Weekly Bulletin
Sadako’s Story: Folding Cranes
The Atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima when Sadako Sasaki was 2 years old, she suffered from indoor exposure to the radiation. At age 11, she collapsed during a race and was later diagnosed with leukemia.
We can only imagine how Sadako felt when she was diagnosed with leukemia. She might have felt anger asking, "Why me?" She might have felt anxiety, fear, helplessness or hopelessness. Death seemed to be too scary and too complicated for her to understand. Waiting to die was overwhelming..
According to Japanese tradition, a wish would come true if one would fold 1000 origami cranes. Sadako started folding cranes. She found that focusing on the precise folds helped to distract her from the awareness of time. This also eased the feeling of frustration and boredom, and gave her hope and meaning – replacing negative feelings with positive.
Through trial and error, she found the size of paper most suitable for her to handle. She completed one crane after another, saying, "I can do something to help. I am in control." She found a purpose in life both for her health and for world peace. Making cranes was the only diversion from pain. Eventually she died in her sleep, but folding cranes brought calmness for her final journey. She had completed 644 cranes.
Sadako’s friends helped to make up the 1000 cranes for her funeral. But Sadako’s example generated a new tradition. A club was formed. A monument was built in the Hiroshima Peace Park. Now there is a Peace Day on August 6th every year.
Sadako’s story reminds us of the hope for World Peace for which we pray today.
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008