1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,460 Visita Mikael Books en Facebook para ver más contenido de libros en inglés. 2 00:00:04,700 --> 00:00:08,920 Unit 18, page 298. Read. 3 00:00:10,760 --> 00:00:11,440 Compassion 4 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:16,340 It was the evening of September 29, 1994. 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:21,980 Having spent a wonderful day exploring the ruins at Pestum in southern Italy, 6 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,260 Reg and Maggie Green were driving south in the region of Italy known as the Boot, 7 00:00:27,260 --> 00:00:31,720 their children Nicholas and Eleanor sleeping peacefully in the back seat. 8 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,380 Suddenly an old, decrepit car pulled up alongside them. 9 00:00:37,140 --> 00:00:42,220 An Italian with a bandana over his face yelled at them while motioning for them to stop. 10 00:00:43,020 --> 00:00:46,180 Not knowing what to do, Reg quickly weighed the options. 11 00:00:46,860 --> 00:00:50,720 If they stopped, they risked a potentially deadly confrontation with criminals. 12 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,880 If they sped away, they might escape. 13 00:00:55,220 --> 00:00:57,240 Guessing that their newer model car, 14 00:00:57,260 --> 00:01:00,700 could probably elude the old car the criminals were driving, 15 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:02,840 Reg stepped on the gas. 16 00:01:03,980 --> 00:01:08,040 Shots rang out, shattering both windows on the driver's side of the car. 17 00:01:08,900 --> 00:01:13,060 The Green's car took off, easily out-distancing the bandit's car. 18 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,120 On checking the children, 19 00:01:15,740 --> 00:01:19,280 Reg and Maggie found them still sleeping peacefully in the back seat. 20 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:22,360 A bit farther down the road, 21 00:01:22,820 --> 00:01:25,080 Reg saw a police car parked on the shoulder 22 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,080 and pulled over to alert the authorities. 23 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:33,000 Upon opening the door, he saw blood oozing from the back of Nicholas's head. 24 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,420 After being rushed to a hospital, Nicholas lay in a coma for two days, 25 00:01:38,420 --> 00:01:40,660 his status not changing. 26 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:43,840 Then, doctors declared him brain-dead. 27 00:01:45,180 --> 00:01:47,620 This was not the end of the story, however. 28 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,500 As Nicholas lay on his death bed, 29 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:54,960 Reg and Maggie decided that something good should come out of the situation. 30 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:56,480 Realizing that, 31 00:01:56,980 --> 00:02:01,740 Realizing that it would be far better to return good for evil than to seek revenge, 32 00:02:02,380 --> 00:02:04,960 they offered Nicholas's organs for transplant. 33 00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:10,180 Someone should have the future he lost, Reg said. 34 00:02:11,900 --> 00:02:16,260 Profoundly moved by the gesture, Italians poured out their emotions. 35 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:22,720 Maurizio Costanzo, the host of a talk show, summed up the common feeling by saying, 36 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:29,980 You have given us a lesson in civility, shown us how to react in the face of pain and sorrow. 37 00:02:32,550 --> 00:02:35,910 The great irony of this tragedy was that it was a mistake. 38 00:02:37,070 --> 00:02:39,630 According to investigators' later determinations, 39 00:02:40,190 --> 00:02:46,370 Nicholas was killed by two petty criminals who thought the greens were jewelers carrying precious gems. 40 00:02:47,330 --> 00:02:51,630 The criminals were placed on trial after being turned over to the police. 41 00:02:52,950 --> 00:02:54,490 People all over Europe, 42 00:02:54,510 --> 00:02:57,130 and North America, reacted in sorrow. 43 00:02:58,370 --> 00:03:03,830 Headlines in the Italian media spoke of La Nostra Vergogna, our shame. 44 00:03:05,270 --> 00:03:09,550 Wherever the greens went, they met Italians who asked for their forgiveness. 45 00:03:10,850 --> 00:03:15,850 The greens were given a medal, Italy's highest honor, by the Prime Minister. 46 00:03:17,510 --> 00:03:20,930 Some good has indeed come out of Nicholas's death. 47 00:03:21,490 --> 00:03:24,390 Seven Italians received Nicholas's heart, 48 00:03:24,510 --> 00:03:28,490 liver, kidneys, islet cells, and corneas. 49 00:03:29,450 --> 00:03:33,790 Perhaps more importantly, a blow was struck for organ donation. 50 00:03:34,850 --> 00:03:37,390 Having heard Reg and Maggie speak on TV, 51 00:03:37,910 --> 00:03:42,070 40,000 French people pledged to donate their organs when they died. 52 00:03:43,230 --> 00:03:44,930 On returning to the United States, 53 00:03:45,430 --> 00:03:51,010 the greens began to receive requests to tell their son's story and speak about organ donation. 54 00:03:51,850 --> 00:03:54,490 It gradually dawned on us, said Reg, 55 00:03:54,970 --> 00:03:57,050 that we'd been given a life's work. 56 00:03:58,830 --> 00:04:00,130 Nicholas Green is gone, 57 00:04:00,850 --> 00:04:04,790 but others live on because of his parents' compassionate act. 58 00:04:05,530 --> 00:04:10,290 How many of us would do the same thing, given the opportunity?