One evening, Edison had just left for the train station when his mother was suddenly struck by severe abdominal pain at home. His father was still at work, and the house fell into panic. When his sister Tania returned from visiting a friend, she rushed to her mother’s side in alarm.
Weak and struggling, their mother whispered that Edison must be called home immediately and a doctor sent for at once. Tania ran to the station to find her brother, and when Edison heard the news, he hurried to fetch Dr. Pender, who fortunately was still at home. After examining the patient, the doctor gave grave news. It was acute appendicitis, and surgery had to be done right away. Waiting until morning would be too late.
However, night was falling fast, and the house was lit only by oil lamps. Under such dim light, surgery would be extremely dangerous. The doctor paced back and forth, deeply worried, unable to find a solution in time to save the patient. Edison anxiously asked whether lighting all the oil lamps would be enough. The doctor shook his head, explaining that only strong, steady light would make the operation possible.
Crushed with fear for his mother, Edison sat thinking desperately. Then, by chance, he noticed the lamp light reflecting off a piece of metal on a cabinet. The reflection appeared brighter and clearer. Suddenly, an idea struck him. If mirrors could reflect light, then multiple reflections might create enough brightness.
Without hesitation, Edison ran to a nearby grocery store, carried home a large mirror, and quickly arranged all the oil lamps in front of it. The room was soon flooded with reflected light, far brighter than before. He confidently went to the doctor and announced that there was now enough light for surgery.
When the doctor entered the room, his face lit up with relief and amazement. He praised Edison’s quick thinking and immediately began the operation. By dawn, the surgery was complete, and Edison’s mother had survived. Through calm observation and creative thinking under pressure, a young boy’s idea had saved a life.