GIVING BLOOD

Many years ago, when Susan worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, she got to know a little girl named Lizza 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 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. Susan saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying: "Yes, I´ll do it if it will save Lizza."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in the bed next to his sister and smiled, as they 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 her all his blood.