"We cannot live for ourselves alone , a thousand fibers connect
us with our fellow man."
- Herman Melville.
Perhaps this is why we are moved deeply by stories of people
caring for one another. . .
"Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital,
I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a
rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to
be a blood transfusion from her five year old brother who survived
the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat
the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her brother,
and asked the 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 that if it will save Liza.'
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in the 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, 'Will I start to die right away ?' Being young
the boy had misunderstood the doctor. He thought he was going to
have to give her all his blood. "
- Dan Millman