A story of giving

 A lesson in giving

You may have read or heard this one before...

Many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at the hospital, I got to know a little three year old girl suffering from a disease. The little girl needed blood from her five year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same condition. The boy had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness and was the only hope for his sister. 

The doctor explained the situation to the little brother and asked if the boy would give blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate only for a moment before he took a deep breath and said, "Yes, I will do it if it will save my sister."

As the transfusion progressed he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, seeing the color return to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.  Finally he looked up at the nurse beside him and asked with a trembling voice, "When will I start to die?"

The young boy had misunderstood the doctor and thought he had to die to save his sister. 

- A story of great love -