A Commitment to Life

The snow was falling and the roads had become dangerous. The schools were dismissed early, but much to my surprise, my ____ wasn’t canceled. So I went, feeling especially heroic. As far as I could see, I was risking my life to keep my ____. Snow or no snow, I would be on time for my scheduled donation at the local ____ center.

When I got there, I discovered I wasn’t ____. Four more “hero-types” were already lying back in donor chairs with lines ____ to their veins(静脉), and machines quietly pumping away to ____ their lifesaving gifts.

Seeing my fellow donors honoring their own commitments, I realized why I was there. I lay back in my donor chair, ready to make a ____ to the life of someone I would never ____.

To be honest, I’d never really thought about why I donate. I just did it. ____ a few months ago, during one of my ____ donations I learned that my blood was specifically for a cancer patient and for a newborn baby—both patients needed what I would give in order to live. I’ve viewed my visits to the blood center ____ ever since.

My wife Karen is a ____, too. And more importantly, she has been on the bone marrow (骨髓) list for fifteen years, ever since she ____ to provide bone marrow to a kindergartner with leukemia(白血病). That little girl died before Karen’s bone marrow could help her, but Karen was called again recently. Her test results were still on file, and it turned out she was a potential ____ for someone else. The caller asked Karen if she would still be willing to become a bone marrow donor. “Yes,” she said and then immediately began answering questions on the pages of paperwork for further testing. It was a race ____ time.

I wish I could say that this ____ was won. It wasn’t. The caller later thanked Karen for her participation and asked a few more questions—including whether or not she’d ____on the donor list. “Of course,” Karen answered.

Last week Karen gave blood and next week I’ll make my usual donation. I’ll clear an afternoon from my schedule and make an appointment. I don’t know whose life my donation may ____. Most likely it will be a ____, but on any day the person needing blood could be you or me or maybe a loved one. It is worthwhile to ____our time to donate.

I really do feel proud every time I donate. And I like the feeling.

Amy Wright, founder of a non-profit coffee shop received an award for her work to help people with disabilities. Except two managers, everyone at the first coffee shop she ______ in Wilmington, North Carolina, has an intellectual or developmental ______ , like Down syndrome（唐氏综合征）, cerebral palsy or autism（自闭症）.

Last December, 10 incredible people were honored for their work helping others at “CNN Heroes: An All Star Tribute”. Amy Wright was ______ for her innovative, non-profit coffee shop that ______ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In the midst of her acceptance speech, she had a special message for her two youngest children, both of whom have Down syndrome and are the ______ for her work. "I want you to know that I would not change you for the world. But I will change the world for you."

Two months later, Amy was ______ to open a second coffee shop, this one in Charlestown, South Carolina, finding special ways to tell each new ______ member that they got the job. ______ , opening day arrived. As customers poured in, some staff got ______ .

For most of these 17 new employees, this is their first job. They've been learning about how to ______ people and how to work the register. And for Amy, that's what it's all about, ______ others how much her team can do.

People with intellectual disabilities aren't valued. And so, this coffee shop has ______ a place where people see their value. Amy wants to open 10 more shops around the country within the next two years, inspiring other employers to explore this often ______ workforce. It's a（n） ______ that she hopes will change the world, one cup of coffee and one ______ at a time.

Every month, Mary Davis throws a big rooftop birthday party on Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, home of some of the worst poverty in the nation.

Mary and her husband Ari Kadin started Morthy of Love, a charity that believes children without a home still _________ a birthday party. “So many children in Skid Row needed to feel _________ and loved,” Davis said. “We didn’t realize how much _________ they were going to bring us, and that was so _________ for me to step out of my troubled past.”

The Randell family is _________ Worthy of Love for the second time. Their daughter, Briana _________ 12 this month. Without Worthy of Love, her birthday would be just another _________ day.

When Davis started the monthly birthday party, there were 15 kids at the shelter. Many of them never had a birthday party before, and they were so excited to have one that they made their own _________—singing and clapping and laughing. Since then, the couple have thrown a party each month and the _________ attracts 250 kids and their parents. Six years later, it has __________ to have over 200 kids.

“This rooftop provides a beautiful __________. You’re above everything. But if you look down you see homeless people on the street, and this __________ you that these kids don’t get to leave this area after the party.” says Davis.

After watching more than 6,000 kids blow out __________ at their parties, Davis and Kadin finally had one of their own—their little girl, who will __________ her first birthday in the same place.

“I want her to grow up knowing that she has to __________ happiness and joy to those in need,” Davis said.