Amazed at the Kindness of Others

Dear friends,

I must share with you a story. It's a story of illness and pain, of fear and of hope. But mostly this is a story of great kindess and compassion.

Our story starts four months ago with a young woman, and a sharp pain right below her belly button. "Oh!" she cries out, doubling over and clutching her stomach. A few deep breaths later the pain passes, almost as quickly as it came. As the pain left, fear entered in. She didn't have health insurance. A few weeks later, the pain returns, coming in waves. Washing over her, engulfing her, then passing as quickly as it had come. This continues, every few weeks the pain would wash over her, coming spraticly for a few days, then disappering altogether until the next time. But two days ago, the pain changed. It started in the usual way, by sweeping in and taking her breath away, then leaving like a ghost. Then in the middle of the night, nauseating and strong, the pain pierced her and woke her from her rest. Fear was in her husband's eyes--what could he do? What could he do?

The next morning he took her to the student wellness center, where she was poked, and proded in rather an unpleasent way by incredibly pleasent people. In the end though, they figured out what was wrong. She was sick, but not near as sick as they had feared. A simple infection cured by antibiotics. But fear came again--how much would it cost? The couple, though happy, was literally living on love and savings. The verdict: $6.45 for the antibotics. In total the visit only cost $58 including the medicine. Oh the sweet relief! She was going to get well, and wasn't made bankrupt for the help. The nurses and doctors there were so kind to help her.

Then her sweet man took her to yet another doctor--Planned Parenthood, where she was poked and proded again. This time a young hispanic nurse named Buffy told her the total cost was $48, but she didn't have to pay any of it. She only had to pay what she was able to pay them. and it would be recieved as a donation. Wow! What incredible kindness. She was stunned. "Thank you." she said.

This story is ending with a happy story. The woman is getting better, and her husband has hope. But is that the moral of the story? We should be kind because this woman recieved kindness. She in turn, I know is being kind to others. She is going to help another young woman get home to see her family, but where must kindness start? Are we only allowed to be kind to those who are kind to us? or do we only let ourselves be kind to others if others have been kind first? I don't know, and I suppose that for every person it is different.

As for me, It never ceases to amaze me--how kind and compassionate another human being can be.

Lovely Lydia

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