by telling him that he moved so fast she needed to dress him in red. That way, when she peered through the window to check on him playing in the yard, she could quickly spot him.

This dreaded⁶ disease eventually wore down even the likes of a little dynamo like Tyler. He grew quite ill and, unfortunately, so did his HIV-infected mother. When it became apparent that he wasn’t going to survive, Tyler’s mom talked to him about death. She comforted him by telling Tyler that she was dying too, and that she would be with him soon in heaven.

A few days before his death, Tyler beckoned⁷ me over to his hospital bed and whispered, “I might die soon. I’m not scared. When I die, please dress me in red. Mom promised she’s coming to heaven, too. I’ll be playing when she gets there, and I want to make sure she can find me.”

　　作为一名教育和保健护理工作者，我曾经和数不清的感染上艾滋病病毒的孩子打过交道。我和这些特殊的孩子之间的关系是生活赋予的恩赐.他们教会我许多东西,我尤其懂得了即使在最弱小的人物身上也能发现其所蕴含的巨大勇气.让我告诉你泰勒的故事.

　　泰勒出生前就从母体感染上艾滋病病毒.自他来到人间就一直靠药物维持生命.他5岁时做手术,胸部插了一根管子,管子连着他背的背包里的泵,泵不断地把药通过管子输入他的血液.有时他还需要补充氧气帮助呼吸.

　　泰勒不愿把童年的一分一秒屈服于致命的疾病.经常能发现他背着装药的背包和拖着载有氧气罐的小车在他家后院玩耍奔跑.我们所有认识泰勒的人都惊叹生命带给他那纯朴的欢乐和赋予他的活力.泰勒的妈妈经常逗他说,他动的那么快,得给他穿件红衣服.这样她透过窗户查看他在院子里玩的怎样时,能一眼发现他.

　　可怕的疾病最终还是拖垮了精力充沛的像台小电动机似的泰勒.他的病情越来越严重,不幸的是身染艾滋病病毒的妈妈也病入膏肓.泰勒即将撒手人寰时,妈妈和他谈起死亡.她安慰他说,她也将要离开人世,不久会和他在天堂见面.

　　泰勒病逝前几天,招呼我到他病床前,低声对我说,“我可能就要死了,我不害怕.我死时请给我穿上红色的衣服.妈妈答应我她也会来天堂的,她来的时候我会在玩,我得保证她能找到我.”

1 dual   

adj.双的；二重的，二元的

参考例句：

• The people's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national.中华人民共和国不承认中国公民具有双重国籍。
• He has dual role as composer and conductor.他兼作曲家及指挥的双重身分。

2 surgically   

adv. 外科手术上, 外科手术一般地

参考例句：

• Unsightly moles can be removed surgically. 不雅观的痣可以手术去除。
• To bypass this impediment an almost mature egg cell is removed surgically. 为了克服这一障碍，通过手术，取出一个差不多成熟的卵细胞。

3 vein   

n.血管，静脉；叶脉，纹理；情绪；vt.使成脉络

参考例句：

• The girl is not in the vein for singing today.那女孩今天没有心情唱歌。
• The doctor injects glucose into the patient's vein.医生把葡萄糖注射入病人的静脉。

4 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

5 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

6 dreaded   

adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

7 beckoned   

v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
• The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》