数月后，我22岁的侄女打电话给我，她的声音非常甜美，总让我内心深受触动。“姑姑，血库打电话问我献不献血。你可以陪我去吗？”我同意了。
我第一次，也是仅有的一次献血是在十年前的海湾战争时期。那时，我最好的朋友是流动陆军外科医院的护士，我是因她才献血的。我还寄给她一个装满糖果和日用品的包裹，这些都是她在前线不可能有的。我记得我还为此很开心。
去血库前，我不知道会以具体人的名义献血。那里有一个公告栏，上面都是儿童医院小患者们的照片。两年前，正是在这家医院，我身患癌症的女儿离开了人世。因此，我很同情这些与绝症抗争的孩子们。有一张照片是一个九岁的黑人小女孩，由于药物缘故，她的小脸有些肿胀，但那漂亮的脸蛋似乎会说话。她叫亚里克西斯，正与病魔作着斗争。她生命的大部分时间几乎都在与癌症抗争，我了解到，她的病情曾两次好转，但现在又恶化了，这已经是第三次了。于是，我请求以她的名义献血。
我不晕针，整个献血过程无丝毫疼痛。血库要赠我一个毛茸茸的小动物和一件T恤，被我婉言谢绝了。我献血并非有所图，仅仅只是想献血。一个半月后，我又来献血。再一个半月后，我第三次献血。我觉得这是我力所能及的，因此我暗自发誓，只要身体健康，就经常来献血。
我几乎不看电视，但我坚持在上班前打开电视。虽然并没坐在电视前收看，但我能听到播放的内容。一天早上，我听到播音员报道一个名为亚里克西斯的小女孩。我立即上前看，想知道报道的是不是我在血库认识的那个小女孩，的确是她。
亚里克西斯在抗击绝症的过程中死去了，我非常伤心。我听着亚里克西斯的故事，泪流满面。报道说她是一个非常出色的孩子，对这一点我并不感到惊讶，因为在血库的那张照片上，我从她的眼睛里就看出来了。她有着天使般的面庞，微笑中满是乐观和勇气。我第一眼看到她，就喜欢上了她。
那天早上，我得知她的故事和死讯并非巧合。她现在是一个天使了，她觉得让我知道这一切很重要；于我而言，我的献血行为没什么大不了的，但对她，对那些在生命边缘挣扎的孩子们，却是极了不起的。
我从未见过这个了不起的孩子，也没接触过她，然而，她却深深地打动了我，她的精神触动了我灵魂的最深处，令我无法忘怀。我喜欢把她当做我女儿的好朋友，在另外一个世界里，她们很快乐、很健康，像所有小女孩一样，她们嬉笑着，玩闹着。
我的医疗师总对我说，尽管我做的事不占用太多时间，不花费太多气力和金钱，但这并不意味着我所做的没有价值。对需要帮助的人们，我们做的每件小事都意义深远。因此，我建议你们，勿以善小而不为。点点滴滴的善行加起来，价值就不菲了。
生命的礼物（2）
… 心灵小语
也许我们付出的只是点滴的金钱、时间或力气，但这些点点滴滴汇集起来的力量就会犹如大海，不可估量。
The Gift of Life
Anonymous
I am not someone who had ever given back to the munity。 My father had drilled into my sisters and me all our lives that charity1 begins at home； and so I gave generously to family and friends； but rarely to any？outside of that。 I have always greatly admired those who volunteer their time and money and are in the trenches helping other human beings when they are in the most need。 I have a side of me that is very passionate2； and my heart breaks when I watch news reports of the Red Cross helping storm victims after hurricanes or tornadoes3 that destroyed everything but the clothes on their backs。 Only I have never been pelled to do anything to help the effort，not even to write out a check。
I always felt bad about that； but even guilt didn’t motivate me to do anything about it。 I preferred not to think about all the suffering in the world； and I did this by switching4 the station on the TV whenever a “Feed the Children” mercial came on。 Out of sight； out of mind was how I dealt with all the suffering in the world。
In my mind； I often defended myself； saying I was just so sensitive to other people’s suffering； and that I would only suffer myself if I got too close and personal to it。 I knew I could never be in the trenches with people when they were in dire needs； because I’d probably be as upset and emotional as they were。 I told myself that was not what they needed； for me to feel sorry for them and cry with them。 What they needed was fort； yes； but most importantly they needed is someone to give them hope； and I never trusted that I could give that to anyone。
Several months ago； my 22…year…old niece phoned me。 “Aunt Lene；” she said in her sweet voice that never fails to melt my heart； “the blood bank called and asked if I would donate blood。 Would you e and donate with me？” I couldn’t refuse her。
The first and only time I had donated blood was during the Gulf War ten years ago。 My best friend was a nurse in a M。 A。 S。 H。 unit on the front line； and I did it for her。 I also sent her a care package full of goodies and necessities she couldn’t get over there in the middle of hell。 I remember how good it made me feel to do this for her。
I didn’t know before going to the blood bank； that I would be able to donate blood in the name of someone specific。 There was a bulletin board with photos of children who were patients at Children’s Hospital。 It was the same hospital where I had lost my daughter for cancer two years prior； so my heart went out to these children who were battling life…threatening illnesses。 One photo was of a little black girl； only 9 years old； and her beautiful face； although swollen from drugs； spoke to me。 Her name was Alexis； and she was battling cancer。 She had been fighting the disease most of her life； and I read where she had been in remission5 twice； but the cancer had returned for a third time。 I requested to donate my blood in Alexis’s name。 电子书 分享网站
生命的礼物（3）
I braved the needle and the procedure was relatively painless。 The blood bank wanted to give me a stuffed animal and a T…shirt； but I declined。 I wasn’t there to get anything for my effort； but was there only to give。 A month and a half later； I went back； and then a month and a half after that； I went back again。 I felt this was something I could do； and so I made a promise to myself to go as often as I could while I was in good health。
I hardly watch TV； but I do keep the TV on in the morning while I’m getting ready for work。 Although I am not in front of the TV； I am listening to it。 One morning I heard a newscaster reporting about a young girl named Alexis； and I immediately went to the TV to see if she was talking about my Alexis from the blood bank。 She was。
Alexis had lost her battle with cancer； and my heart broke。 As I sat with tears running down my face； I listened to Alexis’s story； and the legacy6 she left behind。 I wasn’t surprised to hear what an extraordinary child Alexis was； because I saw it in her eyes when I saw her photograph at the blood bank。 She had the most angelic face； and a smile that was so full of joy and courage； that she endeared herself to me instantly。
It was no coincidence that I learned of Alexis’s life and death that morning。 She was an angel now； and she saw the big picture； and knew it was important for me to know that what I was doing by giving blood may not seem like a big thing to me； but it was to her； and it is to all the children who are still fighting the fight like she did。
I never met this wonderful child； never touched her； but she surely touched me。 Her spirit went right to my soft spot； and I will never forget her。 I like to think she is a great friend to my daughter on the other side； and they are happy； healthy； laughing and playing like little girls should。
My therapist is always telling me that even though I do something that doesn’t t