Are you going to help me

Are you going to help me

In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened Armenia,

killing over 30,000 people in less than four minutes.

In the midst of utter devestation and chaos, a father

left his wife securely at home and rushed to the school

where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that

the building was as flat as a pancake.

After the traumatic initial shock, he remembered the

promise he had made to his son:

"No matter what, I'll always be there for you!"

And the tears began to fill his eyes.

As he looked at the pile of debris that once was

the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering

his commitment to his son.

He began to concentrate on where he walked his son to

class at school each morning. Remembering his son's

classroom would be in the back right corner of the

building, he rushed there and started digging through

the rubble.

As he was digging, other forlorn parents arrived,

clutching their hears saying: "My son!""My daughter!"

Other well meaning parents tried to pull him off of

what was left of the school saying:

"It's too late!"

They're dead!"

You can't help!"

Go home!"

"Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can do!"

"You're just going to make things worse!"

To each parent he responded with one line:

"Are you going to help me now?"

And he proceeded to dig for his son, stone by stone.

The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off

of the school debris saying "Fires are breaking out,

explosions are happening everywhere. You're in

danger. We'll take care of it. Go home."

To which this loving, caring Armenian father asked,

"Are you going to help me now?"

The police came and said, "You're angry, distraught

and it's over. You're endangering others. Go home.

We'll handle it!" To which he replied,

"Are you going to help me now?" No one helped.

Courageously he proceeded alone because he needed

to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or is he dead?"

He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...

36 hours...then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back

a boulder and heard his son's voice. He screamed

his son's name, "ARMAND!" He heard back, "Dad!?!

It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry.

I told 'em that if you were alive, you'd save me

and when you saved me, they'd be saved.

You promised, 'No matter what, I'll always be

there for you!' You did it, Dad!"

"What's going on in there? How is it?"

the father asked.

"There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad.

We're scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here.

When the building collapsed, it made a wedge,

like a triangle and it saved us."

"Come on out, boy!"

"No Dad! Let the other kids out first,

'cause I know you'll get me! No matter what,

I know you'll be there for me!"