During a conflict in a Vietnamese village an orphanage run by missionaries, was severely bombed.

        The missionaries and two kids died on the spot, and many others were injured, one of them being an eight-year old girl.

        Through a radio from a neighbour village, people asked for help to the American soldiers. A Navy doctor and a nurse came in bringing only small first aid cases.

        They soon realized that the eight-year old girl’s situation was the most serious one. If they did not take an urgent proceeding, she would die from blood loss. A transfusion had to be done immediately.

        They started looking for someone with the same blood type as hers. Americans did not have that type of blood, but many orphans who were not hurt by the bombing did and could donate some of their blood.

        The problem now was how to talk to the kids, once the doctor knew just a few words in Vietnamese and the nurse could only speak a little bit of French.

        Using both languages and a lot of body language, they tried to explain to the frightened kids that if they did not replace some of her blood, the little girl would die.

        Therefore, they asked if there was someone who was willing to donate some blood. As an answer, they got many pairs of staring eyes.

        Finally, one hand was raised in the air; it then dropped immediately, and went up again.

        Oh, thanks. said the nurse. What is your name?

        The boy answered in a very shy voice: Heng.

        They immediately laid Heng on the stretcher, rubbed some alcohol on his arm and inserted the needle in his vein.

        During the whole time, Heng was silent and immovable.

        After a little while, a sob was heard and the boy covered his face with his free hand.

        Does it hurt, Heng? asked the doctor. Heng moved his head as to say no, but soon after that, another sob could be heard, and again he tried to hide it.

        The doctor asked again if he was in pain, and once again, he moved his head as to say no.

        Soon the occasional sob became a declared silent weep, with tearful eyes, his closed fist inside his mouth to stop the sobs.

        The doctor and the nurse got worried. Something was obviously going wrong.

        At this point, a Vietnamese nurse, who was sent there to help them, arrived. When she realized the boy’s affliction, she talked to him, heard his answer and, with a soft voice, tried to calm him down.

        Heng stopped crying and looked at the nurse with an expression of surprise. She confirmed something with a movement of her head, and an expression of relief took place on his face. She then turned to the Americans and said:

        He thought he was dying. He understood you had asked him for all his blood, in order for thelittle girl to survive.

        And why did he agree to do that? asked the doctor.

        The nurse repeated the question to the boy in his own language, and Heng simply answered:

        She is my friend.

* * *

        Have you ever thought about donating blood?

        We usually think about it if we have a relative or a dear friend in need, but solidarity invites us to donate it to save lives in a general way.

        When we become a donator, we are largely contributing to society.

        Think about it!

Spiritist Moment Team, based on the book O livro das virtudes
by William Bennett, chapter Um amor maior,
by John W. Mansur,  Publishing House Nova Fronteira.
February 06 2008.