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Inspirational: Determination and Persistence

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eMediNexus    19 February 2020

Engineer John Roebling started building the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA back in 1870. The bridge was completed in 1883, 13 years later.

This creative engineer was excited about an idea of building a bridge that would connect New York with the Long Island. Bridge building experts across the world; however, were of a different opinion and considered this to be an impossible feat. Everyone told Roebling to forget the idea; It was not practical; It had never been done before.

Roebling; however, could not let go of the vision he had in his mind. He thought about it all the time and knew somewhere deep down that it could be done. After much persuasion, he convinced his son Washington, a budding engineer, that the bridge could be built.

The father and son worked together on concepts of how it could be done and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but only a few months underway, John Roebling lost his life in a tragic accident on the site. Washington was also injured and sustained some brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.

"We told them so." "Crazy men and their crazy dreams." "It’s foolish to chase wild visions." Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be shut.

Despite his handicap, Washington still wanted to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.

As he lay one day on his bed in his hospital room, suddenly an idea hit him. He could only move one finger and decided to make the best use of it. He gradually developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, suggesting that he wanted her to call the engineers again. He used the method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. The project was under way again.

For 13 years, Washington would tap out his instructions on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. The magnificent Brooklyn Bridge stands today in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s invincible spirit and his determination. It also stands as a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by the world. It stands too as a monument to the love and devotion of his wife who patiently decoded the messages of her husband for the engineers.

This is among the best examples of a never–say–die attitude to achieve an impossible goal.

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