Yesterday as I was leaving, I saw Amanda pushing a man with a below-the-knee amputation in a wheelchair in from the parking lot and down the hall. I thought, "Wow, that was nice of her", and then realized it was after 5 pm. Amanda was already clocked out and heading home and still stopped to help this man. This morning I called to ask if she knew him or had just stopped to help, thinking I would send her an ICARE. The story I heard was not what I had expected. Amanda has been sitting outside after work and saw this man hopping from his car on a walker. She did not want to offend him since he seemed independent and instead asked him politely if he minded if she brought him a wheelchair. The man declined, saying he would get one inside, so Amanda stayed with him to help him up the curb with his walker, not wanting to overstep his independence. She then went and got him a wheelchair and offered to take him where he was going. The man went on to explain that he was going up to see his wife on a higher floor. He had received his prosthetic recently but had not been able to learn how to use it yet, but was still determined to visit his spouse.
When I was telling Amanda how nice it was for her to take him up there, she said it's just "humanity taking care of humanity" and then went on to tell me about how much the experience had meant to her. She talked about how we should all have the level of commitment this man showed to his wife, and what could have happened to him or his spouse if he hadn't been able to make it up to see her? How would their lives had been affected? Throughout the entire conversation, Amanda never once wanted to take credit for the help she gave this man and ultimately the couple. But this is just who Amanda is. She does so much for so many people and never lets anyone know just what she does.
The most amazing thing about the entire interaction was that Amanda did not look at this act of kindness as something she was doing for the man, but rather what he did for her. Her entire view was how this man and his love for his wife had reminded her of a valuable lesson. A lesson that, in all honestly, Amanda already knows and already acts out every day. I know that bit of help not only supported the man's dignity but also helped make it possible for this wonderfully committed husband to be able to support his wife during her time of need. I am blessed to work with her and call her a friend and would hope that anyone could have an outlook on humanity that Amanda does.