Anonymous
A good friend of mine named Christina has an amazing gift。I think many people forget they have it in themselves。the gift of compassion。Why do I call it a gift？Because she gives it to others。
You see Christina fosters kittens who have no home。She goes out and rescures kittens from the wild。She cares for them，makes sure they are healthy and finds good homes for them。
One very special kitten recently came in to her life。Her name is Savannah。When Christina found Savannah she was not in good condition。She was dirty，afraid and unhealthy。As with all new kittens，Christina，takes them in to her home，cleans and feeds them。Once they have reached two pounds，she takes them to the vet where they are tested and vaccinated。I remember this day well。Christina had called with sadness when she found out Savannah had tested positive for FIV。It's a disease that is specific to felines and is similar to AIDS。
Not doing much better then the day Christina found her，Savannah had stopped eating and began losing a lot of weight。You could see the bones through her thin skin。Finally she stopped walking and eating altogether。Many would consider this a losing battle。Christina would spend nights holding Savannah，simply trying to make her feel better。All the time，Christina herself was getting worse。She would be in tears，worrying about Savannah。The thoughts of Savannah losing her life was tearing Christina apart。
There are many in the world that see FIV as a life sentence。Kittens with FIV are not expected to survive and the ones who do often need special care。Since FIV is easy to spread when kittens are playing，Savannah had to be kept apart from all the other kittens。Christina was the only friend she had come to know。
Christina though sad and hurting herself，never gave up。She had awoken early one morning and began searching the internet for information。After a little searching，she found that there was some hope for Savannah。With some special medicine，and care，she found out that Savannah might have a chance to get better and live a healthy life。Christina made many calls trying to obtain the medicine，caring nothing of the cost。She was finally able to find a shelter that would order the medicine for her，at no cost。She began to give Savannah the medicine，and feeding her fluids with a syringe。
In short time，Savannah began to gain a little weight，and start walking again。It was no time before she was up and playing。One night Christina brought Savannah over to play。I will never forget the look in Christina's eyes，and the feeling of playing with a kitten who many would have given up on。This was a truly heart warming experience。
Savannah had just recently been tested again。This time she came up negative for FIV。In many cases，mothers can pass this disease on to her kittens，and in some cases the kittens，are able to shed it off over time。Savannah was now a healthy playful kitten，with the rest of her life to enjoy a world she may have never known。
There is no doubt in my mind that Savannah will have a better life because of Christina。I also know that Christina herself will have a better life because of Savannah。I have read a lot of inspirational stories，but this one，the one I have been able to write will live with me forever。It reminds me that love and compassion do make a difference，and to never give up on someone or something you believe in。
Today is Wednesday，the 23rd of June，2004.Savannah will be going to the vet to get spade tomorrow morning。In a week or two，she will be ready for adoption。Hopefully to a family that she can have a loving and compassionate impact upon。
我的好朋友克里斯丁娜拥有一种惊人的礼物。我觉得很多人忘记了他们也有这种东西——同情心。我为什么称之为礼物呢？因为她把她的同情心给予了别人。
克里斯丁娜收养无家可归的小猫。她总是走出家门，从野外把小猫救回来，照顾他们，确保他们重新健康起来，还为这样的猫寻找好的人家。
最近，一只特别的猫走进了她的生活。猫的名字叫萨瓦娜。克里斯丁娜发现这只猫的时候，她的状态很糟糕：脏兮兮的、怯生生的、还生着病。跟对待所有新发现的猫一样，克里斯丁娜带他们回家，给他们洗澡，然后喂他们吃饭。一旦他们体重达到两磅，克里斯丁娜就带他们到兽医那里，请兽医为他们检查，注射疫苗。至今我仍然清晰地记得那一天发生的事。那天克里斯丁娜打电话给我，她非常悲伤，因为她获知萨瓦娜被查出FIV阳性。这是猫所特有的疾病，相当于人患了艾滋病。
跟克里斯丁娜刚发现她的那天相比，萨瓦娜的状态没有好多少。她不吃东西，瘦了很多。透过她薄薄的皮肤，你都能看得见她一根一根的骨头。到后来她既不进食，也不走路。谁都会觉得她好不了了。那些日子，克里斯丁娜往往整夜整夜地抱着萨瓦娜，竭力想让她好受一些。克里斯丁娜自己一直情绪很不好。她会泪流满面，为萨瓦娜担心。一想到她要死了，克里斯丁娜心都碎了。
世界上很多人都认为，一旦得了FIV，猫就等于被判了无期徒刑，这样的猫没有存活的希望，真正能够活下来的猫往往需要特别照顾。当猫一起玩耍时，FIV很容易传染，因此萨瓦娜必须同别的猫分开。克里斯丁娜是她所认识的唯一的朋友。
虽然克里斯丁娜很难过、很伤心，却决不放弃。一天她醒得很早，开始在互联网上查询这种病的信息。搜索了一会儿，她觉得萨瓦娜有希望。如果能得到某种特殊的药，再加上特别的照顾，萨瓦娜也许有机会好起来，健康地生活。克里斯丁娜打了无数个电话，竭力想买到这种药，根本没有考虑费用的问题。她终于找到了一个愿意为她订购这种药的动物收容所，并且不收任何费用。她开始喂萨瓦娜吃这种药，还用注射筒喂她一些流食。
很快，萨瓦娜开始长胖了，也可以走路了。接着，她可以起来玩耍了。一天晚上，克里斯丁娜还带着萨瓦娜来我这里玩。我永远都忘不了克里斯丁娜的眼神，忘不了那种和一只特别的猫——一只当初人人都不抱希望的猫——一起玩耍的感觉。这真是暖人心扉的经历。
最近，萨瓦娜又做了一次检查。她的FIV呈阴性。在多数情况下，母猫会把这种病传给小猫，而有些情况下，小猫能够在一段时间之后摆脱它。萨瓦娜现在是一只健康、调皮的小猫，有后半生的时间来享受活在世上的乐趣。
我想，萨瓦娜因为遇到了克里斯丁娜，才会过上更美好的生活，这是毫无疑问的。我还认为克里斯丁娜自己也将会因为萨瓦娜而过得更美好。我曾经读过很多启迪心灵的故事，但这个故事，我有机会知道并写下来的这个故事，我永远都会记得。这个故事提醒我，爱和同情的确会使事情发生改变，也提醒我，永远都不要放弃所相信的人或事。
今天是2004年6月23日。明天上午萨瓦娜会去兽医那里进行阉割。一两个星期之后就可以有人来收养她了。希望她能到一个充满爱心和同情心的家里去。
你知道吗
猫科免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）
猫是一种很讨人喜欢的动物，很多家庭将猫当作宠物来养。但正如人活在世界上难免会生病一样，猫也存在被疾病传染的危险，例如猫科免疫缺陷病毒（FIV）。FIV类似人类会罹患的AIDS，种族特异性强，只感染猫科动物，人类不可能感染。FIV是由已经感染该病毒的猫咪的唾液传播出去的，所以病毒的主要传播途径是由于猫咪发生打斗而咬伤以后经唾液进行传播。偶然接触，例如共享食具，很可能不会被传染。初次或急性期感染的特点往往是发烧、淋巴结肿胀及敏感性皮肤或肠道感染。FIV在世界各地都有发生，但是会在某一个区域特别的流行。
讲述故事外的事
Background Knowledge
世界动物日（World Animal Day）
世界动物日（World Animal Day）为每年的10月4日。在这一天，全人类共同庆祝人类的朋友——动物。这个节日起源于19世纪意大利修道士坚·弗朗西斯的倡议。他长期生活在阿西西岛上的森林中，热爱动物并和动物们建立了兄弟姐妹般的关系。他要求村民们在10月4日这天“向献爱心给人类的动物们致谢”。
后人为了纪念弗朗西斯，就把10月4日定为“世界动物日”。自20世纪20年代开始，每年的这一天，世界各地举办各种形式的纪念活动。在世界动物日，流浪在罗马街头的狗会暂时免遭城市管理部门的追捕，并可享受到由屠宰商提供的免费肉骨头。
庆祝世界动物日的宗旨在于宣传饲养伴侣动物所带来的乐趣，让公众意识到动物对人类社会所做的贡献，同时促使各个动物保护组织齐心协力，推动人们以负责任的态度饲养伴侣动物。
词汇寻解
New Words
syringe vt。注射，冲洗n。注射器；洗涤器
shed vt。散发；流出；摆脱；倾吐vi。流出；脱落；散布n。小屋，棚；分水岭
to shed tears 涌出泪水
The water shed from the bathroom。水是从浴室中溢出来的。
The wheat is shedding。小麦成熟落粒了。
spade vt。[主方言]阉割（雌兽）的卵巢
vaccinate vt。接种疫苗，（给……）打预防针
T
考考你
est Yourself
1.Multiple Choice Questions
1）A good friend of mine named Christina has an amazing gift。
A。才能B。礼物C。赠送D。授予权
2）and the feeling of playing with a kitten who many would have given up on。
A。承认失败B。对……表示绝望
C。沉溺于……D。泄露
3）It's a disease that is specific to felines and is similar to AIDS。
A。明确的；具体的B。特有的；特定的
C。有特效的D。比率的
4）This time she came up negative for FIV。
A。出现；产生B。出芽
C。引起注意D。结果是
5）The thoughts of Savannah losing her life was tearing Christina apart。
A。把……批得体无完肤B。彻底搜查（某处）
C。使心碎D。把……弄乱
Keys：
1.1）B2）B3）B4）D5）C