ng　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　donat