[뉴스엔 서유나 기자] 이종락 목사는 장애를 안고 태어난 아들을 계기로 9명의 장애아를 가슴으로 낳았다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak gave birth to nine disabled children with his heart after his son was born with a disability.
12월 22일 방송된 MBN 밀착 다큐멘터리 '특종세상' 562회에서는 13년 간 베이비 박스를 통해 2,034명의 아이를 살린 이종락 목사 부부의 이야기가 공개됐다.In the 562nd episode of MBN's close-up documentary "Special World," which aired on December 22, the story of Pastor Lee Jong-rak and his wife, who saved 2,034 children through a 13-year baby box, was revealed.
이날 베이비박스에 입소한 아기들을 돌보는 하루를 마무리한 이종락 목사는 차로 15분 거리에 떨어진 또 다른 공간을 찾았다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak, who wrapped up his day caring for babies who entered the baby box, found another space 15 minutes away by car. 이곳엔 이종락 목사를 "아빠"라고 부르는 아이들이 있었다.There were children here who called Pastor Lee Jong-rak "Dad." 입양이 어려운 장애를 가진 아이들을 직접 입양해 돌보고 있던 것.She adopted and took care of children with disabilities who had difficulty adopting. 이런 삶에는 지금은 하늘로 떠난 친아들 은만 씨가 큰 영향을 미쳤다.Eun-man, his biological son, who is now in heaven, had a great influence on this life. 이종락 목사는 "처음 태어났을 때 은만이가 감염이 돼 파상풍이 된 거다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak said, "When I was first born, Eun-man was infected and became a tetanus. 의사가 제왕절개 수술을 하고 아이를 꺼내 들어서 이렇게 보곤 '어허 이놈 복을 달고 나왔네'라고 했다.The doctor took out the child after a cesarean section and looked at him like this, and said, "Oh, this guy's luck came out." 그래서 언뜻 봤더니 얼굴이 이상하더라.So when I first saw him, his face looked strange. 머리하고 머리 같은 게 또 하나 있었다.There was another head and another head. 나중에 생후 3개월 만에 전신마비가 됐다.Later, he became paralyzed three months after birth. 엄청난 열이 나면서 고열 통해 고막이 나가고 시력도 없어지고 뇌세포가 다 망가졌다더라"고 회상했다."I heard that as I had a tremendous fever, my eardrums went out, my eyesight went out, and all my brain cells were destroyed through high fever," he recalled.
결국 중증 뇌병변장애로 평생을 침상에서 지내야 했던 아들이지만 이종락 목사는 포기하지 않았다.In the end, he had to stay in bed all his life due to severe brain lesions, but Pastor Lee Jong-rak did not give up. 그는 "아들을 살리기 위해 내가 할 수 있는 몸부림을 다 쳤다.He said, "I've done everything I can to save my son. (병원을) 14년 동안 내 집 드나들 듯이…For 14 years, as if I were visiting my house... 한번 들어가면 7개월이다.Once you get in, it's seven months. 그렇게 병원 생활을 하면서 우리 네 식구가 다 병원에 살았다.While living in the hospital like that, all four of our family lived in the hospital. 병원이 우리 집이었다.The hospital was my home. 방 얻은 것까지 나중에 전세를 뺐으니까"라고 밝혔다.I took out the rent later, even though I got a room."
이어 "사실 은만이는 괴롭고 힘들지만 항상 우리 부부는 은만이만 보면 행복했다."In fact, Eun-man is suffering and having a hard time, but my husband and I are always happy when we see Eun-man. 은만이가 항상 웃으줬다.Eun-man always smiled. 미소천사였다.He was a smiling angel. 우리가 몸이 조금만 아프면 인상이 찌푸러지잖나.Don't we frown if we get a little sick? 그렇게 아픈데도 불구하고 항상 웃어줬다.Despite his pain, he always smiled. 얼마나 큰 위로와 기쁨이 된지 모르겠다.I don't know how much comfort and joy it has been. 그래서 우리가 은만이 없으면 못 살겠다고 했다"고 아들에 대한 어마어마한 애정을 털어놓았다.That's why we said that we couldn't live without Eun-man," he said, expressing his enormous affection for his son.
그러나 아빠 엄마 말도 못하고 움직일 자유조차 없던 은만 씨는 32살 되던 해 암 진단을 받으면서 33살 나이에 세상을 떠났다.However, Eun-man, who couldn't speak and even had freedom to move, died at the age of 33 when he was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32. 이종락 목사는 "인간으로 태어나 우리 은만이처럼 고생한 사람이 있을까.Pastor Lee Jong-rak said, "Is there anyone who was born human and suffered like Eun-man?" 아픔을 겪은 사람이 있을까 싶다.I wonder if anyone has experienced pain. 세상 떠날 때도 암으로 떠났잖나.You left for cancer when you left the world. 아프면서도 나를 보면 웃어준 그 아들 때문에 정말 사람이 됐다.I became a real person because of my son, who laughed at me even though he was sick. 은만이가 나의 스승이었다.Eun-man was my teacher. '항상 잘 있니?"Are you always well?" 고마워' 그렇게 하면서 내가 힘들고 어려울 땐 그 모습을 생각한다"고 말했다."Thank you," he said, "I think about that when I'm having a hard time and having a hard time."
이종락 목사는 아직 아들을 완전히 떠나보내지 못했다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak has not yet completely left his son. 은만 씨가 떠난 지 3년.It's been three years since Mr. Eun-man left. 이종락 목사는 여전히 은만 씨의 유골함과 인사하는 것으로 하루를 시작했다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak started the day by greeting Eun-man's ashes.
그리고 이종락 목사가 장애아들과 인연을 맺게 된 것도 은만 씨 때문이었다.And it was also because of Eun-man that Pastor Lee Jong-rak had a relationship with his disabled son. 현재 9명의 장애아를 입양해 가슴에 품게 된 이종락 목사.Pastor Lee Jong-rak, who has adopted nine disabled children and is now holding them in his heart. 그는 은만 씨를 키우며 세상 모든 장애아들이 은만 씨 같다는 생각을 갖게 됐다.As he raised Eun-man, he came to think that all the disabled children in the world were like Eun-man.
이종락 목사는 "사실 장애인 단체도 베이비 박스도 생각해 본 적이 없다.Pastor Lee Jong-rak said, "In fact, I have never thought about a disabled organization or a baby box. 은만이를 통해서 오랫동안 하다 보니까, (어느날) 할머니가 찾아와 '나는 늙고 병들어서 이 아이를 돌볼 수가 없다.After doing it for a long time through Eun-man, my grandmother (one day) came to me and said, "I'm old and sick, so I can't take care of this child. 병원 의료사고가 나서 이 아이가 전신 마비가 됐다.A medical accident in the hospital caused this child to have a general paralysis. 내가 아저씨를 3일 동안 살펴봤는데 아저씨가 맡아주면 좋겠다'고 하더라"고 회상했다.I looked at him for three days, and he said, "I hope you take care of him."
그렇게 의탁해 온 아이가 입양아 중 한 명인 상희 씨였던 것. 상희 씨는 정신지체 엄마와 행방불명 아빠를 대신해 할머니가 키워온 손주였다.One of her adopted children, Sang-hee, was the grandchild raised by her grandmother on behalf of her mentally retarded mother and her missing father. 이종락 목사는 "아내에게 이야기 못 했는데 힘들더라.Pastor Lee Jong-rak said, "I couldn't tell my wife, but it was hard. 어떤 여자가 이 일에 선뜻 대답할 수 있겠냐. (아내가) 나를 쳐다보는데 가슴이 철렁했다.What kind of woman can answer this? (My wife) looked at me and I was shocked. 굳어 있는데 '하나님이 하라고 했으면 해야죠'라고 하더라.It was stiff, but he said, "If God told me to, I should." 이 무뚝뚝한 사나이가 길거리에서 고맙다며 포옹했다"고 대의를 이해해준 아내에 대한 고마움을 드러냈다.This blunt man hugged me on the street, saying, "Thank you," expressing his gratitude to his wife for understanding the cause. (사진=MBN '특종세상' 캡처)(Photo = MBN "special world" capture)