Compassion is Everything

I’ve had readers contact me and thank me for getting them through a difficult time, through the death of their father in law, through tough times during school, during an addiction of a loved one. And each and every time I get an email, I’m super touched and think to myself that maybe–just maybe–I’m meant to do this. To be a writer.

But this email from Paul made me tear up and is one of my favorites.

📚Find out why an ex rugby player turned first responder reads romance 📚

Hi Mia,
Quick question is “Teacher I Want to Date” coming out on audiobook?
Coming from a guy it may sound a little strange but as an emergency air ambulance pilot during this Covid crisis I found a bit of HEA helps keep me sane.

Audiobooks are easier as I’ve already lost two kindles sprinting to the helicopter during emergency call outs. I loved “Boss I Love to Hate” and I’ve listened to all three of your audiobooks.

AFTER A FEW EMAILS BACK AND FORTH AND ME OFFERING TO SEND THIS KIND FIRST RESPONDER A PAPERBACK, HE BEGAN TO TELL ME WHY HE READS ROMANCE.

I’ll let you into the reason why I got into reading uplifting books like yours.

We were called out on an emergency response to airlift a lady in her early 30’s with severe breathing difficulties thought to be due to Covid-19.

When we arrived she was loaded into the aircraft but her distraught husband was pleading to go with her on the aircraft, something we rarely (if ever) do, mainly because space is limited and the medical teams need space to work and also because this was in the height of the Covid pandemic, he was told a firm no by the medical team.

I honestly can’t tell you why, possibly because he seemed just so lost, scared and alone, or maybe I was imagining if it were my gorgeous wife in that situation what would I do. But i needed to know what the likely outcome for this lady would be, so I quietly whispered to the doctor “is her condition really serious?” He nodded his head to say it was, then I asked, “Do you think she will make it until he could get to the hospital by road?” This time he shook his head to say he didn’t think she’d last that long.

So I overruled them, and let him ride up front with me, and sadly…. she died on route to the hospital.

Part of me was just so happy that I’d made it possible for him to be with her when she died and he’d had the chance to say goodbye.

When we landed he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. This poor man just lost his everything and he’s thanking me!

Honestly I was absolutely devastated (and I’m not normally overly emotional, I’m a 6’2” ex rugby player, we don’t do over sentimental).

On standby we sleep, eat and read while waiting for a call out, and I guess as a way to compensate for reality I started reading or listening to audiobooks that had a guaranteed happy ending, and thus found your books.

Thus your work makes my life a little easier by taking me to a place where nice thing happen and happy endings exist.

Compassion is everything. Seriously.

Paul’s story has touched my heart in addition to many others who have reached out to me regarding this story. There are others who have shared stories of their own, those readers who have ugly cried because of Paul’s story, those that have asked to send him more audio books to listen to while he waits for his next call.

Thank you to all our first responders, to all those that show compassion and love–not only for their loved ones–but to even to the strangers around them.

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