Random Act of Kindness

In life, we all come to a point where we have to make difficult choices. It may be that neither choice can be called wrong or right. It’s just that each option will bring about both a desired and an undesired consequence. Donna Nelson was one that had to make such a decision. I didn’t know Donna’s full story. But I can tell you what little interaction I had with her.

I was at the local store just getting some snacks to eat. I didn’t have much money on me so I couldn’t get much. Donna was right in front of me. She looked as if she had the worst day imaginable. Her clothes were raggedy. She had a slight odor. She seemed to be quite distressed. She had less money than I had. She was buying 2 cans of the cheapest tuna she could get, a small jar or mayonnaise, and a small pack of crackers. It was all she could get to feed herself, and her 2 children. But she was 25 cent short. Almost in tears, she asked if anyone had a quarter. Seeing her as just another bum of the street, the store clerk threw her out the store saying, “We have a strict, No Begging, policy.”

What the clerk didn’t know is that Donna had to make a choice. She needed 3 things. 1, a place to stay for the night. 2, medicine for her youngest child. 3, food. However, she could only afford 2 of them. She decided that a place to stay and medicine were the more important choices. With that, she still had a few dollars left.

I told the clerk that he was wrong. “All she needed was 25 cent, you idiot.” I left the store without buying my stuff. That was a choice that I made. I found Donna not too far down the street. A friend had recently given me a gift card to a nearby restaurant. I thought that giving it to her would be the kind thing to do. It’s the golden rule. A rule the store clerk obviously never heard. Do to others as you want them to do to you. I’d want someone to help me out when I’m in need.

“Ma’am!,” I said. “Please, take this gift card. It would get you and your kids something to eat.”

“Oh! No, sir.,” she responded, “We’ll be ok. Just one bad day.”

“I insist.”

At that, I walked away. I never even asked her name. I never expecting to see Donna again. Within 24 hours, the entire event was out of my mind. I was visiting family out of town and was headed to the airport when I met Donna. My own problems were far to great to worry about a woman who couldn’t feed her children way across the country.

The following day, my doctor called me. He needed me to come into the office ASAP. I knew right away that this could be nothing short of very bad news. I suffered from a rare cardiopulmonary disorder. I had scans done before leaving town and now my doctor wanted to see me right away!

“I’m going to just jump to the point.,” my doctor said. “We’ve found a growth. Really, we found several. You are going to need surgery.”

“How soon?”

“We are getting your room ready now.”

“Doc! I have to work. Was going in right after this visit.”

“Sir, without this surgery, you may not live to get your next paycheck.”

The first thing I did was call my boss to let him know that I was in the hospital and would need more time off.

“If you are not here in 3 hours, don’t come in at all. Ever!”

“Great!” I said with my teeth clenched, “I’ll see you then.”

Wow! Fired! I didn’t know how much worse it could get. Without my job, I would lose my insurance. If I lose my insurance, I could not pay for any follow-up treatment. If I don’t get follow-up treatment, I don’t know what could happen. Would I die?

I had another decision to make. Again, neither choice would be wrong or right. If I went to work, I’d keep my job, but I might die. I could postpone the surgery, but how much time did I have. If I had the surgery, I would get it out the way, but I’d be ruined financially. What would I do afterwards. My mind was racing.

The best thing that happened at that time was when they gave me the anesthetic. Before I fell asleep, I remember being at such great peace. My mind was at ease. Then everything went black.

What seemed like only seconds later, really it was 12 hours, my son was there when I awoke. It was another week before I could leave. When I got home, I reluctantly checked my voice mail.

“Your employment at J.R. Hopkins has been terminated. Please turn in all equipment that belongs to the company within 3 days. Failure to do so would result in the price being deducted from your finial pay.”

I informed my ex-boss that my absence from the job was due to medical reasons. I spoke with HR, reminded them that I could not be fired when I already told them of my situation. They bought up some trumped-up charges stating that I took equipment home without signing for it. I’ve worked there for 15 years and never was asked to sign for anything. But my lawyer said that they had a convincing case.

The day came when the bills started rolling in and the money was not. I was able to get unemployment, but it wasn’t much. Only $250 a week. The phone bill each month was $500, mortgage $700, food $500, lights and gas $550, that’s $2250 a month. This did not include cable, internet, and other things that was once a luxury, but now a necessity. All I was making was $1000 a month. What was I’m supposed to do? My mind was racing.

The first thing that left was cable. We could get by without it. Local channels still broadcast over the air. Home internet went next. We could still check emails on our phones. We ate out much less. We ate cheaper food. We ate less often. We next changed our cell-phone plan to a cheaper provider. It didn’t have as many features. We could only talk for so long. Our data plan was limited, but we were getting by. This still was not enough. This was evident when our gas was turned off. I had no idea when I would be able to get it back on.

Electric pots became our best friend. Air fried, slow cooked, and pressure-cooked food is really healthy for you. This was going good for a few months. I wouldn’t say that we didn’t mind because it was annoying. However, we were getting by. We were coping. That is until our power was turned off.

No lights, no gas. Everything was going downhill. We did own a gas grill, but how long would that last. To make matters worse, my doctor called.

“You need to come back for another procedure.” Now, more medical bills. Treatments were going to cost $10,000 each. What little insurance I did have would only pay a small percentage. Absolutely everything I had was going to these bills and it wasn’t nearly enough. By the time the 3rd treatment came, my account was negative. Worse still, I received a foreclosure notice in the mail.

My friends tried to help me. They even set up a fundraiser to get money. Much to their surprise, they quickly raised twice the amount, over what was needed. Wow! My house was saved. My medical bills were paid. My lights, my gas, my cable, all of it was back. I wondered how but my mother had always told me to never look a gift horse in the mouth. I never understood what that meant at first. But now I totally understand. Don’t ask how. Just be happy.

One day, I received a letter from a person I did not know. The name was Donna Nelson. This is the letter she sent:

Dear Mr. Edwards

I’m sure you don’t know who I am. But you were a real source of help and hope for me. It was you that restored my hope in mankind.

My name is Donna Nelson. I’m the CEO of a major cooperation that I wish to remain nameless.

On the day that I visited Chicago, the airline lost my bags. I tried to check into my 5-star hotel but due to a computer error, my room would not be ready until the following day. My wallet, with all of my credit cards, was mistakenly put in my bag. I had some cash on me, but it was just enough to only get 2 of the 3 things I needed. 1, a place to stay for the night. 2, medicine for my youngest child. 3, food. When I was not able to get any food that night, you, a kind stranger came to my aid. You didn’t know me. You didn’t even ask my name.

The next day, when I got my bags, I came looking for you, but you were nowhere to be found. You had already left town. When I found you, I learned of your condition. I couldn’t handle not helping out. I just wanted to say thank you.

Your New Friend:

Donna Nelson. One random act of kindness deserves another.

Enclosed was a check for $25,000. One small insignificant event. All I did was give a lady away to get something to eat. That one meaningless act provided the key to saving my own life.