Human Kindness

The baby I wrote about yesterday, a child I do not know, nor do I know any of his family, is doing somewhat better today. I was so glad to see that message in his mom’s blog.

That was really good news.

But here is what I am looking at as more good news.

The appeal to pray for this little one started with his mother’s posting on line. She does have a lovely site and I know she had quite a number of followers before Stellan got sick 2 weeks ago. But the response is flat out staggering.

Her emotional but beautifully written posts are receiving 300 to more than 600 comments each! Her blog is getting over 100,000 hits per day. Take a look at Stellan’s Name Gallery on her site. People have drawn and formed his name in every conceivable way and have sent pictures in, declaring their loving thoughts and prayers. There are HUNDREDS of them. From all over the world.

Jennifer, the mom, had been relegated by the hospital’s “Hospitality Coordinator” to a miserable little room that had no shower, and she had to be out of by 6 every morning. After learning this, one reader arranged for a night in a nearby hotel. Then some other people did the same. And then some others. Jennifer reports incredulously that she is now a VIP at the hotel, where she and her husband finally were able to sleep in a regular bed and take a shower.

Other friends of theirs started a fund to help them through this rough time.

My daughter was six when she had her heart surgery, three weeks after my husband died. I remember the constantly suppressed panic, the fear, the exhaustion, the despair that Jennifer talks about. My friends and family were very good to me at that time. But this is the entire planet.

Everything I want to say about this is so saccharine, so schmaltzy, I fear losing readers. However, even if you take the prayers out of the equation, even if you have a different belief system, think about what is happening here. It is simply a remarkable snapshot of the power that we all can have to effect good.

It was scrolling down that gallery of pictures of Stellan’s name that really struck me. Dozens and dozens and dozens of “Stellan”’s, in every possible medium. The pictures started to build momentum for me and flew by in a blur as I scrolled down. I caught my breath to think of the astonishing potential we have as human beings to be kind and generous. And I sighed to think of how often we aren’t.

I so hope Stellan continues to improve. And I hope the compassionate energy this is creating can eventually ripple through all our lives, around the globe.