Giving When it Counts
> Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
>hospital, I got
>to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from
>a rare and
>serious
>disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a
>blood transfusion
>from
>her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived
>the same disease
>and
>had developed the antibodies needed to combat the
>illness. The doctor
>explained the situation to her little brother, and
>asked the little
>boy if
>he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.
>I saw him
>hesitate for
>only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying,
>"Yes, I'll do
>it if
>it will save her.." As the transfusion
progressed,
>he lay in bed next
>to
>his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color
>returning to her
>
>cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.
>He looked up at
>the
>doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I
>start to die right
>away?"
>Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
>doctor; he
>thought he was going to have to give his sister all of
>his blood in
>order to
>save her. You see understanding and attitude, after
>all, is everything.