Giving His All
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 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 Liz." 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 boy had misunderstood the doctor;
he thought he was going to have to give his sister
all of his blood.
