A few years ago, a six-year-old boy from Oregon suffered burns over 85% of his
body. His condition was so severe that several doctors gave up and one hospital
would not admit him because they thought he would die anyway.
His life was saved, however, by eight courageous and committed people -- his
parents, three nurses and three doctors. The nurses emerged as the true heroines
in this real-life drama. After other nurses had quit, these women took
eight-hour shifts with the boy, seeing him through skin grafts, operations,
crucial periods in which death almost gained victory, and dull, dragging days of
rehabilitation. The boy grew to dislike them, as he innocently thought they
caused his intense pain.
His room was like a dungeon. It measured 12 feet by 12 feet. The door was
tightly shut, shades were drawn, heat blazed from a gooseneck lamp shining as a
substitute for blankets. The humidity was so high the walls dripped with
moisture, and dank air smelled of burned flesh and chlorine-soaked dressings.
The nurses stayed with him, dressed in caps, gowns, masks and gloves as if they
were assisting an operation. Within an hour they would be soaked with
perspiration. For 14 desperately long months these dedicated three gave their
all to the ailing boy. Then, one day, he finally climbed from his bed and
walked.
It was a great day! The nurses were rewarded for their tireless effort. The
lives of all three were so deepened and their sense of satisfaction so great
after fighting off the temptation to quit for 14 months, that each said they'd
put forth the effort again.
What caused them to feel so satisfied with their work? One might say it was
because they found a way to truly serve someone in need. And in so doing, they
accomplished something significant. Like American educator Booker T. Washington
said, "Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others."
Someone observed, "It's easy to make a buck...it's a lot tougher to make a
difference." But it's the way to be happy.
From Steve Goodier's TOUCHING MOMENTS
Thanks to Life Support System Publishing, Inc.
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