多蘿西/Dorothy
She looked so fragile and helpless.I was told she didn’t even speak English.Olga and her family had come from Puerto Rico to receive the expert medical care that was unavailable in her own country.
I was working in the intensive care unit of our local children’s hospital, as one of Olga’s nurses.I couldn’t help but think how frightened this little girl must feel with all those scary tubes, machines and monitors around her.When she opened her eyes, she was incredibly beautiful and smiling back at me with big brown eyes.
When her mother arrived early the next morning, she said to me,“My husband must return to Puerto Rico.He needs to go back to work.I’ll stay here, near Olga, with her sister and brother, so she can get the medical help she needs to stay alive.”As we talked, I discovered that Olga’s mother was the only one in her household who spoke English.
The family had been staying at the Ronald McDonald House but would soon need to move into more permanent housing.Since they didn’t have anyone else to help them set up housekeeping, I volunteered.
As I attempted to help get an apartment for Olga’s family.I was told,“It’s impossible.The child’s mother isn’t working, and her father doesn’t even live in this country.”
After I told this story to some of my nurse friends, one of them contacted our local newspaper.One columnist promised he would write their story, but added,“This will be my last column of this sort.These stories just don’t sell papers anymore.”
That’s when Becky, our determined angel, arrived.She was a vibrant, talkative and charming volunteer.We talked, and immediately she had some excellent ideas.As we concluded our conversation, she said,“Oh, by the way, I have cancer, but I’m under treatment.”
Despite her condition, Becky took charge.She not only found housing for Olga and her family, but also helped with everything else they need.I asked myself, how could this woman do so much when she had such difficulties of her own?
Becky got the children enrolled in a bilingual program and was able to find the mother a job close to home.When winter set in, Becky would go home from work, start dinner, check on the children and then call Olga’s mother to see if she had a ride home from the hospital.If she didn’t, Becky would bring her home.
In April 2000, I was invited to attend the annual Jefferson Awards luncheon.Five outstanding volunteers from each state are nominated, and one is selected to represent his or her state in the national competetition in Washington, D.C.Not only was Becky chosen, but she also won the top award.She not only helped this family in need, but she also helped others fight their own battles with cancer.
In 1998, Becky was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.The doctors weren’t optimistic, but she was strong-willed and determined.Today, she continues to share her experiences, heartaches and triumphs.She is constantly placing the concerns and care of others before her own.
Becky is living proof that the human spirit can be remarkable, even under the most adverse conditions.Olga and her family thrive thanks to a determined, kind-hearted woman.
她看上去如此脆弱和無助。有人說她連英語都不會說。為了接受專家治療，奧爾加和家人從波多黎各趕來，因為他們國家的醫療條件十分有限。
我在本地一家兒童醫院的特護中心工作，是護理奧爾加的人員之一。我禁不住會想，對一個小女孩來說，整天被那些恐怖的導管、儀器和監視器包圍著一定很害怕。她張開雙眼時，總是美麗得令人難以置信，她會眨著深褐色的大眼睛，向我微笑。
第二天，她媽媽來得很早，對我說：“我丈夫必須回波多黎各了，他得回去工作。我和奧爾加的弟弟妹妹會留下來陪她，這樣她就可以接受治療，繼續活下去了。”交談中，我發現他們家隻有奧爾加的媽媽會說英文。
他們一家暫時在麥當勞叔叔之家（兒童慈善基金會）落腳，但不久就得搬到一個更穩定的住處。由於沒有人幫他們照料家務，我便自願前往。
當我要幫他們一家找房時，有人對我說：“這不太可能。孩子的媽媽沒有工作，甚至連爸爸都不在本國。”
後來，我把這個故事告訴了護士朋友們，其中一個人聯係了當地的一家報紙。一位專欄負責人答應會寫下這個故事，但他加了一句：“這是我們欄目最後一次寫這類故事了，因為它現在已不是賣點了。”
就在這時，我們果斷的天使貝基出現了。她是一個開朗、健談而且迷人的誌願者。我們聊了聊，很快她就有了絕妙的主意。結束交談時，她說：“噢，順便說一聲，我得了癌症，不過正在治療中。”
貝基不顧自己的情況，依然擔起了幫助奧爾加一家的責任。她不僅給他們找到了住處，還提供了他們所需的一切。我問自己，這個女人重病纏身，為何還能為他人做這麽多呢？
貝基讓這些孩子們上了雙語學校，並幫那位母親找了份離家近的工作。冬天快到了，貝基總會下班回家幫他們準備晚飯，照看孩子，並打電話問奧爾加的媽媽是否離開醫院回家了。如果沒有，她就開車去接她。
2000年4月，我應邀參加每年的傑斐遜頒獎午宴。獲得提名的五位傑出誌願者分別來自五個州，他們中將有一位被選出並代表其所在州去華盛頓哥倫比亞特區參加全國評選。貝基不僅入選，還獲得了最高獎勵。因為她不隻幫助了奧爾加一家，還幫助了其他許多癌症患者戰勝病魔。
1998年，診斷結果顯示，貝基患有卵巢癌。醫生認為她的病情並不樂觀，但她本人堅信一定會戰勝病魔。如今，她仍在繼續分享著自己的經驗、痛苦和成功，以激勵他人。她一如既往地將對別人的關心與照顧放在首位。
貝基用自己的行動見證，就算身處逆境，人類的頑強精神依然會帶來奇跡。奧爾加一家現在生活得很好，他們對這位果斷熱心的女性感激萬分。
(1) attempta.to propose for an honor
(2) bilingualb.to make an effort to do
(3) nominate c.lighthearted
(4) optimisticd.having or expressed in two languages
Write
TRUEif the statement agrees with the information
FALSEif the statement contradicts the information
_______ (1) I didn’t take much care of the Olga compared with Becky.
_______ (2) Becky liked to help others because of her illness.
_______ (3) The story didn’t tell us whether Becky was alive or not in the end.
1.The family had been staying at the Ronald McDonald House but would soon need to _______ more permanent housing.
他們一家暫時在麥當勞叔叔之家落腳，但不久就得搬到一個更穩定的住處。
2.Becky is living proof that the human spirit can be remarkable, _______.
貝基用自己的行動見證，就算身處逆境，人類的頑強精神依然會帶來奇跡。
(1) attempta.to propose for an honor
(2) bilingualb.to make an effort to do
(3) nominate??c.lighthearted
(4) optimisticd.having or expressed in two languages
Write
TRUEif the statement agrees with the information
FALSEif the statement contradicts the information
_______ (1) I didn’t take much care of the Olga compared with Becky.
_______ (2) Becky liked to help others because of her illness.
_______ (3) The story didn’t tell us whether Becky was alive or not in the end.
1.The family had been staying at the Ronald McDonald House but would soon need to _______ more permanent housing.
他們一家暫時在麥當勞叔叔之家落腳，但不久就得搬到一個更穩定的住處。
2.Becky is living proof that the human spirit can be remarkable, _______.
貝基用自己的行動見證，就算身處逆境，人類的頑強精神依然會帶來奇跡。