When I signed up to join the #1000Speak movement and agreed to post an article about compassion I knew I wanted to write something unique. I wanted to find an act of compassion that ran so deep and that wasn’t often talked about.
Compassion is an emotion that truly comes from the heart. It is that sympathetic feeling we get that causes a strong desire to help ease the pain of someone who is suffering. There are multitudes of ways in which we can show compassion. Often a kind word or loving touch is all it takes to soothe the suffering of another. Other times our compassion can be shown by giving to charities, volunteering, or becoming an advocate for a cause we believe in. Compassionate people are motivated to do whatever they can to help. If everyone in the world possessed this most important and highly valued quality I believe we could have peace in the world.
There are many situations in which compassion is needed. But is there an ultimate act of compassion? Is there a situation so devastating in which a person going through it can still find the will to reach out to someone also in need? I believe there is.
Every day thousands of people wait for that lifesaving phone call. Parents cradle their children and hope that a suitable donor will be found before it’s too late. An estimated 123, 215 men, women, and children are waiting for an organ donor. Sadly, 21 of those men, women, and children will die each day waiting.
It is no secret that organ and tissue donors are needed. Many adults have decided to become donors. What a great act of compassion that is.
But what if you had to make the decision of organ donation for your child?
Angelica Burkett went to work one day leaving her one year old with a babysitter. She returned home to find paramedics trying to revive her son, Laderreo Tolliver-Burkett. Her son had numerous physical injuries and although the paramedics were able to finally get a pulse, his brain was no longer functioning.
Dealing with an unthinkable loss and filled with extreme grief, Angelica decided to donate her son’s organs. Laderreo helped three babies. One received his heart, another received both his kidneys, and another received his liver.
Angelica decision to donate her son’s organs did not take away her pain, but it did help take away the heartache from parents waiting for an organ donor who could save their child’s life.
There are stories like this every day of parents having to make an unconceivable decision as to whether or not to donate the organs of their precious child.
There is no greater loss than that of a child. When a parent blanketed in grief can reach out to help others by letting go of their brain dead child so that organs can be taken to save another, well that is compassion in its ultimate form.
~Plucking Of My Heartstrings~ 
Such a great story of compassion! Thank you for your heart felt words!
Thank you for taking the time to read it.
Angelica’s story is an ultimate act of compassion! Truly commendable!
Very true! Thank you for stopping by to read and comment.
[…] Cheryl Wright who has received a corneal transplant, quite rightly refers to organ donation as “the ultimate act of compassion”. You can find Cheryl here: https://pluckingofmyheartstrings.com/2015/02/20/the-ultimate-act-of-compassion-1000speak/ […]
Yes a true act of compassion
Thank you for stopping by to read and comment.
🙂
Wonderful, heart-warming (and heart-wrenching) story. I was the donor for my sister’s bone marrow transplant for leukemia nearly 16 years ago. It was and always will be one of the most important acts of my life.
I don’t think people realize just how important donation is until they or someone they love need a donor. I’m glad that you were able to help your sister. Thank you for stopping by to read and comment.
to be able to donate whilst still grieving is true compassion- thanks for sharing the story:)
Very compassionate indeed, and the upside is parts of the child will live on in others. 🙂
It must be such a hard thing to do. Thank you for reading it.
Beautiful story! We know several people who have been on the receiving end of organ donation. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for reading my post Pam. I am the recipient of a cornea. A lot of people don’t realize just how important organ donation can be to a person waiting for a transplant.
This is a great example of true compassion, that despite her grief the mother still felt to reach out and help others. Thank you for bringing this to my attention and also looking at my post about compassion, liking it and following my blog! It has been a wonderful experience to participate in this fantastic event that helps make this world a little better for everyone. I loved reading a wide variety of posts about all the different perspectives of compassion and am grateful for the new connections that have resulted from it, I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future. With Gratitude, Pollyesther
I enjoyed reading all the blog posts about compassion also. Thank you for reading and commenting on my blog post. Will you be participating in the Blogging A to Z Challenge??
Thank you for your lovely reply Cheryl, but sadly have to decline the A to Z challenge, seeing I have a lot going on and cannot commit to blogging every day, which I understand is part of that. I usually write when inspired to do so. I appreciate your request for participation and would love to be part of another future action like the compassion one ( that fitted nicely in my blog theme of gratitude and happiness), so feel free to keep me posted.
With Gratitude, Pollyesther
[…] The Ultimate Act Of Compassion – 1000Speak https://pluckingofmyheartstrings.com/2015/02/20/the-ultimate-act-of-compassion-1000speak/ […]