Dear Isobel:
I don't suppose there is much to say about me. I've lived in Seattle my entire life. My parents actually own a house boat now. They are very proud of it; house boats are hard to come by in Seattle. I am an only child. My parents could not have children of their own; that is why they sought to receive a child through adoption. You cannot begin to imagine the gratitude that they feel towards you. Not only did you give them a chance to be the wonderful parents that they are, but you gave me a second chance at life when you donated that bone marrow. I may not have made it without you. Thank you just doesn't even begin to describe it, but anyways, you wanted to know more about me.
I have already told you that I am going to school for social work. I am about to go into my fourth year. I'm excited! I volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. I think it is a wonderful organization…and a little misunderstood. A lot of people think that Habitat merely gives these homes away, but the recipient actually has to volunteer so many hours to earn the house, and they do have to pay for the house. They just pay a lot less because they only have to pay cost. It's still really cool, though, when you get to watch the ceremony where the homeowner gets the keys for the first time. The smiles and gratitude on their faces…it would warm the coldest of hearts. My other interests include reading, writing, and music of all sorts. Hmm…what else is there to tell you? I am currently seeing someone from one of my social work classes. He's really nice. He volunteers with special needs children, and that takes a special kind of person. As for the money, I appreciate the offer, but I am going to school on a full-term scholarship for academic achievement. The money would be much better off invested back into your clinic. I know of that clinic. I know of people who have greatly benefited from that clinic. If you insist of giving the money to me, then I will just donate it back. I do not need the money, but there are plenty of people out there that do. It's not that I don't appreciate the offer. It's very flattering that you have taken the time to think of me like that. It actually kind of blew me away that you would have done that, but I've always been more of the giving than receiving type.
I would greatly love to know more about you, if you wouldn't mind. You have to understand that even though I absolutely love my parents, there has always been a little piece of myself missing. There is a bond formed by biology that cannot be duplicated, and I've always been fascinated by that. I've always wondered what we might have in common, what similarities we might have.
I hope to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Hannah
Dear Hannah:
First off, please call me Izzie. Rarely anybody calls me Isobel. I have always kind of despised that name. I don't really know why. I guess I was thought Isobel sounded too formal, and I am not that way at all. I love just hanging out with my friends and taking care of others. I wanted a name that reflected that.
Now that we are past that, I am sure we have many similarities. I have always been a big fan of the nature/nurture debate, and I believe that both nature and nurture have equal influences on the life we lead. I, too, love helping people. I went into surgery so that I may save lives. It wasn't that I wanted to be a hero. That isn't it at all. Here's a little story that might explain it better. When Denny, my fiancé, passed away, he left me with a large sum of money that I didn't know what to do with. Then, one day, there was this girl who could barely even walk because her spine was so out of whack. There was a surgery that was possible, but the insurance company wouldn't cover it. I just knew I could make this girl's life better by donating the money for the surgery. You couldn't even begin to imagine the joy in my heart when I saw her walking down the hall after her surgery with a smile on her face. That smile that people get when they have been given hope—that's why I went into surgery. I specialize in OB-GYN. Although I will never admit it, my mentor, Dr. Addison Montgomery, was right. I do have a knack for it. She put me to the test, and it made me a better surgeon. I am ever so thankful for that.
I, too, am currently seeing someone. His name is Alex, and I work with him here at the hospital. We had actually gone out a few times before Denny and it took us years to regain that relationship back. We've been dating for three years now. I can hardly believe it. People underestimate him. He may appear cocky and arrogant, but he, too, has heart of gold. One of my favorite pastimes is baking. I bake when I get upset, and it helps me relieve the frustration. I do, however, love music as well. One of my secret passions is going to see the orchestra play. I also believe that a good book can warm the soul. I think it is wonderful that you volunteer for Habitat. That is always something I had wanted to try, but my life got so busy so fast. As for the money, I think it is very noble that you want to donate it to the clinic. If that is your wishes, then I will do such. However, I am going to think of something very special to commemorate the donation. You deserve recognition for such a selfless act.
Well, that's all I can think about right now. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Izzie