I'm sure most everyone has read or heard about the death of Marla Ruzicka, the aid worker in Iraq that was helping vicitims of the war there. It was tragic and it was horrible. She was not killed instantly as I tried to comfort myself into thinking.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/18/international/middleeast/18american.html
She was an extraordinary human being and it came as a shock to me that she was able to help so many people and not be sponsored by any organization other than the one she started. She was able to get the support of Senator Patrick Leahy and with it millions of dollars to help the victims in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Leahy said, "Here's someone at 28 years old who did more than most people do in a lifetime."
I had never heard of her before today and it makes me wonder about what more I can do to make a positive difference other than clicking on this computer and responding to the news. Thank you Marla for the wake-up call. Just wish you didn't have to die the way you did, away from your home and family. There was so much more you could have given still and so much love to be given back to you.