Someone once asked why I liked old dogs, and I responded that it was an honor to be able to shepherd something from one plane to the next. Whether you believe in God, or an afterlife, or nothing at all, no one can argue that death is a pretty fucking profound experience.
I was nosing around blogs tonight when I came across this post, written by FOS (friend o' Slackmistress) and nursing student Michelle Holshue, on her first experience with a dying patient. No, really, click over and read. I'll wait.
Michelle and some of her classmates from the University of Pennsylvania are going to Honduras in a couple of months, to volunteer with Shoulder-to-Shoulder's program in Maternal and Infant Care. They need health care items donated for their trip, everything from Tylenol to knitted caps for newborns.
For every act that makes you question humanity, there's one (or two, or three) that reaffirms your faith in it. Please take a second and see if you can help.