Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I met a little girl named Lisa, who was suffering from a rare serious illness. Her only hope of cure was a blood transfusion and the donor was to be her own five-brother, who miraculously suffered the same disease and his body can devise antibodies needed to resist the disease. The doctor explained the situation to the boy and asked him if he would give his blood to his sister. I saw that he hesitated only a moment before answering:
- Yes, of course, if it can save Lisa.
No blood transfusion was going, he was lying on the couch next to his sister and smiled, as we all do, watching as the girl's cheeks will be flushed again. Then his face grew pale, his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and in a trembling voice asked:
- I die right now, yes?
While still very young, the boy misunderstood the doctor's words and decided that he will give his sister all his blood.
Dan Clark
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