The Scariest 30 Minutes of My Life (Personal)
It was about 6:00pm, 29th March 2008 when we were done with walking around the new mall in Penang. The evening was nice and it gave us a great light exercise walking and having fun with my family.
My wife, my three kids and I were about to leave. So, we got to the pay station for the parking ticket in the mall and I placed a dollar bill in the machine.
My car was parked on the 3rd floor. We were on the ground floor and had to take the lift. Since the lift was close to the pay machine, my wife and kids were there first. My daughter pressed the button to go up while my wife was busy with my 4-month old (with a stroller).
The lift opened for a while when I was done with the payment and about to join my family.
I guess, Aiman, my 5-year old son was being Aiman and he got inside the lift before anyone else. The lift was empty and but suddenly closed – leaving him inside alone.
We were stunned!
And, I saw the number went up from 1 to 2 and I knew that Aiman was still in the lift – alone.
My daughter, Syafiqah, thought it was fun and giggled for awhile..
“Aiman was inside”, she said with a smile.
Syafiqah did not know but I knew this was no laughing matter.
Immediately, the recent stories of missing and kidnapped children flashed in front of my eyes and that was when I realized how scared I was.
I told my wife to stay and wait for the lift to come down and I ran to the stairs to go up the floor and catch the lift.
I got to the 1st floor and checked the lift. Then, the second… third… forth.
No one.
My worry got even worst.
I called my wife to check if Aiman came down using the same lift… but he did not. I called her again when I reached the next floor and got the same answer. I could sense the worries in my wife’s voice.
Who can imagine being a situation like this?
I was worried like hell and you can’t even imagine how scared I was.
The last floor – the 7th floor.
I got there putting my last hope to see Aiman.
But, I got disappointed and more worried.
He was not there too.
I figured out that I should do another round of checking by going down the stairs and checking the lift floor by floor again.
I did and I called my wife on the 5th floor.
It was a big relief.
My wife said that a good samaritan found Aiman and took him to security. My wife asked help from one of the security guards and they “walkie-talkied” to
each other before she learned that Aiman was found.
I told my wife that I would wait for her and kids on the 3rd floor and we were soon reunited.
Until now we did not know who that good person was. I thank him and God so much that it all turned out to be fine.
I know I love my family so much but I did not know how much is much until I experience something that could change our life to the worse. Being close to losing one of your family members will make you love them more and more, and with that I would like to send these few messages to you.
1. Love your family for who they are and don’t take everything for granted. A few seconds (like my story here) could turn to be something bad.
2. If you can afford, make sure you and your wife have one handphone each and carry them when in public places. Just imagine how bad I would be if I couldn’t keep in close contact with my wife.
3. Inform the security about your missing kids immediately even if your kid is out of sight for quite awhile. Every second counts when in emergency. Don’t wait for half an hour before you talk to someone.
4. Keep your kids close to you. Sometimes, you even have to hold their hands. You can see in a situation like mine, you can still lose them.
5. Help others in need because you might not know when you need one in the future. I belief “Law Of Reciprocal” still exists and I still owe a BIG “Thank You” to the mysterious person who help bring my kid to the security. Although I don’t know who he is, I pray that good things will happen in his life.
I thought the whole drama was only about 20-30 minutes but I could feel that the time flew so slow. That’s what happened when you really want something so bad and are not getting it.
Last but not least… I love my wife and kids so much and I wouldn’t trade for anything else in the world.
ps. Feel free to share this story with others!
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Hi, I’m so glad to hear it worked out and your family is safe. I know what a traumatic experience it can be since I experienced a short disappearance of one of my kids too once when they were young. You feel like the world is such a big empty place suddenly and like your life will be over if your child isn’t back in your world asap. Anyway, again, happy to hear the ordeal is over!
Liz
A couple of weeks ago, I was at the courthouse with my niece and her two little girls. The 2 year old has just recently started walking–she was very late getting started, due to some serious medical problems. We we standing at the elevator, waiting to go up, when a down elevator opened. That baby was in the elevator, quick as can be, and the door started closing. Fortunately I was able to get over there in time, to keep the doors from closing, and therefore able to get her out. I know we would have been scared to death if she had gotten closed in!!!!!!!
Very heart compelling. Always look out for our kids. We never knew when mishaps happen. I have a son, 7 years of age. Whenever he gets out of my car, he will straight away cross the street. I and my wife have reminded him (should I say scold him) times and times again but as if we parents have never reminded him before. Once a scholar said, as parents we should never fail to remind or to guide our children even if he is a grown up. It is our duty because we never cease to be the parents. Never give that up.
Sorry you had to go through the ordeal. I’ve had similar experience too but with an elder son. Lessons learned:
1. Never leave children unattended even for a second. They are just too fast for us sometimes.
2. I make sure either me or husband gets into the elevator first before the children steps in with either one of us behind them. Some elevators close very quickly and before you can do anything, one of your children may be left outside the elevator or the other way round.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Thank goodness that there are still good people around these days. I have heard once in my neighbourhood, where the Balai Raya had used the intercom to announce that a child is with them, and whoever lose theirs, were to come and “collect” their kid! Funny, huh? But, as a parent, we were bound to protect our children from harm, especially by outsiders. Although, sometimes, it seems hard to control an active kid, like mine for example. I would rather have him cried in the public, for me to refuse to let his hand go, than letting him to wander around at his own will. Better this, than sorry later.
Thanks to Allah,you and your fammily are safe,sometime we have to agree to our fault.
Zamri,
“We know the worth of water
when the well runs dry.”
You are SO RIGHT about loving young humans, and the difficulty of protecting them from their own ignorance and pride of accomplishment! It is NOT easy, and it takes some real thought, preparation and frequent talking-with, to protect them.
I emailed you re this.
Karridine
You are so careless Zamri. I’m glad that your son is ok. Learn from your mistake brother.
Thanks to you all for the comments and sharing your own stories.
To Yoko, this is one of those few unlucky times when mishap happens. Normally, I’m very cautious about what my kids do and we know that it’s not easy to control active children.
Yup, your story is so scary. I got experience lost my nephew. Luckily we found him back staring a box of star war model from outside of mirror. Gosh..
Very touching story. I think that a lot of people can learn from your mistakes and others. I don’t have kids myself, but I grew up as the oldest of six. That really opened my eyes to how oblivious kids are and that we could all help by just paying attention when we are around them.
You are so right family is one of the most important part of someones life. Your children are everything and when they are small you just have to always keep a eye on them amazingly they can be one second in front of you and the next you are runing around looking fro them especially when you are out in store.
That happened to my sister once when she was 3 but thank God we found her she was so scared and she was standing by a post just looking around.
Thanks to God your family is reunited. Be careful, there are very bad and sick guys out there. Be more careful.
Oh my, I would of went out of my mind. Its good that you reunited, thank god. Be safe.