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as told by Robyn Tanke
 hroughout my years at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation I have seen the power of giving. Some gifts are the product of noble ideas and announced to the world with a flourish of news releases. But not all great gifts are large and not all are nobly born. Many arrive disguised in humble clothes and modest circumstance.
 One such gift arrived on a snowy winter day. I was invited to the home of an elderly lady. She had called our office asking if someone would come over - she had something she wanted to give. She lived in an old, weathered house. I climbed the stairs to her second floor apartment and was greeted by a petite woman. She welcomed me with a warm embrace and invited me in for a cup of tea.
I learned she was a long-time widow with no children. She’d lived in this house all of her adult life. She was 81 years old and scaled the stairs of her apartment every day. Recently, she had been hospitalized for surgery. With no family and few friends, she described the loneliness and terror she felt facing surgery. As it turned out, the procedure went well and a caring staff calmed her fears. She was very thankful for the attention she had received and wanted to show her appreciation.
She handed me an envelope and said, “Here is my Christmas gift in honor of those who cared for me. Please tell them thank you for making this old lady feel safe. I wish I could give more, but it’s all I have.” Her words touched me deeply.
This lady taught me something about compassion. I gained an understanding of how our institution is the instrument of human caring for many people who are sick or lonely or afraid. The most remarkable realization was that this caring and concern is a daily occurrence here. Every day a different human drama is played out among patients, their families and staff and highlighted by exceptional moments of compassion.
Since that visit, my appreciation for the true value of her gift has grown considerably. Measured in dollars, the amount was modest, but its impact has been immeasurable. In giving from the little she had, her gift was great. It was a poignant reminder that it’s not the size of the gift that matters, it’s the size of the heart that gives. |