My Neighbor's Compassionate Act

In the middle of a raging snowstorm that had sleet adding misery to the weather conditions, I suddenly developed a severe case of cellulitis in my leg and had spiked a high fever. I was in an emergency condition requiring an ambulance to get me out of my home and transport me to the local hospital in Penn Yan, NY. All of the roads and my driveway were covered by a foot of snow and ice.

The ambulance was called and the First Responder emergency person arrived and as he pulled into my driveway, he got stuck and blocked it so the ambulance would not be able to get to my door. The responder got to me and immediately packed ice from the freezer around me, and then alerted the ambulance. Because of the unplowed roads the ambulance reported that I was having trouble making it up the steep Italy Hill.

My neighbor had just settled down in his bed. My wife, Judy called him to ask if he could plow and clear the driveway. Jim knew it had to be a serious emergency, so he got dressed and came right over. He moved the First Responder's car out of the driveway and plowed it, plus he shoveled the entranceway (ramp) up to the house.

Hearing that the ambulance was having trouble getting through the unplowed road, Jim drove to meet the ambulance and plowed the road in front of it as it came all the way up Italy Hill and over Italy Friend Road, right up to my house and driveway.

My neighbor's name is Jim. There was even more that he did. Jim kept clearing the road in front of the ambulance all the way to the hospital in Penn Yan, some 30 miles. I'll always be grateful to you, Jim. You are the most compassionate neighbor that I have ever had! It is comforting to know that you are here. God bless you.

Note: This incident happened just days before Christmas and Joe was kept in the hospital for 5 days. Good deeds like that are what help us get through difficult times. Maybe some of your readers would have stories they would like to share that helped brighten their day.