Office Angels

I had recently started working at my new job in January 2008 when I started getting these terrible headaches almost every day, among other symptoms. I couldn't figure out what was causing them. Then it dawned on me, my dentist had been bugging me to get my wisdom teeth removed for a good 3 years and now they were posing a serious threat.

Only one problem, I had missed my window of opportunity to pay for the procedure while on my parent's health insurance a couple years before and now I was on my own serving for AmeriCorps, with no dental insurance. I was in a fix. My wisdom teeth were getting so bad that I had gotten a terrible infection in my jaw and neck that was threatening my life. I was working minimum wage with no sick leave and had no way of paying for the $1300 procedure that I needed.

To my surprise I found out that I worked with angels'truly some of the most generous people I've ever met. Everyone was terribly worried about me and insisted on helping me out. The assistant division manager wanted to find some way that would be ok with office policies to help me get the money I needed.

Knowing how much I loved baking, they decided to throw a bake sale to raise money for my surgery. I was very flattered when I heard about this, but figured it would only make a few hundred probably. To my astonishment, at the end of the day they pulled me into a room and presented me with over $1,000 towards my surgery and sick leave costs. I cried. I had never had so much kindness bestowed upon me in my life. On top of that, the two weeks prior to my surgery I was very sick and they arranged for me to take the paid time off and work lightly from home to stay rested and get well.

I went through my surgery successfully and I vowed after I was fully recovered to return the favor and help others however I could. I'm doing my part by volunteering in the community whenever I can now and helping those around me, even in small ways however and whenever possible. Their kindness was remarkable, and I will remember it for the rest of my life, because in all honesty, they saved mine. They truly are angels and I'm so lucky to work where I do! 

By  Anonymous