 
THE KINDEST PEOPLE: HEROES AND GOOD SAMARITANS, VOLUME 2

By David Bruce

Dedicated to Faye and Michelle

Copyright 2011 and written by Bruce D. Bruce

SMASHWORDS EDITION

All anecdotes are stated in my own words to avoid plagiarism.

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The best way to read this book, in my opinion, is slowly. Read about a few good deeds and heroic rescues a day, and after you have finished reading it read about a few good deeds and heroic rescues whenever you feel a little low.
CHAPTER 1: STORIES 1-50

"His Creation was the Greatest Expression of Love Anybody Could Ever Wish For"

Alex Patrick, Charlotte Pestell, and Helen Ritchie are Brits, and they are sisters—Alex and Charlotte are also twins. When Alex discovered that she had cervical cancer, she started chemotherapy treatments. Unfortunately, they made her infertile. Alex said that becoming infertile "was more upsetting than the cancer itself. Shaun [her husband] and I wanted to start a family and that had been taken away." Alex' sisters helped them get a child. Charlotte donated one of her eggs, which was fertilized with sperm from Alex's husband and then implanted into Helen, who carried the baby to term. In 2005, Charlie was born. Alex said, "He is an angel. I am forever indebted to my sisters." Alex added, "When my sisters found out [about my becoming infertile], they said, 'Is there anything we can do?' Shaun and I said we wanted children as closely related to us as possible. Charlotte said, 'No problem, you can have my egg.' It was almost like a joke." Charlotte said, "The fact that we are twins means such a lot—this is the closest we could get to it being her child. I don't need my eggs any more. I've had my children." By the way, on 8 October 2008, Charlie got a brother: Oliver, who came into the world just like Charlie did—with three mothers. Once again, one of Charlotte's eggs was used, Helen carried the baby to term, and Alex and her husband, Shaun, got a baby boy to raise. Alex said, "I'm so unbelievably happy to have a brother for Charlie. He's a beautiful little boy, and Shaun and I adore him. The best part was introducing him to Charlie, who was very excited. He knows little Ollie came from the same place he did—his Auntie Helen's tummy. He knows it was because my tummy doesn't work properly. When Oliver's old enough. I'll explain to him the same as I've explained to Charlie—that his creation was the greatest expression of love anybody could ever wish for. I feel like the luckiest woman alive to have such incredible sisters." Helen said, "I would never even consider being a surrogate for a stranger, but for Alex I'm prepared to do everything I can to help her because I love her." Charlotte said, "From this point on, we're just the aunties—very happy to leave the parenting to Alex. We're closer than ever, but to us Alex will always be Charlie and Oliver's mum. When I look at Charlie, I see my nephew, not my son, although he looks like me. It will be the same with Oliver." (1)

"After Saving the Babies, I Didn't Stop Smiling All the Way Home"

In November 2005, paramedic Malcolm Midgley helped ensure that premature twins—a boy and a girl—stayed alive after their mother gave birth to them in a shack in the Zamimpilo informal settlement near Riverlea in western Johannesburg, South Africa. Interestingly, a fire was going through the settlement at the time and Mr. Midgley had come there because of the fire. When Mr. Midgley heard from some of the settlement's residents that a woman seemed to be having what they thought was a miscarriage, he went to her and discovered that she had just given birth to twins. The baby girl was clinically dead, but he managed to resuscitate her. He said, "When I arrived at the woman's shack, I found she had already given birth to a boy and girl. She was in the dark and trying to light a candle. The girl was clinically dead, and I began resuscitating her. I thought she wasn't going to make it, but then she started screaming. Her brother also wasn't faring too well. His breathing was slow, so I resuscitated him as well." The twins were taken to Coronation Hospital. Mr. Midgley said, "When I left them, the little girl was screaming her head off. Both were a very healthy pink color." He added, "I have done this [assisted in births] for 23 years. I have cut more umbilical cords than had hot dinners. After saving the babies, I didn't stop smiling all the way home. It's such a change. Often people don't get the chance to say thank you, but these are the thank-yous that make the job worthwhile." The twins were in stable condition at the hospital. (2)

"My Waters Have Broken"

In September 2011, Sharon Eve spoke to Guardian reporter Chris Broughton about her experience recently helping a woman to give birth on a bus in London, England. When Ms. Eve boarded a bus, she noticed the woman: "late 20s, dark hair, heavily pregnant. Very heavily pregnant, it turned out." Soon, the woman asked to use her cell phone, explaining, "My waters have broken. I need to phone my friend." Ms. Eve wanted to call an ambulance, but the woman insisted on calling a friend, saying, "I've got no clothes with me, no books. I need to let someone know." But when she handed the cell phone back, she gasped and said, "Oh! I've got more water coming out...." Ms. Eve's husband is a bus driver, so she knew what to say to the driver of this bus, whom she knew. She said, "Keith, we've got a code red." Keith pulled the bus over and called an ambulance. The pregnant woman lay down near the back doors. Ms. Eve was hoping that the baby would not be born until after the ambulance arrived, but the woman, whose first name is Joanne, said, "I can't [wait]! The head's coming out!" Ms. Eve felt the baby's head through the woman's jeans, and then she said, "Right. We need to get these trousers off." Lots of people were watching, and Joanne was embarrassed. Fortunately, as Ms. Eve, a barmaid, said, "I may not have any experience as a midwife, but I know how to clear a bar. 'Will you all move away and let us get on with delivering this baby?' I shouted." Ms. Eve pulled down the woman's jeans, and the baby was born immediately. Ms. Eve said, "It was a boy, quite small, with surprisingly thick, black hair. I couldn't believe how quickly it had happened. I had two long hospital labors, and though I wouldn't have wanted to give birth in public, I'd have been delighted to have encountered such ease. No more than 15 minutes had passed from the time Joanne had asked for my phone, to the point when I held her baby." A bus passenger gave her a cardigan to wrap around the baby, which at one point stopped breathing. Ms. Eve rubbed the baby's cheeks and head, and the baby started breathing again. The ambulance arrived and took over. Later, Joanne called Ms. Eve to thank her. The baby was named Joaquin, and he weighed 7 pounds and 14 ounces. Joanne told Ms. Eve that she would bring the baby around so Ms. Eve could see him. (3)

"I Knew I Needed to Stop and Help Him"

On 16 September 2011, the cross-country teams of Andover High and Lakeville South High competed in the Applejack Invite in Lakeville, Minnesota. Lakeville South runner Mark Paulauskas badly injured his ankle and began bleeding. Although he needed and asked for help, most runners kept going by him. Andover High runner Josh Ripley, a junior, did not. Josh carried Mark a half-mile on his back to Mark's coach and parents and then rejoined the 2-mile junior varsity race. Mark needed 20 stitches to close the wound made by contact with the spikes that runners wear to get good traction. Josh, a junior at Andover High School, knew that he needed to help Mark. He said it was "just natural instinct." He added, "I didn't think about my race. I knew I needed to stop and help him. It was something I would expect my other teammates to do. I'm nothing special; I was just in the right place at the right time." Jessica Just, the Lakeville South team's coach, said, "I was stunned and so proud of the sportsmanship and kindness he showed to our runner who was injured. The family, our Lakeville South coaching staff and our whole team were so thankful and appreciative of Josh's act of kindness and selflessness to a rival competitor." Gene Paulauskas, Mark's father, said, "While I was running with Mark in my arms [to get medical attention], he told me that it was a runner from another team who had stopped and helped him to an area of the course where he could get some help. It was horrible to see Mark with such a bad injury, but we were all struck by the selfless act of compassion, kindness, and sportsmanship exhibited by Josh Ripley, the Andover runner." When Josh's coach, Scott Clark, heard that Josh was carrying another runner, at first he did not believe it. He said, "Then Josh comes jogging into view carrying a runner. I noticed the blood on the runner's ankle as Josh handed him off to one of the coaches from Lakeville. Josh was tired, and you could tell his focus was off as he started back on the course. Clearly he intended to finish, this happening inside the first mile. I got his attention and told him to relax and get his focus back for racing and not worry about his place. Josh continued to run and finished." Mr. Clark added, "Clearly Josh is a compassionate and caring person. We consistently talk about being a team and caring about how each person on the team does. Cross country is filled with quality athletes at each school. It is always gratifying to see it exhibited in such a way as Josh did." (4)

"Chargers Fans are Amazing. We're Like a Family"

On 1 September 2011 during the San Francisco 49er preseason game with the San Diego Chargers in Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California, Club-level server and mother of four Heather Allison tripped and dropped approximately $1,000—$170 in tips, and approximately $830 that was supposed to go to the concession. The money went everywhere, including over the railing into the lower Field section. Ms. Allison said, "All my customers began screaming over the railing to the people below, 'That's the servers' money.'" People everywhere began collecting the money for her. In approximately 10 minutes, a security officer brought her a bunch of money. She said, "It was all there. Chargers fans are amazing. We're like a family." (5)

"Get Him! Get Him! He's Drowning!"

During June 2011, NFL players endured a lockout and so could not attend training camps. This worked out excellently for six-year-old Bryson Moore because instead of attending training camp, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Leonard "Champ" Pope, an African-American, was around to save his life. Young Bryson fell into the deep end of a swimming pool in Americus, Georgia, on 11 June 2011 while attending a cousin's birthday party. His mother, Anne, began to scream, "Get him! Get him! He's drowning!" Neither she nor the people around her could swim. Mr. Pope, who had learned how to swim at age nine, was inside a building, and when he heard the screams, he came running out to the pool. At first, he could see nothing. Then he saw a pair of hands sticking out of the water. Mr. Pope immediately dove into the water with his clothes on and with his cell phone and his wallet. Mr. Pope dove deep, grabbed Bryson and brought him to the surface, and gave him to his mother. Anne did not thank him right away; she was too concerned with getting her son to a hospital, where no medical problems were found. On the phone later, she told Mr. Pope, "If I'd had a million dollars, I'd have given it to you right there and then." Immediately, Mr. Pope became known as a hero, although he did not know that right away because his cell phone was ruined, and he did not get another one for a week. He said, "I was having to borrow people's phones at the airport. Perfect strangers. I finally called my girl, and she said, 'Where have you been! Call your agent! Call your auntie! Everybody wants to talk to you!'" Sportswriter Rick Reilly says, "Say what you want about pro athletes, but if you're in trouble, they're very handy to have around. Not only are they genetic superhumans, but they've been trained to react in an instant, to jump in where others fear to go and to execute flawlessly in chaos, whether it's a double-reverse handoff or a mother screaming for her drowning child." (6)

"He Can't Breathe! He Can't Breathe!"

In July 2008 at Capone's restaurant in Huntington Beach, California, Ken Hunter, a shipping company manager, started choking on a piece of meat. Fortunately, Kansas City Chief tight end Tony Gonzalez was there to save his life. Mr. Hunter said, "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt. Tony came up behind me and gave me the Heimlich maneuver. Thank God he was there." Mr. Hunter added, "I tried to take a drink of water, but I couldn't swallow. Then I couldn't breathe. That's a terrible feeling. I couldn't breathe. Then I guess I started to panic." The screaming of Mr. Hunter's companion alerted Mr. Gonzalez to the crisis. Mr. Gonzalez said, "She was screaming, 'He can't breathe! He can't breathe!' The whole restaurant was quiet. Nobody was doing anything. Then I saw he was turning blue. Everybody in the restaurant was just kind of sitting there wide-eyed." Mr. Gonzalez then performed the Heimlich maneuver on Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter said, "After just a few seconds, the piece of meat popped out. I could breathe again. It's a good thing Tony is so tall because I had stood up—I think." Diana Martin, a restaurant employee, said, "He was so lucky Tony was there. In a situation like that, every second counts. It helped a lot that Tony's a big, strong guy because you have to be able to apply some pretty good pressure. I don't think I would have been strong enough to help him." Mr. Hunter washed up in the restroom and then came out and realized that an NFL star had saved his life. Mr. Hunter said, "I'm a big NFL fan, and I recognized him right away. I was still kind of dazed when I went over and thanked him and said, 'What can I do for you?' I guess I said it about 1,000 times." Mr. Gonzalez said about the Heimlich maneuver, "I had seen it done, so I just did it. When you find yourself in those situations where you have to take action in a crucial situation, you just do it." He added, "I honestly don't want to make a big deal out of it. But of course it does give me a lot of satisfaction to know that I was able to help somebody." Mr. Hunter is a long-time San Diego Chargers fan, but he said after the rescue, "I'm Tony's No. 1 fan now." (7)

A Hero is Someone Who Risks His or Her Life to Help Save Another Person. Sometimes the Hero Actually Gives His or Her Life

A hero is someone who risks his or her life to help save another person. Sometimes the hero actually gives his or her life. On 29 June 1983, Kansas City Chiefs star running back Joe Delaney, an African-American, heard the screams of three young boys drowning in a pond in Chennault Park in Monroe, Louisiana. Mr. Delaney asked other people to telephone for help, and then he went into the pond—although he couldn't swim—and managed to rescue one of the boys. He went back in the pond, but he and the two other boys drowned. Columnist C.K. Rairden wrote, "This was not a trivial feat that Joe Delaney performed. He gave his life in an attempt to save three children that he did not know. His selfless act produced more results than he could have ever delivered on any football field. He managed to save one child's life at an extraordinary cost. His three children would grow up without a father and his young wife would be widowed. In this instance Joe Delaney's sacrifice saved one child, and in his selfless thought process, it was worth it." (8)

An Eccentric, and a Kind Man

Baseball pitching great George "Rube" Waddell was definitely an eccentric. Occasionally, he would leave the dugout during a game in order to follow a passing fire truck so he could watch the fire. As a joke, he would sometimes "catch" his own foot instead of the baseball, but he was such a good pitcher that normally he got the next batter out on strikes. By the way, he was a kind man who carried bags of peanuts in the pockets of his baseball uniform so he could throw peanuts to kids watching the game. (9)

"I was Just Doing What I was Trained to Do"

On 4 June 2007, Robert Bielan, the head women's soccer coach at New Jersey City University and a professional firefighter since 1995, saw a bad accident on the Garden State Parkway involving a cargo van from which two people were ejected, but in which four people were trapped. Mr. Bielan stopped his vehicle and put on his firefighter's protective gear, and then he stabilized the cargo van and started freeing its trapped passengers. He was able to free three people with the help of some good Samaritans and emergency personnel, but the fourth person died. The two people who were thrown from the van survived. State Police Troop E Commander Major Allan L. DelVento wrote a letter to Mr. Bielan's superior, Bayonne [New Jersey] Fire Chief, Patrick Boyle, in which he commended Mr. Bielan's actions. Mr. Bielan said, "I was just doing what I was trained to do. It's humbling, but it's a job any fireman or cop placed in that situation would have done. It was fortunate I was the guy passing by that day. I'm proud to represent my family and Bayonne Fire Department as well as New Jersey City University, the athletics department, and the women's soccer team." Mr. Bielan said that as head women's soccer coach at New Jersey City University, "I'm trying to teach my student-athletes to be strong, independent women and prepare them for the next level in life. Whether they go on to work in a company or they become stay-at-home parents, they have to get involved and help. I want to empower all these women to have confidence, be leaders, step out, and follow their hearts." (10)

Donating His Winnings

When British mixed martial artist Grant Harris won victory at the Knuckle Up event at the Bath Pavilion in December 2010, he donated his winnings to the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance because the organization had saved his life 10 years previously when he was in a serious car accident, following which there was a possibility that he might never again walk. Philip Welch, editor of the Central Somerset Gazette, said that "his success is even more impressive when you consider that there was a point in his life where there was a very real chance that he would never walk again. And to use his ability and the sport he has trained so hard in, to help raise money for the charity that saved his life shows that this man realizes just exactly how lucky he is to be at the top of his game, winning his fights, and in the peak of physical fitness." (11)

Problems and Influences

Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of the novel Pay It Forward, had a number of problems—alcohol, cigarettes, friends with attitude—in high school and beyond. Fortunately, she had some positive influences in her life that helped her overcome her problems. One was her high-school sophomore-year English and creative-writing teacher, whose name was Lenny Horowitz. He encouraged her to write, and he once even read to the class a humorous essay she had written—both he and the students laughed. In addition, he told the other teachers at the school that she could write. A positive influence she knew when she was an adult was a recovering alcoholic named Harvey, who told her, "You strike me as a person who could do just about anything you put your mind to." At age 34, she got clean and sober. She also thought that if she could do just about anything she put her mind to, she would become a full-time, working writer. (12)

"Then It Wouldn't Seem Like Stealing"

American novelist Nicholson Baker lives with his family in a Maine farmhouse. His wife, Margaret, says that "we don't lock our house—we don't even have a key! No one does around here." The people there are kind. For a while, a homeless boy lived in the woods. People knew that the homeless boy would go into their homes while they were away. Margaret says that "they left food on the table for him. Then it wouldn't seem like stealing." (13)

A Dream in a Bottle

Some authors are kind enough to answer fan letters from children. For example, in 1989, a seven-year-old girl named Amy wrote Roald Dahl, author of The BFG [Big Friendly Giant], whose title character kept good dreams in bottles so that he could blow them into the bedrooms of sleeping children. Amy sent Mr. Dahl a bottle containing one of her dreams. Mr. Dahl wrote back, "Dear Amy, I must write a special letter and thank you for the dream in the bottle. You are the first person in the world who has sent me one of these and it intrigued me very much. I also liked the dream. Tonight I shall go down to the village and blow it through the bedroom window of some sleeping child and see if it works." (14)

"It is Incumbent on Anyone Who Can to Lift Human Dignity to the Highest Possible Levels"

In September 2011, Henry Rollins, former lead singer of Black Flag and an author and spoken-word artist, visited Haiti, a country with much turbulence and much poverty. He visited a tent city and asked the residents what they needed. The answer: soap and soccer balls. The soap is important for cleanliness, which is important for health and hygiene and comfort, and the soccer balls are important for the children. Mr. Rollins, a nice guy, went to a market and bought a lot of soap and two soccer balls. He remembers, "I gave them out and the group around me started struggling for the items. I had to cool down the tempers of two men who were almost going to start fighting over the things I brought. Grown men. Eight-cent bars of soap." Some items that are very inexpensive to us are highly valued in impoverished parts of the world. Mr. Rollins says, "I plan to be a part of Haiti's reconstruction and future. I think it is incumbent on anyone who can to lift human dignity to the highest possible levels, maintaining one's own and helping to raise that of others." (15)

Kindness to a Moravian Opera Singer

Opera singer Leo Slezak was unable to leave Germany and Austria in World War II, although Walter, his son, an actor, had become an American citizen. After the war was over, comedian Bob Hope helped convince the Allies to provide protection for Leo Slezak's estate. In addition, Walter got the addresses of nearly 1,000 American servicemen stationed in the Munich area. He sent each of the servicemen a 5-pound package containing necessities and asked them to deliver the packages to his father. Of the 958 packages that he sent, his father received 457. (16)

Actress Kate Winslet, Others, Become Heroes in House Fire

In August 2011, Tropical Storm Irene passed over Necker Island, one of Great Britain's Virgin Islands, and lightning struck British business magnate Richard Branson's $70 million private island home, burning it to the ground. Actress Kate Winslet, who was staying there with her two children and her boyfriend, helped to carry Mr. Branson's elderly mother to safety. In his blog, Mr. Branson wrote, "We had a tropical storm with winds up to 90mph. A big lightning storm came around 4am and hit the house. My son Sam and nephew Jack rushed to the house and helped get everyone out and many thanks to Kate Winslet for helping to carry my 90 year old mum out of the main house to safety—she was wondering when a Director was going to shout CUT!" He added, "Around 20 people were in the house and they all managed to get out and they are all fine. [...] We will rebuild the house as soon as we can. We have a wonderful staff here and we want them to stay in work. [...] There's a lot of damage but we'll create something even more special out of the ruins." In addition, he wrote, "Currently just huddled up with family and friends in the continuing tropical storm realising what really matters in life." (17)

A Fan of a $2 Movie Saves His Sister's Life

Tristin Saghin of Mesa, Arizona, is only nine years old, but he is a big fan of the military movie Black Hawk Down and has watched it numerous times. Good thing. In April 2011, his two-year-old sister was discovered floating face down in the family swimming pool. Because actors perform CPR in Black Hawk Down, Tristin knew what to do. He said that in the movie "they were, like, pushing on your chest and giving him rescue breaths." Mesa Fire Department Captain Forrest Smith said, "He did save his sister's life." His parents paid only $2 for the movie. Tristin's father, Chris, said, "We've tried to turn this movie off a hundred times. He watches these scenes over and over. He dresses up like a medic, and he runs around doing these things." (18)

A Cat with Broken Forepaws

After movie director Steven Spielberg's cat fell out of a window and broke its forepaws, he rushed it to an emergency room where the workers put splints on the cat's forepaws. He was so impressed by the dedication of the emergency room workers that he produced the television show E.R. (19)

The Hippest of Cats

How nice it is that people sometimes write letters of appreciation. After Audrey Hepburn first heard the score for Breakfast at Tiffany's, in which she starred, she wrote Henry Mancini, who would later win an Oscar for his soundtrack, a very nice letter of appreciation, which appears below:

"Dear Henry,

"I have just seen our picture—BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S—this time with your score.

"A movie without music is a little bit like an aeroplane without fuel. However beautifully the job is done, we are still on the ground and in a world of reality. Your music has lifted us all up and sent us soaring. Everything we cannot say with words or show with action you have expressed for us. You have done this with so much imagination, fun and beauty.

"You are the hippest of cats—and the most sensitive of composers!

"Thank you, dear Hank.

"Lots of love

"Audrey" (20)

"You Always Think You're the One to Take Care of Your Students. I Never Thought It Would be the Other Way Around"

In March 2010 in Stafford Senior High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Spanish teacher Myriam Lorenzo tried to swallow a bite of a chicken sandwich and started choking. She said, "It was a hard moment to describe. I knew I was in trouble. I thought I had to get out of the classroom." Fortunately, Storm Rundman, a 17-year-old junior, saw that she was choking and in trouble. He followed her to help. Ms. Lorenzo said, "I saw him coming, but I don't remember what happened. I think I was losing consciousness. I heard voices from very far away." Storm said, "Everyone was freaking out. She was legitimately choking." Storm, who is an Eagle Scout, was prepared. He used his knowledge of the Heimlich maneuver to save her life by performing the maneuver six times in 20 seconds. Ms. Lorenzo said, "It was so good to finally be able to breathe." Not until two days later did she allow herself to eat again. She said about Storm, "He saved my life. He's a wonderful young man." She added, "You always think you're the one to take care of your students. I never thought it would be the other way around." (21)

A Hug for a Lifesaver

In March 2009 in Cypress High School in Cypress, California, teacher Judy Rader started choking on an almond. Sam Barrera, a 15-year-old student, knew how to do the Heimlich maneuver. He realized that an aide was doing the Heimlich maneuver incorrectly on Ms. Rader, so he took over. Three maneuvers later, Ms. Rader coughed and said, "I'm OK." She immediately started to teach the class again because she realized that students were upset by the emergency, but then she realized that she had forgotten to thank him so she stopped the class and hugged him. (22)

"You Can't Get Scared, Can't Be Panicked. You Have to Stay Calm, and Do It"

In December 2010, fourteen-year-old Tristin Stavig, a freshman student at Scottsboro High School in Scottsboro, Arizona, saved the life of her teacher, Deborah Jones, who started choking on a Pop Tart and turning blue. Tristin performed the Heimlich maneuver on Ms. Jones, who said, "The second time that she did it, it [the bite of Pop Tart] just popped out, and I could breathe. I turned around and looked at her and said, 'You do realize you just saved my life.'" Tristin had no training in performing the Heimlich maneuver; she said she was emulating an episode of the Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zach and Cody, during which a character had performed the Heimlich maneuver on another character. Tristin said, "Nobody was doing anything, and I was scared, and I thought maybe if nobody did anything she wouldn't make it. You can't get scared, can't be panicked. You have to stay calm, and do it." (23)

"Thank You for Saving My Baby"

On 6 September 2011, in Farmham, which is part of the Lake Shore School District in New York state, school bus driver Lorraine "Lori" Golden noticed a car careening dangerously out of control and coming very close to the door of the school bus. Ms. Golden protected the three students she was dropping off by keeping them from exiting the bus. She also got a partial license plate number and a description of the car and gave it to the Brant Police Department. Ms. Golden said, "I'm very happy I could be there at that particular place and time. All my years of training and experience came in handy." She added, "It was all in a day's work, and I am glad I could be of service." The next day, the grandmother of one of the children who was on her bus told her, "Thank you for saving my baby." Ms. Golden said, "It made me feel terrific." School Supervisor James Przepasniak showed the school district's appreciation for her lifesaving actions, telling her, "Please accept this certificate and flowers on behalf of the Lake Shore Central School Board, as a symbol of our appreciation for your responsive actions in preserving the lives of our children and families. Thank you for your commitment, your service, and your efforts daily in our district and especially on September 6." Ms. Golden said, "There was no place I would have rather been at that place and time that all of my training and years of service came together to circumvent what could have been a tragic scenario." School Transportation Superintendent Perry Oddi said, "We are all so very proud of her. She's so very modest about this incident. She looks at it as just part of her job." (24)

"For a Sixth-Grader, the Office Represents Authority. And He Had the Courage to Challenge that Authority"

In late 2002, wood shop teacher Fred Sotcher began to tremble in his classroom at John Montgomery Elementary School in San Jose, CA. He thought that he was chilled and so he put on a heavy shirt. He also assured his students that he was OK. Daniel Rivas, age 11, did not believe him. Daniel telephoned the front office to report that his teacher was seriously ill. At first, the front office did not believe him, but Daniel stayed on the phone, insisting that his teacher needed help. The school nurse checked on Mr. Sotcher, and quickly an ambulance arrived to take him to a hospital to be treated for a major infection. Mr. Sotcher believes that Daniel saved his life. He said, "I was very impressed with the fact that he refused to listen to me and he refused to listen to the office. For a sixth-grader, the office represents authority. And he had the courage to challenge that authority." (25)

24 Students = 24 Heroes

In December 2003 in Debbie Shultz' Spanish class at Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia, students were finishing up a test when her estranged 51-year-old husband burst into the classroom. Ms. Schultz said, "He's brandishing a 12-inch butcher knife. We froze in time. Could not believe our eyes. I asked him what he was doing there. He rushed toward my desk, and everything unfolded after that." He stabbed Ms. Shultz, age 46, once, and she tried but failed to grab his arm. She then cried out for help. Her students responded. Some ran for help, some called 911 on their cell phones, and some grabbed the attacker. Ms. Schultz remembered, "I said, 'Guys, pin him down.'... Then it was like a herd of buffalo. I didn't see anything. And then I just heard everybody jumped on top of him and hurled him headlong into the wall. My heroes." Scott Wigington, the 17-year-old son of the local sheriff, said, "I didn't know what to think at first. I just jumped up and went over there and grabbed his right wrist with a knife and pulled it away from her. I just tried to get the knife away." Another student, Nimesh Patel, said, "I froze there for a second. Me and a couple other guys grabbed him and threw him to the ground and basically sat on him until the cops came." Ms. Schultz said that she was lucky that her estranged husband had attacked her while the students were there. She said that if the students had not been present, "It would have been a completely different outcome. I would have begun my planning period 40 minutes from that time. I would have been alone, completely alone. There's no way I could have avoided his assault. I would have wound up, I'm certain, dead. Without my heroes, and that's all 24 students in my class, I wouldn't be here to talk to you." (26)

An Earthquake Heroine and an Earthquake Good Samaritan

Mansi Bakshi, a teacher with the Chailaya Academy in the Suthra Bali Bowli area, became a hero in October 2005 when she rescued 45 children from a school building that was collapsing during an earthquake. She was the only teacher there, and when the earthquake struck, she began taking the children out of the building, one by one. She continued to do this even as the building collapsed. On her last trip out, the building collapsed and a falling stone broke her leg. Rohit, a student, said, "I was the last when a stone fell. Madam saved me, and stone fell on her." Subhash Chand, a resident, praised Mansi's heroism, saying, "Otherwise, it would have been a tragedy." Mansi's younger sister, Sapna, also did a good deed, selling her gold earrings so that she could buy some medicine that the children urgently needed. Sapna said, "It was my moral responsibility. We were able to save their lives; it's a big thing." (27)

"If I Died, It Wouldn't Have Been Very Good"

Jerry DiIorio, a firefighter in Worchester, Massachusetts, and his ex-wife have been divorced for nine years, but they get along well and he often sees their daughter, 14-year-old Keslee, a freshman at Shrewsbury High School in Massachusetts. She said, "My dad is kind of shy. But he's a really good dad." In February 2011, Keslee, her dad, and one of Keslee's friends were in his car going somewhere to eat. The two girls were eating Fireballs, a large hard candy. A Fireball lodged in Keslee's throat, and she started choking. Keslee said, "It happened so fast. I couldn't breathe. I thought I was going to pass out." Mr. DiIorio heard her trying to breathe, and he pulled the car over, told her to stay calm, and performed the Heimlich maneuver on her. The Fireball flew out of her mouth. Mr. DiIorio said, "It seemed like a lifetime, but it was probably no longer than a minute. But it wasn't a big deal. It's just something we do. You go through the training, and it kicks in. The only thing I thought about after was, 'What if it didn't work?' I'm just glad it did." Keslee said, "I didn't think the Fireball was going to come out. I've seen people do the Heimlich maneuver on TV, but I didn't think it would work. If my dad hadn't pulled over..." She added, "If I died, it wouldn't have been very good." His ex-wife, Deborah DiIorio, said, "I'm just very grateful. His first-responder training in the Heimlich maneuver, as well as his ability to stay focused without emotions, even though it was his own daughter, proved lifesaving. I probably would have been too emotionally distraught. I thought it was heroic. He's a very involved dad, but he's not the kind of guy who likes to be in the limelight." Keslee said, "He saved my life, and he saves a lot of people's lives on a daily basis. He's a hero to a lot of people, and he's a hero to me." Before Mr. DiIorio became a firefighter, he cut hair at the family business, where he still sometimes cuts hair. Keslee said, "If you have a bad haircut, he can be a hero then, too. He's a really good person, and people should look up to him." (28)

"A Father Who Loves His Daughter Unconditionally, and One Condition was to Lose His Life to Save Hers"

In the state of Washington, 30-year-old Alejandro Vicente-Lopez saw his daughter struggling in the Columbia River during an excursion at Willow Grove Park. Mr. Vicente-Lopez could not swim, but he went into the water and helped his daughter reach a pier in shallow water. Unfortunately, he then stepped into the more-than-40-feet-deep shipping lane of the river and drowned. Comments on the Associated Press article about his death that were published on the Seattle Times Web site provide a fitting memorial: 1) "Alejandro, job well done, finally a father who loves his daughter unconditionally, and one condition was to lose his life to save hers. May she grow up to be her father's daughter. Because of you, she will be able to do so. Rest In Peace," 2) "To Alejandro, young father. You did a very brave thing and it was successful. I am sorry you are lost to us," and 3) "R.I.P., Alejandro. God will recognize you for saving your daughter." (29)

"It Wasn't Just Her Coat—It was Leona Face Down in the River"

In September 2008 floods took at least eight lives in England and Wales. One person who did not die was a three-year-old girl whose father, a Royal Air Force Sergeant, saved her after she was sucked into a culvert and dragged 150 feet along a storm drain and then vomited into the River Wear in County Durham in northeast England. Leona Baxter and her older sister (Kiah, age six) were paddling in floodwater when Leona suddenly disappeared. Their father, 34-year-old Mark Baxter, said, "The kids had their wellies on and were splashing around in the puddles. I threw a stick for the dog, and that's when my wife shouted, 'Where's Leona?' I turned around and couldn't see her, but I could see Kiah. I thought she [Leona] had just stumbled and fallen into the water and would come up again in a couple of seconds, coughing and spluttering. When she didn't, I ran through the puddle to see if I could get her and whether she had hurt herself. At that point, I noticed there was [a] plughole effect in the water—I didn't know what caused it. When I got close, the water was strong. I stuck my arm down the hole and couldn't feel anything—just water swirling around. I thought it was a storm drain, and if it is going to spit out, it will be in the river." He looked in the river and saw Leona's coat. He said, "It wasn't just her coat—it was Leona face down in the river. I jumped in and grabbed her. The water got up to about my shoulder level, and I put her across my shoulders. At first, Leona was not breathing, but he patted her back and she began coughing up water. He said, "As soon as Leona was coughing and spluttering and being sick, I felt much happier because she was breathing then." Leona's mother, 32-year-old Beverley, gave her first aid. Leona suffered from hypothermia and was treated at a hospital in Durham. Beverley said about her husband, "I really am proud of him. We feel like the luckiest parents alive. We've still got our family." (30)

"It's Coming Straight for Us"

In Mentor, Minnesota, where the weather can be bad, Heidi Michaels' father, Wes, looked out for her and her two sisters. In June 2010, on his 58th birthday, he took the day off. Heidi was working in the family convenience store when he suddenly showed up with a warning about an oncoming tornado. He told her, "It's coming straight for us. Get in the cooler." Heidi, her father, and a customer ran for the cooler in a back room, but the tornado hit the convenience store before they got there. Heidi said, "The building was gone in the blink of an eye." The rubble buried them. She said about her father, "I called out for him to save me, and he had already saved me. He took the brunt of the force and I survived because of him and I am so very, very grateful for that." She was partly covered by her father's body, which protected her from the rubble. He died, but she had only some cuts and bruises. Heidi said, "He is a hero to me because of that." (31)

SuperMom

On Good Friday, 9 April 1982, in Lawrenceville, Georgia, Angela Carter came to the rescue of Tony, her teenage son, who had removed a rear tire of his 1964 Chevy Impala and was working on the suspension. Tony tried to loosen something and rocked the car off the jack. The car fell, pinning Tony, and he lost consciousness. A neighborhood child told Angela about the accident, and she ran to the car and lifted its side a few inches—enough to keep the pressure off her son while the neighborhood child got help. She estimates that she held the side of the car up for five minutes—time for neighbors to arrive, reinsert the jack, and pull Tony out from under the car. Stories about mothers lifting cars to save the life of one of their children can be factual. (32)

A Jump from the Second Story to Save Her Brother's Life

Not all people do good things. In Eagle Mountain, Utah, a 10-year-old girl named Katiana and her eight-year-old brother, Kody Heath, were abused emotionally, physically, and psychologically by their aunt and the aunt's boyfriend. In October 2008, Katiana jumped out of a second-story bathroom window. She had been locked in the bathroom without food or blankets, and she was wearing only her underwear. She said that she hoped to find a police officer: "And my wish came true." A neighbor saw her and called the police, who found Kody, who had been locked in a different bathroom, curled up and shivering in the fetal position. His heartbeat was faint, and his body temperature was dangerously low. Utah County Sheriff James Tracy said about Katiana's jump from the second-story window, "If she had not done it, this young man, her brother, Kody, might not have made it through the night." Katiana and Kody spent several weeks in Primary Children's Medical Center and a brief time in foster care, but were then reunited with their mother, Sina Vanisi, who did not know about the abuse and had let her sister take care of the children while Sina Vanisi dealt with a divorce and worked two jobs. Katiana and Kody call their mother's new husband "Dad." Sina Vanisi said about Katiana and her jump, "She told us she did it to protect her family. I'm glad it kicked in at the right time. She's a brave little girl. It's because of her that her brother is alive today and he's fat and healthy." The aunt and the aunt's boyfriend pleaded guilty to several charges and were sentenced to up to 20 years in jail. Sina Vanisi said about Katiana, "She's a kid and would say [to her brother], 'You owe me. I saved your life.'" Katiana said, "I have to protect him a lot. But he has to protect me [too]. We'll almost be best friends forever." (33)

Two Great Kindnesses

A woman who calls herself Wooka85257 online remembers two great kindnesses done for her many years previously when she became a widow while she was pregnant. She was 24 years old and three months pregnant and without money. She put her furniture in storage for three months, knowing that she would probably have to sell the furniture after that time because of lack of money to pay additional storage fees. She also moved back in with her parents, who were also without money. In early January 1971, she received anonymously a cashier's check for $500. She writes, "I was saved! We had enough money to pay for the storage rental for nearly another year! I was so happy I smiled all day—something I hadn't done in months!" On that very same day, her husband's boss paid her a visit and brought gifts: three envelopes. She writes, "The first was what we were due of my husband's salary for his last month. The second was a bonus check he had earned for the month before (which was originally due to be issued at the end of the year.) And the third was for $10,000, which was his death benefits with the company!" The third envelope was surprising because her husband had worked for the company for only six months, and to get death benefits employees were supposed to have worked at the company for one full year. She writes, "I was incredulous! How could this be? His boss explained the first two checks were due us for services rendered, and he said he used his twenty-eight years with the company to make sure they did the right thing by us. To this day I don't know how he did it but that money saved us." Her baby was born but needed and received 13 surgeries in his first two years of life. She writes that she "was able to stay home with him until he was healthy enough to go to a nursery school with other kids. And it allowed us to move to a little apartment of our own. In one day we had been saved by two angels with acts of kindness that touched my very soul. It was forty-one years ago but I have never forgotten them or that day. It was the day I smiled from morning to night!" (34)

"Say I'm the Best Sister in the World"

Just before Christmas 2006, fire broke out in the house in Amarillo, Texas, where 15-year-old Allie Long was babysitting her two younger brothers: nine-year-old Milo Clausen and three-year-old Nicholas. They were watching movies in their parents' bedroom upstairs. Ally went downstairs, where she saw smoke. The living room was filled with flames from a floor furnace. Ally went back upstairs to rescue her brothers. First she called 911, and then she went to a window—the best exit available. She dropped Nicolas onto the roof of the carport and then persuaded Milo to jump. Ally said, "I was freaking out because I couldn't breathe." She then yelled to neighbors for help. Neighbor Kentra Pope used a ladder to get the children down from the carport. The children's parents, Angie Clauson and Bob Long, had been Christmas shopping. Ms. Clausen said, "It all changes when something like this happens. I'm glad we're all together." Mr. Long said, "You just don't even think your house is gonna burn up." The family celebrated Christmas in a hotel room that the Red Cross paid for. Christmas presents were different from those originally planned: socks, underwear, and other necessities instead of toys. After things had settled down, Ally teased Milo by telling him, "Say I'm the best sister in the world." Her father said, "We're proud of Allie and thankful for all the help we're getting." (35)

"It was Bad. Jonathon and Me had to Get Out"

A week before Christmas Eve 2008, smoke began appearing in a single-wide trailer that housed five adults and two children in Sierra Vista, Arizona, in hard economic times. At first, the residents could smell but not see smoke. As they looked for the source of the smoke, five-year-old Christina Street raised her hand and then pointed to a wall and the ceiling, saying, "I saw smoke there—and there." Barbara Saunders, Christina's "mom-mom," said, "Someone yelled, 'Get the children out of here.'" Actually, it was Christina who carried her 14-month-old brother, Jonathon Tucker, out of the trailer, although he weighed 25 pounds and she weighed only 40 pounds. Christina said that she wrapped her arms around her brother's stomach, adding, "I held Jonathon real tight." The children's mother, Melanie Tucker, was relieved to see her children outside the trailer. She said, "I was looking for them in the trailer and couldn't find them." Christina said, "Mommie was scared." The fire had been started by a water heater that was on the floor instead of being raised a few inches off the floor—this allowed heat to build up. Firefighters quickly put out the fire. Christina remembers the fire: "It was bad. Jonathon and me had to get out." (36)

Disgraced Soldier was Actually a Hero

For more than half a century, World War II British Bombardier Robert Key was believed to have endangered the lives of nearby children and needlessly wasted his life by blowing himself up while playing around with a grenade on 5 September 1944, the day after Liberation Day in the small French town of Annezin, which is 50 miles south of Calais. But in 2009 his surviving relatives received a letter from the mayor of Annezin inviting them to attend a ceremony renaming a road after Robert Key, hero. Mr. Key had been blown up by a grenade, but it was not he who had been playing around with it. Instead, a local child had removed the pin. Mr. Key had grabbed the grenade and rushed away from a group of 20 children. When the grenade exploded, it had killed him instantly. When the British army had investigated the killing, the local citizens had indicated that someone was playing with the grenade. The locals meant that a child had been playing with the grenade, but apparently their remarks were mistranslated, and the British army thought that it had been Mr. Key who was playing around with the grenade. Mr. Key's niece, Gill Mills, age 54, of Coventry, England, said, "The family never talked about Robert, and it was always an uncomfortable subject because of what it said on his service record. We are just glad that his courage has finally been revealed and we can be proud of his actions." Annezin Mayor Daniel Delomez said that Mr. Key "was a brave hero who saved the lives of several children without thought for his own safety." (37)

Daring World War I Rescue

During World War I on 19 November 1915, British pilot Richard Bell Davies heroically rescued a downed British pilot who was behind the Turkish lines at Ferrijik Junction, Bulgaria. Mr. Davies and Flight Sub-Lieutenant Gilbert F. Smylie were on a mission to bomb the railway junction at Ferrijik. Mr. Smylie was forced to land his plane behind enemy lines after being hit by Turkish anti-aircraft fire. Before landing, he dropped all but one of the bombs. He was unable to restart his plane, so he set fire to it to keep it out of Turkish hands. Mr. Davies saw that Mr. Smylie was in trouble, and he started to land his plane nearby. Afraid that the bomb would explode after Mr. Davies landed and injure him, Mr. Smylie fired his revolver at the bomb to explode it before Mr. Davies landed, then he boarded Mr. Davies' airplane just as Turkish soldiers arrived. The two escaped. Mr. Davies was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroism; Mr. Smylie was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. This is the citation for the awarding of the Crosses:

"The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross to Squadron-Commander Richard Bell Davies, D.S.O., R.N., and of the Distinguished Service Cross to Flight Sub-Lieutenant Gilbert Formby Smylie, R.N., in recognition of their behaviour in the following circumstances: —

"On the 19th November these two officers carried out an air attack on Ferrijik Junction. Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie's machine was received by very heavy fire and brought down. The pilot planed down over the station, releasing all his bombs except one, which failed to drop, simultaneously at the station from a very low altitude. Thence he continued his descent into the marsh.

"On alighting he saw the one unexploded bomb, and set fire to his machine, knowing that the bomb would ensure its destruction. He then proceeded towards Turkish territory.

"At this moment he perceived Squadron-Commander Davies descending, and fearing that he would come down near the burning machine and thus risk destruction from the bomb, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Smylie ran back and from a short distance exploded the bomb by means of a pistol bullet. Squadron-Commander Davies descended at a safe distance from the burning machine, took up Sub-Lieutenant Smylie, in spite of the near approach of a party of the enemy, and returned to the aerodrome, a feat of airmanship that can seldom have been equalled for skill and gallantry."

Gilligan Gets Rescued from Island

Gilligan's Island was cancelled in 1967 after three seasons, with Gilligan and the other castaways still on the island. A group of seriously ill children were concerned about Gilligan, and in 1992 their wish to the Make-a-Wish Foundation was to rescue Gilligan. Actor Bob Denver donned Gilligan's red shirt and white hat again and waited on a West Virginia island for the children to rescue him. The children set sail on the West Virginia Bell—newly named the SS Minnow—and rescued him. For the rest of the day, Gilligan signed autographs, posed for photographs, and played games with the children. (39)

A Real-Life Field of Dreams

Some of the very ill children who get wishes granted by the Make-a-Wish Foundation make truly awesome wishes. Sam Farris, age 11 in 2007, who has neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting the nervous system, wished for a baseball field in his own background. This kind of wish is expensive, but the Make-a-Wish Foundation and Sam's community made it come true. Grounds crews from the University of Mississippi and Itawamba Community College donated their expertise. People donated sod, and clay, fences, an irrigation system, a backstop, and—believe it!—a scoreboard. On opening day of Farris Field, Sam rode to the baseball field in a limousine, escorted by volunteers from the highway patrol. Sam's handpicked team of 18 children defeated the opposing team, the Briarcrest Christian School junior varsity team, 11-6. Sam scored a run and had a base hit, and he threw out the ball to open the game. Hundreds of fans were in attendance, and they chowed down on donated popcorn, soda, and hot dogs. Best of all, this is a gift that will keep on giving. Sam's mother, Teresa, said, "We have told everybody in the community that this is their field, too, and we hope to see a lot of people out here using it. Sam is just so excited about all of this, and nothing would make him feel better." (40)

Ben's Game

Ben Duskin, who suffered from leukemia, enjoys playing computer games. His wish to the Make-a-Wish Foundation was to create a computer game in which the hero—nine-year-old Ben himself on a skateboard—battles cancer cells. The game, titled "Ben's Game," became reality in June 2004 and can be downloaded free in both PC and Mac versions and in many languages. The game helps kids visualize fighting cancer while having fun at the same time. Patricia Wilson, Executive Director of Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation said, "The initial response was overwhelmingly pessimistic. People told us this venture was nearly impossible without taking several years and literally millions of dollars." Fortunately, game creator Eric Johnston, with the support of his employer, LucasArts, worked closely with Ben for months to create the game. A person who served as the game's medical advisor was Ben's Bay Area physician, Dr. Seymour Zoger of UCSF Children's Hospital. Dr. Zoger said, "The science for Ben's Game came largely from what Ben learned himself in the course of treatment." Ms. Wilson added, "Eric and Ben achieved the impossible! Ben's wish is inspiring, because it was selfless. [...] Finding an angel like Eric Johnston was a miracle, and having the support of UCSF and [Ben's] medical team was invaluable." In the game, players get health from the hospital, ammo from the pharmacy, and attitude from home. (41)

Modern Medicine Saves Lives

In 2011 in Lubbock, Texas, police officer Mike Shipman got bad news about his unconscious 15-year-old son, Jesse. Mike asked a doctor, "Is he going to die?" The doctor nodded that yes, he would die. Fortunately, modern medicine saves lives, and it saved Jesse's life. Jesse had been diagnosed with mononucleosis, but another infection had entered his body and attacked his heart, which began to fail, along with other organs. He even had to use a machine to breathe for him. Jesse also needed to be connected to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine (ECMO), an artificial lung that pumps oxygen into the patient's blood. But the hospital where Jesse was staying did not have one for teenagers and adults, so Jesse would have to be moved to a hospital seven minutes away, and he might not survive the trip. Jesse's parents, Mike and Jenni, decided the benefits outweighed the risk. Soon after Jesse was hooked up to the ECMO, he began to recover. It helped that Jesse was an athlete and in good shape. Jesse also had an operation to drain fluid from his heart. After that, he recovered quickly. He grabbed the hand of intensive care nurse Macy Burdett and croaked, "Waaatteerr." Excited, she ran to the waiting room and told his parents that he had regained consciousness after weeks of unconsciousness. Jesse then began greatly impressing his physical therapists. One day, he stood up. He repeated the act the next day—and he walked. Nurses celebrated as he walked 26 feet. His parents knew that he was well on his way back to normal when Jesse met with a young female speech pathologist, who asked him, "Do you have any siblings?" He joked, "Yes, I have an annoying little brother." She asked, "Do you have any questions for me?" Jesse replied, "Yeah. Do you have a boyfriend?" His father, Mike, said after Jesse returned home, "He's my hero. I don't think I could be as brave as Jesse was. He's the bravest person I've ever met." (42)

The Haematology Team: "They're Vital"

Who saves lives in hospitals and medical centers? Surgeons, doctors, and nurses come readily to mind, but of course other people are involved, including the people who do the tests that lead to the analyses. When Frant, England, resident Patsy Pepe, age 62 in 2009, thinks of the people who helped during her battle with kidney cancer, she regards the haematologists, including Bob Slater and his team of approximately 15 people at Kent and Sussex Hospital, as among her lifesavers. Ms. Pepe, a medical receptionist, said, "I'd been going to work quite normally and never realized anything was wrong. When I saw my doctor with another problem, my blood was sent off, and the haematology team spotted what was wrong." Her cancerous kidney was removed, and as of 2009 she had been cancer-free for four years. She said, "It's always the surgeons who get the praise and the limelight, but the haematology department work hard, too, and they're hardly ever spoken of." Mr. Slater said, "It's a team effort and they're all important." Ms. Pepe said, "Doctors wouldn't be able to do a lot of their work without these people. They're vital." (43)

"She'll Tell You She Hasn't Done Anything Special"

In Castle Douglas, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, 10-year-old Kimberly McAdam helped out in a major way after her mother, Sarah, age 34, suffered a minor stroke and began having hemiplegic migraines, which can cause unconsciousness, loss of speech, and even temporary paralysis. Kimberly looks after both her mother—especially when her father, Gordon, a plumber, is away from their home—and her seven-year-old sister, Annabelle. Sarah said, "Kimberly is my little hero. I'm very proud of her. She's had to grow up quickly. Both of my girls have had to grow up quite a bit over the past year. Kimberly gets up every Friday morning and sorts all the washing out without being asked. She puts the washing machine on. She puts the tumble dryer on. She'll even make sure there's something out of the freezer to cook for dinner. But she'll tell you she hasn't done anything special. She thinks that's what every child of her age does. Her first question is always is there anything she can do to help." Sarah added, "Kimberly always keeps a cool head on her. She knows where all my tablets are kept and what to do in an emergency. It's pretty scary for both the girls as attacks make me go unconscious. There's instructions on the back of the kitchen cupboard door to tell them to phone the doctor if they find Mummy unconscious." Kimberley is a Girl Guide who follows the Girl Guide law to think of others. Meg Boulton, County Commissioner for Girlguiding, said, "Kimberly deserves recognition for her courage. Girlguiding has given Kimberly the confidence and life skills to take on anything that has been thrown at her. Sarah and Gordon are very proud of their daughters and especially Kimberly for the way she has coped with everything." (44)

A Blue Baby Becomes Pink

Blue babies have heart and lung problems that prevent oxygen from getting into the blood, thus turning a baby blue who would normally be pink. In Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, Ahmad Dhani Aryan Muhammad Syukri stopped being a blue baby and became a pink baby after some operations and donations of money. Dhani's mother, Siti Zuati Jafri, remembers doctors telling her that Dhani would soon die. According to an article in the Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times, Dhani "suffered from pulmonary atresia (PA) with intact ventricular septum where the blood vessel to his lung was completely disconnected from the right-sided heart chamber. The chamber was also small and underdeveloped." Dhani had his first operation when he was only four days old. Siti Zuati said, "We managed to raise RM25,000 [Ringgit Malaysia] needed for the operation. A BT [Blalock-Taussig] shunt was inserted to temporarily direct blood flow to the lungs prior to the surgery. Six months later, he underwent another operation called atrial septectomy as there were complications with the BT (Blalock-Taussig) shunt. This operation cost RM30,000 and we were really desperate as we were still trying to pay off our debts." Fortunately, consultant paediatrician and paediatric cardiologist Dr Lim Miin Kang of Gleneagles Kuala Lumpur told her and her husband about the NSTP [New Straits Times Press] general fund, a charitable fund. It paid the bill. Dhani underwent a cardiac catheterization, and the NSTP general fund once again paid the bill: RM47,000. This help was greatly needed and greatly appreciated, as Siti Zuati, an administrative assistant, earns RM2,000 each month while her husband, Muhammad Syukri, a technician, earns RM2,179 each month. She said, "Everyone should support the New Straits Times as they help to pay the bills for such life-saving heart surgeries. Although our combined salaries exceeded the RM2,500 limit to qualify for the financial scheme, we were still offered help as our baby needed to undergo those life-saving operations. We just cannot express our gratitude for the support and hope of all readers." This family also received RM20,000 from the Shangri-La Hotel under its Caring People Project. What is the result of all this charity? Dhani is now healthy and can now walk. (45)

"Please Send Me a Prayer if You Find This"

Sara-beth Martin, age nine, in the small town of Cochran, Georgia, used an innovative way of asking for prayers before her second heart surgery. She released several red balloons into the air. Each balloon bore this message: "My name is Sara-beth Martin. I am 9 years old and I am having my second heart surgery on April 21, 2011. Please send me a prayer if you find this." The note included the address of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Eight-year-old Reanna Roberts, who was sitting on a swing on the porch of her grandfather's house in Vance, South Carolina, approximately 180 miles away from Cochran, Georgia, saw something red in a bush. It turned out to be one of the red balloons released by Sara-beth. Reanna, whose mother had died of cervical cancer when Reanna was four years old, immediately wrote a card for Sara-beth: "Please get well soon. ... I hope your hert surgery goes well. And I am 8 and I herd you were nine. And I found the red balloon with a letter attached that talks about you. And my name is Reanna Roberts. And I pray you get well soon. P.S. I want to be your friend." Later that day, Reanna's father mailed the letter, which arrived the day of Sara-beth's surgery. Sara-beth was born with Alagille Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the liver as well as other parts of the body. Sara-beth got a liver transplant when she was three years old, and she had emergency heart surgery in 2010 to repair her mitral valve. The purpose of the surgery in 2011 was to replace her mitral valve. Sara-beth was groggy after surgery, but she looked at Reanna's card. The following day she looked at it again. Sara-beth said, "I liked it so much. I thought it was sweet, and it was neat to see the card." After Sara-beth was home from the hospital, she telephoned Reanna, and they became friends. They also got to meet each other for a day in June at Hilton Head, South Carolina. Reanna said, "We are friends. I could see that she's just like me in a way. She's kind of little, but she's rough and tough like me." Sara-beth's mother, Becky Martin, said, "Of all of the places, and of all of the people out there, Reanna was the only person who found one of the balloons. I believe everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was to help them both deal with the coping process. I consider this such a blessing."

Marine Family

United States Marine Sergeant Jacob Chadwick, who spent most of 2009 in Iraq and who has a young daughter named Ella Marie, needed a kidney transplant, and he received a kidney from a fellow Marine. On 1 August 2011 at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Wayland, age 24, suffered a cardiac arrest during a swim-training exercise. He spent a few days in a hospital with his brain swelling, and on August 5, doctors pronounced him brain-dead. His parents wanted to donate his organs to save other people's lives. Lieutenant Jeff Moore, a Navy doctor, served as a witness to the document. Lieutenant Moore wondered whether 2nd Lieutenant Wayland's organs could save the life of another Marine. He used Google to search for "Marine needs a kidney" and found links to articles about Sergeant Chadwick. The parents of 2nd Lieutenant Wayland agreed that Sergeant Chadwick should get the kidney, and Lieutenant Moore called the San Diego hospital where Sergeant Jacob Chadwick got dialysis and asked, "How do I make sure Jacob gets this Marine's kidney?" Hospital staff checked to see if the kidney was a match; it was. The transplant occurred. Second Lieutenant John Silvestro, who was a friend of 2nd Lieutenant Patrick Wayland, said, "Patrick took an oath to serve his country. Few people are able to do that. Patrick, he would consider himself lucky to serve not only his country, but his fellow Marine." David Lewino, a transplant coordinator at UC San Diego Medical Center, said, "I've been doing this for 20 years and have never seen anything like it. That whole sense of Marine family—you hear about it, but when you see it first hand, you really believe it." Sergeant Chadwick said, "This is not how it usually happens. It was just meant to be. When you're on dialysis, you think everything's against you. Then something good like this happens." (47)

"The Whole Experience has been Amazing"

In July 2009, Radio Telefis Eireann (Ireland TV) reporter Vivienne Traynor, age 38, donated one of her kidneys to her nephew, Martin Traynor, age 29. Vivienne said that a number of family members were tested and "my sister Gina and I were found to be the closest match. We were both tested rigorously, and my kidneys were found to be the more suitable. However, under Irish protocol, we were not deemed a 'perfect match' as Martin had antibodies which could make him more likely to reject a transplanted kidney." Vivienne was tired after the operation, as is normal. She said, "The whole experience has been amazing. I will feel tired for some time as my body adjusts to having just one kidney. I will have to have check-ups in three weeks, six weeks, six months, and then every year for the rest of my life." Doctors were optimistic for Vivienne's nephew. She said, "For Martin, the next few weeks are crucial to know whether or not he will accept the kidney, but at the moment hopes are high." After the operation, "I remember being told the operation had been a success, and I remember feeling tremendous relief. That evening we were told the kidney was working already," she said, adding, "We were greatly encouraged by the support we received from family, friends, colleagues and my employers—who facilitated time off at very short notice for me and for my husband, Justin." (48)

Underpaid Kind People

Quite a number of kind people who work hard doing things that need to be done are not well paid. One of those people is Sarah Johnson's best friend (not named). The two met when Sarah was seven and Sarah played a practical joke on her by dangling a huge rubber tarantula from a staircase to scare her. (Sarah made up for the practical joke by asking her to play Old Maid.) Her friend never got a college degree due to lack of money and time, but Sarah says that she is well educated because she educates herself. This is what Sarah writes about her best friend in a passage that appeared on Andrew Tobias' blog: "She works harder than most people I meet and she is very good at what she does. She is also woefully underpaid for her work. She is a caregiver at a nursing home. She has managed a house at a facility for developmentally disabled adults. She has worked as a private (in home) caregiver. She is not an RN (no college degree, remember?) but she has several certifications in pharmaceutical dispensing, first aid, emergency response, and other long-term care skills. She has stayed up with people as they are dying. She has maintained friendships and care for people who were in her wing or house of the facility and helped them maintain their continuity as they move from one level of care to another and adjust. She has saved people's lives and alleviated pain. She has helped people keep from being scared. She has kept her eye on people's medical files and charts and prevented accidental overdoses or missed medication and alerted doctors to changes in their patients that they might have missed.... All her working life so far, large parts of our conversation are about people she has cared for and cares for and when I visit her, I know that I will have to spend at least half a day at her work meeting people she cares for and that I will be hearing lots from them about how much they care for her as well. They will ask me things about our childhoods. They will ask me if I think she'd like their nephews/grandsons/sons (as we've gotten older) because they want to do something nice for her. She is poor. When her hours get cut, she has to rely on public assistance even before layoffs—that's how poorly paid she is! She is ashamed of that, even though she's been paying into it with every salary check [...]. She deserves much, much better and not just because she is my best friend and I love her." (49)

"He's a Doctor Who is Trying to Help People. It's Shocking That People Want to Hurt Him"

Can a late-term abortionist be a hero? Yes. One definition of a hero is a person who risks his or her own life in order to help other people. George Tiller was a late-term abortionist who was murdered while worshipping God in a church. Another late-term abortionist—who worries about being murdered by the same kind of people who murdered Dr. Tiller—is Warren Hern. Does Dr. Hern save lives? Yes, he does. He often performs abortions that are necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman. One woman already had a son, and she wanted to stay alive to take care of her son. Complications in her second pregnancy made that impossible unless she had a late-term abortion, and Dr. Hern gave her that late-term abortion. In an article that appeared in Esquire, the woman said after she received the abortion, "Now I'm still recovering, and still sad and still mourning, and I realize how grateful I am that Dr. Hern was able to take me under such quick and terrible circumstances. That's what gets me so upset. He's a doctor who is trying to help people. It's shocking that people want to hurt him." Dr. Hern is very careful about deciding when an abortion is justified. He often declines to perform late-term abortions. About one such case, he said, "She was raped. I'm sympathetic, but I can't risk my medical license for someone who just didn't get around to doing anything about it." Anti-abortionists sometimes don't seem to realize that late-born abortions are necessary. For example, Rabbi Shira Stern needed a late-term abortion after discovering that the fetus she was carrying had no brain and its organs were outside its body. Abortions need to be legal and safe in many situations; otherwise, girls and women die from botched illegal abortions. (50)
CHAPTER 2: STORIES 51-100

"There's Something Wrong with This Situation. My Brother's Life Depends on Whether or Not We Have Money"

Dr. James Orbinski, a Canadian doctor, used to head the international, Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Doctors without Borders. He risked his own life to provide medical care for people in war zones. He has provided medical care for people in Afghanistan, Peru, Rwanda, Somalia, and Zaire. Why did he do this? One influence was a person who worked to save the life of his brother. When Dr. Orbinski was seven years old, his brother had a seizure. Their family was impoverished and could not afford to pay a doctor. Their mother, desperate, called a pediatric medical student—a neighbor—for help. Dr. Orbinski said, "I remember watching my brother lying in bed as the young doctor gave him a bath to bring down the fever. I remember thinking, 'There's something wrong with this situation. My brother's life depends on whether or not we have money.'" Despite his many good deeds that have saved lives, Dr. Orbinski denies that he himself is a hero: "I am not an extraordinary person. I am an everyday person. I am a father of three children.... I do research. I teach. I do clinical work. I am just like you." He also said about life today, "There's never been a time in human history that we have been so fragile. We have a fuel crisis. We have a food crisis. We are in the midst of a... financial crisis. And it's not over yet." (51)

"Not a Day Goes By That I Have Not Thanked God for Your Goodness and Kindness"

In May 1988, Catherine P. Lovecchio worked as a nurse in a large hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One patient she cared for was quite old and had had several heart attacks that had damaged his heart. Each day, his wife of 47 years visited him. He was on a ventilator to help him breathe, but he pulled out the tube and starting breathing on his own. He spoke about his dislike and fear of being in the Intensive Care Unit. Staff decided not to replace the tube. That evening, Nurse Lovecchio brought a telephone to him so that he could communicate with his devoted wife. He spoke to her for several minutes. Soon afterward, he began to fail rapidly, and he died despite very intensive medical help designed to keep him alive. Two months later, Nurse Lovecchio received this letter from his wife: "For months I have thought of you, the nurse whose kindness was unforgettable. You did something I will never forget, and I will always be grateful. You connected an extension phone so I could speak with my husband. It was the last time because he died suddenly in late evening that May 21. It was most difficult accepting his sudden death, but I received some solace from having had the chance to wish him a good night's sleep and to tell him I loved him. For 47 years we had never retired without saying that to each other. Saying thank you cannot express the depth of my appreciation. However, since that night, not a day goes by that I have not thanked God for your goodness and kindness. God bless you." Nurse Lovecchio says, "I guess you never realize the importance of even the simplest tasks we [nurses] do that can make such an impression on someone. This experience truly expresses the reason I chose a career in nursing." (52)

"This Truly is a Miracle for Our Family"

Ahmed Al Mussawi's five-year-old son, Mohamed, would die within a year unless he could get an expensive—£30,000—operation to repair his aortic septal defect (hole in his heart). The cost of the operation was far beyond the family's financial means. Fortunately, Ahmed worked for Iraq's Ministry of Electricity, and he went to England to take a course that would help him in his work. He stayed with the Courquin family in Woking, and he told them about his son. Charlotte Courquin contacted the Chain of Hope charity, which is exactly the charity that Ahmed's son needed, as it offers free surgery and treatment for children with heart defects. The operation took place at the Harley Street Clinic in London. Ahmed said, "This truly is a miracle for our family. While Iraq has surgeons who could have operated on him, my country simply has not the cardiac nurses or the medical backup necessary. The medical experts told us he would die from infections if they operated. Since the day Mohamed was born, his mother and I have prayed that someone would intervene. But never could we have imagined such generosity and compassion. Chain of Hope has saved our son's life. They have answered a family's prayers." (53)

Life-Saving Chocolate-Covered Marshmallows

Some shops, including the tea and coffee retailer Ringtons, which is based in Newcastle, England, still offer delivery services. This was fortunate for 84-year-old Rosemary Falloon, who lives in Birtley, Gateshead. Ringtons tea salesman Lee Craggs, age 24, was making a delivery to her home, but he became suspicious when she did not come to the door. He entered her home and found her collapsed on the floor, having a diabetic attack because her blood glucose was low. Mr. Craggs is trained in first aid, and he put Ms. Falloon in the recovery position and called paramedics, who said that she needed to eat sugar to raise her blood glucose levels. Mr. Craggs then fed her some chocolate-covered marshmallows that he had with him. Ms. Falloon said, "I dread to think what would have happened if Lee had not turned up that day. I am so glad he acted on his instincts when I did not come to the door. His fast thinking and the care he showed checking if I was OK saved my life, and I will always be grateful to him." Mr. Craggs, of Thorney Close, Sunderland, said, "Ms. Falloon is a favorite customer of mine and always so friendly, so when I arrived to no greeting, I knew that something was not right. I opened the door and called her name, and when I didn't hear anything, that's when I checked the living room and found her lying unconscious on the floor." As a result of the rescue, Ms. Falloon made a change to her order from Ringtons: "I have even added a box of Ringtons chocolate mallows to my order every fortnight to remind me how lucky I was." (54)

Invitation to a Wedding

While in traffic, Peter Burns, age 56, had a heart attack. Police Constable Richie Eccleston took him to the Wansbeck Hospital in Northumberland, England. Two paramedics, Steve Mace and Lawrence Parnaby, then transported Mr. Burns from Wansbeck Hospital to the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, so he could have a lifesaving procedure. In 2010, Mr. Burns invited the two paramedics to attend the wedding of his daughter, Catherine. Mr. Burns said, "You couldn't get two nicer fellas, and I just feel as though I have had a million quids' worth of treatment. I've invited them to the wedding; they said as long as they can get the time off work they are more than happy [to] come along. It's good because they never actually find out what happens to people they drop off because then they [are] called out on another job, and they never know whether the person gets well." Mr. Parnaby remembered the incident, "He was really poorly at that time, and he was in a lot of pain. I was really surprised that he remembered us at all." He added, "It was good to see somebody who was well, so for us it was quite nice." Mr. Mace said, "We are very proud that we did what we did." Mr. Eccleston, a motor patrols officer with Northumbria Police, said, "On the day of the incident, I was simply doing my job, but it is good to know that I have been able to help someone when they needed it." (55)

"The President a Very Sick Man"

In early June of 1893, President Grover Cleveland discovered that he had cancer of the mouth. He decided to have the tumor removed, but in secret, as he was afraid that news of the operation—in which he had a 15 percent of dying—would panic Wall Street, which was already having troubles. This operation would be done secretly. On June 30, he boarded the yacht Oneida, which was anchored in New York harbor. There, six physicians operated on him, removing the tumor, five teeth, and much of his upper left jawbone and left palate. The operation was successful, and by mid-July he began using a vulcanized rubber prosthetic that enabled him to speak in his normal voice. Elisha Jay Edwards, a reporter for The Philadelphia Press, heard rumors about the operation, and he was able to verify it by locating the anesthesiologist. On August 29, The Philadelphia Press published a major scoop titled "The President a Very Sick Man." Unfortunately, although the article was true, the Cleveland administration denied that an operation had taken place, and soon Mr. Edwards was vilified and accused of having made up the story. His career as a reporter was nearly ruined. For 15 years, he could barely find work, but in 1909, he became a columnist for a new, struggling newspaper: The Wall Street Journal. Even then, the Grover Cleveland article he had written tainted his reputation. Finally, in 1917, one of the doctors who had performed the operation, W.W. Keen, who had always regretted how Mr. Edwards had been falsely accused of having made up the story about President Cleveland, wrote a confession that The Saturday Evening Post published. In it, he told the facts about the operation with the purpose, he wrote, of being able to "vindicate Mr. Edwards' character as a truthful correspondent." Mr. Edwards received many congratulatory letters and telegrams about the restoring of his reputation, and he wrote a thank-you letter to Mr. Keen. (56)

Winning the Lottery and Funding Charity

In late 2005, a 71-year-old man who lived in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China won a lottery jackpot of 5 million renminbi; in U.S. money, that's $620,000. He donated almost all of it to charity. Mr. Wang, a retired worker with the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps in Changji, said, "My only wish to make use of the prize for myself is to buy a new radio." His first donation was to finance the schooling of impoverished students. He donated the rest of the money to a Catholic organization that does charity work, according to the Xinjiang Welfare Lottery Center. (57)

Clipping for a Cause

How can you help feed hungry people in your own community? Some women do it by clipping coupons. In March 2010, Heather Bonner founded Clipping for a Cause, a nonprofit organization that saves big bucks by using coupons to buy food and household items that it donates to organizations that feed the hungry in her community. She gets lots of help. For example, Cyndy Pearce does the shopping at Walmart, Karla Price makes deliveries to food banks and shelters, and Carrie Menegigian makes up lists of coupons to clip. The group meets in the basement of First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Ms. Menegigian says that Ms. Bonner "sees people that are in need and she sends out the alarm and collects things for them. She wants everybody to be taken care of in whatever need it is. She does beyond." Ms. Bonner started couponing as a way to improve her family's finances. She said, "I had three kids in diapers, I needed to do something. The money we save is essentially earned income." She was so successful at it that she had more than she needed of many items, and she donated the extra items to charity. She added, "The main thing that we're trying to get across is that it is so important right now in these economic times to save for yourself and your family, but at the same time you can pay that gift forward to somebody else." She is well known in her community. When Ms. Bonner walked into a Publix grocery store, cashier Beth Goldstein said, "Heather, haven't seen you in a while! Big order today?" During this trip to Publix, Ms. Bonner bought a grand total of $578.76 worth of food and household items, but coupons knocked the price down to $74.66. Ms. Bonner keeps all donations local: "It's amazing, if people just open their eyes, how much need there is right in our own neighborhood." (58)

Parrot: "Mama, Baby!"

In November 2008, Megan Howard was babysitting a toddler named Hannah and feeding her breakfast. Unfortunately, after Megan left the room Hannah started choking. Fortunately, in the room was a Quaker parrot named Willie, which started flapping its wings and squawking, "Mama, baby!" Megan came back into the room, saw that Hannah was choking and turning blue, and performed the Heimlich maneuver on her, saving her life. However, Megan said that Willie was "the real hero." Hannah's mother, Samantha Kuusk, said, "The part where she turned blue is always when my heart drops no matter how many times I've heard it. My heart drops in my stomach, and I get all teary eyed." Willie was given an Animal Lifesaver Award by the Red Cross chapter in Denver, Colorado. (59)

"I'm Thankful I Still Have Some Meat on that Leg"

On 24 September 2011 a few miles off the coast of the northern tip of Anna Maria Island, Florida, six friends helped a man on a boat outing survive a shark attack. Charles "CJ" Wickersham, age 21, of Longboat Key, was bitten by a nine-foot-long bull shark. Connor Bystrom, age 22 and the owner of the boat, said, "I saw the commotion under him. He was splashing and freaking out. All of a sudden he was screaming for help. I saw him punch the shark in the face. I turned to our friend, Max Garza, and we gave each other a look like, 'This is serious,' and we both dove in the water. There was a 10-foot diameter cloud of blood around CJ." The wound to Mr. Wickersham's left thigh was serious, measuring 14 inches from knee to hip. Mr. Bystrom said. "You could see his femur. We knew this was a life-threatening situation." Mr. Bystrom, Mr. Garza, and Lee White hauled Mr. Wickersham onto the boat, and Mr. Bystrom tied a tourniquet to stop the blood loss. Then the six friends called 911, kept him calm and conscious, and sailed him to shore, where an ambulance was waiting at the Rod & Reel Pier. Medical personnel immediately called for a helicopter. Mr. Wickersham's mother, Ella, said, "These six people saved my son's life. They are all heroes. I can't thank them enough." The six heroes are Kiera Dunn, Oceanna Beard, Katie Mattas, Mr. White, Mr. Bystrom, and Mr. Garza. Mr. Wickersham said from the hospital, "I dive all the time, and this has never happened to me. Usually, sharks just swim by. I don't know why he hit me. We had shot a whole bunch of hog fish, and I was catching my breath. I didn't see him until he got me." Mr. Wickersham said about his friends, "They got me up fast, which saved my life." Mr. Bystrom's father is a veterinarian, something that helped Mr. Bystrom tie an effective tourniquet: "I guess it was instinct. I've worked with my dad a lot in surgery. I just knew what we had to do." Mr. Bystrom said that during the boat ride to the pier, Mr. Wickersham "was awake and kept telling us, 'Call my parents. Let them know what's happening.' We kept saying, 'You're gonna be all right. Just keep talking to us." Mr. Bystrom called his mother, Jeanne, from the boat and told her to tell Wickersham's parents what had happened. Ella Wickersham said, "Jeanne called me and said, 'Ella. This is Jeanne Bystrom, CJ is OK, but he's gotten bit by a shark.' I screamed. I about fell to the floor." Mr. Wickersham said, "They tell me I have a whole bunch of teeth marks where the shark bit. I'm thankful I still have some meat on that leg." (60)

Mother Fights a Snake and Rescues Son

In January 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, a nearly 18-foot-long female tiger reticulated python almost killed a three-year-old boy, who was rescued by his mother. The snake was being kept as a favor for the owner of a strip club that was being renovated. The python had escaped from its cage and was in a bedroom that was thought to be locked. The three-year-old boy opened the door, hitting the python in the head, and the python began wrapping its coils around the boy. The boy's 25-year-old mother rescued him, stabbing the snake 17 times, and then giving her son CPR. The snake began wrapping its coils around the mother, but she escaped the coils and revived her son. The snake was euthanized because of its deep wounds. The boy's grandmother said about the boy's mother, "I'm so proud of my daughter. Her mother instincts kicked in." She added, "It's a very traumatic situation. She feels horrible that it happened, that there was even a chance that it could happen." The boy recovered. (61)

"Nothing in My Body was Going to Let that Little Boy Get Hurt by that Bear"

On 30 July 2011, 25-year-old wrangler Erin Bolster of Swan Mountain Outfitters used her riding skills to keep a boy safe from a grizzly that was chasing him and his horse. Erin and her horse, Tonk, were guiding eight clients on a horse ride on the Flathead National Forest between West Glacier and Hungry Horse, Montana. Among her clients were a man from Illinois and his eight-year-old son. Ms. Bolster said, "It's always been a very routine hour-long loop, until that day." In July 2011, many grizzlies were seen in the area because of a late berry crop. She said, "At the peak of the season, we were seeing bears daily. The wranglers name them so we can let each other know where they are. Usually the bears just keep feeding in the distance or they run away when we come. Just seeing them is a treat for us and our guests." On this trip, however, her horse, Tonk, stopped. Ms. Bolster said, "It was a pleasant ride until we came around a corner on the trail and my horse stopped firm and wouldn't move. He never refuses to go, so that caught my attention quick." A white-tailed deer ran out of the brush. Following it was a grizzly. The horses panicked. Many began galloping back to the barn. The eight-year-old boy's father tried to get to his son, but he was unable to. Ms. Bolster said, "No amount of training could keep a horse from running from a 700-pound charging bear." She added, "The last thing he saw over his shoulder as his horse ran away was the grizzly chasing his boy." The eight-year-old was riding a horse named Scout. The deer and other horses went in one direction, and Scout went in a different direction. The grizzly started chasing Scout and the eight-year-old boy. Ms. Bolster said, "The deer peeled off and joined the horses sprinting down the trail. So the bear just continued running right past me. I'm not sure the bear even knew the roles had changed, but now it was chasing a horse instead of a deer." Ms. Bolster's horse, Tonk, did not run away, but instead responded to Ms. Bolster's command. She set him on a course to get in between the grizzly and the boy. She said, "The boy was bent over, feet out of the stirrups, clutching the saddle horn and the horse's neck. That kept him from hitting a tree limb. But all I could think about was the boy falling off in the path of that grizzly. I bent down, screamed, and yelled, but the bear was growling and snarling and staying very focused on Scout. As it tried to circle back toward Scout, I realized I had to get Tonk to square off and face the bear. We had to get the bear to acknowledge us. We did. We got its attention—and the bear charged. So I charged at the bear." The grizzly came close to the horse, but veered off. She added, "I had no hesitation, honestly. Nothing in my body was going to let that little boy get hurt by that bear. That wasn't an option." Ms. Bolster and Tonk had to work hard to chase the grizzly away. She said, "Tonk and I had to go at the bear a third time before we finally hazed him away. The boy had [fallen off Scout and] landed in some beargrass and was OK. Scout was standing nearby." Ms. Bolster got the boy on Tonk with her, grabbed Scout's lead, and then rejoined the other riders. She said, "The boy was in shock. I looked back and could see the bear had continued to go away through the woods, but I had another five or 10 minutes of riding before I got back with the group." After rejoining the other riders, she started to shake. She said, "I looked at Tonk, and he was wet with sweat and shaking, too." The person who was probably the most frightened was the father because of concern for his son. He gave Ms. Bolster her biggest tip of the season. Ms. Bolster said, "My biggest hope is that the boy isn't discouraged from riding. This was a one-in-a-million event." Apparently, the grizzly left the area. Ms. Bolster said, "Judging from the tracks and my description of how high the bear came up on Tonk, the grizzly expert estimated it weighed 700-750 pounds. This was a case of us being in the wrong place as [the] bear was already in the act of chasing its natural prey. He was probably more persistent because he was really hungry." Ms. Bolster was very impressed by the way that Tonk responded to her commands in the emergency. She said, "Some of the horses I've ridden would have absolutely refused to do what Tonk did; others would have thrown me off in the process. Some horses can never overcome their flight-animal instinct to run away." Ms. Bolster decided to buy Tonk from the Wyoming company from which her employer leased him: "Two weeks ago, I closed the deal and bought him. After what he did that day, he had to be mine."

Can a Hero be Named Fluffy?

In October 2011 in Campo Grande, a city in western Brazil, a pit bull entered the home of Kenya Suelen Rodrigues and attacked her three-year-old daughter. The family's floppy-eared mongrel pet dog named Fluffy fought the pit bull, driving it away from the girl, out of the home, and into the street, where the fight continued until a car hit the pit bull. Ms. Rodrigues said about Fluffy, "He's a hero. Without him the worst would have happened." (63)

"The First Thing You See is That Much Fear in Somebody's Eyes"

Near Preston, Idaho, Michael Vaughan and his 17-year-old daughter, Alexis, saved the life of Sue Panter, who was being attacked by a deer. Michael said, "We were driving down this road, and Sue was actually down. When we caught up to her, she was actually down in the corn field there in the first row of corn." Ms. Panter said that while she was walking home a deer walked with her—something that was unnatural. She said, "And it walked, parallel with me, up the road. But it kind of had its head down. So I knew I was going down. It was just a matter of [whether] a car came before it took me down or not." No car came quickly enough, and the deer attacked her. Ms. Panter said, "It stuck its antler through my neck and kind of hit my shoulder. But the one in my neck I could feel go through my neck. And kind of then I just decided, if I don't fight back I'm dead." She fought the deer, Michael and Alexis drove up, and Alexis jumped out of the car. Alexis started punching the deer, and Michael quickly came. The deer attacked Michael, who said, "It actually jabbed me three times in my leg." Alexis got a hammer from the car and started hitting the deer with it. Eventually, the deer ran away. Michael said, "You're just thinking, Save this lady, save this lady, and it was instinct." Alexis said, "You get out of the car, and the first thing you see is that much fear in somebody's eyes. You don't have time to think. That's one thing that stuck in my head all weekend was that look in her eyes and her saying, 'Help.'" Ms. Panter said, "I'm just so thankful for that man and that girl. I just can't believe that she would [do that]. If I came up on something like that, I don't know if I would just start hitting at a deer and kicking it. That's pretty brave." (64)

Heroes in a Pit Bull Attack

In February 2003 in Las Vegas, Nevada, some people became heroes when two pit bulls, one wearing a collar and the other dragging a leash, attacked three children who were playing outside. One of the children, seven-year-old Austin Bechtel, allowed a seven-year-old playmate and a three-year-old playmate to reach safety by taking the brunt of the attack by himself. Austin's mother, Andrea Hughes, said, "My son is a little hero. And he was so smart—he knew he was in great danger, and he tucked himself into a little ball and covered his head with his hands to [try to] prevent them from getting at him." Austin suffered serious injuries and needed an operation to remove skull fragments from his brain. Coming to Austin's rescue was neighbor Jeff Goodrich, who got a baseball bat and beat the attacking dogs. Mr. Goodrich's Rottweiler-mix, Hooch, bit the leg of an attacking dog and attempted to pull the dog off of the boy. Austin is a 1st-grader at Raul P. Elizondo Elementary School, whose principal, Billy Chapman, said about him, "He's a loveable kid and practices good citizenship. Austin follows his teacher's instructions when it comes to responsibility. His actions [during the attack] speak very well of him and can be described as heroic." (65)

"Blood [was] Coming Out of Me Like a Faucet. You Turn on the Faucet, That's How Much Blood. It was Shooting Everywhere"

During the summer of 2001, three pit bulls attacked Debra Scott, a 43-year-old woman in Sacramento, California. A construction worker who was driving to work saved her life by trying to get the three pit bulls off her by beating them with an extension cord. The construction worker did not want to be identified. Sacramento Police Department Sergeant Daniel Hahn said, "In my mind, he's the real hero here. He steps out of his car and takes on three pit bulls without a gun or anything. That takes a lot of courage. I mean, if you can think about three pit bulls attacking somebody and you go in to stop it, they're probably going to start attacking you. This person I'm sure knew all that and still attempted to save this woman's life." Although the construction worker did not manage to pull the three pit bulls off the woman, he managed to distract them enough that they did not kill her. A Sacramento Sheriff's Department deputy arrived and shot one of the dogs, killing it and scaring the other two dogs away, thus ending the attack. The other two dogs were later captured. The woman suffered a torn artery in her thigh and most of one of her ears was bitten off, but she survived although at first doctors at the University of California-Davis Medical Center worried that she might bleed to death. Ms. Scott said that she thought that was going to die because of the attack: "Blood was just coming out of me as I was getting weaker and weaker. I said, 'Oh, well. I'm done for.'" She added that "blood [was] coming out of me like a faucet. You turn on the faucet, that's how much blood. It was shooting everywhere." Police Sergeant Daniel Hahn said about owners of dangerous dogs, "If they can't keep them leashed up, they don't need to have dogs like that. It's just as bad as someone getting killed with guns. A dog is just that dangerous, too." (66)

An Unidentified Good Samaritan

In February 2010, a pit bull attacked a seven-year-old girl in Cobb County, Georgia. Cobb County Police Sergeant Dana Pierce said that the girl was walking alone in a mobile home park near Marietta when a "pit bull from a street over attacked her." A Good Samaritan saw the attack and came to the little girl's rescue, hitting the pit bull with a piece of wood. He then used his vehicle to drive the girl to the WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. Later, the girl was transported to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. The Good Samaritan, a hero, was not identified. Sergeant Pierce said about the attack, "It was bad. But it could have been worse had he not intervened." (67)

"We're Really Lucky that He was Saved by an Angel. That's Exactly What It Was. There's No Other Word for It"

On 3 January 2010, Austin Forman, age 11, and his dog, an 18-month-old golden retriever named Angel, were outside their family home in Bar Boston, a small Canadian town in British Columbia. Austin was doing a chore: getting wood for the family's wood-burning furnace. Usually, Angel romped around, but this time she stayed close to Austin. A few feet from the woodshed was a cougar, which was getting ready to pounce. Austin said, "The dog knew something was up, because she ran toward me just at the right time, and the cougar ended up getting her instead. I was just lucky my dog was there, because it happened so fast I wouldn't have known what hit me." The cougar got its jaws around Angel's head, and Austin ran into the house, yelling, "There's a cougar eating Angel!" His mother, Sherri Forman, looked out the window and saw Angel, who was "whining and making noises like we've never heard before. We knew that cougar was killing our dog." She called 911. Constable Chad Gravelle arrived and killed the cougar. Angel suffered extensive injuries, but a veterinarian patched her up. Austin said about Angel, "She was my best friend, but now she's even greater to me. She's more than a best friend now." Jay Forman, Austin's father, said, "We're really lucky that he was saved by an angel. That's exactly what it was. There's no other word for it." Angel did get a nice reward. Austin said, "I bought her a big, nice juicy steak." (68)

"Are You Okay? Are You Okay?"

On a hot day early in September 2011, Barbara Simmons, age 78, fell while checking her mail outside of her home in Southport, North Carolina. She yelled for help, but no one heard her. A half-hour after she fell, a dog named Thor came to her. Ms. Simmons said, "He was just so gentle and like, 'Are you okay? Are you okay?' It was like somebody asking, 'Are you okay? Are you okay?'" Anne Lewis, who together with Colin Heaton owns Thor, said, "He ran to this point, and he stopped and looked back at my husband and barked at him a couple of times like, 'I'm not going to listen to you,' and he took off right around the corner." Thor's owners followed him, and Thor led them to Ms. Simmons, who was almost a block away. They then called for medical help for her. The Emergency Medical Technicians said that Thor might have saved Ms. Simmons' life. Thor, who is part Pitbull and part Rottweiler, has never been a danger to anyone. Colin said, "He's totally destroyed the stereotype you have of those breeds. He loves people." Anne added, "He has on occasion saved our chickens from a fox, survived being bitten by a copperhead, wrestled another fox, chased a coyote, and learned dozens of words and commands." (69)

Rescue from a Cobra Attack

On 12 February 2007, a cobra entered the kitchen of the Fronteras family. A pitt bull named Chiel and called by the Fronteras children kuya ("big brother") protected Liberata la Victoria, age 87, and her granddaughter Maria Victoria Fronteras. Maria Victoria said, "The snake was in front of us, maneuvering a deadly attack. I screamed out loud to ask for help." Chef placed himself between the cobra and the two women, and he seized the cobra, whose hood had expanded, in his jaws and shook it until it died. The cobra bit Chief, who died shortly afterward, but not until his master, Marlone, Maria Victoria's husband, arrived after she had called him. Ian de la Rama, a friend of the family, said, "Chief gave his two deep breaths and died. He was fighting and saving his last ounces of breath to see a glimpse of his master for the last two seconds of his life." Chief's last act was to wag his tail. (70)

Buried Alive

Some cultures value boys more than they value girls. In April 2008, a dog in Samastipur in the state of Bihar, India, saved the life of a newborn baby girl who had been buried alive in a shallow grave. The dog sniffed the grave and then began to bark and dig. Several people checked out the barking, thinking that the dog had found a snake or a large animal, but by then the dog had unearthed the baby girl, who was gasping for breath. Rajjo Devi, a childless woman in her late 30s, adopted the baby girl. Ramesh Kumar, a resident of the village, said, "The dog was offered fresh loaves of bread as reward." Manju Prakash, former spokesperson for the State Women Commission, said, "It's a sad reminder of how our society is. But why blame the women alone—fathers, too, have to come forward to put an end to this evil." The 2001 Indian Census showed 921 females per 1,000 males in the state of Bihar. (71)

Toy Poodle; Real Hero

On 2 September 2011 in West Jordan, Utah, a toy poodle saved the life of a 19-year-old man. West Jordan Fire Battalion Chief Reed Sharman said that a passerby reported seeing flames in the house in the early morning hours. A woman and two of her children safely made it out of the house, but her 19-year-old son was still asleep inside. The family's pet, a toy poodle named Ted, led firefighters to the sleeping man. Mr. Sharman said, "Two of our paramedics, Don Chase and Erik Andersen, had gone inside to search the structure, and when they opened the door, there was the dog. When they went to grab the dog, though, he ran downstairs. He stopped on a landing, looked back at our guys, waited for them to catch up and then ran down to the next landing." The dog led paramedics to the sleeping man, who was in the basement; the paramedics woke up the man and made sure that he got out safely. The dog was uninjured, and the man was treated for minor smoke inhalation. (72)

Rocky: Hero Dog

In December 2005 in Huyton, Merseyside (east of Liverpool, England), Rocky, a 15-year-old terrier, became a hero by saving a woman and her pregnant daughter from a fire. When fire broke out, Rocky scratched at the bedroom door of Natalie Wilson, age 19 and six months pregnant, and woke her up. Natalie woke up her mother and then called neighbors for help. The two women and Rocky escaped from the fire unharmed. A spokeswoman for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service said, "The dog managed to wake up one of its owners by scratching at the door. It seems he was a real hero." (73)

Pete the Wonder Dog

In July 2011 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Pete, a small dog who belongs to Jennifer and Ricky Coffman, started barking when a fire began burning in their home. The barking woke up the Coffmans, and everyone, including Pete, was able to safely get out of the house. Ricky said that the fire "came from the outside in, didn't get time for the fire alarms to go off." Jennifer said, "Pete the wonder dog, he saved us." According to the Coffmans, their home was totally destroyed. (74)

The Home: A Complete Loss; The Family: Just Complete

In December 2007, fire broke out in the home of an Arkansas family. Trista Smith was cooking dinner and left to check her two children, who were sleeping. When she returned, the kitchen was engulfed in fire. Trista ran to get her children. She found her two-year-old, but because of heavy smoke, she could not find Austin. One of the family's pet dogs, a Weimaraner named Ellie-May, found Austin, grabbed him by the leg, and then dragged him to safety and his mother. Trista says, "I love that dog to death. She will be in our family as long as she lives." A TV reporter said that the Smith home is "a complete loss," but the Smith family, thanks to Ellie-May, is "just complete." (75)

"If It Hadn't Been for Her [Brandy, a Nine-Month-Old Puppy], I Wouldn't be Here Today"

The makers of Ken-L Ration dog food chose an English Springer Spaniel named Brandy as its 43rd dog hero of the year. Her owners, Jerry and Kendal Plank, lived in a suburb of Tucson, Arizona, named Marana. Early on 20 April 1996, an intruder carrying a 9-mm semiautomatic machine gun entered their home. Mr. Plank had gone to work; Mrs. Plank heard the intruder's footsteps and called 911. Despite being shot five times, Brandy—who was then a nine-month-old puppy—bit the intruder's arm and chased him away. Mrs. Plank, who was also wounded by a bullet in the attack, said about Brandy, "If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here today. She is my guardian angel." Ken-L Ration spokesman Tom O'Brien said about Brandy, "We found it to be a wonderful story of bravery, and it showed the love between the dog and its owner." (76)

"An Extremely Clever Dog"

In 1981, Troy, an eight-month-old German Rottweiler, saved the life of a seven-year-old boy who fell into King's Mill Reservoir, Sutton, in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, England. The boy, non-swimmer Allan Martin, had fallen from a jetty into the deep icy water. Troy jumped into the water and swam to him, and Allan's stepfather, Ronald Muers, yelled at Allan to hold onto Troy. Allan grabbed Troy's ear and collar as Troy swam with him back to the jetty. Mr. Muers said about the animal hero, "Troy is an extremely clever dog bred out of a champion." (77)

Gino the Hero Dog

Paralympian judo champ Maxine Ingram owns Gino, a hero dog. When a man had an epileptic fit on a bus, Gino alerted everyone by barking loudly. And when Maxine, of Garden Suburbs, Trimsaran, Wales, collapsed because of swine flu, again Gino alerted everyone by barking loudly. Maxine says, "I suffered a lack of oxygen and collapsed, and he went to get help from my sister. He did this by going downstairs and verbally voicing his opinion. When a retriever barks, it barks!" Maxine added, "There's no doubt he's my hero!" Gino was given the Welsh 2010 national Guide Dog of the Year award. (78)

Man Saves Dog; Dog Returns the Favor

In 2005, Michael Bosch, age 63, of San Rafael, California, saved the life of Honey, his cocker spaniel puppy, when he adopted her from an animal shelter. She returned the favor within two weeks. Mr. Bosch had an accident in which his SUV plunged 40 feet into a ravine. He was trapped in the SUV, which was upside down, with Honey. Tim Thompson of the Marin County Sheriff's Department said, "It was crushed pretty severely between the steering wheel and the stump that pierced the roof of the car and the dashboard." It took several hours, but finally Mr. Busch got a window rolled down. He released Honey and told her to get help. She did exactly that, running half a mile to the house of Robin Allen, who said, "She was bringing me here. She was directing me." Mr. Bosch had been hanging upside down for over six hours when rescuers finally reached him, but his life was saved. Sheri Cardo of Marin Humane Society said about Honey, "She was brought in by her owner who couldn't continue to care for her, just couldn't afford to." Luckily for Mr. Busch, he could afford to care for Honey. (79)

Two Foiled Sex Attackers

In January 2006 in Edinburgh, Scotland's Wester Hailes, a sex attacker grabbed an 18-year-old woman as she was walking her dog in a park. Her dog was off its leash and out of sight when the attacker struck, but the dog quickly showed up as the attacker dragged his would-be victim into an underpass. The dog, a collie, bit the attacker's legs and forced the attacker to flee. A spokesperson for the Lothian and Borders Police said, "The victim was not injured in the incident but extremely shaken. It is fortunate her dog came to her rescue and bit her attacker because the consequences could have been much worse." The day following that attack a teenager wielded a knife as he tried to sexually assault a nurse in the grounds of Aberdeen, Scotland's Woodend Hospital. Fortunately, a motorist pulled up, and the attacker fled. (80)

Saving a Humpback Whale

On Valentine's Day 2011, Michael Fishbach, who is a co-founder of The Great Whale Conservancy (GWC), his family, and a few friends came across a young humpback whale that was severely entangled in a fishing net in the Sea of Cortez. For hours, they used a knife to cut away the fishing net. Afterward, they were treated to an hour of the whale celebrating its freedom by jumping into the air out of the water and slapping its fins on the surface of the water. (81)

"It's Always Life First. And That Means Every Life"

In December 2005 in Salem, Massachusetts, firefighter Richard LeBlanc saved the life of Pixie, a 12-pound terrier crossbreed, with mouth-to-snout resuscitation after firefighters pulled Pixie from a burning house. Pixie was also given oxygen. Veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Bradt said about Pixie, "She looks good, and she's breathing comfortably." Captain Alan Dionne said that firefighters follow an important ethical guideline: "Save lives first and property second. It's always life first. And that means every life." No humans were hurt. (82)

In an Emergency, Call the Professionals

People have drowned while trying to rescue pets that have fallen into ponds and lakes, so it is a good idea to let the professionals, who have specialized training and equipment, handle these rescues. In January 2011 in Ropner Park in Stockton, England, Gill Machell was walking her dog, Tot, a jackadoodle, when the dog ran onto the ice and then slid into the freezing water. Unfortunately, Tot was unable to pull himself back onto the ice and out of the freezing water. Ms. Machell said, "I was quite hysterical. He was trying to get his paws on to the edge of the ice but kept slipping back. He went under a couple of times. It was a long time for him to be in the water, and he was in a lot of distress. Even though you know not to go on the ice, there is a massive urge there. Your overwhelming instinct is to go in after them. Another dog walker came over and tied a stick on to his lead and was trying to reach him. He kept everybody safe and made sure no one went in. I don't know his name, but he was brilliant." Ms. Machell called 999 (the British equivalent of the American 911), and firefighters from Stockton and Thornaby came to the rescue. Paul Lee, part of a specialist water rescue team crew from Thornaby, slid across the ice while wearing a dry suit with a floating line attached to his back. He was supported by the other crew members. Mr. Lee grabbed the dog and pulled him back onto the ice. He said about the dog, "I don't think he would [have] survived for much longer. It's a very rewarding job when there's a happy ending like this. It's why I joined 20 years ago." The fire crews had good advice for pet owners: Keep your pets on a lead while close to icy ponds and lakes. Don't go onto the ice and attempt to rescue a pet that has fallen into icy water. Instead, in an emergency, call the fire brigade. Ms. Machell was grateful for the expert emergency help. She said, "If I had been on my own, I don't know what I would have done." (83)

"We Can't Ignore a Situation Like That"

In December 2005, someone tried to kill a cat by putting it in a cage, weighting it with a 16-pound rock, and dropping it in the icy Clark Fork River in Montana. Fortunately for the cat, the cage hit the ice instead of the water, and firefighters from Missoula, Montana, rescued it. After media reports about the rescue appeared, many, many people called the fire station to thank the firefighters for saving the life of the cat and for finding it a good home. The firefighters had used a rescue boat to get the cat and had then fed it turkey and milk. Firefighter Josh Macrow took the cat to a veterinarian and then took it home to his 12-year-old daughter, Taylor, who had long wanted a cat. City Fire Chief Tom Steenberg said, "We're just doing our job. We are happy that we've got the tools and firefighters with the training to go out in the river and operate this kind of rescue safely. It takes a lot of training and specialized gear to do this kind of thing, and we train constantly." These days, firefighters train for major disasters, including complicated high-rise and confined-space rescues as well as hazardous waste emergencies. Mr. Steenberg said, "We really aren't in the business of getting cats out of trees anymore. On the other hand, a can of tuna fish has always worked. In this instance, with a caged cat out on the ice, tuna fish isn't going to work and we have a lot of people here at the station with big hearts. We can't ignore a situation like that." (84)

"I Found This Woman's Tremendous Courage Heartening"

In October 2005 in South Africa, Elsie van Tonder, age 48, saw a seal gasping on a beach. When she attempted to move the seal to the water, it bit off her nose. This led to a good deed by another person: Dawie Petzer of Estate Delivery read about her rescue attempt and lack of financial resources and gave her a franchise worth 30,000 South African rand and the training to learn how to run it. Mr. Petzer owns the company, which makes deliveries to households. Mr. Petzer said, "I found this woman's tremendous courage heartening; she reached out like that to an animal and in the process was harmed herself." He added, "Now, she can not only begin looking after her family, but also be self-sufficient through this business." Ms. van Tonder said, "I'm very grateful and excited about the business. I'll soon pick it up, because it's the kind of work I've already done. I know I'll make a success of it, and I'm ready to begin immediately." How has the loss of her nose affected her? She said, "I've learned recently one mustn't hide away. If people stop me in shops and ask what happened, I tell them. Soon, my nose will be fixed, and then people will have to get used to me all over again." (85)

Police Rescue of Tyrone, the Cuddly Toy Tiger

In August 2005, Simon Osborn's 10-year-old daughter, Amy, accidentally dropped Tyrone, a cuddly toy tiger, out of the window of their car as they traveled on the M11 motorway in England. Mr. Osborn telephoned the police for help. Police Constable Al Cuthbertson soon spotted the toy tiger. A spokesman for the Essex Police said, "Having children of his own and knowing the importance of soft toys to their owners, PC Cuthbertson kept his eyes peeled as he patrolled the M11. A short time later Tyrone was spotted on the motorway and successfully captured and placed securely in the Golf Tango 23. They put in a temporary rolling road block, which means they slow all the traffic down, so that somebody could retrieve Tyrone." The Essex Police spokesman added that due to the danger involved it is better to let police officers retrieve dropped items from the motorway than to try and retrieve such items yourself. (86)

Two Bad Guys and One Good Samaritan

Good Samaritans exist in this world, but so do bad guys. Charlotte Baker, aged 28 and very, very pregnant, had a flat tire on a country road while driving a luxury car: her Porsche 911. While she was trying to telephone her boyfriend to come and change the flat tire, two men in a white van stopped. They changed the tire for her. But when the tire was changed, one man hopped in the car and stole it, driving it away while the white van followed him. Ms. Baker said, "The shock is starting to fade, but now I am just reeling. It's absolutely disgusting; these men have no morals. They couldn't have cared less about leaving me stranded on a quiet road, even when it was obvious I'm just weeks away from giving birth. Afterwards, I was trying really hard to keep my feelings down because I didn't want the stress and shock to send me into premature labor. I was panicking a lot, and it was really quite frightening." She added, "When they first offered to help, I thought, great, that's really useful. There was nothing that alerted me to what was really going on until he got in the car. I was shouting at him 'what are you doing?' but it all happened so quickly. It's shattered my confidence in people. I'm usually a trusting person, but I feel like such an idiot for being conned like this. It's disgraceful." Fortunately, a real Good Samaritan—an elderly man—came along and gave her a ride to town. (87)

"Thank God, He's All Right. He's My Buddy, You Know. We've been Married 61 Years"

On 2 January 2011 in West Long Branch, New Jersey, Jaime Fierros, age 36, was walking to his car when he thought he heard a faint voice. He said, "I heard a little voice saying, 'Help me, please,' and I thought, Is this right?" Mr. Fierros, who is a Branches Catering Executive Chef, looked around but saw nothing, and so he got in his car. He said, "I rolled down both my windows, and after 30 seconds I heard it again. I jumped onto the hill [a nearly eight-foot-high snowbank] and saw him holding on to two branches—he was just shaking." The man was John Schmitt, age 89 and the owner of the West Long Branch Golf Range, who had been stranded for a few hours. His wife, Shirley, age 79, said, "I started looking for him around 2 p.m. When it got to be after 2:45 p.m., I got nervous." Her husband had been walking home when he fell and lost a shoe. His hands were bloodied from holding on to the branches. After finding Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Fierros asked Branches general manager Carlos Reyes to call 911 and then come and help. They had to cut through a fence to get to Mr. Schmitt, and they laid him on a plank. Mr. Fierros said, "I laid him down so his feet did not touch the snow. We covered him with our coats and tablecloths." Mr. Reyes, age 31, had influenza, but gave up his coat to cover Mr. Schmitt. He said, "I'm sick, but he's first. But after a while, I said if they [emergency personnel] don't come soon, it will be two of us." Police Captain Lawrence Mihlon said, "One of the things that really exacerbated the difficulty of the call was the snow, and trying to get rescue apparatus close enough to get [Mr. Schmitt] out of there." Shirley Schmitt said, "It was borderline hypothermia. Thank God, he's all right. He's my buddy, you know. We've been married 61 years." (88)

"I Don't Know that I'd be that Strong"

On 2 October 2006 in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, Charles Carl Roberts IV shot 10 Amish schoolgirls before shooting and killing himself. His mother heard an ambulance and prayed. Then she received a telephone call from her husband, Chuck, a retired police officer, saying, "I need you to come to Charlie's house right away." Terri had heard news about the Amish school shooting. Knowing that her son sometimes parked his milk truck here, she worried that he might have been injured or killed while trying to help the schoolchildren. She arrived at her son's house and asked her husband, "Is Charlie alive?" He replied, "No." Then she learned that her son had murdered five Amish schoolgirls and had seriously injured five other Amish schoolgirls. She said, "Not only was my son not alive, he was the perpetrator of the worst crime anyone could ever imagine." After retiring from the police, Chuck worked as a kind of taxi driver for the Amish, taking Amish people to locations further away than a horse and buggy could travel. An Amish neighbor named Henry showed up at his house and comforted Chuck as he grieved. Henry said, "Roberts, we love you." Chuck replied, "Thank you, Henry." Terri remembers, "I just looked at that and said, 'Oh Lord, my husband will heal through this.' I was just so thankful for Henry that day." A grief counselor, who was brought to their home by a pastor, asked Terri whether she had any good memories of her son. She replied, "Any good memories? He was a wonderful son. All I had was good memories. He wasn't perfect, but he was a good kid." The grief counselor advised her to regard the school shooting as only a small sliver of the life of her son. She said, "I can't tell you what that meant to me in the days, weeks and months ahead. I should have permanent gullies in my cheeks from the amount of tears that I have shed, and yet I was able to have joy intermingled in those days. My life was not total darkness and sorrow." A few months after the school shooting, Chuck and Terri Roberts began getting to know the families of the victims. Mary Liz King, the mother of a paralyzed girl named Rosanna who cannot talk or walk or even eat, but who is aware of her surroundings, told her about having a daughter who requires constant care. Terri offered to help care for Rosanna, and she has been coming over almost every Thursday evening. Terri bathes the girl, sings hymns to her, and brushes her hair. Rosanna's father, Christ King, said about Terri, "She's got to be an awful strong woman to be able to do that. Some of the evenings that Terri is there, Rosanna has a rough time or cries a lot. You can't help but think about what happened and why she is like she is. I don't know that I'd be that strong." Following some of the visits, Terri has cried, but she says, "As we reach out in ways that bring a touch, we can find great healing." (89)

Thieves Turn in a Pedophile to the Police

Thieves can do very good deeds. On 19 August 2008, a 38-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman stole a laptop computer from the home of a man in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England. They were shocked when they found child pornography on the laptop, and they telephoned the police, although they knew that they had to admit that they had stolen the laptop. Acting Detective Sergeant Chris Stone said, "Whilst they were carrying out an offence themselves, it is commendable that they did the right thing and this in turn has helped bring a serious offender to justice." The man whose laptop was stolen was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in jail. He had also exposed himself to a 14-year-old girl online after pretending to be a 14-year-old boy named Danny. The 38-year-old man and the 20-year-old woman were ordered to perform community service for one year. Of course, we all know that turning in a pedophile to the police is excellent community service. (90)

Pimp? Hero! Both?

In August 2008, a female escort in Phoenix, Arizona, got a perverted request from a customer who offered to pay $1,500 for a threesome with the escort and a 10-year-old girl. The escort was wearing an open microphone, and listening in was a man who was looking after the escort and who was made furious by the request—the escort was also disturbed by the request. The man flagged down a police car and informed the officer about the request. The police investigated, a process that took time. According to media reports, a female officer telephoned the suspect and pretended to be a 10-year-old girl. On Christmas Eve 2008, police arrested the suspect and charged him with attempted child prostitution, a felony. Whatever the informer's occupation is or was, when he informed on the allegedly perverted customer, he was a hero. (91)

Inmates Who are Heroes

In late 2009, 64-year-old Deputy Kenneth Moon was the only deputy in a jail pod that houses 62 inmates in Tampa, Florida. A 24-year-old inmate attacked him and got him in a chokehold. The deputy's radio, which has a panic button, was on his desk, out of reach. The only people around him were inmates—people who have been charged with such crimes as attempted murder, home invasion, and drug dealing. The inmates came to his help. Jerry Dieguez Jr., who was in jail on an armed home invasion charge, ran over and punched the inmate who had Deputy Moon in a chokehold. Inmates Hoang Vu (who was charged with attempted murder) and Terrell Carswell (who was charged with robbery, marijuana possession, cocaine trafficking, and failure to register as a sex offender) also helped to keep the attacking inmate away from Deputy Moon. David Schofield, who was in jail on charges of aggravated assault and battery, used the deputy's radio to call for help. Most likely, these men saved the deputy's life. Sheriff's Col. Jim Previtera said, "Their past acts aside, you know, you've got to applaud them for what they did." Mr. Previtera said that the chokehold was one used in martial arts: "It cuts off the blood supply, and if it's applied properly can actually crush the windpipe or the trachea." The sheriff's office sent letters of appreciation to the rescuers' attorneys. These letters can be used in court on the inmates' behalf; for example, such a letter can result in a reduced sentence. Chris Watson, felony bureau chief with the Hillsborough County Public Defender's Office, said about the rescuers, "Is it possible that what they did could help these gentlemen? I think yes, it's possible. We are certainly happy that someone stepped in to help someone who is in a vulnerable position. That people stepped up and protected the deputy is a great thing." Deputy Anthony Brown said about the rescuers, "You would think that they would walk away, so somewhere in their hearts, there must be some goodness." (92)

"Let Him Die, Johnny. Let Him Die"

In September 2008 in Norwalk, Connecticut, a man who had been convicted of armed robbery had two years knocked off his sentence because he had come to the rescue of a prison guard, Officer Daniel Parker, who suffered a seizure when he and the convict, John Dearborn, were alone in a lounge area at the Corrigan-Radgowsky facility in Uncasville, Connecticut. Mr. Dearborn said that other inmates were yelling, "Let him die, Johnny. Let him die." However, he said that he could not let him die: "There was no way I was going to let Officer Parker die on my watch. I could not just stand there and let another human being die in front of me without trying to help save him, officer or not." He made sure that Officer Parker could breathe, and he called prison staff to come and help. Officer Parker said, "I thank him for alerting the staff. That's what saved me, and it was pretty heroic because he could have just sat there and done nothing. It was just me and him in that room." Officer Parker supported giving Mr. Dearborn the reduced sentence. Former public defender Elizabeth Reid remembers Mr. Dearborn. She said, "I represent people [who] are not bad people, but sometimes they make bad choices. But I also represent people who, as in John Dearborn's case, have the capacity to make good choices." (93)

Good Samaritan Comes to Aid of Female Police Officer

In July 2011 a man who appeared to be deranged attacked a female police officer who was in a patrol truck. First the man began beating on the patrol truck. When the police officer got out of the truck, he attacked her, knocking her to the ground and hitting her. She used pepper spray on the man, but he continued to hit her. Michael Reed, who saw the female police officer being attacked, said, "He just kept hitting her and hitting her and hitting her in the head." Fortunately, Mr. Reed, who has daughters and granddaughters, came to the rescue: "I just jumped out of my truck and came to the aid of an officer. I just tackled him like I was playing football again." Mr. Reed held the man down until police officers arrived and arrested the man. Atlanta Police Captain Barry Shaw said, "We are so fortunate to have this man on the scene the way he was." The female police officer was bruised, but otherwise OK. (94)

"I was Yelling and I was Kicking and I was Screaming"—And She Got Away

In October 2003 in Baytown, Texas, a 10-year-old girl fought off an abductor as she rode her bicycle to elementary school. The girl, who did not want to be identified, said, "As I was riding my bike to school, some man was turning in and he came around and he tried to get me. And when he got me, he got out of his car and [held] my tire of my bike. And then, after he [held] my tire, he pushed me off my bike. I tried to get up, and he grabbed my ankle. And after he grabbed my ankle, I kicked him and it hurt him, so he got inside his car and left. I was yelling and I was kicking and I was screaming." She rode her bike to James Bowie Elementary School and told an adult what had happened. The girl's mother said, "I thank God that my child is still alive, because these things, that's all people are doing now—taking children." Lieutenant David Alford of the Baytown Police Department said about the girl, "She had some type of plan of action. She did very well. She was very brave, and she was very purposeful in her actions." (95)

Fighting Crime with a Kick

In August 2003 in Chelmsley Wood, England, a man tried to abduct a 10-year-old girl outside a Texaco garage as she was pushing her nine-month-old brother in his pram (baby buggy). The man grabbed the girl's wrist and the pram, but she kicked him and he ran away. She told an adult at the garage what had happened, and the adult called police. (96)

14-Year-Old Girl Fights and Refuses to Become a Victim

When two men in a black van tried to kidnap a 14-year-girl near Tucker Middle School in Tucker, Georgia, in 2007, she fought back and got away from the men: She stabbed one of the men with a pencil and probably saved her life. The girl's mother, Allicia Brown, said, "Thank God, I thank my Father that's she's home, because she could not be here right now. I could be looking for my baby, so I just thank God that she's home and she's safe and that's all that matters to me. I'm glad that she just didn't become a victim and let them take her. She is a very strong, strong baby." (97)

A Life-Saving Yell

A timely yell can save a life. In February 2010, a man attempted to abduct a nine-year-old girl in Fayette County, Georgia. The man approached the girl and asked her to help him hunt for his dog. She told him no and started running for her home. He then grabbed her coat and knocked her down. A man who was in a nearby van saw what was happening and yelled at the man to let the girl go. Hearing this, the would-be abductor ran away. The van driver did not stay around to be thanked; he also left. (98)

Revenge Against a Sexual Harasser

Sexual harassment is evil, and getting revenge against sexual harassers (without hurting anyone else) is a good deed. Long ago, George Hayduke asked a pilot to fly a dear female friend to a location and back. The pilot agreed. So far, so good. Unfortunately, the pilot sexually harassed the woman during the flight to the location, and the pilot made it clear to the woman that either she would sleep with him or he would not fly her back. The woman—like probably every other woman in the world—had no desire to sleep with this jerk, so she called Mr. Hayduke for help. Mr. Hayduke was also a pilot, and he flew to the woman's location so he could fly her back to her home. Then he got revenge on the sexually harassing pilot. He telephoned the FAA Flight Service and filed a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) flight plan, using the sexually harassing pilot's name and aircraft numbers. A short time later, from a place where and in such a way that he could not be caught, he telephoned the FAA Flight Service and pretended to be the sexually harassing pilot's radio contact and reported that the pilot was in trouble and that the pilot's radios were down. The FAA Flight Service launched search and rescue services and was deeply angry after discovering that the pilot did not need to be rescued. Mr. Hayduke reports that the sexually harassing pilot "got his tail chewed, a large bill for a false search and rescue operation, and a warning that one more even minor stunt would cost him his pilot's license. All this had a very calming effort on the man. And probably made him a better person." (By the way, this is highly illegal, so don't do it. Mr. Hayduke knew how to get away with it, but you or I would probably get caught.) (99)

"I Think It was Just the Right Thing for Anybody to Do"

On 5 August 2010, Timothy Seal took a longer route than usual while going home from his job at Liberty University—the world's largest Christian university—and ended up rescuing an assault victim. Mr. Seal said, "I think the Lord brought me to that woman's rescue." He had turned a corner in his car and saw a woman being beaten by a man. He said, "She actually had blood on her face, and the guy had her by one arm and by the hair of her head, dragging her across the yard." When the man saw Mr. Seal, he ran away. Mr. Seal helped the woman into his car and drove her to a nearby business, where he waited for law authorities and for his wife. He said, "I think it was just the right thing for anybody to do. It just seemed natural to stop." Mr. Seal's wife, Janet, said, "It's not something that happens every day. He did the right thing." (100)
CHAPTER 3: STORIES 101-150

The Right Thing to Do: Tell Your Mother

In August 2011 in Des Moines, Iowa, a man tried to convince a 13-year-old girl to go into an alley with him. Instead, the girl did the right thing and told her mother, who confronted the man, who asked to marry the girl and who asked the mother to sign away her rights to the girl. The mother, Holly Pullen, said, "He looks at me and says, 'I want to marry the red head. I want to marry the red head. I came unglued at that point. I'm like, 'Dude, she is only 13.'" She then punched the man in the face. Her husband and his friend also fought the man, whom police arrested. (101)

Illegal Immigrant and Praised Hero

Illegal immigrant Antonio Diaz Chacon, a mechanic in his early 20s, became a hero in August 2011 when he stopped a stranger from abducting a six-year-old girl in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Mr. Diaz Chacon and his American wife, Martha, were outside of Martha's mother's home when they heard a man say, "Hey, hey, let her go! Let her go!" The man ran up to them and told them, "They stole a little girl." Mr. Diaz Chacon gave chase in his pickup. The kidnapper tried to get him off his trail by turning frequently, but Mr. Diaz Chacon stayed with him. Eventually, the kidnapper crashed into a telephone pole, then fled on foot, leaving the little girl behind. Mr. Diaz Chacon got the little girl, and the kidnapper returned to his wrecked van and drove away, but was arrested by the police. Police Sergeant Tricia Hoffman said, "This little girl was very lucky." Sergeant Hoffman praised Mr. Diaz Chacon, who she said "did an amazing, amazing job and he saved this girl's life." Mr. Diaz Chacon said that during the chase he was thinking of his own daughters (one five months old and one seven years old), and he hoped that other people would also try to keep them safe and rescue them if needed. The little girl had walked to a neighbor's home to pick up some tostadas, and on her way back the kidnapper had grabbed her. She said that she bit the man when he put his hand over her mouth. By the way, after her rescue the little girl worried that she could not bring the tostadas home because they were still in the van. Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry gave Mr. Diaz Chacon a Spanish-language plaque praising his bravery, and the little girl gave him a thank-you letter. (102)

"It was Not like Your Regular Scream—It was So Deep and Desperate"

On Labor Day weekend of 2010, Robert Casey, a laborer for a Boston construction company, was jogging in the afternoon through the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Massachusetts when he heard a scream. He said, "It was not like your regular scream—it was so deep and desperate. I figured I'd better check this out. I turned the corner, and I couldn't believe it." A man was dragging a 15-year-old girl into some woods. Mr. Casey said, "He was trying to drag her down to a little valley. No one would have heard her. It's sick how a guy can do something like that to somebody. It's awful." Mr. Casey yelled at the man, "Hey, wait!" The man ran away. Mr. Casey called 911 and told the girl, "No one is touching you." State police quickly made an arrest. In May 2011, the State Police Superintendent Colonel Marian J. McGovern thanked Mr. Casey and 26 other heroes in a ceremony honoring their courage. She said, "There is no greater service than to risk one's own safety to save the life of another." She added, "It struck me how each and every one of these people stepped up at a time of crisis and showed their character. These award recipients acted in a way that we all hope we could act if faced with similar circumstances." (103)

"If It was My Mother or My Cousin, I Would Want Someone to Do Something"

In early 2011 in Chicago, a man attempted to rape a 14-year-old girl. She yelled for help, and help came in the form of Agustin Zamora Jr., Mr. Zamora's 160-pound Great Dane named Scooby, and two other men. They trapped the man in an alley and then called police. Mr. Zamora said about Scooby, who did a lot of barking at the would-be rapist, "He is a good dog. Everybody knows him." Mr. Zamora and Scooby were at home when they heard a girl cry, "Help me!" Mr. Zamora said, "I poked my head out the door, and he had her pinned down under the pine tree" in the front yard next door. The girl had gotten off a bus and noticed a man following her. She ran from him, but he caught her, threw her to the ground, and started tearing off her clothes. Mr. Zamora yelled at the man, who fled. Mr. Zamora then put on shoes, called Scooby, and began chasing the man. Mr. Zamora said, "He was knocking over the garbage cans so I would fall over them or something." Mr. Zamora, two other men, and Scooby caught up with the man in an alley and made him surrender. Mr. Zamora said, "I was not trying to be brave or anything, I just reacted. If it was my mother or my cousin, I would want someone to do something." (104)

Two Women Stop an Attempted Rape

In January 2010 two women stopped an attempted rape when they heard screams for help coming from an abandoned garage in Detroit. The two women—Robin Hudson and Valerie Russell—are part of a group of citizens who patrol the streets and call police when they see a crime. Ms. Hudson said, "She was... like struggling for her life." She added that the 13-year-old girl was screaming, "Help, he's trying to rape me." Ms. Russell said that "we opened up the door [to the abandoned garage] and Sister Robin snatched her in the car and we took off." Robin Hudson and Valerie Russell belong to the MAN Network—MAN is an acronym for Maintaining a Neighborhood. Bishop Tony Russell, founder of the MAN Network, said, "It's essential for people to take community ownership and to make sure that our children have safety and have resources because the most important people in the world are children." Marcell Copeland, a member of the MAN Network, said, "We don't ever want any of our people to get hurt, but if someone's physically getting raped, then we should try to approach them and make a lot of noise to break that up." (105)

One Gurkha Wins Fight Against 40 Robbers and Rapists

On 2 September 2010, approximately 40 robbers stole money, cell phones, laptops, and other valuables from passengers on a train—the Maurya Express—going to Gorakhpur, India, from Ranchi, India. They may have gotten away with their crimes if they had not stripped and attempted to rape a girl in front of her parents. Sitting beside the girl was Bishnu Shrestha, age 35 and a Gurkha (Nepalese) soldier who had recently retired from service in the Indian army. He had his khukuri—a razor-sharp knife—with him, and he fought the robbers and would-be rapists for 20 minutes, killing three of them and injuring eight more before the rest fled. Some of the robbers were passengers on the train, which they stopped around midnight in the Chittaranjan jungles in West Bengal. Mr. Shrestha sat quietly until the robbers attempted to rape the girl. He said, "The girl cried for help, saying 'You are a soldier—please save a sister.' I prevented her from being raped, thinking of her as my own sister." His left hand was injured but has since healed. He said about the robbers, "They had carried out their robbery with swords, blades, and pistols. The pistols may have been fake as they didn't open fire." He added, "Fighting the enemy in battle is my duty as a soldier; taking on the dacoits [robbers] in the train was my duty as a human being. I am proud to be able to prove that a Gurkha soldier with a khukuri is really a handful. I would have been a meek spectator had I not carried that khukuri." He surmised, "They may have feared that more of my army friends were traveling with me and fled after fighting me for around 20 minutes." Mr. Shrestha's old regiment awarded him 50,000 Indian rupees because of his bravery, and the Indian government gave him medals for bravery. (106)

"Wouldn't Anybody Help?"

In September 2010, Stephen Kukenis, age 40, became a hero by stopping an attempted rape. He was opening the Broadway Beach House concession stand at a Chicago beach when he heard screams coming from a nearby beach house restroom. He said, "It was happening right there. There was no time to call the police." He immediately ran to the restroom, where he saw a man attempting to rape a woman in a stall. He said, "I kind of forced my way in. I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him out. He punched me and looked like he was going in his pocket to get a gun or knife." Instead, the man, who was later arrested, fled. The woman said she felt "incredibly lucky" to be rescued from rape. She added, "Words can't express how grateful I am for what he did." The woman had been washing her hands in a restroom when a man tapped her on her shoulder. When she turned around, he punched her (she needed stitches afterward), dragged her into a stall, and started undoing his pants while trying to pull off her shorts. She screamed, and Mr. Kukenis came running. Mr. Kukenis said that it was "lucky we were open. If the weather was cool and rainy, we wouldn't have been open." Like many heroes, Mr. Kukenis is modest: "It's no big deal. It's the right thing to do." When the police arrived, Mr. Kukenis asked them, "Wouldn't anybody help?'" The police, who have the experience to know, replied, "No." A female witness said that Mr. Kukenis "should get a citizen's medal for having the nerves of steel." (107)

Shaun Adams: Good Samaritan

Shaun Adams saw a teenaged woman who was "almost comatose" from drinking too much at a tram (streetcar) stop in St Peter's Square, Manchester, England. She had become separated from her friends. He tried but failed to rouse her, and when the tram arrived, he got on it and left the woman behind. However, he worried about her, so he got off at the next stop and then returned to St Peter's Square. When he arrived, he saw her being sexually abused by another teenager, so he stopped a police car and told police what was happening. The sexual abuse and attempted rape were caught on closed-circuit TV cameras. The police arrested the man, who in April 2009 was sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted rape and sexual assault. Judge Clement Goldstone at Manchester Crown Court awarded Mr. Adams a £150 reward from Greater Manchester's High Sheriff. Judge Goldstone praised Mr. Adams for his "display of public-spirited behavior." He added, "I am quite sure he wishes now that he had intervened earlier than he did. But he must not feel that his lack of intervention was in any way responsible for what transpired. Had he not behaved in the way he did, this matter would not have been detected. His behavior has to be commended at the highest possible level." He said to the man who had attempted to rape the teenaged woman, "You were totally oblivious to her wishes—had she been able to communicate them to you—and you had no concern whatsoever for her dignity. I am satisfied, having seen the CCTV footage, that she gave you no encouragement. But you needed no encouragement. She was, in your eyes, fair game for the humiliating experience to which you were able to subject her. You proceeded to treat her like a rag doll or worse, some kind of sex aid to satisfy your sexual lust." After the trial, Detective Sergeant Shagufta Khan said, "This man took advantage of a woman who was clearly in no position to give any kind of consent. He has violated her in the most horrific way, and even though she cannot clearly remember what happened to her, this alone has been extremely traumatic for her." (108)

Superman to the Rescue

On Boxing Day, 26 December 2009, Elizabeth Caulwell, age 26, of Wigan, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, England, had a few drinks in a bar. Then she collapsed—she thinks because her drink was spiked with a date-rape drug. Fortunately, someone rescued her, carrying her to an ambulance. Because she was shivering, the hero wrapped her in something to keep her warm: a Superman cape. After recovering, Ms. Caulwell used her local newspaper to track down her hero. He turned out to be Paul Longmire, age 23 and a marketing executive, who had borrowed the Superman costume from a friend and was wearing it during a night out with friends. Mr. Longmire said, "We saw Elizabeth stumble and go down face first. I tried supporting her, but her legs kept giving way so I just picked her up and carried her outside before the ambulance came. She was shivering, so I wrapped my cape around her then left. It wasn't heroic. I just helped someone." Mr. Caulwell, who is married and had been out with friends and her sister, said, "I'd drunk three drinks when I collapsed. I woke hours later in hospital. Doctors were certain I'd been spiked, probably with Rohypnol or maybe GHB. I was determined to find who Superman was to say thanks and return his cape. Now we're pals on Facebook. I dread to think what could have happened without him." (109)

"It was My Duty to Help My Fellow Person"

In June 2009, Bernard Erasmus, age 30, of Somerset West, which is part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality in South Africa, saved a 13-year-old girl from being raped. Like many heroes, he denies that he is a hero. He said, "That's what any ordinary person would do. It was my duty to help my fellow person." He was driving on a farm road close to Somerset West when he saw a man and a girl. Mr. Erasmus said, "The girl's clothes were ripped off her body. She was making a lot of noise. She was screaming and trying to hit the man on top of her." He ran to the girl's assistance. When the man took off running, Mr. Erasmus ran after him. The two men fought, and Mr. Erasmus took a knife away from the attacker, who then fled. He then returned to the girl, about whom he said, "She was in a terrible state." They went to the police station together and gave statements. A man was arrested. Previously, he had been charged twice with rape, but police had to let him go twice because the alleged victims, both of whom were minors, failed to appear in court. Police spokesman Andre Traut praised Mr. Erasmus, but cautioned members of the public to be careful in such situations: "The police encourage public involvement in the prevention or suppression of crime, but we want people to be sure they are capable of doing it and that they should not risk their own lives. People should make sure they know what the Criminal Procedures Act requires with regard to their action. If he [Erasmus] had a firearm, for example, he could have used it only in a situation where his own or somebody else's life was clearly in danger. In a case of rape, this is most likely the case. But you cannot use a firearm to protect property—a wallet or a cell phone, for example. The violence you use to stop a crime must be in line with the violence used in the perpetration of the crime." When possible in such cases, of course, it is good to telephone the police for expert emergency assistance. (110)

A Hero Detective

According to Detective David Foster, an African-American who worked in the Newark, New Jersey, Police Department, "Thinking that you're going [to die] is a nerve-shattering experience. Your life goes right before your eyes. I still check behind shower curtains even at home." In November 1998, he nearly lost his life protecting a young woman who reported to the police that she had been raped by an ex-boyfriend. Detective Foster said, "The first time I met Malikah [...] was at a hospital in Montclair, New Jersey. The Bloomfield Police Department contacted our unit with a report that a rape victim had been taken to the hospital. I drove over and took a crime report. Malikah agreed to an examination and rape kit to test for semen samples." Malikah reported that her ex-boyfriend had broken into her apartment and said that he would kill her unless she had sex with him. During the rape, he held a knife to her throat. He then abducted her, but she managed to get away from him, running into the street, where a passerby called 911. Malikah stayed with her father after leaving the hospital. She wanted to go to her apartment to get some things, but she did not feel safe doing so, so Detective Foster agreed to accompany her. In the apartment, Malikah thought she heard something, so Detective Foster told her to stay behind him. The ex-boyfriend came from behind a curtain where he had been hiding and shot Detective Foster in the shoulder. The next bullet went through Detective Foster's hair. A third bullet hit Detective Foster's radio, and a fourth and final bullet hit Detective Foster's upper back as he was crouching. (Malikah had run away, screaming.) Detective Foster then fired two bullets. One hit the ex-boyfriend in the left elbow and the other hit him in the chest. Detective Foster gave emergency medical assistance to the ex-boyfriend, but the ex-boyfriend died. Detective Foster underwent several surgeries and rehabilitation over the next year, but still had only limited movement in his left arm, so he retired. Detective Foster said, "Being a police officer was a dream come true. I miss it. I was a good investigator, and I really enjoyed helping people and solving crimes." (111)

"I'm Not a Hero"

Chances are, you would not expect a parking warden to have an exciting life. If the parking warden were Pes Fa'aui of Waitakere, New Zealand, you would be wrong. In November 2005 in Henderson, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, he jumped on a knife-wielder—a knife-wielder who had killed a man and injured two others so badly that they had to be hospitalized. Like many heroes, he denies that he is a hero: "Heroes are people who died for this country. They are police, ambulance and hospital staff who deal with this kind of thing every day. I'm not a hero." Mr. Fa'aui was at work when police shot the knife-wielder, who had refused to drop his weapon. Despite being shot, the knife-wielder advanced toward a lone police officer. Mr. Fa'aui said, "I just thought I had to do something to help. I thought, 'You've only got one try and you've got to get it right.' Luckily I did." He jumped on the man and knocked him down, and police arrested him. Mr. Fa'aui received a wound that took five stitches to close. This was not the first time that he had done something heroic. In 1997, he saw two children locked in a car during a time of sweltering heat. He smashed his way into the car to rescue the children. Because of his action to help stop the knife-wielder, he was given a bravery award, but even better than that, he said, was a burst of applause that he received while walking by a women's clothing store. (112)

"He Sacrificed Himself for Me"

On 22 May 2011, over 160 people died when a tornado hit Joplin, Missouri. Don and Bethany Lansaw had little warning when the tornado hit. They did not have a basement, and the safest place was the bathtub. Bethany lay down in it, placed pillows over herself, and then her 250-pound husband lay on top of the pillows and gripped the sides of the bathtub. She said, "He got on top of me to take the brunt of most of it, and he's my hero. I mean the house was ripping apart—it all happened so fast. All the pillows were flying off of us—the only thing I managed to do was keep one in front of my face." The tornado destroyed their house, leaving only two walls standing. After the tornado, Bethany discovered that her husband had suffered a deep wound to his side. Bethany ran to get help, but he died before she returned. Bethany said about her husband, "He sacrificed himself for me." She added, "I'm always going to remember him as my hero." (113)

Wonderful Thai People

On 26 December 2004, a tsunami struck much of Asia. Patrice Fayet, his wife (Samantha), and their six-month-old daughter (Ruby Rose) were in a bungalow on a beach in Khao Lak, Thailand, while on vacation from Paris. Around five in the morning, the Thai street dogs started barking and kept on barking for about an hour and a half. Finally, Patrice and his family were able to get to sleep. He woke shortly before the tsunami hit and said to his wife, "Do you hear that? There are no dog or bird noises at all." He looked outside and saw a Thai woman running as fast as she could away from the beach, and he knew that something was wrong. He yelled to his wife, "Come on, Sam. We have to run." He picked up his daughter, and all of them began running away from the beach, trying to reach high ground. The tsunami, which he said was "a very black wall of dirty water around five meters on the front and had buildings and much material debris inside it," was too fast for them. They tried to climb a tree, but because Patrice was carrying his daughter, he could not climb very high. The water came over his head, and he held his daughter as high as he could, but the wave tore her out of his hands. He said, "The water kept rising, and the current was so strong that Ruby Rose was torn out from my arms. I fought back up to the surface, and I saw my daughter. The image haunts me every night when I try to sleep. She was carried away on the surface for a time. We looked at each other for a long moment, but no matter how hard I tried, there was no way I could reach her before she disappeared. I have always taken very good care of my daughter, waking her up every morning and spending my special times with her. As she was carried away from me, I could see in her eyes that she was asking me, 'Daddy, why aren't you taking care of me now?' Then she disappeared into the black wave. That was the last time I saw my daughter." He looked for his wife, who was floating about 30 feet away from him. He swam to her, and when she saw that he did not have their daughter, she started screaming. The tsunami carried them to a huge drop like a waterfall. They were separated, and the water kept dragging him down. He did not fight the water, but went with its motions, breathing whenever the water forced him to the surface. Something that may have been a log smashed into him and broke three of his ribs. Eventually, his leg and foot caught on something and he was trapped underwater. Patrice said, "I totally panicked. I was trapped underwater, injured badly, and running out of air. I said to myself, 'You only have this one chance, Patrice. You have to break your leg or foot to get free, or you will die this time.' I twisted down my entire body and broke my foot. I heard the bones breaking inside my ankle, but I did not feel it. It allowed my foot to come free, and I got back to the surface again. [The wave] was still coming and carried me away again. I was washed onto a small bank on the back rubber tree hillside, and I held on as the water stopped for a while then went slowly back toward the sea." Everyone Patrice saw, including himself, was naked because the wave had torn off their clothes. The survivors walked up the mountain, gathering clothes when they could to cover themselves. In times of disaster, people can be very kind. Patrice said, "The local Thais were wonderful and we got some fresh water and they got the badly injured people covered and helped them as best they could." He added, "I stayed up there for about four hours. It was as if we were all just returned from a very violent war battle. Those wonderful Thai people who had also lost everything were unbelievable. They were still looking after us like we were guests in their houses. It was very humbling and moving to see them endure far better than we were. The Thais truly are a magnificent people deep down. They came to me every few minutes and tried to feed me and give me water and make sure that I didn't die right then. Many did. They just sat down, went into deep shock, and died right there. [The Thais] covered them up and helped the next living person. Incredible." After getting medical care, Patrice looked for his wife and daughter: "I knew in my soul that my darling Ruby Rose was drowned, but I was not sure if Samantha had been able to survive." In February, his wife's body was identified, but he was unable to find his daughter's body. Patrice said, "Samantha's family and friends have set up a charity fund and memorial website in their names. It's called <www.samandruby.com>. Please visit it and make a donation. I've returned to Khao Lak to help repay all the Thai people who helped me. I'm still looking for my daughter. My darling Ruby Rose." (114)

"I'm Ready"

Political blogger Ruth Calvo tells a story about a family who watched the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 on television. A four-year-old boy watched the TV for a while. Then he went to his bedroom and came out shortly carrying a full backpack. He announced, "I'm ready." His family asked him what he was ready to do. He replied, "Go save people." (115)

A 9-11 Hero: Happy to Save Thousands of Lives

Richard "Rick" Rescorla saved thousands of lives on 9 September 2001 by evacuating the employees of financial-services company Morgan Stanley from the south tower of the World Trade Center. As director of security at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Rescorla studied the weaknesses of the World Trade Center, and he made sure that he and Morgan Stanley were prepared in case of a terrorist attack. Twice each year, he held evacuation drills for the employees on all of Morgan Stanley's 22 floors in the south tower. After terrorists attacked the north tower, Mr. Rescorla was told that employees in the south tower should stay and work. Instead, he ordered an evacuation. Because of the evacuation drills, they knew what to do. Two by two, they evacuated the south tower, going down the many flights of stairs. Thirteen Morgan Stanley employees died, including Mr. Rescorla, but the lives of thousands of other employees were saved. Mr. Rescorla was last seen on the 10th floor, going up to help other people. Before he died, he called his wife, Susan, to say that he was happy to be saving lives: "If something should happen to me, I want you to know I've never been happier." His son, Trevor, said, "I knew he would be the last person out, because it was his command. As long as there were people in there, he would try to get them out." His daughter, Kim, said, "It was part of who my father was. He stayed to help evacuate the building in [the terrorist attack of] 1993 and would not have done anything different that day [9-11]." She added, "Prior to 9-11, I could not conceive that there were people so consumed by hate and desperation that they would be capable and willing to sacrifice themselves to viciously murder people they had never met. I chose to focus my career in estate planning and estate administration [because] many of those that perished did so without estate-planning documents, causing administrative burdens for their families at a time of emotional turmoil." Trevor said, "I am sure that my father's background has shaped my interest in helping people. He instilled in me a sense that there is a duty to help your fellows and the perspective that we are all only a trick of fate from being in the same position [as someone else]." (116)

Worldwide Sympathy and Mourning on 9-11

When terrorists attacked the United States on 11 September 2001, citizens of the world felt sympathy for the innocent victims of the terrorists. A decade later, Haley Sweetland Edwards of the Web site Mental Floss provided a summary of some of the world's reactions to 9-11: In London, England, during the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, the "Star Spangled Banner" played. In Beijing, China, citizens left flowers, sympathy cards, funeral wreaths, and notes of condolence on the sidewalk in front of the US Embassy. In Moscow, Russia, women were filmed crying in front of a makeshift tribute on a sidewalk. In Russia, television and radio stations went silent to commemorate the dead victims. In Romania, every church and monastery held a memorial prayer. In the Middle East, both the Israeli president and the Palestinian leader condemned the terrorist attacks, and both donated blood. In Kuwait, citizens donated blood. In Jordan, citizens signed letters of sympathy. In Tehran, Iran, a stadium of soccer fans observed a moment of silence. In Turkey, flags flew at half-mast. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, schoolchildren bowed their heads in silence. In Dublin, Ireland, shops and pubs closed during a national day of mourning, and citizens waited in line for hours to sign a book of condolences. In Finland, Norway, and Sweden, trams and buses stopped in tribute. In Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greenland, Japan, Tajiskitan, et al., people gathered to mourn. In Pretoria, South Africa, little kids sitting on their parents' shoulders held small American flags. Firefighters throughout the world observed the tragedy. In Hungary, firefighters tied black ribbons to their trucks. In South Africa, firefighters flew the red, white, and blue. In Poland, firefighters sounded their sirens. Dozens of world leaders called the White House to offer help. Cubans offered the US medical supplies. Ethiopians prayed. Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan offered the use of their air space. In Albania, Canada, and Sierra Leone, citizens marched in the streets in shows of solidarity with the US. In Bangladesh, Libya, Pakistan, Sudan, and Yemen, Moslem clerics condemned what they called "cowardly" and "un-Islamic" attacks. In Lebanon, generals signed letters of sympathy. In Italy, Pope John Paul II prayed on his knees. Albania, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Israel, and South Korea all held national days of mourning. In Indonesia, citizens gathered on a beach to pray. In Austria, church bells tolled. In Paris, France, the bells of Notre Dame tolled. In France, the well-known newspaper Le Monde ran a headline that read, "We Are All Americans." And in India, children made signs that read, "This is an attack on all of us." (117)

Fighter for Free Speech

Americans are proud of their freedoms, including the freedom of speech that is part of the First Amendment to the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." However, freedom isn't free. People often have to fight for their freedom. For example, Raed Jarrar is half-Iraqi and half-Palestinian. He was born in Baghdad, but his family moved when he was 40 days old. He grew up in Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, and he came to the United States in September 2005. In the US, he became involved in political activism, using the freedoms that are available there. He became the Iraq project director with the international human rights organization Global Exchange. On 12 August 2006, he had scheduled a plane flight to the San Francisco Bay area. Officials checked him thoroughly for such things as explosives in his shoes. He checked out OK: no explosives. Later, while he was eating breakfast at the airport, a Transportation Security Administration officer asked him, "Can I talk to you for a minute?" Mr. Jarrar went with the TSA officer and found out that passengers had objected to his T-shirt. He describes the T-shirt in this way: "It was black, and said in both Arabic and English, 'We Will Not Be Silent.' An artist group in New York had made the shirt and given it to me as a gift. For me, the message meant, 'We will not be silent about the murders that are happening in Palestine or Iraq.'" It turned out that officials wanted him to put on another T-shirt or to wear this T-shirt inside-out. Mr. Jarrar said, "It's my constitutional right to wear this T-shirt. If you have any regulations against Arabic T-shirts, show them to me and I will take it off or cover it." A woman from the airline said, "Why don't we just reach a compromise? We will buy you a T-shirt and put it on top of this one." Mr. Jarrar replied, "That's not a compromise. I will cover this T-shirt with the other T-shirt that you will buy, just because you are not letting me board. But I will pursue the case with a constitutional rights organization as soon as I arrive in California." He did file a lawsuit with help from the American Civil Liberties Union. It was a lawsuit arguing that his First Amendment freedom of expression and his Fourth Amendment due process under law rights had been violated. The lawsuit took a long time, and it was settled out of court, but he was awarded $240,000. Mr. Jarrar said, "After the outcome, I felt more comfortable with staying here. I was naturalized [became an American citizen] in DC in the spring of 2009. It was an amazing ceremony. We [Mr. Jarrar and his significant other] were sworn in by a judge who is an immigrant himself. He gave an excellent speech about how the United States is not a place where it's all good or all bad, and that he grew up being discriminated against. There are many of us who will be discriminated against, and who will have hard lives. But the bright side is that this is still a country where many of us can fight back." Unless people such as Mr. Jarrar and organizations such as the ACLU are willing to fight for American civil rights, Americans would have such rights in name only, as in, "Yes, you have the right to free speech, but no, you can't wear a T-shirt with Arabic writing on it." (118)

True Texas Form

In February 2010, a small plane crashed in an office building in Austin, Texas, where about 200 Internal Revenue Service employees worked. Witnessing the crash was Robin Dehaven, an Army veteran who works for a glass company and replaces broken windows. He drove his work truck to the crash site to help. He said that people outside the building "said they needed my ladders on my truck, because there were people stuck on the second floor. The people were kind of in a panic, wanting to get out quickly, of course, so I climbed up into the building with them." He helped the five people to escape. Lyric Olivarez, who was working in a neighboring building, felt her building shake when the place crashed. She said, "It sounded like an explosion, but it felt like an earthquake. Someone came into our office and said there was a bomb in the building next door. We had no idea it was a plane at the time." She and others ran outside, where they saw that the neighboring building was burning. Mr. Dehaven, other civilians, and emergency responders helped. Texas Governor Rick Perry said, "In true Texas form, first responders and everyday citizens responded to today's plane crash with selfless acts of heroism, securing the area, evacuating the building and controlling the fire, and are to be commended." (119)

Thief Stops Possible Act of Terrorism

Can a car thief do a really good deed? Yes. On 3 July 2008, a thief who had a police record stole a red van that was parked at 53rd Street and Second Avenue in Brooklyn's Sunset Park. The thief looked inside the van and saw that it was filled with gas cans and wires and switches and Styrofoam cups containing white powder. It looked like part of a terrorist plot to blow up something. The thief drove 15 blocks and parked the van at a desolate waterfront location. Then the thief, who was not identified in media reports, telephoned the police. A police spokesperson said, "He did the right thing. And he possibly saved a lot of people's lives." (120)

"Acts of Remarkable Heroism and Human Fortitude"

On 7 July 2005, terrorist suicide bombers destroyed three Tube trains and a bus and, most importantly, many lives in London. Heroes rose to the occasion. Hugo Keith, Queen's Counsel, counsel to the inquests, said that following the explosions was a "horrifying scene of mangled flesh, torn bodies, debris, and metal." Emergency services needed to distinguish the living from the dead in areas in which severed limbs littered the floor. Gerardine Quaghebeur, a consultant neurologist, stayed on the Tube to help the injured and the dying. Another hero is off-duty police officer Elizabeth Kenworthy, who applied tourniquets to Andrew Brown and Martine Wright, both of whom lost their legs in the terrorist attack. When the second carriage of a Circle Line train at Edgware Road blew up, passengers on a different train climbed into the wreckage to help the living and the dying. Mr. Keith said, "The terrible tragedy at Edgware Road led, as with the other scenes, to acts of remarkable heroism and human fortitude." (121)

A National Excellent Individual for Fighting Against Crimes

In November 2005 in Shanghai, China, Yang Minghui was named one of the "National Excellent Individuals for Fighting Against Crimes" and given a 30,000 yuan (US $3,704) cash reward for her bravery on February 24 when a man broke into her primary-school classroom while she was giving a math lesson. The man held a boy at knifepoint, but Yang kept the children calm by telling them that they were being filmed for a TV program. She asked the man not to harm the boy, and with the help of a rescue operation by the police, she was able to get all of her students safely out of the classroom. (122)

"We Used Three First Aid Kits Patching Them Up"

In May 2009 on the mountain Pic du Canigou in the French Pyrenees, Flying Officer Emma Stewart, age 27, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, and another member of staff and six cadets found two Belgian men who had been badly injured after falling more than 300 feet because of icy conditions. One man had a punctured lung and broken ribs, and the other man had a broken arm. Ms. Stewart and the others gave first aid to the men and protected them from the severe cold for three hours until the French Mountain Rescue Services arrived. For their good deed, Ms. Stewart and Flight Lieutenant Will Close-Ash both received the Order of St. John of Jerusalem life-saving award. Ms. Stewart said, "I'm very proud to receive this honor and pleased that our efforts on the mountain have been recognized. The cadets dealt with the situation in such a mature manner." Three air cadets received Order of St. John of Jerusalem young life-saver awards: flight sergeants Matthew Chamberlain, age 17, of North Shields; Dominic Jones, age 17, of Wallsend; and James Smith, age 18, of Monkseaton. Ms. Stewart said about the Belgian climbers, "Both men were bleeding heavily from their heads, with cuts to other parts of their bodies. We used three first-aid kits patching them up." (123)

Prince William: Hero

In May 2011, British royal Prince William, age 28, who works as a helicopter rescue pilot for the Royal Air Force, helped save the life of 70-year-old Nick Barnett, who had suffered a heart attack while climbing a hill in Snowdonia, north Wales. Prince William flew Mr. Barnett to a hospital. Mr. Barnett said, "I'm grateful to Prince William and the crew and the member of Llanberis mountain rescue who came to my aid. The winchman did a wonderful job, as did the whole helicopter crew. You see all the documentaries, and it all looks hair-raising. Until it happens to you, you don't appreciate their skill and bravery. I didn't set out to be rescued by Prince William. My family and friends are all stunned." (124)

"Man, He Saved My Kid's Life"

In May 2010 in Somerville, Massachusetts, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy swallowed a metal bathroom sink stopper about an inch and a half in diameter. The stopper lodged in his throat, and he could not breathe. Mike Gilmore, the boy's father, ran for help, He said, "I figured they were doing construction down the street. There was a detail cop on duty, so that was the next best thing before [paramedics] got here." Officer Albert Gee of the Somerville Police Department saved the boy's life. Officer Gee said, "His wife was holding their child at the front stoop. It was pretty much lodged into his throat, and I heard that child gasping." Kelly Latanowitch, the boy's mother, said, "He took him from my hands and tipped him upside down and hit him on his back." Officer Gee said, "I gave him some hard pats on the back, and that stopper came out of his mouth." Deputy Chief Paul Upton of the Somerville Police Department praised Officer Gee: "We're extremely proud of Officer Gee, and we're proud of every officer here, but he'll go home tonight feeling pretty good about himself." Mr. Gilmore also praised Officer Gee: "He come down right immediately and helped out and everything. [...] Man, he saved my kid's life." Deputy Chief Upton said, "When seconds count, we can count on these officers to react." Also assisting at the scene were two other police officers and some construction workers. (125)

"I Saw the Defibrillator on the Wall, and Thought, Hmmm, That Will Come in Handy Someday. And Three Minutes Later..."

In June 2006, Spokane County Fire District No. 9 firefighters Lt. Patrick Flannery, Matthew Turner, and Eric Goblick saved a man's life while off-duty at the Spokane (Washington) International Airport. The three men and their wives had just returned from a Las Vegas vacation. Coming off the plane, Mr. Turner said, "I saw there was some commotion coming off the plane, so I waited. The rest of the group had gone ahead of me, and I called them back." An elderly man had collapsed while suffering a heart attack. Mr. Goblick grabbed an automated external defibrillator that he had noticed earlier from a wall at the airport. He said, "When we walked off the plane, I saw the defibrillator on the wall, and thought, Hmmm, that will come in handy someday. And three minutes later...." In addition to using the defibrillator, the three men did other things: Mr. Turner performed chest compressions while Mr. Goblick got an oxygen kit from a flight attendant and Mr. Flannery went through the elderly man's wallet to look for medical information. Mr. Flannery said, "We were able to help him breathe until his own breathing kicked in." The three men have worked together for years. Mr. Goblick said, "It is second nature to us. We don't even have to think about what's next. I guess you could say we're a fine-oiled machine." Bob Anderson, Fire District No. 9's chief, said, "These guys are excellent firefighters to start with, and the fact these guys stepped up to the plate while off duty and were successful was great. They represented us very well, and they represented the fire service very well." (126)

A 10-Year-Old Heimlich Hero

In July 1998 in Hampstead, New Hampshire, Eric M. Cafazzo, age 10, became a hero when he used the Heimlich Maneuver to save the life of his eight-year-old sister, Jessica, who began choking while eating a hard-boiled egg. The children's mother, Robin M. Cafazzo, said, "I tried to get it to come out, and I asked her if she could say 'Mommy,' but she couldn't." Robin yelled to Eric as she ran to call 911. This was the right thing to do. Robin said, "Before I even made the [911] connection, Eric had his arms around his sister and the egg had popped out." Eric had learned to use the Heimlich Maneuver while listening to a first-aid presentation by Robert A. Goudreault, a member of the Ski Patrol. Eric explained, "Jessie has Down syndrome, and so she doesn't always chew her food good. When Mom yelled, I ran in and saw her choking and she wasn't making any noise. I was a little scared, but I knew I could do it. His mother said that Jessica's "feet came right up off the floor. Eric just had the magic touch. I think I was afraid of hurting her and didn't push hard enough." Eric said, "I didn't have time to think. You get an adrenalin rush." Eric also learned about the Heimlich Maneuver while watching an episode of Nick News on the Nickelodeon Channel. He said, "Mom and I practiced how to do it. I think everybody with younger brothers and sisters should learn how to do it." Jessica gave Eric a kiss after he saved her life, and Robin said that everyone had a group hug. Jessica also made a promise: "I'm gonna try to chew my food better." (127)

A Seven-Year-Old Car Steerer

On 13 October 2003, Cyril Mills, age 49, suffered a fatal heart attack while driving from Bratton Fleming to Ilfracombe, north Devon, England. Sitting beside him in the car was his son, seven-year-old Max, who became a hero by steering the car away from oncoming traffic, then keeping himself and his five-year-old brother, Harry, who was also in the car, safe. Unfortunately, their father died later in a hospital. Devon and Cornwall Chief Superintendent Morris Watts, who presented a bravery award to Max, said, "Max, who was sat in the front passenger seat and obviously very distressed, had the presence of mind to grab the steering wheel and steer the car away from oncoming traffic, thus avoiding any further tragic consequences." (128)

"I Want to Thank Him. He Saved My Life, Quite Possibly"

In 2011 in Dunwoody, Georgia, while traveling to keep an appointment with a doctor, Tom Holihan felt disoriented and fell onto the subway tracks. Fortunately, an anonymous man rescued him. Mr. Holihan said, "I want to thank him. He saved my life, quite possibly." A Metropolitan Area Rapid Transit Authority security camera recorded the rescue. Mr. Holihan remembers a man climbing down onto the tracks with him, and then lifting him up to others, who pulled him to safety. Mr. Holihan said, "He dove straight down. He didn't hesitate. This good Samaritan jumped down, and after two or three attempts was able to hoist me up." Mr. Holihan is white, and he described his rescuer as "a young African-American, in his early 20s, standing about 6-foot-4, weighing about 210 pounds." Mr. Holihan said about his rescuer, "God bless you." (129)

Trapped Under Six Feet of Sand

In August 2011 at Newport Beach, California, 17-year-old Matt Mina was digging a tunnel in the beach when it collapsed and buried him under six feet of sand. Matt said, "I thought I was going to die. I was just really scared. I didn't know if anyone could hear me when I was screaming for help." Luckily, his cousin saw the tunnel collapse on Matt, and the cousin alerted lifeguards. Approximately 40 people began digging Matt out, and search-and-rescue teams began arriving from three nearby communities. Skip Snead recorded the rescue efforts with a video camera after making sure that his own son was safe. He said, "I was frantically looking, making sure my kid wasn't the one buried in the sand. I was pretty scared, and when I found out it wasn't my son, I just let the camera roll." Skip, however, did not think that Matt would survive: "We thought they were going to pull up a dead body." Matt, however, was still alive. He said, "I threw my head around, trying to make some room because my arms were kind of behind me. I pretty much made some wiggle room—I had a little pocket of air." He was still alive when the rescuers reached him 30 minutes after the tunnel collapsed. He said, "I heard people, [but] I was fading in and out; I was kind of unconscious underneath the sand." Newport Beach Fire Chief Jeff Boyles said, "The fact that he's alive today—I think he has a lot to be owed to luck, and to the great efforts of the lifeguards and fire personnel that dug him out." Skip has the final word: "I can't believe he lived. I'm sitting next to a walking dead man right now." (130)

"He Simply Broke Down. He was Terrified"

In November 2005 in Denver, Colorado, two window-washers nearly lost their lives as the scaffold they were on 12 stories above the street caromed during high winds and shattered windows because of a broken boom anchor on the roof of the building. Kathy Flanagan, who worked on the 12th floor of Denver Place Plaza Tower, was a witness: "The look on that guy's face was beyond terrified. I really thought [that] he thought he was going to die." Denver firefighters responded to the emergency. Lt. Phil Champagne said that the shards of broken window glass falling to the street below "created a guillotine situation." Fortunately, the falling glass did not injure anyone on the street, but it did shatter the rear window of a car. The firefighters went to the 12th floor, where they saw the scaffold heading toward a window near them. Carlos Garcia said, "It crashed through, and we held it in place." Fortunately, the firefighters were wearing gloves as they reached through the broken glass to grab the scaffold. The window-washers were understandably in a hurry to get off the scaffold. Mr. Garcia said, "They just ran over us." Lieutenants Scott Lynge and Charlie Chase and Captain Joe Hebert also assisted in the rescue. Mr. Hebert said that the firefighters did not even have time to put on safety harnesses: "We went to Plan B awfully fast." Benny Smith, who worked in an office building directly across the street, witnessed the rescue and called the firefighters "true heroes." He said about the window-washers, who had called 911 after the scaffold stalled, "They were just hanging on for dear life." Ms. Flanagan saw the window-washers after they were rescued. She said that one man was crying: "He simply broke down. He was terrified." (131)

"You Don't Think About It When They're Yelling for Their Life"

In August 2008 in Skamania County, Washington, James Dean, owner of a construction firm, saw a vehicle veer across the centerline and hit the vehicle in front of him. He immediately stopped to render aid. One vehicle, a van, had caught on fire. He kicked out the driver's side window, and then he pulled out a woman, who had suffered internal injuries, a broken back, and burns to 30 percent of her body. In performing the rescue, Mr. Dean suffered serious burns to his hands and arms. How did he find the courage to go to the woman's rescue? Mr. Dean said, "You don't think about it when they're yelling for their life." (132)

"My Wife Said, 'Go!'"

In September 1996 in Naperville Township, Illinois, off-duty Naperville Police Sergeant John Murr thought that his wife, Cathy, was delivering his lunch as he was helping his brother-in-law to paint a house. Instead, he said, "She came running in and said something was happening down the street." He investigated and saw the top of a van sticking out of a pond. Two children, a seven-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother, had taken their mother's keys and had been playing in the van. They shifted the gears, the van started rolling, and the brother got out of the van before it went into the pond. A man was by the pond. Mr. Murr said, "He was screaming that there was somebody in the van. Then I learned I would probably take a swim. I got to the edge of the pond. I hesitated a second or two, and I was thinking about taking my shoes off. But my wife said, 'Go!'" When he reached the van, he pulled the girl out, and kept her head above the water as he took her to shore, where his wife took care of her. Mr. Murr said about the girl, "I think there was an air pocket there, and she was smart enough to put her head in it." (133)

"She Just Reached Up and Grabbed Our Arms"

On Sunday, 6 March 2011, two brothers, Bill and Jeb Lemen, were on their way to church in Mumford, New York, when they saw a woman waving her arms and screaming at them to stop. The woman pointed to a car upside down in an icy creek—the front end of the car was almost completely submerged. Inside the car was Nicole Vaeth, whose car had hit a snowy patch and slid. The brothers immediately went into action and jumped into the water. Bill said, "I just remember getting out, and then before I knew it we both just jumped in the water." The river current was swift, almost knocking Bill off his feet. Nicole's head was barely above water, and because of rocks the car doors could open only a few inches, but the Lemens were able to get their hands inside the car. Bill said, "She just reached up with her hands. I don't even remember what she said, but she just reached up and grabbed our arms. So we were hanging over the door and reached in and grabbed her and pulled her up to the side so we could keep her head above water." The Lemens stayed with Nicole, keeping her head up so she could breathe, for 10 minutes. Then firefighters showed up and got Nicole and the car out of the creek. The young men's mother, Shelly Lemen, watched the rescue. She said, "I'm proud of them. They didn't hesitate. They just helped someone out. My boys are nice strong boys so I knew they would be okay." Bill said, "It's just something you think back on and you think, Wow, that was pretty amazing that we were able to do that. But then again you're just happy that you could help someone out and that you're at the right place at the right time and just able to help someone that needed your help." Both Bill and Jeb attend SUNY Binghamton. (134)

"He's My Hero"

In 2011 in Lakewood, Washington, Mary Healey became pinned against her car by an out-of-control pickup truck that smashed into a gas pump. Ms. Healey's right foot was nearly severed. Fortunately, Jose Delgado, a private first class and a medic in the Army at nearby Joint Base Lewis-McChord—and a complete stranger to Ms. Healey—arrived on the scene and saved her life. Ms. Healey said, "He's my hero." She added, "[I] don't remember anything, didn't hear anything, didn't see anything. All I know is the next thing—I was waking up in Harborview [Medical Center], in intensive care." Mr. Delgado said, "I was scared at first when I ran up. But after that, I just let everything kick in that I knew how to do. I grabbed a belt off of this guy walking by. I tied it [the wound] off, and I got duct tape from the store to save as much of the leg as we possibly could." Mr. Delgado added, "I'm so glad she's alive and she got her foot back. I thank God for the skills, and I thank the Army for giving me the training." (135)

Six-Year-Old Girl Saves Three-Year-Old Brother

In May 2008 in Angier, North Carolina, a driver failed to yield on Highway 210 and hit a GMC Yukon in which were Chrystal Pencola and her two children: six-year-old Alexis and three-year-old Tyler. Alexis said, "It was on fire." Ms. Pencola said, "All I thought about was the truck was going to explode. The trooper told me that doesn't happen, only in movies, but that's what you think about." Ms. Pencola worried about her children. She said, "I couldn't get my seatbelt off, the door wouldn't open, and my kids were in the back." Alexis got her brother out of the vehicle. She said, "I unlocked his seatbelt and I unlocked mine and I unlocked my door and everything." Ms. Pencola said, "She could have just gotten out and ran from being scared. She could have locked up and not even been able to get the door open or even get her seatbelt off, but she didn't. We are blessed. We are very blessed that none of us were hurt or killed." (136)

"I'm Okay! I Can Breathe! Get Me Out of Here!"

After dining at a restaurant, some Samford University (Birmingham, Alabama) students who were brothers of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity headed home in two vehicles. Adam Blake Sittre was in a truck, and in another vehicle were William Zip Brown and David Nicholas West. Zip and Nicholas saw Blake's taillights veer off the road and disappear. They investigated and found that Blake's truck was upside down in a creek. Zip said, "We were looking for him and thinking that there was no way he could have gone over that edge. We were looking for him in the woods until someone finally leaned over and looked down into the creek. We saw the bottom of his truck sticking up. It was completely flipped over." Nicholas called 911, and Zip went down to the creek. Zip said, "As soon as I got to the bottom of the hill, I took everything out of my pockets and jumped into the water. When I reached the truck, I could see that he was not making any movement or noise. I knew that if I did not get him out in time that he was going to drown, if he hadn't already. There was about an inch of the truck out of the water and the rest was under. We were prepared for the worst. While [I was] breaking the window open with my fist, the glass cut my hand. At first I could only get the door open about a quarter of the way because it was wedged against the bank. When I finally opened it up, I heard him yelling, 'I'm okay! I'm okay! I can breathe! Get me out of here!'" By then, Nicholas had made his way to the truck. Zip said, "We were both standing by the door while I reached into the opening to help him get out. Once he had hold of my arm, I started pulling him out and towards the bank." Shortly after they got Blake to the bank of the creek, paramedics arrived. Blake's hands were slightly scratched, and Zip had a cut on his hand from breaking the window glass. Zip said about the rescue, "It felt just like a reaction more than anything. I felt like I was doing that for a bigger purpose and not just for myself." Zip added that Blake "told me from his perspective that he remembers hydroplaning and hitting the curb and he remembers slipping and hitting the water. He saw an air pocket by the pedals and happened to get to that air pocket just as I got to him." (137)

"We Thought the Car was Going to Blow Up. It was Just Scary"

In April 2001 in Revere, Massachusetts, Brian Gabriel and two of his friends were pumping gas when they heard two cars colliding. Mr. Gabriel said, "We just heard a big bang like a gunshot, like a gunshot at a gun range. Then we just ran over." Mr. Gabriel said, "People were trying to put it out with the fire extinguisher, and it kept getting higher. And then we noticed there was one guy in there—it was so smoky it was like walking inside a cave." They got one driver out of the car, and they were trying to get the other driver out when police arrived. Mr. Gabriel said, "Everyone rushed to the car. The cop took him over the shoulder and pulled him out and everyone started ripping off his clothes [which were on fire], and bringing him to safety. We brought the first guy away, too, because we thought the car was going to blow up. It was just scary." (138)

"That Man Stood There and Helped Somebody"

On Memorial Day in 2009 in the village of Elm Grove, Wisconsin, a minivan was stopped on railroad tracks with a locomotive pulling 94 freight cars bearing down on it with whistle blowing. Inside the minivan were 40-year-old Monica Ensley-Partenfelder, of West Allis, Wisconsin, and her two-year-old son, who was in a car seat. Racing to the rescue were police officer John Krahn, age 41, who was working parade traffic control, and Mrs. Ensley-Partenfelder's husband, Scott Partenfelder, age 47, who was in another vehicle but came running when he saw the danger his wife and son were in. Officer Krahn managed to free Mrs. Ensley-Partenfelder, and then he went to the passenger side to help her husband, who was busy trying to get the two-year-old out of the car seat before the train hit the minivan. He failed. The train struck the minivan, demolishing the driver's side. Miraculously, the two-year-old was unhurt, due in large part to his car seat. The collision, however, injured both Officer Krahn and Mr. Partenfelder, both of whom were operated on. Eyewitness Karen Gray-Hoehn said about Officer Krahn, "He started running toward the tracks. He yelled. He told the woman to gun it, get over the railroad tracks. We could hear it, smell it. She gunned the thing. Her wheels turned and got stuck on the railroad track. The car flipped and faced the train. We could see the front tire spinning in the gravel on the side of the tracks itself." Eyewitness Don Smidt was impressed by Officer Krahn's actions: "It's amazing what the human mind will do to your body, and your body says, 'I've got to help somebody.' You don't run away from it. That man stood there and helped somebody. You hope he gets along fine, and his family, you feel sorry for them." Both Officer Krahn and Mr. Partenfelder are heroes. (139)

"His First Thought was to Do Whatever was Necessary to Protect This Girl"

On 3 February 2011, near Yale, British Columbia, Canada, Constable Jim Moir, age 45, an 18-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, saved the life of 15-year-old Buffy-Anne Troy by picking up her up and throwing her into a ditch and out of the way of an out-of-control yellow highways sandtruck. The sandtruck slid on the icy road and hit Constable Moir and severely crushed his leg. Previously, the white truck that Buffy-Anne had been riding in with her family had slid off the icy road. Sergeant Peter Thiessen, spokesperson for the RCMP Lower Mainland District Regional Police Service, said, "This was obviously a split-second decision where the constable realized what was happening, and his first thought was to do whatever was necessary to protect this girl. He clearly put her safety ahead of his own." A RCMP release stated, "Police want to take this opportunity to remind motorists to pull over, should road conditions suddenly become hazardous." (140)

Zhang Chao: Hero

In July 2011 on the Suizhou-Yueyang Highway in Hubei province near the city of Xiantao in central China, Zhang Chao gave his life to rescue his wife's 16-year-old sister and another passenger from a long-distance bus after a truck hit it and both vehicles burst into flames. Zhang Chao's wife, Lu Yufeng, age 22, said, "I remember just before the crash I was sitting alone in front of the bus, and my husband and sister were sitting together in the back. They were both sleeping deeply." She added, "At first the fire was not so big, so my husband pulled my sister out and then helped rescue another passenger." The fire quickly grew, and Zhang Chao was unable to escape. Zhang Chao and his wife ran a clothing business in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. To identify the 23 victims of the burning vehicles, DNA tests needed to be carried out. (141)

"To Our Hero"

On 30 July 2011, a woman crashed her SUV into Jay Roberts Jewelers on Route 73 in Marlton, New Jersey. Fortunately, Anthony Baynard, a fitness consultant from Texas who was visiting New Jersey, took action to possibly save lives. Employee Olivia Pantalone was in the store when the SUV shattered glass and jewelry cases. She said, "The car was still coming. I just started to scream, 'Shut it off! Shut it off!" Mr. Baynard took the driver's foot off the accelerator and turned off the engine. The driver asked him, "Young man, did I kill anybody?" He replied, without knowing whether it was true, "No, ma'am, everybody is fine." He then carried employee Joan Morein out of the wreckage. Ms. Pantalone was still lying under some debris. Store owner Jake Spigelman said, "She was lying there pretty motionless at first. I actually froze because I thought she was dead under there." Mr. Baynard lifted her up and wrapped her wrist in a tourniquet. Ms. Pantalone said, "I was losing a lot of blood and he did save my life—he acted very quickly, very unselfishly." Mr. Baynard said, "I could tell from the blood I wanted to secure the area, keep [her wrist] above her head just till fire and EMT could get there." In September 2011, Mr. Baynard received a hero proclamation. The jewelry store also gave him a wristwatch engraved "To our hero." (142)

"It Restores Your Faith in Humanity"

On 12 September 2011 in Logan, Utah, a town roughly 90 miles north of Salt Lake City and the home of Utah State University, a crowd of people saved the life of a motorcyclist who was trapped beneath a car very close to his burning motorcycle. Abbass Sharif, age 28, and more than a half-dozen rescuers lifted up the car so that Brandon Wright, a 21-year-old Utah State University student, could be pulled to safety. Mr. Sharif, a doctoral candidate from Lebanon, said, "The chance of him dying if we don't do it is like 100 percent. If you weigh the chance of you being in danger, that's going to be low, like 20 percent, compared to 100 percent." Assistant Logan Police Chief Jeff Curtis said that we can "only speculate what the outcome would have been" if the rescuers had not acted. Mr. Sharif said, "I don't consider myself a hero. It's just our humanity.... Everyone is going to help." Mr. Wright said from a hospital bed, "I'm just very thankful for everyone that helped me out. They saved my life." Many rescuers were involved. Some wore construction helmets and safety vests. Some were university students. At least one police officer assisted. James Odei, age 35, a doctoral candidate from Ghana, said, "The danger? I didn't think about it for a minute. All I wanted to do was grab that car and raise it." Mr. Wright's uncle, Tyler Riggs, said about Mr. Wright, "He remembers being under the car, spitting up blood and not being able to talk." Mr. Riggs praised the "angels who came to his aid. They risked their lives doing it. It restores your faith in humanity." During the rescue, construction worker Mike Johnson at first thought that Mr. Wright was dead. He said, "The truth is, I thought we were just removing the car from a body. Then [a] lady got down on her belly and stared under there, right into the flames. She yelled out that 'he's alive,' and after she said that, everyone just converged on the car and lifted. I don't know who she was, but that lady did a great service." Construction worker Kade Lundgren said, "I wasn't quite knowing what was going on, but I was just trying to figure out where the driver of the motorcycle was... you notice he's underneath the car, and my heart just dropped. I was sick." Anvar Suyundikov, one of the citizen rescuers, worried about the fire during the rescue: "It was very hot: hot and kind of dangerous. I thought [the car] was close to [exploding]." Construction worker Derrick Harper did not think about risking his own life: "It really didn't pop in my head about that. It just seemed somebody needed some help, so I just went ahead and helped out." Mr. Lundgren added, "You know, it's just a miracle. I'm just glad we were there at the right time in the right place." (143)

"She's Alive"

On 24 July 2011 on Interstate 95 in Forest Hill, Florida, Jasmin Gonzalez, an 18-year-old freshman at Florida Atlantic University, lost control of her Chevy Cobalt. She plunged into a canal, and as the water rose in the overturned car she thought she was going to die. She said, "I didn't want to feel anything." Fortunately, seven men in various cars stopped and rescued her. Todd Truemper, age 54, said, "I jumped in the water to get whoever out of the car. I grabbed the door handle, and it came off in my hand. I went to the other door, and the handle came off in my hand." Mr. Truemper's wife was on the I-95 stopping cars to get more help. Jeffrey Lasnier, age 50, stopped and ran into the water to assist the other men there. He said, "She came right to the windshield and looked at me. I said, 'She's alive.'" Erik Hadad, age 45, of Boca Raton, grabbed a metal object and smashed the windows. The seven men flipped the car over right-side up and then pulled Ms. Gonzalez out and carried her to an ambulance that had arrived. Jasmin's father, Manny Gonzalez, said, "It's just a miracle. It was an amazing act of kindness.... I just can not imagine the pain of a parent losing a child." These are the seven heroes: Daniel Alkobi of Boca Raton, Erik Alkobi of Boca Raton, Erik Hadad of Boca Raton, Jeffrey Lasnier of West Palm Beach, Carlos Rangel of Wellington, Keith Richardson of suburban Lake Worth, and Todd Truemper of Hollywood. (144)

Pushing a Four-Year-Old Out of Danger

In April 2002 in Jacksonville, Florida, seven-year-old Noah Patrick, an African-American, became a hero. Noah's father had asked Noah's 12-year-old cousin to move a car, but the cousin did not know that she was about to run over another cousin: four-year-old Cyrus. Noah pushed Cyrus out of the way, and was run over instead of Cyrus. Noah's mother, Renee Green, said, "The story was told by another cousin out there that Cyrus was the one geared to get hit. But Noah pushed him out of the way." Noah's grandmother, Gloria Freeman, said, "There was no thinking when it came to protect Cyrus. He just did it. He didn't know the danger that lied ahead for him." Noah suffered two broken legs in the accident. (145)

"All of the Police and Paramedics Said He's a Hero. He Saved His Mom's Life"

In November 2002, in Greeley, Colorado, a seven-year-old boy became a hero after his mother wrecked the family pickup, which rolled over five times. His mother was thrown out of the pickup and sustained serious injuries. In the pickup were Titus Adams, age seven, and his sisters: Tiffany, age four, and Tierra, age one. Because they were using seat belts, they suffered no major injuries. Titus said, "I tried to open the door, but it was kind of squished closed, so I jumped out the window." He knew that he had to go for help, but first he talked to Tiffany: "I told her not to let Tierra cry. I promised her I'd be back after I got some help." His father, Glenn Adams, said, "He was in his pajamas with no shoes. He walked through a muddy field, squeezed under an electric fence and then had to break the gate on another fence to get through." Titus said, "It had barbed wire on the other side, so I couldn't go under it. I was just pushing it really hard and then it fell down." In 23-degree weather, with no coat and no shoes, Titus traveled about a half-mile. He said, "I just ran a lot." His father said, "He kept walking and finally he saw three guys and he just hollered out, 'Hey, there's been an accident!'" The men, employees at Galeton Dairy, called 911. State Patrol officers arrived, and Titus' mother, who had a broken back, a broken neck, and 10 broken ribs, was taken to North Colorado Medical Center in critical condition. Titus' father said about him, "All of the police and paramedics said he's a hero. He saved his mom's life." (146)

"I'm So Thankful that We Didn't Die"

J.B. Martin was driving a chartered bus, which was filled with campers who had spent a week at Young Life Frontier camp in Buena Vista, Colorado, home to Fredricksburg, Texas, when the bus caught on fire. He pulled over, woke up the campers, and got them off the bus before it was engulfed by fire. No one was hurt. The campers had smelled something funny earlier, but no one knew what the smell was. Passenger Moriah Smith said, "J.B. pulled over a few times and checked things out. I think he knew something was wrong." Mr. Martin said, "I ran around to the left side of the bus and I saw a small fire and I'm assuming it must have been about seven minutes or so and the whole bus was engulfed." Mr. Martin acted instantly: "I just think it would've been a natural reaction for anyone. Any hesitation, any moments of waiting [...] and we could've really been in some trouble. It was just an instant reaction. I have children, so of course I wanted them off immediately." Passenger Rachel Finn said, "We're all sleeping on the bus, and all we hear is J.B. screaming, 'Get off the bus! Get off the bus!... The bus is on fire." She added, "I'm so thankful that we didn't die and that's what everyone was saying and I'm glad that he got us and stopped there in time." (147)

"The Act of Bravery Shown by This Man is Astonishing"

In April 2010 in the Bedfordshire, England, village of Heath and Reach, a head-on crash of two vehicles killed one driver and seriously injured the other. The vehicle with the dead driver caught on fire, endangering the life of an injured three-year-old boy. Fortunately, an anonymous hero—described only as an "older man"—took action. A spokesman said, "The good Samaritan was in another car and may have witnessed the collision before risking his own life to save the young boy from the burning Astra. Once free of the wreckage, he passed the toddler to a woman who also witnessed the incident and happened to be an off-duty nurse, before continuing on his way without leaving any contact details." Police Constable Andy Carter, who works in the collision investigation unit, said, "The act of bravery shown by this man is astonishing. The fact that he then carried on his way without a thought for himself is even more staggering. That said, it is vital we trace him as he undoubtedly saved a boy's life so I would urge him, or anyone who knows his identity, to contact the police." (148)

Three Heroes; Three Lives Saved

On 23 December 2005, Iana Lombardo, age 37, and her children—a two-year-old and a three-year-old—ended up in an iced-over Loudoun County pond in northern Virginia when Iana lost control of her car. The car was overturned, lying on its roof in water that was three to four feet deep, and the cold water began to enter the car. Iana tried to free the children from the car, but she was unable to. Fortunately, three men who were on their way to work saw them. The three men went into the icy water and rolled the car onto its side, and then they released Iana and her two children. The three heroes were Richard Salvatierra-Pena, age 30, of Sterling, VA; Oscar A. Rodas-Mejia, age 40, of Fairfax, VA; and Henry J. Nunez-Samaniego, age 20, of Herndon, VA. (149)

"We Did Nothing We Wouldn't Expect Someone Else to Do for Us in the Same Situation"

In December 2005, an Australian farmer named Colin Russell became a hero when he pulled two Aussies from their burning car. The male driver lost control near Dannevirke, and the car crashed through a fence and into a tree. Mr. Russell's daughter, whose name is Lisa, telephoned emergency services while Mr. Russell pulled out of the car the unconscious female passenger. He then freed the male driver, who had remained conscious but who had a broken leg. Mr. Russell said about his heroism, "I don't want to make a big deal about it. I did it to save the people's lives. It was just common sense. We did nothing we wouldn't expect someone else to do for us in the same situation." Constable Wayne Churchhouse said that if not for Mr. Russell's action, the two Aussies would have died. (150)
CHAPTER 4: STORIES 151-200

"You Just Do It Because It's the Right Thing to Do"

Leon Kaipo, age 38, of Ruakaka, New Zealand, does not care much for exercise, but in November 2005 he ran to save a life after hearing screams and seeing a burning car. He dragged a 43-year-old woman and her dog from the burning car. Whangarei police Constable Peter Mayne said, "Thirty seconds later and she would have been dead." Mr. Kaipo said, "I'm sure anybody would have done the same. You don't think about it—you just do it because it's the right thing to do." Mr. Kaipo was driving on State Highway One when a man waved for him to stop; the man told him that a car had crossed the centerline and then launched itself into the air, sailed over a creek, and hit a tree. Mr. Kaipo saw flames coming from the upside-down car and ran over to help the screaming woman inside. The doors were stuck, so he had to break a window to get the woman and her dog out. Mr. Kaipo said, "The passenger window was three-quarters of the way up so I told the woman to cover her eyes and her dog, and I smashed the window... . I said to hold on to me and I pulled her out." (151)

In Memory of Kelly Bulmer

In August 2010, Aaron Simpson, age 18, from Oakham, England, survived a car accident that killed his girlfriend (Kelly Bulmer, age 17) and a friend (James Adamson, age 23). Paramedic Dylan Griffin, of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, gave Aaron life-saving help. To show their appreciation to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, Aaron, along with his family and friends, and Kelly's family and friends, raised £1,600 to donate to the rescue service in Kelly's memory. They also donated just over £1,000 to the British Heart Foundation. Aaron said, "It was really nice to meet Dylan. There are so many things I can't remember, but my parents told me how he and the air ambulance crew helped to save my life. I realize if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here now and wanted to meet him personally to say thank you." Aaron suffered many injuries and was in Walsgrave Hospital, in Coventry, for two weeks. Dylan said, "I called the hospital the week after the accident to find out how he was doing, but it's great to meet him in person." Aaron's mother, Karen, age 41, said, "We can't thank the air ambulance service enough for helping to save Aaron's life. I don't think people realize the importance of it until they or one of their loved ones needs it." Kelly's father, Keith, age 62, said, "As soon as we understood nothing could be done for our daughter, all our thoughts and prayers were with Aaron. We wanted to do something, in memory of Kelly, to say thank you for saving his life." Sophie Stevens, fund-raising manager for the air ambulance, said, "We are extremely thankful to Aaron and Kelly's families for supporting us at this very difficult time. Air ambulance staff are very pleased to see Aaron making such a good recovery but sad they couldn't make a difference to save the lives of Kelly and James." (152)

"You Gotta Have a Heart"

On 20 November 2005, Mark Copsy saw a car on fire with two people inside in Northlake, Illinois. He and his 12-year-old son ran to the car, and he tried but failed to smash a window with his foot. Fortunately, he was holding a 20-pound frozen turkey that he had bought for Thanksgiving. Mr. Copsy recounted, "I said, 'H*ll, I'll just use the d*mn turkey.' And that's what I did." After yelling at the driver to cover his face, Mr. Copsy smashed the window with the frozen turkey. Police had arrived, and the police and others got the elderly couple out of the burning car. The elderly couple were severely burned and were taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. Mr. Copsy is a former carnival worker and a Hurricane Katrina evacuee from Marrero, Louisiana. He said, "You gotta have a heart. That's what you gotta do. You can't let somebody burn." Sadly, the elderly couple died at the hospital. (153)

Saving the Life of a Soldier

In April 2010, an accident occurred in which a vehicle overturned on Interstate 675 near Beavercreek, Ohio. A 27-year-old soldier home from Iraq who was scheduled for deployment to Afghanistan was thrown from the vehicle. John Boyd, an ABF road driver in Dayton, Ohio, protected the soldier's life. Mr. Boyd said about the soldier, "He was lying on his back, next to the guardrail, on the pavement in the road. They [other motorists] would have run over the guy." Mr. Boyd positioned his truck to protect the soldier from traffic and stayed with the soldier until help arrived. Because of his life-saving action, Mr. Boyd was awarded the ABD Medal of Excellence. (154)

"I Heard [the Wife] Scream, and That's When I Made the Decision to Go Inside Without a Hoseline"

On 23 September 2011 in Modadore, Ohio, firefighters Ben Stasik and Nick Sansom worked together to rescue a woman and boy in a burning home. The woman's husband told them about the trapped victims, and Mr. Sansom worked the hose to knock down the flames so that Mr. Stasik could enter the home. Mr. Stasik said, "I heard [the wife] scream, and that's when I made the decision to go inside without a hoseline and see if I could locate her." Mogadore Fire Chief Don Adams said, "It's a tremendous thing when a fireman lays down his hose. That nozzle is there to protect him, and to go past it you're laying it all on the line." First, Mr. Stasik rescued the woman despite near-zero visibility, and then he returned and rescued the boy, who was in the basement. Mr. Stasik said, "That's a good feeling, something I'll carry with me the rest of my career." (155)

Anonymous Hero Rescues Woman from Burning Home

In May 2011 in Midwest City, Oklahoma, lightning struck the home of Linda Payne, age 50, who uses an oxygen tank because of lung disease. Jerry Lojka of the Midwest City Fire Department said that the lightning "hit the corner of the house and blew chunks of guttering all around the house clear to the ground." Ms. Payne was trapped in her home by the fire, but fortunately a man who was driving by entered her home and carried her out, saving her life. The man did not leave his name. Ms. Payne said about the heroic stranger, "I don't know who you are that helped me, but I appreciate it very much. Thank you very much." (156)

"Fire was All Around Him"

On 2 May 2009 in Gisborne, New Zealand, Ani Cooper's six-year-old son played with a lighter and started a fire—in his bedroom. Ani rescued him and her other children, but their home was a total loss. While preparing lunch for her four children, Ani heard a smoke alarm going off. She said, "A couple of seconds after that, I heard my [six-year-old] son scream, so I ran down to see him, but the door was closed and smoke was coming out from it. The first thing I saw was that he was standing in the middle of the room and it was filled with black, grey smoke. Fire was all around him, I mean all around him—going up the wall, burning the clothes and the bed was on fire. I ran through, trying to kick the fire, and grabbed him. I physically ripped him quite hard, because he was so frozen still, and I didn't realize my one-year-old had followed me—being curious, she was right behind me." Ms. Cooper picked up the one-year-old and ran to the door with her six-year-old and got him out, and then she went back to a bedroom to get her five-year-old and eight-year-old. The spreading fire prevented an escape through the front door, but they got out through an open lounge window. The eight-year-old went out the window first, and then Ms. Cooper passed the one-year-old baby through the window to him. Ms. Cooper said, "I was crying during the whole time I was doing that." Everyone escaped, but it was close. Ms. Cooper said, "It was less than two minutes that my house and that room my son had been in had completely gone up." For Ms. Cooper, the most frightening thing was seeing how scared her six-year-old was: "Seeing his face and seeing he wouldn't move—he had frozen with fear. That was the scariest thing." Tairawhiti fire safety officer Derek Goodwin said, "Historically, there have been a lot of fires innocently started by children—usually by a lighter found lying around, then off to the bedroom where they feel safe and secure and they just start experimenting. Invariably they start to light something and it gets out of hand." He praised Ms. Cooper's use of smoke alarms, which were throughout the house. Ms. Cooper said, "If we didn't have those smoke alarms, there is no way we would have got out. I definitely recommend them to everyone—it's scary to think if that had happened at night time." (157)

"I had to Go and Save Him or We would Lose Him"

In June 2007 in Smithton, Tasmania, Australia, a fire broke out in the home of Sandra Quillam, a mother who grabbed her three daughters and got them out of the burning house. However, four-year-old Zachary was still inside. One of the daughters, 11-year-old Melissa, heard him screaming and so she ran back inside the burning house and rescued him. Melissa said, "I could hear Zach screaming, and I could hear all the flames burning up. Zach was standing in front of the door and [...] I had to go and save him or we would lose him." (158)

"Jesus Told Me to Wake Up and Save My Baby Brother"

On 28 February 2010 in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, a six-year-old girl named Virginia Rojo rescued her four-month-old brother, Joren, from a burning wooden shack on the island of Negros. Her mother was not home at the time because she was doing errands. Virginia, who suffered second-degree burns to her face and hands, said, "Jesus told me to wake up and save my baby brother." (159)

"Small Children and Lighters or Matches can be a Deadly Combination"

In October 2009, two-year-old Stephan Dargan was playing with a cigarette lighter in a car in the Northern Territory of Australia. He set the car on fire. Fortunately, his sister, 12-year-old sister, Savannah White, saw him and rescued him. Tennant Creek Fire and Rescue Service station officer Mark James said, "It was a fairly windy day, and all the windows were down. So by the time we got there, five minutes later, the whole car was totally destroyed. So no doubt her brave actions and quick thinking saved her little brother." Acting Senior Sergeant Jody Nobbs said about Savannah, "She certainly deserves credit for dragging her brother out of the car, but once again this incident highlights the need for children to be supervised at all times. This could have resulted in a terrible tragedy if the boy's big sister hadn't noticed the flames and gone to his rescue. Adults need to remember that small children and lighters or matches can be a deadly combination." (160)

"She is a Bright Little Girl. It is like She is Four Going on 40"

In August 2009, Bethany Thoms, age four, alerted her father, James, to a fire started by an arsonist who pushed a blazing cloth soaked in flammable liquid through the letterbox of their home in Washington, a town in the City of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. The door caught on fire, and young Bethany raised the alarm. Bethany and her father fled from the house, and her father and a neighbor put out the fire before firefighters arrived. Mr. Thoms, age 28, who used to work for Asda but was unemployed at the time of the arson attack, said, "We just came back from a friend's house, and we were watching TV when she noticed the door was on fire. The smoke alarm went off, and she got up. The door was like a ball of flames. I went out to the neighbors and passed my daughter over the fence. By the time I came back, the door was well alight. I ran to the kitchen and got a jug of water and threw it at the door." Mr. Thoms added, "It was really scary. All that was going through my head was to make sure my daughter was safe. I did fear for her life. If it wasn't for Bethany being so alert, it could have been a different story. She is a bright little girl. It is like she is four going on 40." (161)

"As Soon as We Got the Girl out, the Fire Took Hold and Within Minutes It was an Inferno"

In June 2011, a trailer caught on fire at the Sunny Sands caravan (British word for trailer) park in Talybont, Wales. A two-year-old girl was rescued, but her grandfather and uncle died in the fire. The toddler's grandmother, Denise Taylor, age 50, managed to get out of the trailer and scream, "Help! Help!" She attempted to get the toddler, whose hair was on fire, out of the trailer. Daniel Jones and Jamie Hunt, who were on vacation, broke the trailer's windows and got the toddler out. Mr. Jones, a roofer, age 31, said, "The awning of the van was on fire, and the heat was intense with thick smoke everywhere. Jamie and I ran up to the windows, choking on smoke, smashed them, and ripped out all the glass so the grandma could pull the little girl out. She was in hysterics. As soon as we got the girl out, the fire took hold and within minutes it was an inferno." Mr. Hunt, a barman, said, "We're not heroes—anyone would have done the same." (162)

"Frank and Jenny Deserved a Fair Go, and I Tried to Get In"

In January 2011, Craig Strawhorn, age 46, saw high flames coming from the house of his neighbors in Leanyer. Northern Territory, Australia. He knew that his neighbors, Frank and Jennifer Scannella, were still inside, so he smashed several windows as he tried to rescue them. He found Jennifer, age 50, lying unconscious on the floor of a bedroom, and he dragged her outside. Unfortunately, he was unable to reach Frank, age 57, who died. Mr. Strawhorn said, "Someone's life's lost—it's hard." Despite spending several days at Royal Darwin Hospital because of the injuries he suffered during the rescue, Mr. Strawhorn said that he is not a hero, adding, "I just hope that some day someone will help me the same if I was in trouble, or my family. Frank and Jenny deserved a fair go, and I tried to get in." (163)

"It Takes a Lot of Guts"

In May 2010 in Woburn, Massachusetts, two men saved the life of a 61-year-old man who was in a burning apartment. Carl Perkins, age 49, heard smoke alarms ringing at the elderly housing complex where he lives. Seeing smoke and flames, he called for help. A male worker for Verizon heard him and came running. The two men entered the burning apartment. Mr. Perkins said, "When we went in there, small apartment, one bedroom. We ran in and ran out. I would say you could count to five before we were out of there. When we opened it, he was behind the door... They said he weighed like 360. [The Verizon worker] grabbed his leg. If it wasn't for that Verizon guy, I don't know if I could have done it." Chief Paul Tortolano of the Woburn Fire Department said, "I just can't give them enough accolades. It takes a lot of guts to go into a fire when you're not equipped to go into a fire when everybody else is leaving." (164)

"He Showed Great Courage in an Emergency"

On 24 June 2009 in Sandiacre, England, Andy Slodczyk heard a fire alarm coming from a block of apartments. He also smelled smoke. Mr. Slodczyk came to the rescue, escorting elderly residents, including 75-year-old Keith Dennis, out of their homes and then fighting the fire with a fire extinguisher until fire fighters arrived. For his heroism, Mr. Slodczyk won a national lifesaving honor: a Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Parchment. Royal Humane Society secretary Dick Wilkinson said about Mr. Slodczyk, "He showed great courage in an emergency and richly deserves this award. Anything can happen in a fire situation, and he could have been seriously burned or injured by falling debris." (165)

Jack: A Three-Year-Old Hero

In December 2005 in a 4th-floor apartment in Borehamwood, a town in southern Hertfordshire, a heater started a fire. Fortunately, Jack, the three-year-old son of Jane Knightly, woke her up and saved her life. They went to Jack's bedroom, where Jane held Jack up to an open window so he could breathe fresh air. Firefighters, who said that the two were "seconds from death," rescued them and took them to a hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Jane, age 20, said, "At first, you're just so panicky and just thinking about how to get out. Then, when it's all over, you think about what could have happened. We could have died. I just broke down thinking about it." She added, "Jack's our hero. He's one in a million, and he saved our lives that night. I would just like to thank all our family and friends who have been so supportive and lent us clothes and everything we needed. And to the firefighters who have also been amazing. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts as without you, we may not be here today." (166)

"I'm Just Glad Everyone's Safe. We Got Everyone Out, and Everyone is Still Alive"

On 2 July 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada, fire broke out in the garage of the house of the Nehls family. Fortunately, Justin Nehls, age 17, was still awake and rescued his family. He said, "When I opened the garage door, it was really, really hot. I felt smoke and intense heat, and I just slammed the door." First, Justin rescued his four-year-old brother. He said, "I was screaming his name, and he wasn't saying anything. Finally, he made a little peep. He was in the bathroom. I grabbed him and got him out of the house." Then Justin rescued the others. He said, "I ran back inside, grabbed my mom and grandma, and got them out." After everyone was out of the house, he called 911. Justin said, "I'm just glad everyone's safe. We got everyone out, and everyone is still alive." (167)

"This is What We're Trained to Do"

In January 2011 in the Bronx, New York, firefighter Antonio Velez, age 33, of Engine 320, responded to a fire that had been started by a hair dryer. He heard 12-year-old Jesse Iacovetta's screams for help. Firefighter Velez said, "We were at the front door of the fire building when I heard the screams coming from inside." He ran into the burning house. He said, "It was black smoke, all pretty low to the ground. I was on my knees. I put on my face piece, and turned on my air." He made his way through the smoke to the apartment. He said, "I felt I had no time. I couldn't see the wall it was so dark. Everything was covered in soot. I couldn't see anything." He could hear Jesse, and he moved toward the screams. Firefighter Velez said, "He was yelling, no words, just pain. When I reached him, I couldn't see or tell what type of injury. I brought him out and handed him off and EMS treated him." Jesse's injuries were minor. This was Firefighter Velez' first rescue, and he gave credit to his seven years of training: "This is what we're trained to do. I'm very grateful I work with a great group of guys. I'm thankful the boy is okay." (168)

"I May Just Put a Big Sign in Front of the House that Says, 'Thank You'"

In November 2005 in Ridgefield, Connecticut, a passerby saved the life of Judith Shepherd, age 61, a patient with cancer, when fire broke out at the home she shared with Chad, her son. Chad said, "A man was driving by, and thought there was an awfully thick patch of fog he was driving through. Then he looked over and saw the glow from the back of our house. He stopped and knocked on our door and got my mother out." Chad never got the man's name because of all the excitement. Chad said, "If I was gone [from the house] for 15 minutes, I'd be surprised. I'd gone over to my brother's to borrow something. When I saw the flames, I didn't care what I'd lost. I just needed to know that my mother was OK." He added, "We're just happy to be alive. If it had happened at 11 p.m., I might not be here now, nor would my mom." Chad would like to thank the man who saved his mother's life. Chad said, "I think he's a hero. I may just put a big sign in front of the house that says, 'Thank you.'" (169)

"The People Who Survive are the People Who Have a Plan"

In December 2005, firefighters saved several people from two fires in County Down, Northern Ireland. In one rescue, a 15-month-old baby was carried to safety by a firefighter using a ladder. Some people in the burning buildings could not find their way out on their own because of the dense smoke, but firefighters led them to safety. John Langtry from the Fire Service gave some important advice to citizens, "It is vital for everybody, at anytime of the year—but especially over the festive season—to react to alarms. People are maybe staying away from home, staying in a strange place, and they need to know what the alarm is and then have a plan. The people who survive are the people who have a plan." (170)

"Anybody Else in the House? We Can't See"

In November 2005, a faulty Xbox left in standby mode started a fire in which two men rescued a woman. Stuart Ward and Robert Johnson were in a pub in Llanfairpwll, Wales, when they noticed smoke coming from a house. They ran to the house to see if they could help in any way. Mr. Ward said, "We shouted, 'Is anybody there?' The next thing the father upstairs answered, 'Yes, I'm upstairs.' We shouted, 'Anybody else in the house? We can't see.' We put some coats over our mouths and ran upstairs. Robert and I were swearing and the father was shouting, 'My daughter's here!' We were going on our hands and knees—that's how dark it was. You couldn't see your fingers if you put them in front of your eyes. We felt our way around the darkness. We found her and dragged and carried her down the stairs and outside. She was going in and out of consciousness." Mr. Johnson said, "We could only feel our way about. The father was stumbling around. He couldn't find his daughter. We found her on the floor. I tried to get her on my shoulder, but it was impossible. She was in a pretty bad way." The woman was treated in a hospital and made a full recovery. (171)

"She Wouldn't be Here Today If It Wasn't for Them"

In November 2005 in Doncaster, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, police rescued a 62-year-old woman named Dianne Evangelou who lived alone. Fire had broken out in her housing unit, and after being alerted by a passerby, police went to the rescue. Her son, Tony Evangelou, said, "Apparently the police broke a window and got her out, so I praise them because she wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for them." Dianne suffered smoke inhalation and second-degree burns but was recovering at The Alfred Hospital. Tony said that his mother did not remember much about the fire: "She has no idea. She went to bed and woke up in the back of an ambulance." Detective Sergeant Scott Poynder from Doncaster Criminal Investigation Unit said that a passerby told police about smelling smoke near the Doncaster Hotel. Mr. Poynder said, "The uniform boys came across a unit that was on fire, and you could see a fire in the lounge room and a large amount of smoke. We smashed a window at the front and opened the front door." Mr. Poynder saw Dianne inside the housing unit: "She was disoriented, suffering burns on her hands, arms, feet and legs and dressed in a nightie." The police, including Constable Christopher Jaques and Senior Constable Geoff Webb, rescued her. Dianne's daughter, Kim Mesaritis, also praised police, saying that they had saved a "great grandmother and a great parent." (172)

"It's a Miracle No One was Killed"

In early 2005 at Raploch Primary, in Stirling, Scotland, a fluorescent ceiling light plunged to the floor, causing a fire that melted plastic chairs and blew out windows. Smoke filled the room as six-year-olds screamed. Teacher Amanda Dawson kept her students safe, even picking up two horrified girls and carrying them outside. Firefighters put out the fire, and no one was harmed. One mother said about Ms. Dawson, "We can't thank Mrs. Dawson enough. She is a true hero." Another parent said, "It's a miracle no one was killed. This light was clearly not safe." Head teacher Anne Stewart praised Ms. Dawson as a hero: "She reacted very quickly." (173)

"She's 14 Months Old. That's All I Wanted to Get Done—Get Her Out"

In June 2011 in Kennett, Missouri, Daniel Walton and his wife, Jennifer, did some yard work while their baby daughter took a nap inside their house. Unfortunately, Daniel soon saw smoke coming from their garage. The Waltons' first thought was to rescue their 14-month-old daughter, Madeline. David said, "That was all that mattered." He added, "At that time [all I wanted was to] just get Madeline out of there. She's 14 months old. That's all I wanted to get done—get her out. Possessions [and] things can be replaced." Fortunately, they were able to rescue their daughter, although they lost their home and possessions. Kennett Fire Chief John Mallot has some suggestions about preventing fires: "Working around the garage, in the garage, if you're dealing with any kind of flammable liquids or anything like that, around lawn mowers and such, do it outside. Make sure your smoke detectors work, and by all means be careful about leaving small children alone by themselves because they do depend on us as adults to protect them." (174)

Two Heroes

Michael Oris, a 31-year-old truck driver, got a Carnegie Hero medal for his bravery in saving two lives during a 13 November 1942 fire that took the lives of seven Kaiser Shipyard workers in Vancouver, Washington. Mr. Oris entered the burning dormitory building, going into a smoke-filled hallway after tying a handkerchief around his nose and mouth. He forced open a door and then carried an unconscious man to safety. Entering the building again, he forced open another door and carried another unconscious man to safety. He entered the building a third time, but this time his hair and clothing caught on fire. He went outside and rolled in wet grass to extinguish the flames. Because of his injuries, he spent 10 weeks in a hospital and one of his fingers was amputated. Another hero saved two lives during a 20 November 1982 fire on Northeast 112th Avenue in Vancouver, Washington. Lorn Grindle saw the fire, and then he climbed a drainpipe and broke a 2nd-floor window to help (with another rescuer) two boys escape. Lorn's brother, Raymond Grindle Sr., saw him later, but Lorn was modest and did not mention the rescue, although one of his arms was red and the other was bandaged. Lorn simply said that one arm had a rash and the other arm had stitches. The other arm did have stitches; after cutting his arm while breaking the 2nd-story window, Lorn needed 40 to 50 stitches. Raymond says that his hero brother did get a souvenir of his rescue: a doctor bill. (175)

Trucker Saves Three Lives

In 1995, 47-year-old truck driver Alan Sharpe of Nottingham, England, became a hero when an explosion took the lives of 16 people at a motorway cafe in Eynatten, Belgium. Ms. Sharpe helped middle-aged waitress Marlene Mostert and student Ewald Boulter escape the inferno. Despite fear of a further explosion, he returned to the scene and with the assistance of John Piff rescued a third victim: Veronique Collard. King Albert of Belgium congratulated Mr. Sharpe personally and later sent an official letter of thanks to him. (176)

Hanging on by His Fingertips

In 1981, fire broke out in a three-story terrace house that had been converted into an apartment building in Sneinton, Nottingham, England. Resident Terry Buck was in a bad way, forced to hang from his fingertips on a window ledge because of the smoke and flames. Mr. Buck said, "I couldn't get out. The flames and the smoke kept driving me back. I just hung there waiting for the firemen to come. Neighbors tried to rescue me with a ladder, but it was too small. I was hanging on tight by my fingertips. My hands and arms were burned. It was terrible." Station Officer Roy Hutchinson, one of the firemen who arrived to help, said about Mr. Buck, "His hands were burning, and he could not have hung on much longer. We went up on the escape ladder, pulled him on to it, and brought him down. He was in a pretty agitated state, and he was in real trouble if he had fallen because he was about 25 feet from the ground." Mr. Buck was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre, where he received medical treatment for his burns. (177)

"When a House is Burning as That One was, Every Second Counts"

In December 2004, a fire broke out at the house of a woman in Donald, central Victoria, Australia. A neighbor saw a woman lying on the floor amid the fire and rushed to rescue her. Country Fire Authority media spokesman John Tindall said, "He dashed into the house, grabbed her, and pulled her out, and he and a neighbor from the other side who is a nurse... performed CPR on her for about 10 minutes or so until the ambulance arrived. It was quite a brave thing to do under those conditions. When a house is burning as that one was, every second counts in terms of being able to save someone or not save someone." The woman, who was in her 50s, was burned over more than 30 percent of her body. The woman's daughter, who was in her 20s, managed to get out of the house, but she suffered from smoke inhalation. Both women were taken to a hospital. (178)

Hero Bobby

In March 2005 in Whitefoot Terrace, Downham, London, England, a police constable ("bobby") named Iain Morrison, age 39, rescued a four-year-old boy from a house fire. While on a routine patrol, he spotted smoke coming from a house. A mother let him know that her son was still inside, and he went into the house and made his way upstairs through thick smoke. Hearing the boy scream, he made his way to the screams and passed the boy through a window to firefighters. PC Morrison said, "It was frightening. The heat was intense, and I couldn't see a thing. For a while I did panic because I could not see the boy but then I heard him shout, so I grabbed him and took him to the window. I was there wearing my uniform and in the heat of the moment people expect you to do something, but when I got inside I was worried I had bitten off more than I could chew." However, he added, "There are plenty of people who would have done the same thing. The fire brigade did a brilliant job. At the end of the day they put the fire out." A neighbor said, "The policeman did a blinding job. We could see the kid hanging out of the window, and we all thought he was dead. It was amazing. My husband was going to go in to help, but I wouldn't let him." Downham station commander Roger Willmore called PC Morrison "a hero." Lewisham police's Inspector Henry Davies added that PC Morrison had acted "in the best traditions of the Metropolitan Police." (179)

"It's the Best Thing I've Pulled out of the River"

In May 2011 while a mother was upstairs her three children let themselves out of their home and went to play in their backyard, which was on the bank of the Fox Rover in Illinois. The mother soon discovered her one-year-old daughter in the river, apparently lifeless. Fortunately, Joel "Jay" Arnier, a 53-year-old paramedic from Addison, Illinois, was in a boat close enough to hear the mother screaming. He said, "I knew I had to try to help." He and his fishing partner guided their boat to the shore, where he told the mother, "I'm a paramedic—let me try to help you." He immediately administered infant CPR to the one-year-old girl, who soon started spitting up water and coughing. Mr. Arnier said, "She cried a little bit, not a lot, and then I knew she was awake and alert [enough] to at least be afraid of her situation. Her limp arms that were hanging down there started reaching for her face." The mother hugged him before going with her one-year-old daughter with emergency personnel to the hospital. Mr. Arnier said, "I went back to the boat and I told my friend, 'I think we're done fishing for the day. It's the best thing I've pulled out of the river.'" (180)

"One More Time" Saves Another Life

On 29 July 1957, Bud Ingram, age 40, rescued two drowning children from Penetang Bay, Ontario, Canada. His eight-year-old daughter, Jill, was swimming. Suddenly, Jill began yelling for help. A boy had started floundering in the water and had grabbed onto her. Mr. Ingram said, "By the time I reached him, the lad seemed to go under for the last time, but I managed to get him and Jill to shore. The boy was eight-year-old Paul Lepage, and bystanders began resuscitating him. However, Jill told her father that another child had been in the water: a girl wearing a red swimming suit. The girl was Paul's sister: Laurel, age 10. Mr. Ingram dove many times and was almost ready to give up finding her, but Jill asked him to try one more time. This time, his eighth dive, he found Laurel and brought her to the surface. Although she had been underwater for many minutes, Penetang firefighters were able to revive her. Both she and her brother were taken to a hospital and recovered without brain damage. This is how Jill, as an adult, remembers it (some typos have been corrected): "It was a very hot day in July, and my dad was on his holidays. For whatever reason I asked him to come down to the water and watch me swim. I never did that, but he took me down. I was out in the water playing around when my dad called me. He had been sitting looking through his binoculars across the bay and had spotted something in the water, but I hadn't brought my ball with me. He asked me to go and see what it was. When I got out there, there was a little boy floating with his head in the water and his arms were floating. I went to grab onto him, and he started floundering and kept pulling me down. I called for my father, and he came running (and stubbed his toe). He grabbed the both of us and carried the boy to shore. Everyone was scrambling to see what was going on, and I said to dad there's a little girl down there—she had on a red bathing suit. No one would listen. I found the parents and asked them if they had a little girl with a red bathing suit. After a few minutes of [me] insisting, my father started to dive. He did this for what seemed a lifetime, and he was getting tired. At the time there were all kinds of men in the water and no one offered to help dad—they were standing looking into the water, but no one would dive. I was in the water with him, and he was going to give up because of pains in his chest. I said just one more time. So he did and found Laurie on the bottom amongst the weeds. He grabbed her by her foot and pulled her up. Dad handed her to someone because he was exhausted, and they took her to shore. The ambulance and doctor were already there for her brother. They took both of them away. Laurie was under water for at least 15-20 minutes before she was found. They said it was a miracle that she survived. Laurie and her brother had no brain damage and were perfectly fine after a stay in the hospital. It was quite exciting for an eight-year-old—I was called a hero and our pictures [appeared] in all the newspapers. I really did not do anything except insist that there was in fact a little girl with a red bathing suit. For years Laurie sent me cards on my birthday and Christmas to express her thanks 'til finally we moved away." (181)

"Oh, My God, It's a Body!"

In July 2007 at Wingaersheek Beach in Glouster, Massachusetts, Stephen Fucaloro, age 13, saw something in the water. He asked his 11-year-old sister, "What's that, Courtney?" She looked and replied, "Oh, my God, it's a body!" The two siblings swam out 20 feet and discovered six-year-old Tanaya Jackson of Boston. She was floating face down in the water. Stephen said, "She was starting to drift out to sea, so we had to rush out and get her." Courtney first reached Tanaya, and she and her brother brought her to shore. A young man took her pulse and then said, "Mom, give her CPR." The young man's mother started giving Tanaya CPR, and soon lifeguards arrived, as well as an off-duty police officer, Patrolman Michael Williams Jr. Tanaya was revived and an ambulance took her to O'Maley Middle School, from which a medical helicopter flew her to Boston Medical Center, from which she was later released. Donna Fucaloro, mother of Courtney and Stephen, said, "I don't know what I would have done as a child their age, but they did the right thing." The father of Stephen and Courtney had talked to them about what to do in an emergency. Stephen recounted, "He said whenever you can, help someone who needs help. And get the attention of an adult if you don't know what to do." The children's father has worked as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Donna Fucaloro said about her children, "They're young, but they were able to assess the situation when every second counted." (182)

The Perfect Job: "Half Lifeguard, Half Horse-Person"

On 17 January 2011 during a friend's birthday party in the heated indoor pool of Damariscotta Lake Farm in Jefferson, Maine, an eight-year-old girl rescued her six-year-old brother. The brother, whose name is John, was kicking a beach ball with his cousin Connor Burnham. The beach ball ended up in the deep part of the pool. John's heroic sister, Zoé, said, "Connor jumped in, but John slipped. He started going under the water." Zoé, a novice swimmer, looked around for what she called a "floatie," but she could not find one quickly enough, so she jumped in. She said, "I just swam as good as I could and held [John] up, but he was pushing me under." She added, "I was scared when he started going underwater, but I wasn't scared when he started pushing me underwater. Another boy at the party, Blake Feltis, brought the children what Zoé called a "surfboard." The children helped John onto the flotation device. Blake's mother, Clarissa Feltis, noticed the commotion at the pool. She came running and helped all the children out of the water. In a text message to The Lincoln County News, Rebekah Oliver, the mother of Zoé and John, wrote about Zoé, "She is my hero!" Zoé likes horses and the idea of riding them, and after the rescue she said that she wants to be a "half lifeguard, half horse-person." (183)

"She Gave Us Enough Time to Get There and Kept His Head Above the Water"

The Saturday before Mother's Day, 2011, Aferdita and Noel Silverman had invited friends over to swim in their backyard pool. Aferdita's three-year-old son, Josh, and six-year-old daughter, Jessica, were playing on a deck near the pool. Aferdita left to answer the front door, leaving another adult to watch the children. Josh dropped something in the pool and jumped in to get it, but he could not swim. Jessica Silverman, a Girl Scout who had learned to swim the previous summer, jumped in the pool and swam over to her brother to keep him from drowning. She said, "He climbed on me, and then I was holding him up with my hands. My whole body was underwater." Kara, their eight-year-old sister, ran to get their mother. Aferdita, a Girl Scout troop leader, came running. She saw Josh's head out of the water, but Jessica was completely submerged in the water. Aferdita jumped into the pool, despite being fully clothed and having her cell phone in her pocket. She pulled her two children out of the water. Aferdita said, "When I jumped in the pool, we didn't see any bubbles so I was worried that I was going to have to perform CPR, but when I took her out she just started crying. She was amazing because she gave us enough time to get there and kept his head above the water." No emergency calls needed to be made, but Aferdita called the Girl Scouts. She said about Jessica, "She will be pinned with a Bronze Cross Girl Scout Award, which is an award for a Girl Scout who saves someone's life while endangering her own. It is a national award, and we are proud of her for getting it." Aferdita added, "I will never forget the grip she had on him. It's pool season, people forget, you think someone is watching them and it takes a second for a horrible thing to happen." (184)

"We Weren't Coming Home Until We Found Them"

In June 2011, Gary Causon and Mark Moody, two professional fishermen in South Australia, rescued Mike Fisher and Brad Neicho, who were 15 kilometers off the coast of Port MacDonnell and clinging to an esky (Australian cooler) and suffering from hypothermia in the cold water. After two freak waves had capsized the vessel of Mr. Fisher and Mr. Neicho, a search-and-rescue operation began. A helicopter circled the area three times, but no one was able to find the men in the high waves. Hours later, the infrared light from a Tasmanian search and rescue aircraft picked out the men. Mr. Moody, skipper of the boat Remarkable, said, "It was very cold, and I don't know how they lasted that long." Mr. Causon was relieved when one of the men in the water waved to attract their attention. Mr. Causon said, "They weren't real good. I thought they were already gone until he actually waved. I think if it had of been another fifteen minutes or so they said they would have had to let go because they couldn't hold on anymore." He added that getting the two six-foot-tall men onboard was hard work: "It wasn't easy to do—they were big men. It took us all of our strength to lift them into the back of the boat." Limestone Coast Superintendent Trevor Twilley said, "Had it not been for the vessel Remarkable having gone out there to assist us in our coordination of the search, then it's quite likely they may not have survived." The two men were treated for hypothermia at Mount Gambier Hospital and released the next day. Mr. Causon said, "We weren't coming home until we found them. It was a helluva job." Mr. Moody's wife, Lorraine, said she is proud of her husband: "I think he deserves every bit of the word 'hero.' It's not everyday you get out there to save someone's life, let alone two people." (185)

"It's Just What You Do"

On 5 March 2011, Jerry Collins was ice fishing on Cave Lake near St. Maries, Idaho. A fisherman who was not with Mr. Collins fell through the ice and into the cold seven- to eight-feet-deep water while using a chainsaw to cut a fishing hole in the ice. The fisherman's friend tried to rescue him, but he also fell through the ice. Mr. Collins was able to rescue the two men. He held out the handle of the men's chainsaw to one of the men to grab. Mr. Collins said, "The most frightening moment was when I noticed the second man struggling. The fear in his eyes struck me with a force that commanded quick action. The next thing you know, I'm telling him to grab hold of his friend's ankle and to hang on. I then pulled them both from the water and led them to a nearby shelter." Mr. Collins said about his heroic act, "It's just what you do." (186)

"Right Place, Right Time"

In July 2010, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Justin Heacox and Officer Barney McGinley were enjoying an outing at Point No Point Beach in Washington state when near-tragedy struck. Two boys, Garett Dobbins, age 10, and Chase Galvan, age 12, were being swept out to sea by a rip current. First, the current caught Garett. His friend Chase tried to help him, but then the current caught him, too. Mr. Heacox saw the boys being pulled out to sea and immediately ordered his own sons to get out of the water. He said, "By the time I turned around, [the two boys] were east-bound and down." The boys screamed for help. Mr. McGinley grabbed a rope and ran down to the beach. He and Mr. Heacox entered the water at the same time, and both yelled at the boys to swim—at an angle—toward them. Mr. Heacox and Mr. McGinley brought the boys to shore. The water temperature was only 52 degrees, and the two men treated the two boys for hypothermia. Mr. McGinley said later, "Right place, right time—that's all it was." (187)

"There is No Question that These Men are Absolute Heroes"

On 5 September 2011, Daniel Bergmann and Luke, his 23-year-old son, were fishing in the Chilliwack River near Peg Leg in British Columbia, Canada, when they heard screams. A 57-year-old fisherman from Surrey had slipped and fallen into the river while he was fishing alone. He was wearing chest waders, which filled with water and began dragging him underwater. Daniel and Luke maneuvered their boat to him and rescued him. At first, Daniel and Luke were sure that the man had drowned. The man admitted that he was exhausted and was ready to stop fighting the river. Fortunately, he survived and was quickly released from a hospital after receiving medical treatment. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Tracy Wolbeck said, "This is the third rescue this summer we have had on the river, and all had the potential to be fatal had it not been for the heroic efforts made by people like this. It really restores the human condition to see people going so far out of their way to help a person in obvious, dire need. There is no question that these men are absolute heroes." (188)

"I was Scared. I Thought I was Gonna Die for Sure"

On 28 May 2006, Michael Warren got caught in the current after jumping into the Wisconsin River. He said, "All of a sudden I just went underwater, and I don't remember anything when I went underwater." People came to the rescue. His friend Michael Richards said, "Every time I'd put him up, I'd move him a couple feet toward the shore and then I'd go under for a while." Mr. Richards' strength gave out, so he swam to the shore to get a life preserver. Other people came to help, and they got Mr. Warren on shore. He was unconscious. Curt Wipperfurth of Waunakee said, "I was trying to keep his head above water to get him to shore, but I was fighting the current, too." Darin Persinger of Wisconsin Dells, a former lifeguard, kept Mr. Warren's head out of the water. Mr. Warren spent the night in a hospital, but he met Mr. Persinger the next day and told him, "Thanks a lot, man." Mr. Persinger replied, "No problem. Glad you're OK." Mr. Warren is thankful to everyone who helped save his life: "I was scared. I thought I was gonna die for sure." (189)

"Everyone Thanked me for Saving Him"

In August 2009, eight-year-old Kian Allsebrook, of Aspley, Nottingham, England, rescued a three-year-old cousin, Owen Marcouse, of Clifton, Bristol, England, who had fallen into a swimming pool while they were on vacation on the Mediterranean island of Majorca. Kian, a pupil at St. Mary's Catholic Primary School in Hyson Green in Nottingham, said, "We were playing, and I saw Owen near the steps. I heard a big splash and thought he was just swimming, but then I saw his head go under. I just thought I had to go in there and get him. I grabbed him and pulled him to the side. He was crying and had swallowed some water. Everyone thanked me for saving him." (190)

"Save My Baby Anyway I Could"

In August 2011, in the waters of the Back River between Weymouth and Hingham, Massachusetts, 12-year-old Emily Williams reached to rev down the motor of a 10-foot inflatable boat but accidentally knocked it into gear. She fell into the water, and the driverless boat with its dangerous propeller blades began circling her, coming close enough to cut her. Her father, 57-year-old Bruce Williams, a lineman for the Braintree Electric Light Department, jumped into the water to keep her safe. He said that he was thinking only one thing: "Keep her from getting hit, save my baby anyway I could." Six times the boat circled them. Mr. Williams said, "The throttle was stuck on high, and the boat was stuck so it just kept going around in circles. Basically, it was possessed. It went by us six or seven times, trying to attack us. It seemed like every 10 to 15 seconds, it was going by us." Mr. Williams tried to block the boat with his upper body, and he pushed his daughter down into the water away from the propeller blades each time the boat came close to them. The propeller blades cut his hand and his head open, but Emily was untouched. Mr. Williams said, "I almost went out, but I thought, 'Don't lose consciousness, don't go out,' and I just woke up and somehow swam Emily over to the other boat." Mr. Williams' wife, Patrice, was on their 21-foot Stamus power cruiser at a mooring near the South Shore Yacht Club. She grabbed Emily's hand and pulled her on board, and Mr. Williams climbed the ladder to get on board. Members of the boating club tried to stop the inflatable boat, eventually knocking it upside down. Mr. Williams said, "You see your daughter, your baby, in trouble... I don't think there is much that would stop me, to tell you the truth." He said that he is not a hero, and he blamed himself for the accident: "I wasn't in the [inflatable] boat with her, and I should have been. There is a lesson.... Just make sure you stay with your kids, take care of your children, and don't be stupid yourself." He added, "Sometimes your kids are excited and want to do things before they are ready. This is not [my daughter's] fault. She is a very good sailor. It is my fault. I should have stayed with her. And make sure the kill switch is attached properly." His wife said, "Bruce was a hero, and I love him a lot." Mr. Williams said, "I want to thank all the people who came over and lassoed the [inflatable] boat. They were wonderful. The doctors at the hospital were wonderful as well. We had a tense few moments, but everyone is OK." Mr. Williams said about his daughter, "She wasn't touched, by God's intervention." His wife agreed: "I think there was divine intervention involved." (191)

"I Think I'll Do Something Safer, like Stick to Riding Motorbikes"

In December 2005 in the Bendigo Aquatic Centre in Bendigo, Australia, Luke Unthank, age 44, suffered an asthma attack after he dived into the 50-metre pool. Fortunately, his daughter, Shari, and her school-friend, Bethany Martyn, saved his life, along with the help of lifeguards who gave Mr. Unthank CPR. Mr. Unthank said, "I went straight under, and realized straight away that I was in a spot of bother. I went back under, and the girls realized when I went under the second time that I was having a real problem. I remember Bethany grabbing hold of me and telling me to relax, and she got me to the edge of the pool while Shari raced off to get the lifesavers. Bethany got me to the edge and held me by the arm so I didn't go back under and drown—that was pretty amazing. Then the lifesavers came over, but after that it's a bit hazy. I don't remember getting out of the pool, and the next thing I know I woke up in hospital." He added, "Apart from the lifeguards—who I am going to go and see shortly—these two deserve all the praise. They are my little heroes as far as I am concerned." Mr. Unthank also said about the two girls, "They were probably pretty frightened, but they did an amazing job." Mr. Unthank may avoid swimming for a while. He said, "I think I'll do something safer, like stick to riding motorbikes." (192)

"He Jumped in like a Scene out of a Movie"

In April 2010, a two-year-old girl fell 20 feet into the cold East River in New York when she fell through the railing of a gangplank leading to a four-masted Peking ship. Her father, David Anderson, rescued her. Eyewitness Eric Stringer, age 34, said, "He jumped in like a scene out of a movie. He was pulling things out of his pockets as he was running down the steps. He didn't hesitate." He reached the pier, kicked off his shoes, and jumped over a fence, and then looked into the water. His daughter, Bridgette Sheriden, was under the surface. Mr. Stringer said, "He jumped in feet first like a pin. He went all the way under, and when he came up, he had her in his arms. She was motionless, at first. It was a couple of seconds, and then she started crying." A man from France jumped into the water and helped the father and daughter to reach land. Mr. Stringer said that the Frenchman "was hanging on to the side of the dock with his left hand to keep them from floating away and holding on to them with his right hand." Bridgette was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, but was quickly released. The Frenchman got in a taxi and left, not waiting to be thanked. Bridgette's mother said, "I'd like to offer him [the French Good Samaritan] my congratulations and best wishes, and I want to talk to him personally." Mr. Stringer said, "The fact that a girl as young as that fell 20 feet or more into water that was probably in the 40s and that she was breathing once they got her up, it was really amazing." He added, "As a New Yorker, it was just a very humane thing to see—how fast everyone raced in to help. I don't think anybody was concerned about getting wet or losing something in the water. I think everyone was just concerned with getting that girl out of the water." (193)

Brother-in-Law Saves Life of Would-Be Lifesaver

Not every rescue attempt is successful. In July 2011, in the Nodaway River near Clarinda, Iowa, Tamra Haley, a teenage lifeguard, nearly lost her own life as she attempted to save the life of 11-year-old Deontae Haynes, who was visiting from Chicago. She had a grip on him, but the river current pulled him out of her grip. Although she is a trained lifeguard and a strong swimmer, the river current forced her underwater. She said, "I remember twiddling the top of [the] water with [my] fingers before I slipped into unconsciousness." When she regained consciousness, she was lying on shore, and her brother-in-law was giving her CPR. He saved her life with his knowledge of CPR. Deontae Haynes drowned. Ms. Haynes said, "If he slipped away as easily as I did, there was no pain for him." She recommended that everyone learn CPR and water safety: "Everyone should learn. It could save your life. It saved mine." (194)

Boy Scout Training and Swimming Lessons Prepared Tim Swanicke to be a Hero

In May 2011, Tim Swanicke, a 12-year-old Yardley, Pennsylvania, resident and Boy Scout, received a National Heroism Medal for helping to save the life of a friend of his father. Tim and his father, Russ, had gone to Edgewater, Maryland, to visit Russ' friend Mack Gentile, who has a 36-foot ketch. They sailed to Thomas Point Lighthouse, anchored, and got ready to fish. A minnow pot boat drifted off, and Mack went into the water to retrieve it. The swift current swept Mack out about 50 yards off the boat, and a 21-foot Donzi speedboat ran over him. Mack cried out for help, saying that his legs were severely injured. He managed to retrieve the flotation cushion that he had been using and stay afloat. Russ started the engine, and Tim manned the helm while Russ went to the bow and retrieved the anchor. Tim then turned the boat around and went to Mack; the current had by then carried him about 100 yards away. When the boat was close to Mack, Tim jumped into the water and swam to Mack, tied a rope around him, and pulled him to the boat. Because of Mack's injuries, Russ decided it was better not to bring him on board, so Tim lashed him to the boat while Russ called 911. Tim stayed with Mack in the water and put additional flotation devices on and under Mack to help him stay afloat, all the time speaking to him encouragingly until the Marine Rescue and the Coast Guard arrived in approximately 15 minutes. Mack, who was in severe shock, was air lifted to the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland, where he had operations on both of his legs, which had multiple fractures. Russ said, "I credit the Boy Scout training for giving a 12-year-old boy the confidence to do what he did. Tim sized up the situation, grabbed that rope, and went in like it was no big deal. That was because he had done it a few months earlier while earning his Merit Badge. I also credit the Pennsbury [Morrisville, PA] Aquatic Club and the Lower Makefield Pool [Yardley, PA] for making Tim the swimmer he is today. Tim loves to swim; he has been going to the pool since he was a baby. If the pool was available, Tim was there. Tim was not interested in competing in swimming; he just enjoyed swimming itself. That is why the Boy Scouts are perfect for him. Boy Scouts are fairly noncompetitive. The Scouts just love the outdoors, and they learn life skills in the process. All of it came together when Tim had to swim against that current that took Mack out 100 yards to rescue him that day." (195)

"It's Just Something I Would Hope that Everyone Would Do in the Same Situation"

In June 2011 in New Bern, North Carolina, police officer Malydia Owen, who was six months pregnant, saved the life of a boy who nearly drowned in a swimming pool being used by Project Positive Focus, one of New Bern's summer camps. She said, "Three of the members of camps were in the inside pool playing. They were in an area where their heads were above water. One of the boys slipped into a deeper area. His head went down twice, and the third time he went down he had a frightened look on his face." Although she was fully dressed in a police uniform and wearing heavy shoes, she went into the water to rescue the boy. She said, "I grabbed him and pulled him up. As I was pulling him up, the lifeguard jumped in and helped. It's just something I would hope that everyone would do in the same situation. At least I would like to think anyone would do the same thing. They have to be comfortable with it." In August 2005, Ms. Owen helped a diabetic. Each day, the police department telephoned Annie Bullock, who lived alone, to make sure that she was OK as part of the police department's "Are You OK" program. When Ms. Bullock did not respond, Ms. Owen went to her home. A neighbor let her in, and Ms. Owen called medics. Ms. Bullock thanked Ms. Owen for coming to her rescue. (196)

Eight Seconds Away from Death

In 2010, 12-year-old Casandra Andrews, who is a 7th-grader in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools District, saved the life of a 49-year-old who began yelling for help in a swimming pool after his pacemaker malfunctioned and caused a seizure. Casandra jumped into the pool and rescued him. Major Tom McMillan said, "According to the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department, if he would have been in the pool for eight more seconds, he would have died." On 1 August 2010, Karen Hernandez posted this comment about the article: "What a marvelous role model for youth in our community—and for adults as well. To see someone in need and jump in to help—that is the mark of a hero and modern day Good Samaritan. Bless you, Casandra!" (197)

"He will be Forever in the Heart of My Family and Neighbors"

During July of 2011, a flood devastated Chongdan county, in South Hwanghae province, in North Korea. On July 26, 32-year-old Han Sun Il, a Democratic People's Republic of Korea Red Cross volunteer, saved the lives of two children but lost his own life. He saw two children shouting for help from the window of a flooded house. The children were trapped in the house, and their parents had been unable to reach them after work because of the flood. Mr. Han jumped into the water and rescued the three-year-old girl first. Then he returned to rescue the 11-year-old boy. The water was deeper and more dangerous by that time. Mr. Han succeeding in pushing the boy out of the water to land, but Mr. Han was then swept away by the water and drowned. Ms. Ji Yon Ok, mother of the two children Mr. Han rescued, said, "Mr. Han was an ordinary farmer, with a wife and his own little girl of two years old. I don't feel as though he has departed from us. He will be forever in the heart of my family and neighbors. From now on, his daughter is my daughter. I and my husband will become Red Cross volunteers to help other people." (198)

"They were Prepared"

In 2009, when he was 10 or 11 years old, Ian Hegstrom helped save the life of a teenage boy in the Bookcliff Country Club swimming pool in Grand Junction, Colorado. Ian was leaving the swimming pool, and looking back, he saw someone at the bottom of the pool. The person was standing, and his arms were waving in the water. No lifeguard was on duty, and earlier some older boys had been jumping into the water while wearing weights on their ankles. Ian said, "They had a spotter, but it was still a dumb idea." When the older boys had finished, a younger teenager who had been watching them jumped into the pool without a spotter after putting on the weights. Ian said, "I went in the water to make sure, double check in case something serious was happening." The boy was unconscious, and he was bigger than Ian, who said, "I knew I couldn't pick him up; he had those ankle weights on." Ian yelled for help. An off-duty lifeguard got the boy out, and someone else performed CPR on the boy. Ian said, "It was a very scary moment. He did come back; he did wake up." Ian added, "Boy Scouts has taught me to be prepared for this type of scenario." Ian's scoutmaster is John Stites of Boy Scout Troop 303. Another boy from Ian's troop, Max Watson, is also a hero: He saved his grandmother from a burning house. Mr. Stites said that he was not surprised that the two boys did something heroic: "They're both really good kids who knew what to do when something occurred. They didn't falter." Mr. Stites pointed out that the Boy Scouts' motto is "Be prepared." He added, "They were prepared." (199)

"He Looked Dead, He had No Pulse, and He Looked Quite Grey"

On 15 February 2009 in South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, England, Police Sergeant Paul Randall, age 36, saved the life of 16-year-old Daniel Lewis by giving him CPR after he was found floating face down and unconscious in the swimming pool of the town's leisure center. Sergeant Randall, who was off duty and swimming in the pool, said, "There was a panic when the young lad was being pulled out of the pool, and I decided to go and help out because I have dealt with situations like this before. When I started to administer the CPR, I did not expect him to come round. He looked dead, he had no pulse, and he looked quite grey, and I thought I would just be doing mouth-to-mouth until the ambulance came onto the scene. After about the third rotation of me giving mouth-to-mouth and another lifeguard doing chest compressions, I got a mouth full of water and vomit and he started coughing and spluttering." He added, "His dad called me up that evening to say that I had saved his son's life, and it is quite a rarity because people who have suffered from that much oxygen deprivation don't tend to make it through.... it is a nice feeling to do something good for someone." (200)
CHAPTER 5: STORIES 201-250)

"When I Saw Her Alive, I was So Happy. I Felt It in My Heart"

On 4 September 2011, four-year-old Andrea Jack nearly drowned in Klineline Pond in Salmon Creek Regional Park in Washington state. Fortunately, Erika Marquez, the wife of Jamie Piña, a man who lives in Vancouver, Washington, saw Andrea's limp body in the pond. She called Jamie over. At first they thought that the little girl was playing, but then Jamie worried that she was dead. He pulled her from the pond and began CPR. Mr. Piña, Vancouver resident Mourice Hernandez, and Portland resident Keeona Vance all took turns performing CPR on Andrea. Four days later, she had made a full recovery. Dawn Johnson, spokeswoman for Clark County Fire District 6, said, "It's because of the early care that Andrea is here." Andrea's mother, Juleen Lipai, said, "I want to thank everyone who saved my daughter because without you, I wouldn't have her with me. So thank you all. Thank you." Dr. Opher Nadler, interim director of the Children's Emergency Department at The Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland, Orehon, said, "She is very lucky." He added, "The best emergency treatment for drowning is never needing that treatment at all." Safety professionals advise parents to always watch their children and to have their children wear life jackets—especially in places where the water depth can change suddenly and where currents exist. Mr. Piña visited Andrea in the hospital. He said, "When I saw her alive, I was so happy. I felt it in my heart." (201)

"He was Spitting Water and Crying Because He'd had Such a Fright"

In April 2001 in Edinburgh, Scotland, eight-year-old Ross Hunter fell into the Union Canal and could not get out. Daniel Peden, age 10, from Manchester, England, who was visiting his aunt, heard Ross and came to the rescue. Daniel said, "He was flapping around like he couldn't swim, and his head kept going under the water. I ran to a little ledge and tried to grab him. I got his arm and pulled him against the ledge, and he pressed his feet against it and was able to get out. I felt scared, and when I got him out he was spitting water and crying because he'd had such a fright. I took him home, and his mum thanked me." Ross said, "I was frightened because I felt really strange with the cold. Water kept going into my mouth, and I would have drowned if Daniel hadn't been there because I couldn't touch the ground." Ross' mother, Selena Hunter, age 27, said, "All of a sudden I heard this screaming and my heart sank. When I saw him, I knew there was something really wrong because he is a brave boy and he doesn't usually cry. I have taken this as a warning and am never letting him out of my sight again. I am so grateful to Daniel and can't thank him enough." Daniel's mother, Deirdre Peden, said, "I am so proud of him. It was such a good thing for him to do because he could have just stood there." A spokesman for British Waterways stressed safety: "Canals are very enjoyable places, but they should be treated with respect. You must keep away from the edge at all times, stick to the tow path, and take the usual safety measures when near water." (202)

A Hero at Age 14

D. Chester Connor became a hero at age 14 when he rescued a 25-year-old Philadelphia, PA, restaurant manager at Stone Harbor, N.J. The restaurant manager was swimming in high surf when he ran into trouble. No lifeguard was on duty, but Mr. Connor, a member of the Lancaster YMCA swim team and lifesaving corps, swam out and rescued him, towing the man back to shore. Mr. Connor's heroism was honored: He won the 1925 National Council of YMCA's medal for heroism as well as the 1927 Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. He celebrated his 100th birthday in 2010, and his daughter, Judy Weaver, said, "He's my hero. He's such a man of deep faith, patient, kind, and helpful to everybody."

"Rescuing the Man, Who He Didn't Know, in Cuba was Just the Kind of Thing He Did"

In 2010, Damien Smith, age 34, a firefighter in Tonbridge, Kent, England, saved the life of Clive Keeley, a snorkeler who panicked after getting into trouble in deep water in the Caribbean while on vacation. Mr. Smith swam out to him, calmed him down, and made sure that he reached shore safely. Unfortunately, a few days after returning to England, Mr. Smith died in a motorcycle accident. Mr. Smith's father, Neville, said, "It's such a tragedy, and we still don't know how it happened. The accident investigators say he was traveling at 40mph and was well on his side of the road. He was an experienced motorbike rider and wasn't speeding. They think it was caused by something darting out of the hedge, like a fox or something, and he braked and the bike stood up. But one thing we'll say is that he was one-of-a-kind. He was so loved by everyone. Rescuing the man, who he didn't know, in Cuba was just the kind of thing he did. They were quite far out; the man he was with got into a bit of trouble and started panicking. Damien went out and calmed him down, which was just him all over. The man, who said afterwards he would have died had it not been for Damien, had a keyring made up for him saying 'lifesaver' which he still had on him on the day of the crash."

Father Dies After Rescuing His Son

In June 2011, Matt VanderMolen died after saving the life of his three-year-old son, Jaxon. Mr. VanderMolen and his son and others were in a boat on Rose Lake in Osceola County, Michigan. The boat hit a wave, and his son, who was not wearing a life jacket, fell into the water. Immediately, Mr. VanderMolen, fully clothed, jumped into the water. A friend also jumped into the water. Mr. VanderMolen passed Jaxon to the friend, who returned him to the boat, but Mr. VanderMolen drowned. Mr. VanderMolen's sister, Elli, said, "Before Jaxon hit the water, Matt was already going after him. He would have done anything for his son. He was just an awesome person. Our family is so close." In an online tribune to Mr. VanderMolen, Jaxon's mother, Alexandra Timmers, wrote, "I will do everything I can to let Jaxon know you loved him. This is still unreal. I cannot express in words how thankful I am to be able to hold [Jaxon], hear his little voice, and watch his face light up. He's going to miss his daddy. Thank you from the very, very, very bottom of my heart for the most unselfish act anyone could do. The love that you've shown will never be forgotten. You're a hero, Matt!" (205)

"They are the Real Lifesavers"

When cousins Chen Yang and Too Her got into trouble in August 2008 while swimming in the Feather River near Mosquito Beach of Yuba City, California, they began screaming for help. Rosita Cazares and Bobbi Campos, both age 26, swam out into the river to help. Ms. Cazares said, "We thought they were joking. But one guy was doing the doggie paddle really fast trying to get out." They were able to bring Too Her to shore, and Chen Yang held onto a tree in the river until rescuers arrived. Ms. Cazares' sister, Pamela, called 911. Too Her had gotten leg cramps while swimming. Yuba City Fire Chief Marc Boomgaarden said that the women are lifesavers. He said that Mr. Too Her "was very much in trouble when the two gals entered the water. They are the real lifesavers." (206)

"You Really Don't Think of the Cold—You've Got a Person in Jeopardy There"

In December 2005, firefighter Thomas Feaser, age 48, jumped six feet off an embankment into the cold waters off Staten Island, New York, to rescue a woman floating facedown. He did not even wait to get a safety rope before jumping. He said, "I was happy to see she was alive because when I rolled her over in the water, she was very pale, gray, and not breathing." He is experienced in responding to emergencies—he responded to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11. Firefighter Feaser, who was treated for exposure, said, "You really don't think of the cold—you've got a person in jeopardy there. It's like going into a fire. My adrenaline was running pretty high."

"It's Just Part of the Job. I Won't Say I'm a Hero"

While riding in their 1992 Toyota Tercel on a dark evening in March 2010, Westmont, Illinois, residents LeRoy Hurlburt, age 67, and his wife, Perla, age 70, went into a retention pond. Fortunately, the two were rescued by Westmont police officer Jennifer Muska and firefighter Brendan Sullivan. Ms. Muska was first on the scene. She saw a man in the water and jumped in and pulled him to shore. She then saw a woman in the water, but her rescue attempt failed because of the coldness and murkiness of the water. Firefighter Sullivan then arrived and entered the water. He could smell gasoline and went toward it. He could not see the woman, but fortunately he felt her hair under the water and he pulled her to the surface and took her to shore. Another firefighter performed CPR on her, and LeRoy and Perla Hurlburt were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. Officer Muska said, "I didn't think about what I was doing; I just did it. In a situation like that, your adrenaline kicks in." Firefighter Sullivan said, "It's just part of the job. I won't say I'm a hero." LeRoy Hurlburt called the police station from his hospital bed and requested that his thanks be given to police officer Muska and firefighter Sullivan. (208)

"We Kept Trying to Thank Him"

While on a rafting expedition during the summer of 2011, Teresa B. Compton, age 43, ran into trouble in the fast-moving Rogue River in Oregon. Her small inflatable raft had become wedged against a bridge pillar, so she moved onto a log. Robert L. Pearce, age 46, helped to rescue her. Mr. Pierce and four teenagers, including two of his children, were in a raft of their own when they saw Ms. Compton. They maneuvered their raft close to Ms. Compton, who was not wearing a life jacket, and one of the teenagers gave her a life jacket. Unfortunately, during the rescue, both Ms. Compton and Mr. Pierce ended up in the rocky 200-yard-long Class 3 rapids. Jason Denton, marine deputy for the Jackson County Sheriff's Department, said, "When she falls in the river, he jumps into the river right after her." The teenagers were quick thinking and released into the river an inflatable kayak that they were towing. Mr. Pierce managed to grab the kayak and keep Ms. Compton afloat. The crew of Rogue River Fire District Captain Mike Hammond threw ropes out to Mr. Pearce and Ms. Compton and pulled them in and then rescued the teenagers, who had become stuck on the log that Ms. Compton had become stuck on. Mr. Hammond said, "We kept trying to thank him"; however, Mr. Hammond stated that Mr. Pierce said that "he only did what anyone else would have done." Mr. Denton said, "It was very commendable of this good Samaritan to make a conscious decision to help a stranger." Mr. Denton added that everyone should wear a life jacket because of the river's potential dangers. (209)

"You have to Respect Those Rescue People. They're Like Angels from Heaven"

In December 2005, Richard Levin, age 60, who was apparently confused, drove his car into the cold water of Port Jefferson Harbor, New York. Christopher Kelsch saw the car go into the water. He said, "I called 911 and went to my truck to get a pipe. I took off my jacket and shoes. I swam out and tried to break the window. I couldn't just stand by and watch someone die." Mr. Levin's car was still floating with Mr. Levin inside. Mr. Kelsch managed to smash the driver's window, but he failed to pull Mr. Levin out. By now, Mr. Kelsch himself was exhausted and suffering from the cold water. He said, "I remember... an extremely brave guy in a yellow rescue suit swimming over to me. You have to respect those rescue people. They're like angels from heaven." Two rescuers in particular appeared: Port Jefferson volunteer firefighters David Okst and Brennan Holmes, who were responding to the 911 call. They first saved Mr. Kelsch, and then they saved Mr. Levin. Mr. Okst was able to grab Mr. Levin's coat after several tries, and then he pulled the unconscious man through the window. Other volunteers provided help during the rescue. Tom Coyle, the Port Jefferson fire chief, said, "It was the ultimate team effort." (210)

"They are the Best Men in the World. They are God's Children"

In November 2005, Rogers Washington, age 49, held onto a cooler lid and a small life vest and treaded water for six hours approximately eight miles off Boca Raton, Florida, before being rescued by two men from Maryland. Mr. Washington and Robert Lewis Moore, age 62, both of Florida, had been on a fishing trip together, but their 22-foot-long boat sank after being hit by high waves. Mr. Moore died, apparently as a result of a heart attack. Mr. Washington, who tried but failed to resuscitate Mr. Moore, held onto his body for about 45 minutes. He said, "I had to let him go so I could try to survive." Mr. Moore's body was found later. People in two boats saw Mr. Washington but did not pick him up. Mr. Washington said, "They waved at me. I know they saw me." Mr. Washington, who is black, believes that they thought that he was an illegal immigrant from Haiti. When the boat carrying the two men from Maryland showed up, Mr. Washington shouted, "I'm an American! I'm an American!" David Pensky, age 61, of Annapolis, and Richard Holden, age 63, of St. Mary's County, rescued Mr. Moore. Mr. Pensky said, "It would have been very easy not to have seen him. At first, I wasn't sure if he was a diver trying to make sure I didn't hit him." Mr. Washington said about his rescuers, "They are the best men in the world. They are God's children." (211)

"He was Just Giving Up. He was Tired, Really Tired"

In November 2005, a man in his early 20s was caught in a rip current near the pier at Cocoa Beach, Florida. A woman named Deborah Evans saw that he was in trouble and went out to help him. She said, "I went in [the water] and went out [to him] and kept talking to him, told him help was on the way. I swam with him until a guy came out on a surfboard and at least he could rest. He was just giving up. He was tired, really tired." She kept his head above water until others—a police officer and two surfers—arrived to help him. (212)

"Everybody was in the Right Place"

In late 2005, people worked together to save the life of seven-year-old Amar Jakupovic, who was trapped underwater when the left rear tire of his family's green, 1998 Ford Explorer Sport blew out, causing the driver to lose control of the SUV, which plunged from the Howard Frankland bridge, which spans St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, into nine feet of water. Amar's parents and 13-year-old brother, Emrah, escaped, but Amar was left behind. (His father and brother needed medical treatment after the accident.) Fortunately, Kerry Reardon was teaching his 15-year-old daughter to drive. He saw the bridge's broken guardrail and realized that a vehicle had gone into the water. He told his daughter to stop the car, and then he looked down into the water. He said, "I saw the bubbles. Someone was still down there." Tampa resident Kenny Hyatt had also seen the accident from his boat, in which he and a few friends were fishing. He steered the boat over to the family and picked them up. Meanwhile, Mr. Reardon, a St. Petersburg resident, was diving headfirst into the murky water to locate the boy trapped in the SUV. He did not see anything in his first dive, but he did see the boy in his second dive. Mr. Reardon said, "He was just sitting there like a little rag doll. I unbuckled him, pulled him out of the car, and gave him his first breath of life." They got on board Mr. Hyatt's fishing boat. From the bridge, Kelly Earle, age 25, a registered nurse who works in the obstetrics department at Bayfront Hospital, was watching the rescue. She said, "All of a sudden, this little Adidas cleat came floating up. That's when we knew he had the boy." Ms. Earle then jumped into the water, got on board Mr. Hyatt's fishing boat, and started giving Amar CPR. Ms. Earle said, "It was pure adrenaline. I couldn't tell you what the temperature of the water was. It could have been fire for all I know." Paramedics rushed the boy to Tampa General Hospital, where he was in critical condition. Tampa Fire Rescue spokesman Captain Bill Wade said, "As bad as this situation was, everything came together to make it as good as it could possibly be. It was definitely a case of the right people in the right place at the right time." Mr. Reardon's wife, Debbie, said about her husband, "Someone definitely put him there. He was meant to be somebody's angel." Ms. Earle said, "Thankfully, everybody was in the right place." (213)

"I Thought She was Dead"

In August 2010, Dr. Catrina Hewitt and two other people won bravery awards—Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Parchment—for helping 15-year-old bicyclist Shannon Torrie, a member of a party from the Ancrum Outdoor Centre in Dundee, Scotland, in December 2009 after she collided with a bridge and was catapulted into the fast-rushing water in a narrow ravine below. With Shannon unable to swim, and injured, the water carried her 250 feet downstream. Two people pulled her out of the water: outdoor worker Martin Farnworth, age 61, and school support worker Liam McKenzie, age 29, both of Dundee. Dr. Catrina Hewitt arrived in response to an emergency call. Dr. Hewitt said, "I thought she was dead. She was pale and motionless. I threw my resuscitation bag over the edge and scrambled down. I've done some rock climbing, but I didn't have a harness. When I got there, she was conscious, but her pulse was very weak. I was also very concerned about possible spinal injuries. She was with an instructor, who had pulled her from the water, and a schoolteacher. The teacher helped support her spine while I assessed her injuries. The helicopter winched us up—a difficult operation because of the narrowness of the ravine, with trees on both sides. I handed her over to the hospital, and my mother-in-law drove me back to my surgery. I don't see myself as a hero. It was part of the job." RHS secretary Dick Wilkinson said, "Without doubt, this young girl owes her life to the bravery of her rescuers. She could have died but for their action." Shannon, a pupil at Menzieshill High School in Dundee, whose injuries included a broken back, an injured wrist, a ruptured spleen, and a damaged pancreas, said, "All I could feel as I was in the water was a terrible pain in my stomach. I couldn't move, and I was frightened. I thought I was going to die, but they stopped me drowning." She fully recovered from the accident. (214)

The Lengths People Will Go to Help Others in Need

In 2005, the Northern Territory, Australia, prawn trawler Arafura Pearl began taking on water and sent out a distress call. The crew boarded an emergency dinghy, and the captain jumped from his ship moments before it sank and just as another prawn trawler, the Dolphin Pearl, arrived to the rescue. Also assisting were a rescue boat and a shipping barge. Nhulunbuy Police Senior Sergeant Tony Fuller said about the captain and his crew (two men and a woman): "They were particularly thankful to the crews aboard the Dolphin Pearl, Perkins Shipping's Calendan Bay, and the Customs boat for their efforts. The crew noticed the boat was taking water rapidly, and despite their best efforts there was nothing they could do to stop it from sinking. They were very fortunate as one of them woke up to check on something in the afternoon while the others were all sleeping and noticed the boat was taking water. They set off the distress signal, and the boat sunk just moments before the skipper dived off. As well as thanking their rescuers, they were very appreciative of the electronic safety devices that enabled them [the rescuers] to pinpoint their exact location. The actions of the crews of all boats that responded [are] an indication of what lengths people will go to help out others in need." (215)

"A Big Thank You to the Lifeboat Crew, the Crew in the Helicopter, and All the People Involved"

In October 2005, a riptide washed Justin Adcock, age 34, and his 12-year-old daughter, Chy Start-Walker, into a cave at Chapel Porth near St. Agnes, Cornwall, England. Fortunately, Tom Roberson and Jamie Kent, two surfers who were former lifeguards at Chapel Porth, saw that they needed help and swam out to rescue them, despite seven-foot-high waves. They then helped the father and daughter into a lifeboat. Mr. Roberson said, "We knew we were more able than them, so we just had to go and help them. The most worrying time was when we thought the lifeboat would not be able to come into the cave. We were making plans to swim out with the girl through the mouth of the cave, which would have been pretty tricky, but then there was a lull between the waves and the lifeboat very skillfully was able to reverse into the cave and take them away. Jamie and I were able to swim out of the cave and back to the beach." The locals are aware of the treachery of the rip tides there, but tourists often are not. Mr. Roberson said, "There were a lot of experienced surfers out there making the most of the conditions. But Chapel Porth is a very dangerous beach at any time, especially with the swell running and the strong current. People should never go out by yourselves and never go out unless you are confident in what you are doing." Chy's mother, Sharon Start-Walker, said, "Thank goodness they were there with locals who knew what they were doing. A big thank you to the lifeboat crew, the crew in the helicopter, and all the people involved." (216)

Just Doing Our Jobs

Beyond the runway at East Midlands Airport in England is the Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland Air Ambulance Service (DLRAA). It saves hundreds of lives each year. Among the workers are Richard Craske, the pilot; Pam Hardy, the doctor; and Phil Bridle, the paramedic. They have many stories—of people who stayed alive, and of people who did not. They saved the life of a man who suffered a heart attack during the funeral of his wife. He sends them a thank-you card every time his birthday comes around. They managed to resuscitate a schoolboy they thought was dead—he was blue by the time they arrived. Dr. Hardy once performed CPR on a baby who did not survive, but she was able to continue the CPR until after a priest had performed the christening. Once they went to a South Yorkshire wood where two kids had been beaten and abused and left for dead, half-naked and with cigarette burns on their bodies. One kid's core body temperature was only 28 degrees. The odds were much against his surviving, but they saved his life. Dr. Hardy said, "That one stays with me because it wasn't an accident. It wasn't just 'one of those things.' It was inflicted." Like many other heroes, Mr. Craske, Dr. Hardy, and Mr. Bridle say that they are just doing their jobs. (217)

"Jack Owes His Life to These Three Very Brave Teenagers"

In July 2010 in St. Cleer, East Cornwall, UK, 14-year-old Jack Kenny performed a stunt incorrectly on his BMX bike and hit headfirst the concrete of the St. Cleer Skate Park. He was not wearing a helmet and suffered severe skull and face injuries. Three teenage boys—Matt Howlett from Liskeard, Ben Ackland from Pensilva, and Emile Michaels from St. Cleer—found Jack, who was drifting in and out of consciousness and lying in a pool of his own blood. They found Jack's cell phone and called paramedics, and stayed with him and made sure he could breathe until help arrived. Jack's mother, Carol Kenny, said, "Jack owes his life to these three very brave teenagers. I really feel they need to be recognized for their lifesaving actions and everyone should know who they are. They basically saved his life as he wasn't due to be picked up for at least another hour and was alone. This has got to have been the bravest thing they've ever done; a lot of kids would have run away, but they saved his life. They are heroes. We owe them everything—there is nothing we could give them to thank them for what they have done. Their parents must be so proud. I can't believe what they did." Jack, a student from Callington Community College, was airlifted to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital where he remained for three days and had surgery. Thirteen-year-old Emile said, "We were at the skate park talking but didn't see how he fell. We turned around when we heard the crash, and when he lifted his face up he was covered in blood. Ben rang for the ambulance, and I phoned his parents. Then Ben and Matt went to meet the ambulance, and I stayed with him and put pressure on his wounds. It came as a bit of a shock as we didn't expect this to happen." Emile's mother said, "He was quite shaken up when he got home. I'm surprised he handled it so well; it was traumatic. I'm very proud of him." (218)

"Can You Imagine What Might have Happened to Those Kids if He Wasn't There?"

In June 2010 Cory Arnett, age 12, was on a midday drive in southern Utah in a car driven by Beth Donnelly, age 23. Also in the 2003 Ford Explorer and in the backseat were Ms. Donnelly's two-year-old daughter, Berlin, as well as a second two-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. Possibly, Beth Donnelly was driving too fast to negotiate a curve, and the car crashed, going down an embankment. Cory rescued the three toddlers in the car, but Beth Donnelly died. Cory said, "I put on my seat belt, and next thing I knew we careened off the road and flipped, landing in the river bottom." He lost consciousness briefly. He said, "When I came to, kids were screaming and crying and the driver was lying out the door. There was a three-year-old boy wedged between the dashboard and windshield. I grabbed him and put him out on the bank and then got the others out one at a time." He saw that Beth Donnelly was bleeding and unconscious, and he concentrated on helping the toddlers and on getting help. He first got the boy up the 15-foot embankment by pushing him from behind, and then he returned to get the two girls. He held one girl under his arm, and the other girl held onto his leg as he made his way up the embankment. Cory then had the toddlers sit in the shade of a tree, while he walked to get help. He flagged down an all-terrain vehicle driven by a woman who was a nurse. She called paramedics and then went to look after the toddlers. All of the children were checked at a hospital and then released. Cory's father, Dan Arnett, said that he was proud of his son: "My buttons would be popping off my chest if I had any. Can you imagine what might have happened to those kids if he wasn't there?" Jesse Donnelly said about his wife, Beth, and the children: "They were just out for a ride and on the way back, she may have turned her head back to the [children]. There was no indication like skid marks she tried to stop. She just got too close to the edge." Jesse Donnelly's sister, Selina Donnelly, said that her sister-in-law was "huge-hearted with a good soul.... She was too young to die." Neighbors helped out, bringing food and mowing the lawn. Selina said, "They are good people." (219)

"Bring Cops. A Lot of Them!... And Soldiers, Too"

In March 2010, a seven-year-old boy identified only as Carlos made a life-saving call to 911 while he and his six-year-old sister hid in a bathroom as robbers threatened his parents in their home in a Los Angeles suburb. His mother had taught him how to call 911, and she had made him practice calling 911 in case of an emergency. Carlos' 911 call was answered by Los Angeles County Sheriff's dispatcher Monique Patino, who said that he was "my little hero." When the robbers broke into their home, Carlos and his sister hid. Carlos called 911 and said, "There's some guy who's going to kill my mom and dad. Bring cops. A lot of them!... And soldiers, too." The bathroom was locked, but the robbers broke in, someone screamed, and the robbers asked Carlos whom he had called. When he answered, "911," they fled. Ms. Patino said that when she answered the call, she began to think about her own children. She said, "You could hear the fear in the kids' voices." She added, "I didn't know what happened to them, all I heard was them screaming last and the voices fading. I was horrified, I was nervous, I got very shaky. I had to take a walk to shake it off a little bit, but for those last few minutes not knowing—it was horrible." Sheriff's Captain Pat Maxwell said, "If not for the brave and educated actions of the seven-year-old boy, this might have ended tragically." Carlos did want to get one thing straight: He was not the one screaming when the robbers broke into the bathroom. He said, "That was my sister!" (220)

A Treat for a Hero: "He Can Use the Phone Whenever He Wants"

On 7 September 2009, Kyle Sparks, age four, of Kempsville, Virginia, knew what to do when his mother collapsed. He telephoned his father, whose number he had memorized. His mother, Melanie Luongo, had a headache, went to the kitchen to get some water, and then collapsed, unconscious. Ms. Luongo said, "I had a headache and had a seizure." The same thing had happened nine months previously. Ms. Luongo added, "His dad had talked to him about it then, so when it happened again on Labor Day, he recognized it and could tell something was wrong." Kyle's father, Lee Sparks, who was in Richmond at the time of the emergency phone call, said, "I asked him if Mommy was OK and told him to check if Mommy was breathing. He stayed on the phone with me until the ambulance came, looked out the window, and unlocked the door for the emergency personnel." Ms. Luongo said, "He kept saying, 'I did a good job,' 'I did a good job,' and repeating it for weeks afterward. We need to teach our children to use the phone, not just dial 911, but to call for help to other people, too." Kyle received some rewards for his heroism. In November 2009, he won the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Award. Virginia Beach Mayor Will Sessoms gave Kyle a plaque recognizing his heroism, as well as a gift certificate, beach pail, shovel, coloring book, and other goodies. Mayor Sessoms said, "That's a special young man right there and a future member of the rescue squad. We're so sorry this happened, but glad it worked out the way it did." His parents also gave Kyle a treat. His mother said, "He can use the phone whenever he wants." (221)

Eight-Year-Old Hero

On 22 March 2011 while eight-year-old Nolan Wood was staying with his grandmother, Patricia Cerone, age 64, in Brockton, Massachusetts, she suffered a seizure and fell in the kitchen. He spoke to her, but she was unable to respond. No one else was in the home except for his baby sister, two-year-old Avery. Fortunately, Nolan remembered what he had learned at Hancock Elementary School and telephoned 911 and gave the emergency dispatcher his grandmother's address, the telephone number of his parents, and his grandmother's symptoms. Nolan's mother, Michelle, age 39, said, "If he wasn't there, she might not have known she'd had a seizure; she might have thought she just fell." Patricia Cerone, who was taken to Tufts Medical Center, said, "He's my hero." In May 2011, Mayor Linda Balzotti and Fire Chief Richard Francis gave Nolan citations for his emergency actions. Mayor Balzotti said that Nolan would make a good firefighter in Brockton when he becomes an adult, adding, "We could use some young people like you." (222)

"I Promise to be the Best Junior EMT that I can Be"

In September 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, Drew Champagnie's mother suffered a seizure. Fortunately, seven-year-old Drew, an African-American 3rd grader, knew what to do. He telephoned 911—a call that may have saved his mother's life. Commissioner Salvatore Cassano said, "Drew knew his home phone number, his address, his school, his father's cell phone number. He had it all, unlike most of us!" EMS Responder Crystal Guzman said, "My hair stand up because I'm just in shock. He was just awesome." The New York Fire Department made Drew a junior EMT. Drew said at the special ceremony, "I promise to be the best junior EMT that I can be." Drew's mother, Donna Gilkes-Champagnie, said that he is very protective: "He told me this morning... don't do anything... relax, relax...." (223)

"She's My Hero, My Angel"

In Storm Lake, Iowa, in 2010, Dawn Weiland suffered a severe drop in blood sugar. She says, "It was early in the morning, I know that, and I just didn't wake up." Fortunately, her five-year-old daughter, Josie Hernandez, a kindergartner, knew what to do: She called 911. Belinda Johnson, who took Josie's call, said, "The call came in, and I heard someone crying, and I... just started asking her questions about what was going on, and just kept asking more, and she cooperated." Josie's mother said, "I love her to death, and I wouldn't be here without her. She's my hero, my angel." Being a hero sometimes has benefits. A ceremony was held to honor Josie's lifesaving skills, and she was given a stuffed bear. (224)

"I'm Glad He's Here to Look after Me"

In January 2004 in Brisbane, Australia, Donna McGill suffered an epileptic seizure and fell to the floor. Her eight-year-old son, James, was with her and took appropriate action: "The next thing I knew was mum having a fit and then I remembered what to do. I timed the seizure then I tried to roll mum on her side." He then called the telephone number for emergency assistance and reached the Queensland Ambulance Service. He was able to give his address and convey information about his mother and her illness. Communications officer Karen Warren told him what he needed to do to help his mother until emergency assistance arrived. Mr. Warren praised James: "He was a wonderful little boy, and I told him so several times while we were chatting. I thought his mum would be very proud of him, and I felt very proud of him." James' mother is also proud of her son. She said, "It's very hard with epilepsy to decide what the consequences will be, because it could be one of many things. I could have become unconscious, gone into a coma or anything. I'm glad he's here to look after me." (225)

"My Mommy Got Hurt"

In April 2000, four-year-old Ryan Smith found his mother, Tina, unconscious and lying on the floor of the kitchen of their home in Fayetteville, Georgia. Fortunately, she had taught him what to do: He called 911 and said, "My mommy got hurt." He added that her eyes were shut "like she was dead." Paramedics went to the home and took Tina, who was suffering from a recently diagnosed minor heart condition, to a hospital. Ryan sat up front with the driver. Ryan explained how he knew to call 911: "My mom put it in my head, 'cause I listen to her." She used a toy telephone to teach him to call 911, and she made it clear to him that he should call 911 only in times of emergency. Tina said, "I told him you should call 911 if you ever see me passed out because you can't fix it." Ryan says that he may be a paramedic someday, but he isn't sure yet: "I'm still just a kid. I have a long, long time to decide." (226)

Nine-Year-Old Saves Mother's Life—Twice

In Linden, Tennessee, in September 2011, nine-year-old Sadie Sipes, a 4th grader, saved her mother's life—twice. The first time was early in the morning when smoke detectors went off at their house. Sadie said, "I told momma and she thought it was just my brother's alarm clock and then she told me to go back to sleep." But Sadie smelled smoke and the smoke detectors kept ringing the alarm, so Sadie got her mother up. Sadie said, "I had to shake her for a little bit because she was sick, and then after I finally got her woke up she smelled smoke, too." They got out of the house and called 911. Will Gillioun, Sadie's father, said, "I couldn't be more proud of her. She's a very brave girl." Three days later, Sadie's mother, Stephanie, passed out because of illness in the motel where they were staying. Sadie tried to call 911, but the call did not get through because she did not know that she needed to dial a 9 first to get an outside line. She then dialed 0, and staff at the motel called for emergency help. Sadie said, "If I would've lost my momma, I don't know what I would've done." Her mother said, "I just thank God it turned out the way it did. We may have lost everything, but we're still alive." (227)

Even Very Young Children Can be Taught to Use 911 Responsibly

In January 2011 in Herlong, California, five-year-old Rylie Pizzola called 911 to help her mother—twice. On January 11, Michaela Beauchman passed out due to pain. Ms. Beauchman said, "I have endometriosis on my ovaries that causes the pain. It got so bad I lost control and actually blacked out." Young Rylie called 911 and informed the Herlong Volunteer Fire Department about the emergency. The fire department at first headed to the wrong address. Rylie saw the firefighters drive by her house and called again to let them know the right address. She then secured the family dog and let the firefighters into the house. Previously, she had made her three-year-old brother, Dylan, sit on a couch. The firefighters administered medical help to Ms. Beauchman and called an ambulance. On January 20, Ms. Beauchman again passed out from pain, and again Rylie called 911. Herlong Volunteer Fire Department Grover White said, "You know for most kids, when they see a parent go down, it's natural for them to panic. Not for Rylie, though. She seemed calm the entire time. She did some serious life saving. She had such charisma and was very helpful during the situation. I guess it goes to show [they're] never too young to teach them how to call 911." Ms. Beauchman said, "She's so much like me. She doesn't shy away from the spotlight. She steps right up and takes charge. We tell her all the time how proud we are of her." She added, "We can't thank the Herlong volunteers and the Mountain Life Flight crew enough either. They were really on top of it, and the fire department stayed with my children while I was being taken to the hospital until my family could come and stay with them." The fire department presented Rylie with a stuffed pink unicorn and a Life Saver award plaque. (228)

Two-Year-Old Hero: "Mommy Ouch"

In September 2007 in Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington, a two-year-old girl called 911 after her mother fell unconscious to the floor. Erika Miller was playing with her two-year-old daughter, Alana, when she felt a migraine headache coming on. Erika said, "Usually, I can take care of it with medication, but I was out of the medication I normally use for that." She did take some painkillers, but they were ineffective. She said, "I remember feeling a little bit dizzy. Took two or three more steps and hit the floor." Alana went to a coffee table, on which was a phone, and dialed 911. Petty Officer William Cummings, who works at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, said, "While she was on the phone, she said, 'Mommy ouch.'" Mr. Cummings went to the Millers' home, where he found Erika on the floor, shivering, and Alana getting a blanket for her. He called paramedics, who took Erika to a hospital. Erika, who is a volunteer for the Red Cross, said, "I was shocked to hear my two-year-old had the ability and knowledge to call 911. She's got a very big vocabulary in English and German." She had earlier shown Alana how to call 911 but was unsure how much Alana could remember: "I had shown her a few months ago, 'This is what you do when there's a big ouie.'" Erika now has the medication she needs. She said about Alana, "I'm so proud of her." (229)

"I Thinked and I Thinked and I Called 911"

On 19 April 2005 in Greeley, Colorado, Erika Ayers, age 24, fell unconscious to the floor and started vomiting and convulsing—apparently a reaction to a weight-loss medication that was not approved by the FDA. Ms. Ayers said, "The last thing I remember was my 15-month-old, Mollee, lying on the floor with me." Fortunately, her six-year-old daughter, Emalee, returned home after playing with a neighbor. Also fortunately, Emalee had been well taught since the age of four to call 911. Her parents had taught her how to call 911 on four kinds of cell phones as well as on the landline phone in their home. After taking care of little Mollee, Emalee said, "I thinked and I thinked and I called 911. I told them my phone number and address." Firefighters quickly arrived, and an ambulance took Ms. Ayers to a hospital. When she woke up, she did not know how she got there. She said, "Someone came in and told me I better be really proud of my six-year-old." She rewarded Emalee with a shopping trip, a visit to McDonald's, and an ice cream sundae. Firefighters also gave Emalee a stuffed animal, which she named Firedog 911. Ms. Ayers is proud of her daughter: "It was pretty overwhelming that she did all of that on her own." (230)

"I'm Proud of Him Because He Called the Police Before He Told Me It was Really Serious"

On 16 June 2011, Zion Paschall, an African-American, six-year-old first-grader at Efland-Cheeks Elementary School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, became a hero when he called 911 after his grandmother suffered a stroke. Zion was staying with his grandmother, Bessie Paschall, age 67, and had gone to her to ask her to make his breakfast. She tried to get out of bed but fell to the floor. Zion said, "First I called my momma two times, and then called 911, and then called momma back. Then the ambulance and police came and the police asked questions. It turned out grandma had a stroke." Corporal Brian Matthews of the Hillsborough Police Department said that Zion took him to his grandmother, who was unable to answer questions. Corporal Matthews said, "Since Ms. Paschall couldn't tell [us] anything, we had to rely on Zion. We asked him if she took any medications... and he pinpointed the blue bag where she kept them." Corporal Matthews added, "Zion's actions in calling 911, as well as his actions when they got there, helped to treat and give the medical assistance she needed." Zion's mother, Edwina Paschall, said about him, "I'm proud of him because he called the police before he told me it was really serious." (231)

"Right Now, My Kids Could be Parentless If It Wasn't for 911"

Yvette Walcker had been feeling lightheaded, and the lightheadedness did not go away. On 10 April 2011, she collapsed in the kitchen of her home in Granite Bay, California, where her 10-year-old daughter, Ashley, found her half-conscious and gasping on the floor. Ashley dialed 911 for help. Roseville (CA) Police and Fire Dispatcher Sondra Christian kept Ashley calm and gave her instructions on how to help her mother until emergency crews arrived. Ms. Christian said about Ashley, "She was really great during the whole conversation. It almost made me question, because she was so young, whether or not there was a true emergency. But I could hear a mom in the background, so I knew that there was something going on." She added that although the 911 dispatch center receives many calls from kids, very few of the calls are about real emergencies: "A lot of [the callers] are children that have just gone through school and learned what 911 is and they want to see if it's real." Roseville Fire Chief Dean Grundy said, "Ashley did an amazing job of staying calm in such a frightening emergency situation." Roseville Police Chief Daniel Hahn said, "Because of Ashley's bravery and quick thinking, her mother was able to make a full recovery and is with us today." Yvette Walcker's health problem turned out to be an ulcer, which she probably got when her husband died of a brain hemorrhage two years previously. Yvette said, "I was really depressed after my husband died. It was hard getting back on our feet. I'm sure that's where I got the ulcer that almost killed me. Right now, my kids could be parentless if it wasn't for 911." She added about Ashley, "She's my hero, and I'm so proud of her. I'm sure she was petrified. I think this is a way of reminding me of how life is precious and to be thankful that I still have mine." (232)

"I was Able to Keep My Voice Clear Even Though I was Crying"

On 14 June 2010 in Bonham, Texas, 12-year-old Thomas Standlee, a 7th grader, made a 911 call that helped save his mother's life when she began having chest pains and could not get help by herself. Thomas said, "I just did what I had to. I thought my mom might have died. I thought she was dying. I was just terrified. But I was able to keep my voice clear even though I was crying." His mother, Anna Rutledge, said, "Otherwise I might have died if I hadn't gotten any help. That's the reality of it." Anna added, "Here's this kid with Asperger's, and he never missed a beat. He handled it just like a young adult." Thomas had to give their address because he was using a cell phone; he also answered several questions about his mother and her condition. Cindy Woods, a communication officer with the Bonham Police Department, took Thomas' 911 call. Cindy said, "He answered all our questions very well. He followed all our instructions. He did extremely well especially for his age." (233)

"She was Brilliant—Really Good"

Beatrice Coles, a five-year-old girl in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England, knew what to do when her mother lost consciousness in August 2005 due to low blood pressure. She dialed 999 (the British equivalent of the American 911) and opened a door to let the ambulance crew inside. She also called her great-grandmother. Beatrice's mother, Bridget, who was pregnant at the time, said, "I had been suffering from low pressure and having little fainting fits. At this particular time, I had blacked out completely." Paul Ducommun, who works at the ambulance service, said about Beatrice, "She gave me the address straight away and then repeated the telephone number a couple of times to me as well and said her mum had collapsed. She said, 'I can't unlock the door because the door is a bit stuck.' So I said, 'We'll get the ambulance crew to push it while you're pulling it.' I asked her if she'd got any other telephone numbers of her dad, and she gave me all these different numbers. She was brilliant—really good." (234)

"I Call Them My Little Heroes Now"

On 22 December 2010, Amanda Joisce fell unconscious in her home in Whitley Bay, England, because of a blood infection. Fortunately, her two young sons—six-year-old Jack and four-year-old Ryan—knew what to do. Jack found her mobile phone and called 999—the British equivalent of the American 911. Both boys spoke on the phone to the emergency call operator, who sent police to the home. Amanda said, "I am so proud of them. I call them my little heroes now. God knows what would have happened if they hadn't called for help. They could have saved my life. I'm amazed by what they did. You spend all your life looking after your children. You never imagine they will save you like that." She added, "The two boys saw my phone beside me, and thankfully they knew what to do. It would have been distressing for them both, and I am proud of what they did. I have always told them to call 999 if there is ever an emergency, but you don't expect it to happen. I was surprised when I realized what they had done. They are quite clever children, and we watch programs like Casualty together. But they must have been really upset and frightened when they couldn't wake me up. Jack made the phone call, but they both spoke on the phone. Jack and Ryan are both bright young lads—they pick things up very quickly." Chief Superintendent Gordon Milward, the head of Northumbria Police's Communications department, said, "What the boys did was first class, but the role the contact handler who answered their call played was also vital." (235)

"I Didn't Want My Grandma to Die Because She Belongs in the Family"

In April 2005, six-year-old Kimberly Holsinger of Rockingham County, Virginia, saved a life by telephoning 911 when her grandmother Wanda Holsinger had a heart attack. Kimberly had a good reason for doing what she did: "I didn't want my grandma to die because she belongs in the family." Rockingham County Fire and Rescue Chief Robert A. Symons praised Kimberly's family because they had taught her what to do in an emergency. (236)

"I Thought I was Going to Lose Mummy"

In November 2009, in her home in Warden Hill Road, Cheltenham, England, 38-year-old Melissa Loveridge clutched her chest and then collapsed as a result of a chronic asthma attack. Her eight-year-old daughter, Jazmyne, called 999 (the British equivalent of the American 911) and got help. Melissa went into cardiac arrest, but by then paramedics had arrived and were able to save her life. Jazmyne said, "I was shaking and really scared, but I knew I needed to get help. I kept talking to the paramedics until they came, but I thought I was going to lose mummy. Lots of people have told me I helped save her life." Melissa, who spent three days in intensive care, said, "My husband, Geoff, had popped out, so it was only Jazmyne and me in the house. We were watching television when I suddenly felt really unwell. I knew something wasn't right, and suddenly I couldn't breathe at all. I went to the front door and opened it to get some fresh air, but I was still struggling. I lost my voice, and that's when Jazmyne phoned the ambulance. She's my little angel and a real heroine. If it wasn't for her, I'd be dead. It doesn't bear thinking about. She hasn't wanted to leave my side since I've been back. I think she's scared I might go again. When I woke up in hospital, I didn't believe what had happened." Melissa added, "It has made me realize how precious my family is. It really hits home when something like this happens. I'm still on a cocktail of drugs and antibiotics, but it's good to be back home. I want to give a huge thank you to all the staff at the hospital who helped me." Emergency call handler Alex Hawkes, the man who took Jazmyne's 999 call, said, "She handled it all really well and was able to help me by answering questions in a potentially life-threatening situation. Jazmyne stayed calm, letting me know of any changes in her mum's condition, and between us we were able to achieve the best possible outcome." (237)

A Diamond Ring for a Diamond Ring

In December 2005, Wanda Estrada, a See's Candies worker in Saratoga, CA, lost a diamond ring left to her by her late sister. The ring had fallen from her finger into a bag containing a gift basket that Ms. Estrada had bagged for a customer. Fortunately, the customer, Thea Sawyer of San Jose, CA, is honest. She found the ring underneath the gift basket and returned it to Ms. Estrada. Store manager Jeanne Johnson said, "A woman came in yesterday and gave the ring to Wanda. She was very excited about it." Ms. Sawyer's honesty earned her a reward. Helzberg Diamonds—which is owned by the same parent company as See's—gave Ms. Sawyer a diamond ring valued at up to $2,500. (238)

"There are Still Honest People in This World"

In 2011 in Solon, Ohio, Leah Kleppinger, age 30, of Twinsburg, Ohio, found a wallet containing $4,600 in cash in a shopping cart outside of a Bed Bath & Beyond. She turned it in to the police, who located the owner. Ms. Kleppinger said, "I looked inside the wallet and saw the license and credit cards. I noticed the cash, but I didn't know how much. I knew that it was a substantial amount." She is religious and said that God wanted her to turn in the money and wallet. Police Lieutenant Bruce Felton said, "There are still honest people in this world." The owner gave Ms. Kleppinger a cash reward. She said that the cash reward was "completely unnecessary," but added, "It was very kind and thoughtful of him." (239)

"How Many People Would Return a Lost Wallet?"

A nine-year-old boy named Charlie lost his wallet, which contained $300 cash and three gift cards, near a Slurpee machine in a 7-Eleven in Poquoson, Virginia. He posted a note about his loss; the note asked, "How many people would return a lost wallet?" Marvin Ward, manager of the store, said that the wallet was found and returned by a woman: "The wallet's been returned. Some lady turned it in, and Charlie got his wallet back. Everything was in there. I'm just glad Charlie's got his wallet back." (240)

Lost and Found: A Wallet—and $1,000

In April 2010 in Fiji, an island nation to the east of Australia, two brothers—Abele Vesi and Luke Toroca—wanted cab fare. They went to their sister's to get it, but she was not at home, and when they were walking home they found a wallet with $1,000 in it by the side of the road. The brothers returned the wallet to its owner: the principal of Lelean Memorial School, the Reverend Aisea Rarokoliwa, who said, "I am happy that the wallet has come back to me." Luke Tunabuna, the vice-principal of Sila Central High School, which the two brothers attend, said, "They have become a good role model for fellow students and other members of the community." The two boys made a major effort to find the owner of the wallet, trying to reach him all weekend and finally succeeding on Monday. Filipe Bole, the Head of Education Ministry, was impressed by the two boys, pointing out that even after finding $1,000, they walked home instead of using someone else's money to pay their cab fare. The two brothers were honest in part because of the large amount of money in the wallet. Abele, age 19 and the older brother, explained, "We came to watch a rugby match between Ovalau and Naitasiri on a Saturday at Cakobau Park. We had just enough money for our fare, but when the game finished, all the minibuses had gone. We decided to take a cab, but our fare was short so we went to our sister's place at Vuci to ask for fare. She wasn't at home, so we started walking home. When we passed the Westpac Bank in Nausori, Luke noticed a dollar had rolled out of a wallet. We weren't bothered about the wallet because the dollar was all we needed to complete our fare." They took the wallet and opened it a nearby Catholic church. Abele said, "We thought if it was just $50 or $40 we would use it for our fare and buy T-shirts. But when we saw it was $1000, we were too afraid to use it. Instead, we searched the wallet for identification. Our parents back in Ovalau told us to return it and we tried contacting the owner and finally returned the wallet with the money in it the next Monday." (241)

"I Looked at It, and Looked at It Again, and My Jaw Bounced Off the Floor"

In March 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin, teacher JoAnn Tiedemann joined a protest rally but lost one of her wallets. She always carried two wallets. One held cash: on this day, approximately $20. The other held her ID and credit cards. Because no identification was in the wallet that held her cash, she said that she figured that she would never get it back: "It was gone, I knew it, and being a glass-half-empty kind of person, I figured it was gone forever." Fortunately, the wallet did contain coffee shop punch cards: buy so many cups of coffee, and get a cup free. Because of that, Ms. Tiedemann was able to get her wallet and money back. The person who found the wallet saw the coffee shop punch cards and took it to Ground Zero Performance Cafe. She said, "I walked into Ground Zero [on Williamson Street] Monday, and there it was on top of the cookie case, with a sign that asked, 'Is this your pocket book?' I looked at it, and looked at it again, and my jaw bounced off the floor." (242)

"It Shows There are Good People Left in the World"

In October 2005, Wanda Maloney, age 84, lost her wedding ring and attached engagement ring in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. She thought that they fell off her fingers because her ringers are thinner than they used to be. Of course, she wanted them back. For one thing, her husband of 63 years had died in January. Therefore, she placed a classified ad about the lost rings in Capital Newspapers. Meanwhile, Darren Schauf, age 39, found the rings. An honest man, he called Capital Newspapers to place an ad about the rings he had found. The Capital Newspapers employee—Arlene Staff, a customer service representative—had spoken to Ms. Maloney earlier and knew that Mr. Schauf had found the rings that Ms. Maloney had lost. Ms. Maloney said, "It was my miracle for the day. I was very fortunate. It shows there are good people left in the world." Mr. Scauff declined to accept a reward, so Ms. Maloney gave him homemade oatmeal, date, raisin, walnut and chocolate chip cookies. Mr. Scauff said about his good deed: "It made me feel good." (243)

"Thanks for Giving Us All Hope that Good can Still Win Over Evil"

In early 2011, Todd Hunt of Midland, MI, was running errands. He was wearing a brand-new fleece jacket for the first time, and unfortunately he did not know that a pocket was defective. His wallet, which contained a lot of money because he was paying bills, fell out through the defective pocket. When he noticed that it was missing, he retraced his path but did not find the wallet. He then filled out a report at the police station. Fortunately, just as he was getting ready to cancel his credit card, he received a telephone call from a man named Joe Sentz who told him, "I found your wallet." The two men then met in a parking lot, and Mr. Hunt got his wallet back. Mr. Hunt wrote in a letter to the editor of the Midland Daily News, "I'd like to publicly thank Joe Sentz for his extraordinary honesty. Proof positive that there are still really good people out there that do the right thing when the opportunity arises. Thanks for giving us all hope that good can still win over evil." (244)

"People are HONEST"

Janice B. from New York City lost her iPhone—actually, it was the fourth iPhone she had lost. She wrote, "Having lost 3 iPhones prior to this one, I felt a little 'above' the usual meltdown that accompanies what is for many, an incredibly nerve-wrecking inconvenience." Of course, she wanted her iPhone back, if such a thing were possible. Fortunately, it was possible. She received a voicemail at her office saying that someone had found her iPhone at a Starbuck's. (Janice thinks that her iPhone must have been "between those yummy Madeleine cookies and the coffee biscuits.") Janice also wrote, "I believe people are HONEST, and last Thursday I was proved right!" (245)

Lost and Found: $130

In August 2009, Andrew (no last name given) did a favor for a missionary couple who needed some things from an Ikea. The couple gave him $130 for their purchases; unfortunately, at the store Andrew gave the envelope with the money to his very young son to hold briefly and "help" him. Of course, the son quickly lost the envelope. Andrew says that he learned an important lesson that day: "little guys have a short attention span for holding envelopes." Andrew asked some Ikea employees if anyone had turned in an envelope containing money, but no one had. Andrew kept searching for the envelope, and an Ikea employee came to him and told him the good news that the envelope filled with money had been turned in, although, the employee said, "That is unheard of nowadays." (246)

"'Thank You' Cannot Even Begin to Express Our Gratitude"

In July 2005, two exterminating ladies, Loretta and Karen, went to the home of Bette Sowell and her husband in Glendale, Arizona. After their visit, they said, "When we win the lottery, we are going to buy those people an air-conditioner." The very same day, they won $1.1 million in the Arizona Lottery. In August, Loretta and Karen left a note saying that they wanted to talk to Bette and her husband. They then told them that they were going to give them a free new air-conditioner/gas heater. Bette says, "Loretta and Karen are the greatest ladies around, and we cannot begin to tell them how much we appreciate what they have done for us. 'Thank you' cannot even begin to express our gratitude." (247)

The Gift that Felt like $1 Million

A woman who calls herself Sheiladbauman wrote a post on <Helpothers.org> in which she recounted a good deed that another mother had done for her. Sheiladbauman's son suffered a fall from a slide, and while her husband stayed home with her daughter, she took her son to the emergency room. They stayed at the hospital for a couple of hours, and when it was time to leave, she realized that she had no cash with which to pay the fee for emergency parking. It was late, and the ATM machine kept rejecting her credit card. She telephoned her husband, and another mother overheard her describing her problem and freely gave her the $8 she needed. Sheiladbauman writes, "I started crying. I was relieved, tired, overwhelmed, and so grateful. My little guy is wiping the tears from my cheeks, and I'm blubbering my thanks to this stranger. She's holding her sick-looking 3-year-old in her arms, and is offering to help me, one mom to another. That $8 felt like receiving one million! THANK YOU! This was eight months ago, but I still vividly remember my feelings of overwhelming stress and then relief when she offered help. I now always make sure I have money tucked away for an emergency—either mine, or another person who is in need." (248)

"There is So Much Comfort in Simply Caring for Those in Pain, Even When All Else Fails. As an ICU Nurse, I Hope I Never Forget That"

Some people get sick with an illness that cannot be identified, and they die. Karen K. Giuliano, a registered nurse, cared for one such patient—a young woman named Janet—in the Intensive Care Unit of her hospital. This patient had been beautiful and she was popular, as the many cards she received attested. But the illness necessitated the insertion of many tubes into her body, and half of her head was shaven to facilitate a medical procedure. It was obvious that this patient was not going to get well. Nurse Giuliano washed and French-braided this patient's hair each day. Nurse Giuliano said, "As a nurse I needed something to offer the family as well as to help me feel just a little better than totally useless every time I walked into the room." The last six weeks of the patient's life were painful. One very bad thing was that even with an autopsy the illness that had killed Janet was not identified. One very good thing that happened was that a few weeks after the patient died, Janet's mother sent Nurse Giuliano a card that said, "God bless you, Karen. Thank you for doing Janet's hair." Nurse Giuliano says, "The card instantly filled me with incredible emotion. It helped me once again to realize that sometimes it is the little things that mean the most. There is so much comfort in simply caring for those in pain, even when all else fails. As an ICU nurse, I hope I never forget that." (249)

"Her Heart was Bigger Than This Room"

When Rachel Beckwith was five years old, she learned about the charity Locks of Love, which collects human hair to make into wigs for children who have lost their hair because of medical conditions and treatments such as chemotherapy. Rachel donated her hair, and then she grew her hair long again and donated it again. When Rachel was about to become nine years old, she set up an online charity to get clean water for children. She wrote, "On June 12th 2011, I'm turning 9. I found out that millions of people don't live to see their 5th birthday. And why? Because they didn't have access to clean, safe water so I'm celebrating my birthday like never before. I'm asking from everyone I know to donate to my campaign instead of gifts for my birthday. Every penny of the money raised will go directly to fund freshwater projects in developing nations. Even better, every dollar is 'proved' when the projects are complete, and photos and GPS coordinates are posted using Google Earth. My goal is to raise $300 by my birthday, June 12, 2011. Please consider helping me. Thank you so much!!!" By June 12, she had raised $220. One month later, her family suffered a 13-car accident, and Rachel died. People then began donating in earnest—and usually in increments of nine—to Rachel's charity. Early on the morning of 17 August 2011, her charity had raised $1,152,537. Her father said, "Rachel was a very special girl. I love you very much, Rachel, and I miss you. Her heart was bigger than this room. She always gave whatever she had and would continue to give more." On 25 July 2011 Rachel's mother posted this on Rachel's charity's Web site: "I am in awe of the overwhelming love to take my daughter[']s dream and make it a reality. In the face of unexplainable pain you have provided undeniable hope. Thank you for your generosity! I know Rachel is smiling!" (250)
APPENDIX A: SOME BOOKS BY DAVID BRUCE

Retellings of a Classic Work of Literature

Dante's Inferno: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Purgatory: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Paradise: A Retelling in Prose

Dante's Divine Comedy: A Retelling in Prose

From the Iliad to the Odyssey: A Retelling in Prose of Quintus of Smyrna's Posthomerica

Homer's Iliad: A Retelling in Prose

Homer's Odyssey: A Retelling in Prose

Jason and the Argonauts: A Retelling in Prose of Apollonius of Rhodes' Argonautica

Virgil's Aeneid: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV, aka Henry IV, Part 1: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's As You Like It: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's The Tempest: A Retelling in Prose

William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night: A Retelling in Prose

Children's Biography

Nadia Comaneci: Perfect Ten

Anecdote Collections

250 Anecdotes About Opera

250 Anecdotes About Religion

250 Anecdotes About Religion: Volume 2

250 Music Anecdotes

Be a Work of Art: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

The Coolest People in Art: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in the Arts: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in Books: 250 Anecdotes

The Coolest People in Comedy: 250 Anecdotes

Create, Then Take a Break: 250 Anecdotes

Don't Fear the Reaper: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Art: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Books, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Comedy: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Dance: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 4: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 5: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Families, Volume 6: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Movies: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Music, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Neighborhoods: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Relationships: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Sports: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Sports, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Television and Radio: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People in Theater: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People Who Live Life: 250 Anecdotes

The Funniest People Who Live Life, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

Maximum Cool: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Movies: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Politics and History, Volume 3: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Religion: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People in Sports: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People Who Live Life: 250 Anecdotes

The Most Interesting People Who Live Life, Volume 2: 250 Anecdotes

Reality is Fabulous: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

Resist Psychic Death: 250 Anecdotes

Seize the Day: 250 Anecdotes and Stories

Kindest People Series

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volume 1

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volume 2

(Free) Kindest People Volumes

The Kindest People Who Do Good Deeds: Volumes 3-7

The Kindest People: Heroes and Good Samaritans (Volumes 1-7)

The Kindest People: Be Excellent to Each Other (Volumes 1-5)

Free Philosophy for the Masses Series

Philosophy for the Masses: Ethics

Philosophy for the Masses: Metaphysics and More

Philosophy for the Masses: Religion

Free Discussion Guide Series

Dante's Inferno: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Paradise: A Discussion Guide

Dante's Purgatory: A Discussion Guide

Forrest Carter's The Education of Little Tree: A Discussion Guide

Homer's Iliad: A Discussion Guide

Homer's Odyssey: A Discussion Guide

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: A Discussion Guide

Jerry Spinelli's Maniac Magee: A Discussion Guide

Jerry Spinelli's Stargirl: A Discussion Guide

Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal": A Discussion Guide

Lloyd Alexander's The Black Cauldron: A Discussion Guide

Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court: A Discussion Guide

Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper: A Discussion Guide

Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind: A Discussion Guide

Nicholas Sparks' A Walk to Remember: A Discussion Guide

Virgil's Aeneid: A Discussion Guide

Virgil's "The Fall of Troy": A Discussion Guide

Voltaire's Candide: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's 1 Henry IV: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's Macbeth: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream: A Discussion Guide

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: A Discussion Guide

William Sleator's Oddballs: A Discussion Guide

(Oddballs is an excellent source for teaching how to write autobiographical essays/personal narratives.)
APPENDIX B: EXCERPT FROM WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S TWELFTH NIGHT: A RETELLING IN PROSE BY DAVID BRUCE

— 1.2 —

On the shore of the Adriatic Sea on the coast of Illyria, the noblewoman Viola, as well as a sea captain and some sailors, had just landed after surviving a storm at sea that had sunk their ship.

Viola asked, "What country, friends, is this?"

The captain replied, "This is Illyria, lady."

Viola said, "I wonder what I should do now. My twin brother has almost certainly drowned and is in Elysium, the good part of the afterworld. But perhaps my brother did not drown. What do you think, sailors?"

The captain replied, "It is only by great good fortune that you yourself did not drown."

"And since I was saved, perhaps my poor brother was also saved."

"True, madam," the captain said. "Here is some comfort for you. I can assure you that when our ship split in two and sank and you and the few others here who survived held onto our drifting ship, I saw your brother acting bravely and resourcefully during such a dangerous time. He tied himself to a floating mast. I saw him keeping himself from drowning for as long as I could see him. He rode on the mast like Arion rode on the dolphin that had listened to his music and saved him when he was in danger of drowning after being captured by pirates. The dolphin carried Arion to land, and the mast may keep your brother alive until he can reach land."

"Thank you for saying such reassuring words to me," Viola said.

She handed him some money and said, "There is gold for you. My own escape from drowning gives me hope that my brother is still alive, and so do your words — words from someone who knows the sea well."

She added, "Do you know this country of Illyria well?"

"Yes, madam, I do know it well," the captain replied. "I was born and raised not three hours' travel from this very place."

"Who governs here?"

"A noble duke," the captain said. "He is noble both in nature and in name."

"What is his name?"

"Orsino."

"Orsino!" Viola said. "I have heard my father talk about him. He was a bachelor at that time."

"He is still a bachelor," the captain said. "Or at least he was a bachelor until very recently — I have been gone from Illyria for a month. At that time, the gossip was — as you know, the common people gossip about the nobles — that he was seeking the love of fair Olivia."

"Who is she?"

"She is a virtuous maiden, the daughter of a Count who died a year ago, leaving her in the protection of his son, her brother, who shortly afterward died. Because of her love for her brother and her grief over his death, people say that she has decided to shun the company and the sight of men."

"I would like to be employed by that lady and not reveal who I am to the world until I know more certainly what my position and standing in life will be here. I must be cautious because I am a woman in a strange land."

"It will be difficult or impossible to get a position with Countess Olivia," the captain said, "because she has shut herself away and will not listen to any kind of request, not even Duke Orsino's."

"You seem to look and act like a good person, captain. Although some people have an appearance of goodness that hides evil, I believe that your mind suits your fair and outward character. Therefore, I ask you to — and I will pay you well — conceal my identity and aid me as I assume another identity for the time being. I intend to become an employee of Duke Orsino. You shall tell him that I am a eunuch — a castrated male. This will be a win-win-win situation for you, the Duke, and me. I will be a competent employee, and you will get the credit for bringing me to the Duke's attention. I do have talents. I can sing and play musical instruments, and I will provide good value to the Duke. What happens after I enter his employ, only time will tell. But please keep quiet about my identity until I reveal who I really am."

The captain replied, "Go ahead and pretend to be a eunuch, and I will pretend to be a man who is mute and unable to reveal your identity. If I should ever tell your secret, may I go blind."

"Thank you. Now please lead me to Duke Orsino."

Viola thought, Of course, I may need to alter my plan according to circumstances. If I pretend to be a eunuch, that will explain my lack of beard and my high voice as I sing songs. But if, for some reason, it is not a good idea to pretend to be a eunuch — for example, if Duke Orsino is tired of music — then I can pretend to be a youth who as of yet is incapable of growing a beard. As a young woman, I can manage to assume that identity.
APPENDIX C: FAIR USE

This communication uses information that I have downloaded and adapted from the WWW. I will not make a dime from it. The use of this information is consistent with fair use:

§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

Release date: 2004-04-30

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include —

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

Source of Fair Use information: <http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html>.
APPENDIX D: ABOUT THE AUTHOR

It was a dark and stormy night. Suddenly a cry rang out, and on a hot summer night in 1954, Josephine, wife of Carl Bruce, gave birth to a boy—me. Unfortunately, this young married couple allowed Reuben Saturday, Josephine's brother, to name their first-born. Reuben, aka "The Joker," decided that Bruce was a nice name, so he decided to name me Bruce Bruce. I have gone by my middle name—David—ever since.

Being named Bruce David Bruce hasn't been all bad. Bank tellers remember me very quickly, so I don't often have to show an ID. It can be fun in charades, also. When I was a counselor as a teenager at Camp Echoing Hills in Warsaw, Ohio, a fellow counselor gave the signs for "sounds like" and "two words," then she pointed to a bruise on her leg twice. Bruise Bruise? Oh yeah, Bruce Bruce is the answer!

Uncle Reuben, by the way, gave me a haircut when I was in kindergarten. He cut my hair short and shaved a small bald spot on the back of my head. My mother wouldn't let me go to school until the bald spot grew out again.

Of all my brothers and sisters (six in all), I am the only transplant to Athens, Ohio. I was born in Newark, Ohio, and have lived all around Southeastern Ohio. However, I moved to Athens to go to Ohio University and have never left.

At Ohio U, I never could make up my mind whether to major in English or Philosophy, so I got a bachelor's degree with a double major in both areas, then I added a master's degree in English and a master's degree in Philosophy. Currently, and for a long time to come, I publish a weekly humorous column titled "Wise Up!" for The Athens News and I am an English instructor at Ohio U.

If all goes well, I will publish one or two books a year for the rest of my life. (On the other hand, a good way to make God laugh is to tell Her your plans.)
APPENDIX E: BOOK BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hayduke, George. Up Yours! Guide to Advanced Revenge Techniques. Boulder, CO: Paladin Press, 1982.

Hull, William H., editor. Nurse: Heart and Hands. Edina, MN: William H. Hull Publisher, 1991.

Kaywell, Joan F., editor. Dear Author: Letters of Hope. New York: Philomel Books, 2007.

Powers, Tom. Steven Spielberg: Master Storyteller. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications Company, 1997.

Slezak, Walter. What Time's the Next Swan? Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co., Inc., 1962.

Tocher, Timothy. Odd Ball: Hilarious, Unusual, and Bizarre Baseball Moments. Illustrated by Stacy Curtis. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Children, 2011.

Whitlock, Chuck. Police Heroes. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002.
APPENDIX F: ENDNOTES

(1) Source: "Sisters make baby with three mums." BBC News. 24 October 2005 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4370804.stm>>. Also: Polly Dunbar, "The little boy with three mums (and they're ALL sisters)." Daily Mail (UK). 5 July 2008 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1032352/The-little-boy-mums-theyre-ALL-sisters.html>>. Also: Polly Dunbar, "A baby brother for little boy whose three mothers are sisters (who swear they will NEVER go through that again)." Daily Mail (UK). 27 October 2008 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1080669/A-baby-brother-little-boy-mothers-sisters-swear-NEVER-again.html>>.

(2) Source: Shaun Smillie and Joseph Makua, "Twins born in the midst of shack blaze." Independent Online (iol). 18 November 2005 <<http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/twins-born-in-the-midst-of-shack-blaze-1.259114?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot>>.

(3) Source: Sharon Eve, as told to Chris Broughton, "Experience: I delivered a baby on a bus." Guardian (UK). 16 September 2011 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/sep/16/i-delivered-baby-on-bus>>.

(4) Source: "Runner Carries Competitor Half a Mile." Anoka-Hennepin School District Release. Posted at Dailygood.org. <<http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=94>>. Accessed 30 September 2011. Original source: <http://www.anoka.k12.mn.us/education/components/whatsnew/default.php?sectiondetailid=184598&showDetails=show>.

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(7) Source: "Chiefs' Gonzalez saves man from choking to death." Associated Press. 8 July 2008 <<http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3477130>>.

(8) Source: Rick Reilly, "Leonard Pope to the rescue." ESPN.com. 2 August 2011 <<http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/6826698/rick-reilly-leonard-pope-heroics>>. Also: C.K. Rairden, "Joe Delaney... Don't Let the Memory Fade." Nepa Chiefs. <http://nepachiefs.com/joedelaney.htm>. Posted 24 September 2002.

(9) Source: Timothy Tocher, Odd Ball: Hilarious, Unusual, and Bizarre Baseball Moments, pp. 26, 63.

(10) Source: Leilana McKindra, "A humble hero: soccer coach honored for saving lives." The NCAA News. NCAA News Archive—2008. 30 May 2008 <<http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/NCAANewsArchive/2008/association-wide/a%2Bhumble%2Bhero%2Bsoccer%2Bcoach%2Bhonored%2Bfor%2Bsaving%2Blives%2B-%2B05-30-08%2Bncaa%2Bnews.html>>.

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(12) Source: Catherine Ryan Hyde, "Introduction" to this book: Joan F. Kaywell, editor. Dear Author: Letters of Hope. New York: Philomel Books, 2007pp. xii-xiv.

(13) Source: Peter Conrad, "Nicholson Baker: 'Writing this book was the most fun I ever had.'" 14 August 2011. Guardian (UK). <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/14/nicholson-baker-house-holes-interview>>.

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(15) Source: Henry Rollins, "Curtis Mayfield Songs in Haiti." Los Angeles Weekly. 15 September 2011 <<http://blogs.laweekly.com/westcoastsound/2011/09/henry_rollins_the_column_curti.php>>.

(16) Source: Walter Slezak, What Time's the Next Swan?, p. 223.

(17) Source: Liz Rafferty, "Kate Winslet Saved Life of Richard Branson's Mother." People.com. 23 August 2011 <<http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20522108,00.html>>. Also: "Fire on Necker Island." Richard's Blog. 22 August 2011 <<http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/fire-on-necker-island>>.

(18) Source: "'Hero' Brother Saves Sister with Movie CPR." The Christian Broadcasting Network. 20 April 2011 <<http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/April/Hero-Brother-Saves-Sister-with-Movie-CPR/>>.

(19) Source: Tom Powers, Steven Spielberg: Master Storyteller, p. 109.

(20) Source: Audrey Hepburn, "You are the Hippest of Cats." Letter to Henry Mancini, composer of score for Breakfast at Tiffany's, including "Moon River." Letters of Note. 15 September 2011 <<http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/09/you-are-hippest-of-cats.html>>.

(21) Source: Jonas Beals, "17-YEAR-OLD A LIFESAVER: Stafford High School junior saves his teacher from choking." The Free Lance-Star (Fredericksburg, VA). 13 March 2010 <<http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2010/052010/05132010/547343>>.

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(23) Source: Nick Banaszak, "Scottsboro Student Saves Teacher's Life, Credits Disney Show." WHNT NEWS. 9 December 2010 <<http://www.whnt.com/news/whnt-teacher-choking-pop-tart-scottsboro-heimlich,0,3035924.story>>.

(24) Source: Helen Jones, "Lifesaving bus driver is a humble hero." Buffalo News (NY). 25 September 2011 <<http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/evans/article570264.ece>>.

(25) Source: Elise Banducci, "San Jose teacher saved by his 11-year-old student." San Jose Mercury News (CA). 1 December 2002 <<http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/boy_hero021202.html>>. Posted on Life Chat. 23 August 2008 <<http://www.lifechat.com/inspirational/san-jose-teacher-saved-by-his-11-year-old-student>>.

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(27) Source: "As school came down, teacher saved 45 kids." The Indian Express (India). EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE. 13 October 2005 <<http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/79915/>>.

(28) Source: Dianne Williamson, "Dad saves her life and she's proud of him." Telegram (Worcester, Massachusetts). 15 February 2011 <http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110215/COLUMN01/102150433/0/newsletters11>.

(29) Source: "WA father saves young daughter, then drowns." The Associated Press. Seattle Times (Washington). 15 August 2011 <<http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015919825_apwafatherdrowns.html>>.

(30) Source: Michael Savage, "Father saves daughter as she is sucked along storm drain." The Independent (UK). 9 September 2008 <<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/father-saves-daughter-as-she-is-sucked-along-storm-drain-923477.html>>. Also: Martin Wainwright, "Father saves girl, 3, swept through storm drain pipe." The Guardian (UK). 8 September 2008 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/sep/09/flooding.weather>>.

(31) Source: Julianna Olsen, "Father saves daughter from Minn. tornado before dying." KARE (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota). 19 June 2010 <<http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=853012>>.

(32) Source: Cecil Adams, "SuperMom: Could a mother actually lift a car to save her child?" The Straight Dope. 20 January 2006 <<http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2636/supermom>>.

(33) Source: Sara Israelsen-Hartley, "Girl honored for saving brother's life; family of slain corrections officer recognized." Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah). 14 May 2009 <http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705303372/Girl-honored-for-saving-brothers-life-family-of-slain-corrections-officer-recognized.html>.

(34) Source: Wooka85257, "Remembering Kindness 41 Years Later—A Kindness Story." Helpothers.org. 17 August 2011 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=27259>>.

(35) Source: Sean Thomas, "15-year-old girl rescues younger brothers from Amarillo house fire." Lubbock Online (Texas). Morris News Service. 27 December 2006 <<http://lubbockonline.com/stories/122706/reg_122706066.shtml>>.

(36) Source: Bill Hess, "Sierra Vista girl, 5, carries brother out of fire." Sierra Vista Herald (Arizona). 1 January 2009 <<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/01/20090101sierravista.html>>.

(37) Source: Andy Dolan and Fay Schlesinger, "Villain to hero: Disgraced WWII soldier sacrificed himself to save lives of 20 children." Daily Mail (UK). 11 December 2009 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235045/Disgraced-WWII-soldier-blew-showing-grenade-actually-sacrificed-saving-20-children.html>>.

(38) Source: "Nov 19, 1915: British pilot makes heroic rescue." This Day in History. <<http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/british-pilot-makes-heroic-rescue>>. Accessed 24 November 2011. Also: London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29423. p. 86. 1 January 1916. Accessed 24 September 2011.

(39) Source: Matt Culkin, "The 8 Most Badass Make-A-Wish Foundation Wishes." Cracked. 3 September 2011 <<http://www.cracked.com/article_19389_the-8-most-badass-make-a-wish-foundation-wishes.html>>. Also: 'Gilligan' to sail again for Make-a-Wish Foundation." Point Pleasant Register (West Virginia). 10 April 1992. <http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mo5DAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pqkMAAAAIBAJ&dq=gilligan%20make%20a%20wish&pg=5734%2C518872>.

(40) Source: "Sam Ferris." Make-a-Wish Foundation. <<http://www.wish.org/stories/sports_entertainment/sports/sam_baseball_field>>. Accessed 10 September 2011.

(41) Source: "Ben's Game." Make-a-Wish Foundation. <http://www.sfwish.org/site/pp.asp?c=bdJLITMAE&b=81924> and <http://www.sfwish.org/site/pp.asp?c=bdJLITMAE&b=81934>. Accessed 10 September 2011. Also: "Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Child to be Honored by Dalai Lama as an Unsung Hero of Compassion." Make-a-Wish Foundation Press Release. 2 November 2005 <<http://www.sfwish.org/atf/cf/%7B56360A76-961F-4F75-858A-280CED494E7E%7D/11%2002%2005%20MAW%20Dalai%20Lama%20Unsung%20Heroes%20Release.pdf>>. Download the game in both PC and Mac versions at <http://www.sfwish.org/site/pp.asp?c=bdJLITMAE&b=81926>.

(42) Source: Kellie Bramlet, "He's my hero." Amarillo Globe-News (TX). 23 June 2011 <http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2011-06-23/hes-my-hero#.TohxgGCldKA>.

(43) Source: Sharon Marris, "Bob's unsung team vital." Kent and Sussex Courier (UK); Tunbridge Wells edition. FindArticles.com. 11 September 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/kent-and-sussex-courier-the-tunbridge-wells-ed/mi_8138/is_20090911/bobs-unsung-team-vital/ai_n51045500/?tag=content;col1>>.

(44) Source: Lisa Adams and Laura Coventry, "Daily Record Our Heroes 2010: Brave youngsters Kimberly & Sophie make Scotland proud." Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland). 15 April 2010 <<http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/2010/04/15/daily-record-our-heroes-2010-brave-youngsters-kimberly-sophie-make-scotland-proud-86908-22187335/>>.

(45) Source: Teresa Yong, "Blue boy Dhani now able to walk." New Straits Times (Malaysia). 18 September 2011 <<http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/20zuati/Article/>>. Also: "Giving a life-saving hand to Malaysians in need." PDF. 15 August 2011 <<http://www.pantai.com.my/uploads/file/news/Giving%20a%20life%20saving%20hand%20to%20Malaysians%20in%20need.pdf_ab84f211.pdf>>.

(46) Source: Helena Oliviero, "From an airborne plea, a friendship balloons: 180 miles apart, girls become pen pals." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia). 27 July 2011 <<http://www.ajc.com/lifestyle/from-an-airborne-plea-1039236.html>>.

(47) Source: Brittany Levine, "Iraq vet receives kidney transplant from fellow Marine." The Burbank Leader (CA). 12 August 2011 <<http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-gnp-0814-kidney,0,2209779.story>>.

(48) Source: Caitlin McBride, "Giving a kidney to my nephew was amazing-Vivienne." Evening Herald (Ireland). 28 July 2009 <<http://www.herald.ie/news/giving-a-kidney-to-my-nephew-was-amazingvivienne-1844038.html>>.

(49) Source: Andrew Tobias, "The Divide—II." Andrew Tobias: Money and Other Subjects." 30 August 2011 <<http://www.andrewtobias.com/newcolumns/110830.html>>.

(50) Source: John H. Richardson, "The Last Abortion Doctor." Esquire 152.3 (2009): 134-171. Also: Rabbi Shira Stern, "Chipping Away at a Woman's Rights." Los Angeles Times. 30 October 1995. Also: Jennifer Coburn, "Parental Consent Laws Are Harmful to Teens." Abortion. Ed. Tamara Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1997. 96-99. Opposing Viewpoints. Ser.

(51) Source: Elizabeth Stuart, "Former head of Doctors Without Borders Dr. James Orbinski says find way to help people." Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah). 7 April 2010 <<http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700022593/Former-head-of-Doctors-Without-Borders-Dr-James-Orbinski-says-find-way-to-help-people.html>>.

(52) Source: William H. Hull, editor, Nurse: Heart and Hands, pp. 66-67.

(53) Source: Olga Craig, "Truly a miracle for our family." The Telegraph (UK). 20 November 2005 <<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1503457/Truly-a-miracle-for-our-family.html>>.

(54) Source: Amy Hunt, "Tea's a hero; A LIFESAVING DELIVERY." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 13 August 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2010_August_13/ai_n55097831/?tag=content;col1>>.

(55) Source: Ruth Lawson, "Thank you for saving my life, you two; HEART ATTACK VICTIM MEETS PARAMEDICS WHO CAME TO HIS RESCUE." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 19 August 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2010_August_19/ai_n55109332/?tag=content;col1>>.

(56) Source: "Grover Cleveland's Deadly Secret." Neatorama. 16 September 2011 <http://www.neatorama.com/2011/09/16/grover-clevelands-deadly-secret/>. This is a reprint from the July-August 2011 issue of Mental Floss magazine.

(57) Source: "Elderly lottery winner donates all money to charity." Lottery Post. 2 December 2005 <<http://www.lotterypost.com/news/123934>>.

(58) Source: Jessica Fink. "Extreme couponing, for a cause." TODAY.com. 22 August 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44203232/ns/today-good_news/#.TlO_cWCldKA>.

(59) Source: "'Mama, baby!' How hero parrot saved little girl who was choking on her breakfast." Daily Mail (UK). 24 March 2009 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164490/Mama-baby-How-hero-parrot-saved-little-girl-choking-breakfast.html>>.

(60) Source: Richard Dymond, "A shark tale: Heroic rescue saves a life: Quick-thinking companions pull local man, 21, from water, render aid after attack." Bradenton.com (FL). 26 September 2011 <<http://www.bradenton.com/2011/09/26/3523127/a-shark-tale-heroic-rescue-saves.html>>.

(61) Source: Lawrence Mower, "Mother saves young son after stabbing slippery snake." Las Vegas Review-Journal (Nevada). 23 January 2009 <<http://www.lvrj.com/news/38209114.html>>.

(62) Source: Rich Landers, "Gutsy wrangler, huge horse save boy from charging grizzly." Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA). 18 September 2011 <<http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/sep/18/gutsy-wrangler-huge-horse-save-boy-from-charging/>>.

(63) Source: "Brazilian mutt a hero after fighting off pit bull that attacked three-year-old girl." News.com (Australia). 7 October 2011 <<http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/brazilian-mutt-a-hero-after-fighting-off-pit-bull-that-attacked-three-year-old-girl/story-e6frfku0-1226161398892>>.

(64) Source: Brittany Borghi, "Father-Daughter Team Saves Woman From Deer." NPG of Idaho, Inc. (Idaho Falls, ID). 3 October 2011 <<http://www.localnews8.com/news/29379889/detail.html>>.

(65) Source: "7-year-old survives pit bull attack." Las Vegas Sun (Nevada). 26 February 2003 <<http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2003/feb/26/7-year-old-survives-pit-bull-attack/>>.

(66) Source: "Passerby Called Hero in Pit Bull Attack." ABC News. 4 July 2001 <http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92952&page=1>. Also: "Pit Bull Attack Victim's Condition Improves." ABC News. 5 July 2001 <http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=92949&page=1>.

(67) Source: Alexis Stevens. "Cobb County girl attacked by pit bull." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia). 24 February 2010 <http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/cobb-county-girl-attacked-308526.html>.

(68) Source: Mike Celizic, "Hero dog saves boy, 11, from cougar attack: Angel the golden retriever became a guardian angel when cat pounced." TODAY.com. 5 January 2010 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/34701355/ns/today-good_news/t/hero-dog-saves-boy-cougar-attack/#.TpBNdGCldKA>.

(69) Source: "Dog rescues elderly NC woman who fell." WISTV,com. 27 September 2011 <<http://www.wistv.com/story/15558547/dog-rescues-elderly-woman-who-fell>>.

(70) Source: Barangay Lapasan, "Pit Bull saves 2 women from deadly cobra, dies wagging his tail." Dogs in the News. 1 March 2007 <<http://dogsinthenews.com/stories/070301a.php>>. Also: Herbie Gomez, "Dog saves family from cobra, is killed." Cagayan de Oro Journal. 16 February 2007 <<http://cagayandeorojournal.blogspot.com/2007/02/dog-saves-family-from-cobra-is-killed.html>>.

(71) Source: "Dog rescues girl child buried alive, stranger adopts." The Telegraph (Calcutta, India). 22 April 2008 <<http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080423/jsp/nation/story_9172637.jsp>>.

(72) Source: Bob Mims, "Toy poodle credited with West Jordan fire rescue." The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah). 2 September 2011 <<http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52506748-78/fire-dog-jordan-west.html.csp>>.

(73) Source: "Hero dog saves pregnant mother from blaze." Daily Mail (UK). 20 December 2005 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-372238/Hero-dog-saves-pregnant-mother-blaze.html>>.

(74) Source: "Dog saves metro family in house fire." KFOR-TV (Oklahoma). 11 July 2011 <<http://northoklahomacity.kfor.com/news/news/dog-saves-metro-family-house-fire/80802>>.

(75) Source: KOMO Staff, "Dog saves baby from burning home." KLEW-TV. December 2007 <http://www.klewtv.com/home/video/12533696.html?video=pop&t=a>.

(76) Source: William H. Carlile, "'Man's Best Friend' Is Also Lifesaving Hero and Protector." Christian Science Monitor. 23 October 1997 <<http://www.csmonitor.com/1997/1023/102397.feat.feat.2.html>>.

(77) Source: "Life-saving heroes of the day." Nottingham Evening Post (UK). 24 July 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/nottingham-evening-post/mi_8158/is_20100724/life-saving-heroes/ai_n54555950/?tag=content;col1>>.

(78) Source: "Award winning guide dog is hailed a hero." Carmarthen Journal (Wales). 22 September 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/carmarthen-journal/mi_8090/is_20100922/award-winning-guide-dog-hailed/ai_n55328764/?tag=content;col1>>.

(79) Source: "Man Saves Dog, Dog Saves Man." ABC News. 2 November 2005 <<http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=1273192>>.

(80) Source: Amy Devine, "DOG SAVES GIRL, 18 FROM SEX ATTACKER: Collie bites pervert's legs." Daily Record (UK). 7 January 2006 <<http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/2006/01/07/dog-saves-girl-18-from-sex-attacker-86908-16557533/>>.

(81) Source: "Humpback Whale Shows Appreciation After Being Freed From Nets." 7 September 2011 <<http://nagonthelake.blogspot.com/2011/09/humpback-whale-shows-amazing.html>>.

(82) Source: Associated Press, "Firefighter saves dog with 'mouth-to-snout' resuscitation." Sun Journal (Central and Western Maine). 15 December 2005 <http://www.sunjournal.com/node/639189>.

(83) Source: Naomi Corrigan, "Hartburn woman praises firefighters after dog rescued from frozen lake." Evening Gazette (England). 13 January 2011 <<http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2011/01/13/hartburn-woman-praises-firefighters-after-dog-rescued-from-frozen-lake-84229-27975718/>>.

(84) Source: Betsy Cohen, "Missoula firefighters flooded with calls about cat rescue." Helena Independent Record (MT). 30 December 2005 <<http://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/article_038528de-df1d-5ca5-b29e-339420a48728.html>>. Reprinted from the Missoulian (Missoula, MT).

(85) Source: Tisha Steyn, "Samaritan rescues 'seal woman.'" News24 (South Africa). 7 December 2005 <<http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/Archives/HolidayReport/Samaritan-rescues-seal-woman-20051207>>.

(86) Source: "M-way roadblock captures lost tiger toy." Yorkshire Post (UK). 14 August 2005 <<http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/m_way_roadblock_captures_lost_tiger_toy_1_2478290>>.

(87) Source: "'Car theft conmen have no morals' says mum to be left stranded on roadside." Northampton Chronicle & Echo (UK). 3 September 2011 <<http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/crime/car_theft_conmen_have_no_morals_says_mum_to_be_left_stranded_on_roadside_1_3025244>>.

(88) Source: "Man, 89, owner of West Long Branch Golf Range, rescued from snowbank by Eatontown resident." Posted at <<http://www.branchesnj.com/news/man_89_owner_of_west_long_branch_golf_range_rescued_from_snowbank_by_eatontown_resident.aspx>>. Original source: Michelle Gladden, "Man, 89, owner of West Long Branch Golf Range, rescued from snowbank by Eatontown resident." Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ). 6 January 2011.

(89) Source: Daniel Burke, "Terri Roberts, Mother Of Amish Shooting Perpetrator Cares For Her Son's Victims." Huffington Post. Religion News Service. 29 September 20111 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/29/terri-roberts-amish-shooting-victims_n_987525.html>>.

(90) Source: "Paedophile jailed after burglars with a conscience tip off police about child abuse pictures on stolen laptop." Daily Mail (UK). 15 August 2009 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1206348/Sex-offender-caught--thieves-steal-laptop-awash-child-pornography.html>>.

(91) Source: Ray Stern: "Street Morals: Phoenix Pimp Squeals on Client Who Requested Child Sex." Phoenix New Times Blog (Arizona). 29 December 2008 <<http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/12/street_morals_phoenix_pimp_squ.php>>. Also: Ray Stern: "Local Man Who Turned in Suspected Would-be Child Molester Says He's Not a Pimp." 29 December 2008 <http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2008/12/local_man_who_turned_in_suspec.php>.

(92) Source: Jeff Patterson, "Inmates saved deputy's life during attack, sheriff's office says." News Channel 8. Tampa Bay Online (Florida). 4 November 2009 <<http://www2.tbo.com/news/news/2009/nov/04/inmates-credited-rescuing-hillsborough-deputy-duri-ar-55930/>>.

(93) Source: "Prisoner saves guard, earns time off." Wilton Villager (Connecticut). 22 September 2008 <<http://www.wiltonvillager.com/story/421210>>.

(94) Source: Alexis Stevens, "Good Samaritan saves officer being attacked." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia). 13 July 2011 <http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/good-samaritan-saves-officer-1014495.html>.

(95) Source: "Girl, 10, Fights Off Abductor Near School." Click2houston.com. 30 October 2003 <<http://www.click2houston.com/news/2597815/detail.html>>.

(96) Source: "Young girl fends off attacker." BBC News. 27 August 2003 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3184507.stm>>.

(97) Source: "Girl Stabs Would-Be Kidnapper With Pencil." Fox News. <<http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312287,00.html>>. Posted on Warrior Talk. 20 November 2007 <http://www.warriortalk.com/showthread.php?30894-Girl-Stabs-Would-Be-Kidnapper-With-Pencil>.

(98) Source: Larry Hartstein, "Mysterious Good Samaritan rescues Fayette girl, vanishes." The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Georgia). 23 February 2010 <<http://www.ajc.com/news/fayette/mysterious-good-samaritan-rescues-323011.html>>.

(99) Source: George Hayduke, Up Yours! Guide to Advanced Revenge Techniques, pp. 159-160.

(100) Source: Dave Thompson, "Good Samaritan, officials awarded for valor in Campbell County." The News and Advance (Lynchburg, Virginia). 14 January 2011 <<http://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2011/jan/14/good-samaritan-officials-awarded-valor-campbell-co-ar-775764/>>.

(101) Source: "Mom saves 13-year-old from alleged abduction." KCCI/CNN. 15 August 2011 <<http://www.kait8.com/story/15266114/mom-saves-13-year-old-from-alleged-abduction>>.

(102) Source: "Antonio Diaz Chacon, New Mexico Man, Thwarted Kidnapping Of 6-Year-Old Girl." AOL. 17 August 2011 <<http://www.aol.com/2011/08/17/diaz-chacon-thwarts-kidnapping_n_929090.html>>. Also: Jeri Clausing, "Hero Who Thwarted Child Abduction Reveals Illegal Immigrant Status." Associated Press. 28 August 2011 <<http://myhero.com/go/hero.asp?hero=illegal_hero_2011>>.

(103) Source: Marcia Dick, "'Regular guy' honored for heroic rescue in Fells." Boston Globe (MA). 16 May 2011 <http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/malden/2011/05/jonathan_wiggsglobe_staff_stat.html>.

(104) Source: Erin Meyer, Carolyn Kyungae Smith, and Matthew Walberg, "Great Dane Saves 14 year old girl from Rape, pins down suspect." Chicago Tribune. 2011. Posted at <<http://gratewire.com/topic/great-dane-saves-14-year-old-girl-from-rape-pins-down-suspect>>.

(105) Source: Ron Savage, "Women Stop Would Be Rape in Detroit." WJBK. 29 January 2010 <http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/local/women-stop-would-be-rape-in-detroit>. Also: Sheena Harrison, "Neighborhood watch members save 13-year-old girl from man attempting to rape her." MLive.com. 30 January 2010 <<http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2010/01/neighborhood_watch_members_sav.html>>.

(106) Source: Manoj Adhikari and Santosh Pokharel, "Lone Nepali Gorkha who subdued 40 train robbers." Republica (Nepal). 13 January 2011 <http://archives.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=27100>.

(107) Source: Cheryl V. Jackson, Rosemary Sobol and Rummana Hussain, "With no time to call cops, Chicago man thwarts rape." The Chicago Sun-Times. 25 September 2010. Posted at <http://www.policeone.com/patrol-issues/articles/2718240-With-no-time-to-call-cops-Chicago-man-thwarts-rape/>.

(108) Source: "Samaritan saves woman from rape." Manchester Evening News (UK). 28 April 2008 <<http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1112148_samaritan_saves_woman_from_rape>>.

(109) Source: Guy Patrick, "Superman saves girl from bar date-rape." The Sun (UK). 23 January 2010 <<http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2820834/Superman-saves-girl-from-bar-date-rape.html>>. Also: "Rape drug mum saved by Superman." Wigan Today (UK). 18 January 2010 <<http://www.wigantoday.net/news/rape_drug_mum_saved_by_superman_1_204323>>.

(110) Source: Esther Lewis, "It was my duty." Iol (South Africa). 23 June 2009 <<http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/it-was-my-duty-1.447217?ot=inmsa.ArticlePrintPageLayout.ot>>.

(111) Source: Chuck Whitlock, Police Heroes, pp. 43-47.

(112) Source: Stuart Dye, "City salutes its modest hero." New Zealand Herald. 30 November 2005 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10357711>.

(113) Source: Kent Babb, "Amid loss in Joplin, deep love." The Kansas City Star (Missouri). 27 May 2011 <<http://www.kansascity.com/2011/05/27/2909639/amid-loss-in-joplin-pure-love.html>>. Also: John Stevens, "'He's my hero': Wife talks about moment husband gave his life to save her during tornado." Daily Mail (UK). 27 May 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1391145/Joplin-MO-tornado-Wife-talks-moment-husband-gave-life-save-her.html>>.

(114) Source: O'Leary, Bill, compiler. Tsunami Stories: Thailand. <www.TsunamiStoriesThailand.com>. Free pdf download.

(115) Source: Ruth Calvo, "One Small 911 Hero." Foredoglake.com. 11 September 2011 <<http://my.firedoglake.com/ruthcalvo/2011/09/11/one-small-911-hero/>>.

(116) Source: "A family remembers: Hero of 9/11 gave life to save thousands." NewsYahoo. 9 September 2011 <<http://news.yahoo.com/a-family-remembers--hero-of-9-11-gave-life-to-save-thousands.html>>.

(117) Source: Haley Sweetland Edwards, "We Are All Americans: The World's Response to 9/11." Mental Floss. 9 September 2011 <<http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/99665>>.

(118) Source: "After 9/11: 'You no longer have rights' – extract." Guardian (UK). 2 September 2011 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/02/after-9-11-muslim-arab-american-stories>. Excerpts from Patriot Acts: Narratives Of Post-9/11 Injustice, edited by Alia Malek and published by McSweeney's Voice Of Witness.

(119) Source: "Witness becomes rescuer in Austin plane incident." CNN. 18 February 2010 <<http://articles.cnn.com/2010-02-18/us/texas.plane.crash.rescue_1_plane-crash-office-building?_s=PM:US>>.

(120) Source: Larry Celona, "SAMARITAN THIEF ALERTS COPS TO 'TERROR' VAN." New York Post. 4 July 2008 <http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_eAmBTI9vylzENyECDox0JO#ixzz1YPJiydi4>.

(121) Source: "Films reveal horrors faced by 7/7 heroes." Leicester Mercury (UK). 13 October 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/leicester-mercury/mi_8142/is_20101013/films-reveal-horrors-faced-7/ai_n55558100/?tag=content;col1>>.

(122) Source: "Teacher honored for bravery in hostage taking." Shanghai Municipal Government. 30 November 2005 <http://www.shanghai.gov.cn/shanghai/node17256/node18151/userobject22ai19396.html>.

(123) Source: Sonia Sharma, "Mount rescue hero honoured; Air cadet gets Order of St John." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 12 March 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2009_March_12/ai_n31439666/?tag=content;col1>>.

(124) Source: "Prince William's Heroic Rescue Mission." WENN. 9 May 2011 <<http://www.imdb.com/news/ni10433356/>>.

(125) Source: "Somerville officer saves choking baby." WHDH.com. 25 May 2010 <http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/metro-west/BO142956/>.

(126) Source: Jody Lawrence-Turner, "Serving beyond the call of duty: Firefighters to be honored for saving life off the clock." Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA) 18 Sept. 2007: Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 20 Sept. 2011.

(127) Source: Dawn M. Shaw, "Scout skills turn boy, 10, into a hero." Eagle-Tribune (Salem, NH). 20 July 1998 <<http://www.eagletribune.com/news/stories/19980720/HA_001.htm>>. Posted at Real Life Little Heroes. <http://www.chinastrategies.com/lithero.htm#Scout%20skills%20turn%20boy,%2010,%20into%20a%20hero>.

(128) Source: Louise Barnett, "Boy, 7, Hailed A Hero for Preventing Crash." Scotsman. 25 November 2003 <<http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2222168>>. Posted at Real Life Little Heroes <http://www.chinastrategies.com/lithero.htm#Boy,%207,%20Hailed%20A%20Hero%20for%20Preventing%20Crash>.

(129) Source: Jerry Carnes, "DUNWOODY: Video captures MARTA rescue by anonymous hero." 11alive.com. 3 August 2011 <<http://www.11alive.com/news/article/200276/3/DUNWOODY-Video-captures-MARTA-rescue-by-anonymous-hero>>.

(130) Source: Michael Inbar, "Teen buried in sand: 'I thought I was going to die.'" Today.com. 4 August 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44016151/ns/today-today_people/#.TjvriGA14no>.

(131) Source: Kieran Nicholson and Elizabeth Aguilera, "Two rescued on 12th story." Denver Post (Colorado). 1 December 2005. Post at Gixxer.com. <<http://www.gixxer.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-75943.html>>.

(132) Source: "Adult Good Samaritan Hero: James Dean." American Red Cross, Southwest Washington. 2010 <<http://www.swwredcross.org/adult-good-samaritan-hero-james-dean>>. Also: John Branton, "Real heroes of all ages honored." Columbian (Vancouver, Washington). 4 March 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/columbian-vancouver-wash/mi_8100/is_20090304/real-heroes-ages-honored/ai_n51360548/?tag=content;col1>>. Posted on Findarticles.com.

(133) Source: Hal Dardick, "Off-duty Cop Rescues Girl From Van Sinking In Pond." Chicago Tribune (Illinois). 6 September 1996 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1996-09-06/news/9609060056_1_pond-van-emergency>>.

(134) Source: "Update: Brothers rescue girl after car flips into rushing creek." WHEC.com. 23 March 2011 <http://www.whec.com/news/stories/s2030975.shtml>.

(135) Source: John Discepolo, "He's my hero. That's all I can say." KOMO News. 26 September 2011 <<http://www.komonews.com/news/local/130614133.html>>.

(136) Source: Erin Hartness, "6-year-old girl saves brother after fiery crash." WRAL.com. 28 May 2008 <<http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/2953712/>>.

(137) Source: Tad Lichtenauer, "True Brother: Heroic Rescue." Lambda Chi Fraternity. <<https://www.lambdachi.org/candc/true-brother-heroic-rescue>>. Accessed 27 September 2011.

(138) Source: "Heroic bystanders rescue 2 drivers in Revere." WHDH.com. 20 April 2011 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/12004103545694/heroic-bystanders-rescue-2-drivers-in-revere/>>.

(139) Source: Linda Spice and Meg Jones, "Heroic rescue; 2 hurt." The Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI). 25 May 2009 <<http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/45982632.html>>.

(140) Source: "B.C. Lower Mainland District, Hope, Traffic Services Constable saves teen from being hit by truck, and is injured himself" and "Constable saves teen from being hit by truck, and is injured himself." Royal Canadian Mounted Police in B.C. 3 February 2011 <http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=50&languageId=1&contentId=18486>.

(141) Source: Guo Rui and Zhou Lihua. "Victim tells of dead husband's heroic rescue." China Daily. 6 July 2011 <<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-07/06/content_12841797.htm>>.

(142) Source: Dan Stamm, "Man honored for saving lives after car crashes into store." Today.com. 21 September 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44615825/ns/today-good_news/#.Tnss4WCldKA>.

(143) Source: Jennifer Dobner, "Bystanders become heroes in motorcyclist's rescue." Associated Press. San Francisco Gate. 14 September 2011 <<http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/09/13/national/a075511D48.DTL>>. See the video on YouTube: <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZwrM_cQoic>>. Also: Michael Inbar, "Rescuer: I thought man beneath burning car was dead." Today.com. 14 September 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44499884/ns/today-today_people/#.TnSeCmCldKA>.

(144) Source: Alexandra Seltzer, "Seven good Samaritans honored after rescuing teen from Forest Hill car accident." Palm Beach Post (Florida). 1 September 2011 <http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/region_c_palm_beach_county/greenacres/Good-samaritans-honored-after-rescuing-teen-from-forest-hill-car-accident#ixzz1YggOrQ8e>.

(145) Source: "Boy Hit By Car Being Called A Hero: 7-Year-Old Apparently Pushed Younger Cousin From Path Of Car." News4jax.com. 8 April 2002 <<http://www.news4jax.com/news/1387311/detail.html>>.

(146) Source: "Little Boy Hero Seven-Year-Old Boy Walks in Snow to Save Mother's Life." Associated Press. <<http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/boy_hero021202.html>>. Posted on DIS Discussion Boards. 2 December 2002 <http://www.disboards.com/archive/index.php/t-298324.html>.

(147) Source: Catenya McHenry, "Driver hailed as hero for bus rescue: Helped 48 local teens escape from burning vehicle." KXAN (Texas). 27 June 2011 <<http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/local-man-rescues-campers-from-burning-bus>>.

(148) Source: "'Good Samaritan' mystery man saves toddler from burning car... and then drives away." Daily Mail (UK). 20 April 2010 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1267440/Good-Samaritan-mystery-man-saves-toddler-burning-car.html>>.

(149) Source: Clarence Williams and Martin Weil, "Woman, 2 Children Rescued From SUV in N.Va. Pond." Washington Post. 24 December 2005 <<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/23/AR2005122301936.html>>.

(150) Source: "Farmer hailed a hero after saving Aussies from burning car." Good News Blog. 12 December 2005 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/12/12/farmer-hailed-a-hero-after-saving-aussies-from-burning-car>>. This article apparently appeared first on <www.stuff.co.nz>, but is no longer available.

(151) Source: Natasha Harris, "Modest hero saves trapped woman from certain death." The Northern Advocate (New Zealand). 19 November 2005 <<http://www.northernadvocate.co.nz/news/modest-hero-saves-trapped-woman-from-certain-death/953852/>>.

(152) Source: David Owen, "Teen crash survivor in donation to air heroes." Leicester Mercury (UK). 6 November 2010 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/leicester-mercury/mi_8142/is_20101106/teen-crash-survivor-donation-air/ai_n56215444/?tag=content;col1>>.

(153) Source: Angela Rozas, "Man uses turkey to rescue 2 from car." Chicago Tribune. 22 November 2005 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-11-22/news/0511220276_1_elderly-man-bystanders-turkey>>. Also: "Saved in 'turkey rescue,' woman, 88, dies of injuries." Chicago Tribune. 27 November 2005 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-11-27/news/0511270400_1_car-fire-flaming-car-rescued>>.

(154) Source: "ABF Road Driver John Boyd Awarded ABF Medal of Excellence for Life-Saving Actions." PRNewswire. 6 December 2010 <<http://www.advfn.com/news_ABF-Road-Driver-John-Boyd-Awarded-ABF-Medal-of-Excellence-for-Life-Saving-Action_45538140.html>>.

(155) Source: "Video Captures Ohio Firefighter's Risky Rescue." Firehouse.com News. 28 September 2011 <<http://www.firehouse.com/topic/firefighter-safety/video-captures-ohio-firefighters-risky-rescue>>.

(156) Source: "Mystery Hero Rescues Woman From Fire: Man Saves Woman From Burning Home, Doesn't Leave Name." KOCO.com. 20 May 2011 <<http://www.koco.com/r/27967798/detail.html>>.

(157) Source: "Mother rescues children from burning home." New Zealand Herald. 4 May 2009 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10570297>.

(158) Source: "Girl rescues brother from housefire." ABC News (Australia). 17 June 2003 <<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-06-17/girl-rescues-brother-from-housefire/1871432>>.

(159) Source: "6-year-old girl rescues baby from fire." ABS-CBN NEWS. 6 March 2010 <<http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/regions/03/06/10/6-year-old-girl-rescues-baby-fire>>.

(160) Source: Kirsty Nancarrow, "Girl rescues 2yo brother from burning car." ABC News (Australia). 12 October 2009 <<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-10-12/girl-rescues-2yo-brother-from-burning-car/1100514>>.

(161) Source: "Girl, 4, saved dad after arson attack." The Journal (Newcastle, England). 13 August 2009 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Girl,+4,+saved+dad+after+arson+attack.-a0205691284>>.

(162) Source: Ron Quenby, "Toddler survives caravan fire which kills grandad and uncle." Sunday Mirror (London, England). 12 June 2011 <http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/06/12/toddler-survives-caravan-fire-which-kills-grandad-and-uncle-115875-23196602>.

(163) Source: Nadja Hainke, "Humble hero plays down life-saving exploits." Northern Territory News (Australia). 27 January 2011 <<http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/01/27/209161_ntnews.html>>.

(164) Source: "Pair make heroic rescue during fire in Woburn." WHDH.com. 10 May 2010 <<http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/metro-west/BO141800/05/10/10>>.

(165) Source: "Sandiacre fire hero to be given bravery award." This is Nottingham. 15 March 2010 <<http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Sandiacre-hero-given-bravery-award/story-12243985-detail/story.html>>.

(166) Source: Louisa Barnett, "Three-year old Jack saved our lives." News Shopper (UK). 21 December 2005 <<http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/663739.print/>>.

(167) Source: Katie Crowther, "Teenager saves family from house fire." KTNV.com. 3 July 2011 <<http://www.ktnv.com/news/local/124951969.html>>.

(168) Source: Lorena Mongelli, "Queens Firefighter Rescues 12-Year-Old Boy." New York Post. 20 January 2011 <<http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/queens_firefighter_rescues_year_iIsfzQJMzRMBHcRLWyWuEO>>.

(169) Source: Susan Tuz, "Passerby rescues woman from fire." The News-Times (Danbury, CT). 11 November 2005 <<http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Passerby-rescues-woman-from-fire-71456.php>>.

(170) Source: "Mother and baby escape arson fire." BBC News. 15 December 2005 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4530600.stm>>.

(171) Source: Lester Haines, "Heroes pull woman from Xbox blaze." The Register. 23 November 2005 <<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/23/xbox_blaze/>>.

(172) Source: "Children praise cops for mother's rescue." The Age (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia). 23 November 2005 <<http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/woman-rescued-from-burning-home/2005/11/23/1132421690108.html>>.

(173) Source: Stuart Nicolslon, "Teacher is blaze hero." The Mirror (London, England). 2 April 2005 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Teacher+is+blaze+hero.-a0131093632>>.

(174) Source: "Father rescues his baby from house fire." KAIT.com. 15 June 2011 <http://www.kait8.com/story/14911128/father-rescues-his-baby-from-house-fire>.

(175) Source: "Off Beat: Fatal Vancouver Fires of Yesteryear Ignited Lifesaving." Columbian (Vancouver, Washington). 9 May 2011 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/columbian-vancouver-wash/mi_8100/is_20110509/beat-fatal-vancouver-fires-yesteryear/ai_n57463080/?tag=content;col1>>. Also: "Michael J. Oris." Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. <http://www.carnegiehero.org/search.php>.

(176) Source: "Life-saving heroes of the day." Nottingham Evening Post (UK). 24 July 2010 <<http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Life-saving-heroes-day/story-12210838-detail/story.html>>.

(177) Source: "Life-saving heroes of the day." Nottingham Evening Post (UK). 24 July 2010 <<http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Life-saving-heroes-day/story-12210838-detail/story.html>>.

(178) Source: "Brave neighbour pulls woman from blaze." The Age (Australia). 28 December 2004 <<http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Brave-neighbour-pulls-woman-from-blaze/2004/12/28/1103996524608.html>>.

(179) Source: "Hero bobby to the rescue." Good News Blog. 16 March 2005 <http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/03/16/hero-bobby-to-the-rescue>. The original source of this article was not given.

(180) Source: Vikki Ortiz Healy, "Paramedic on fishing trip revives toddler: 'I had to try to help.'" Chicago Tribune (Illinos). 11 May 2011 <<http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-paramedic-on-fishing-trip-revives-toddler-20110511,0,5542148.story>>.

(181) Source: "Daughter's Insistence Brings Second Rescue by Father." As taken from The Toronto Star and The Toronto Telegram. <http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/lynn/rescue.html>. Accessed 4 October 2011.

(182) Source: Nate Rice, "Alert siblings rescue girl from ocean: Byfield brother and sister credited with beach rescue." Newburyport News (MA). 4 July 2007 <<http://www.newburyportnews.com/x845813711/Alert-siblings-rescue-girl-from-ocean-Byfield-brother-and-sister-credited-with-beach-rescue>>.

(183) Source: "Updated - Waldoboro Girl Rescues Brother." The Lincoln County News (Maine). 28 January 2011 <http://lincolncountynewsonline.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=75&ArticleID=50868>.

(184) Source: Abby Lieberman, "Six-Year-Old Girl Scout Rescues Three-Year-Old Brother From Drowning." New City Patch (New City, NY). 3 July 2011 <<http://newcity.patch.com/articles/six-year-old-girl-scout-rescues-three-year-old-brother-from-drowning>>.

(185) Source: Tash Impey, "Remarkable rescue hails local heroes." ABC South East SA (Australia). 28 June 2011 <<http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/06/28/3255171.htm>>.

(186) Source: Brandi Smith, "Avista employee honored for heroic rescue." Avista Utilities. 29 April 2011 <http://www.avistautilities.com/community/blog/archive/2011/04/29/042911.aspx>. Also: Video from KHQ <http://www.khq.com/category/195686/video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5801290&flvUri=&partnerclipid=>.

(187) Source: "Point No Point beach rescuers receive Coast Guard awards." Kingstoncommunitynews.com. 22 September 2011 <http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/kitsap/kin/news/130390808.html>.

(188) Source: "Chilliwack River rescue saves another life." Royal Canadian Mounted Police in B.C. 9 September 2011 <http://bc.rcmp.ca/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=1031&languageId=1&contentId=21047>.

(189) Source: "RASCW Member Darin Persinger in Heroic Rescue." This article originally appeared in the June 2006 Issue of the REALTOR® Review. <<http://www.rascw.org/articles/06_06/0606_rascw_member_darin_heroic_rescue.html>>. Accessed 26 September 2011.

(190) Source: Bryan Henesey, "Kian is holiday hero." Nottingham Evening Post (UK). This is Nottingham. 16 November 2009 <<http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/Lifesaver-Kian-wins-bravery-award/story-12195637-detail/story.html>>.

(191) Source: Sue Scheible, "'Divine Intervention': Weymouth Dad's heroic rescue." The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA). 15 August 2011 <<http://www.patriotledger.com/answerbook/braintree/x1837740268/Weymouth-Dad-rescues-12-year-old-daughter-from-possessed-boat>>.

(192) Source: "Man gives thanks to his little heroes." Bendigo Advertiser (Australia). 31 December 2005 <<http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/man-gives-thanks-to-his-little-heroes/509466.aspx>>.

(193) Source: Joe Kemp, Jill Colvin and Rich Schapiro, "California dad makes heroic rescue of daughter, 2, after she falls 20 feet off ramp into East River." New York Daily News. 3 April 2010 <<http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-04-03/local/27060860_1_father-and-daughter-pier-heroic-rescue>>.

(194) Source: "Lifeguard Talks About Heroic Rescue Effort: Young Boy Drowns In River Near Clarinda." KETV.com. 21 July 2011 <<http://www.ketv.com/r/28626842/detail.html>>.

(195) Source: "Yardley Boy Scout applauded for heroic rescue of father's friend." Bucks Local News (Bucks County, PA). 11 May 2011 <<http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2011/05/11/yardley_news/news/doc4dca960d8a9a4683573057.txt>>.

(196) Source: Francine Sawyer, "Pregnant officer saves struggling swimmer." ENC Today (Eastern North Carolina). 29 June 2011 <<http://www.enctoday.com/news/officer-98610-nbsj-pregnant-bern.html>>.

(197) Source: Nick Sloan, "Young hero honored by KCKPD." Kansas City Kansan. 28 July 2010 <<http://kansascitykansan.com/blogs/nick-sloan/young-hero-honored-kckpd/7858>>.

(198) Source: Pak Ryon Mi, "Red Cross volunteer dies after heroic rescue." International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 18 August 2011 <<http://www.ifrc.org/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/korea-democratic-peoples-republic-of/dprk--red-cross-volunteer-dies-after-heroic-rescue/>>.

(199) Source: Sharon Sullivan, "Young hero honored for saving a life." Grand Junction Free Press (Colorado). 4 March 2011 <<http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20110304/COMMUNITY_NEWS/110309981>>.

(200) Source: Jasmin McDermott, "Hero wins award after saving pool teen's life." Essex Chronicle (Chelmsford, UK). 10 Dec 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/essex-chronicle-chelmsford-uk/mi_8117/is_20091210/hero-wins-award-saving-pool/ai_n51039930/?tag=content;col1>>.

(201) Source: Marissa Harshman, "Heroes hailed for roles in saving girls life." Columbian (Vancouver, Washington). 8 September 2011 <<http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/sep/08/heroes-hailed-for-their-lifesaving-roles/>>.

(202) Source: "Canal rescue boy hailed as hero." BBC News. 18 April 2001 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1284413.stm>>.

(203) Source: Lori Van Ingen, "D. Chester Connor, Teen Hero, Turns 100." Lancaster Online (Lancaster, PA). 14 January 2010 <<http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/247441_D--Chester-Connor--teen-hero--turns-100.html>>.

(204) Source: "Tonbridge firefighter Damien Smith dies just days after saving a life." This is Kent. 19 May 2010 <<http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/hero-son-saved-tourist-s-life/story-12004226-detail/story.html>>.

(205) Source: "Hero father drowns saving the life of his three-year-old son after he fell into Michigan lake." 2 June 2011. Daily Mail (UK). <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1393387/Father-Matt-VanderMolen-drowns-saving-3-year-old-son-fell-Michigan-lake.html#ixzz1WhltDDOd>.

(206) Source: Andrea Koskey, "Women lifesaving heroes: Linda pair pull struggling swimmer from Feather River." Appeal-Democrat (Marysville, CA). 12 August 2008 <<http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/heard-67415-campos-screams.html>>.

(207) Source: "Fireman takes frigid dive to rescue woman off S.I." New York Daily News. 14 December 2005 <<http://www.ufanyc.org/cms/contents/view/2690>>. Posted at Uniformed Firefighters Association Web site.

(208) Source: Joseph Ruzich, "Just part of the job, couple's rescuers say: Officer, firefighter save elderly couple in pond." Chicago Tribune. 31 March 2010 <<http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-03-31/news/ct-met-0331-westmont-rescue-20100330_1_firefighter-elderly-couple-pond>>.

(209) Source: Kathleen Glanville, "Dramatic rescue on the Rogue River." The Oregonian. 4 July 2011 <<http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/07/northwest_news_gold_hill_man_dives_into_rogue_river_to_save_a_woman_oakridge_lays_off_six_employees.html>>. Also: Sanne Specht, "Rescue on the Rogue: Good Samaritans, multiple agencies pull rafter, teens safely out of rapid." Mail Tribune (Southern Oregon). 4 July 2011 <<http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110704/NEWS/107040307>>.

(210) Source: Mitchell Freedman, Erik German, and Joseph Mallia, "Out of frigid N.Y. waters, good samaritan and two volunteer heroes emerge." Newsday, Inc. 7 December 2005 <<http://www.firerescue1.com/rescue/articles/13604-Out-of-frigid-N-Y-waters-good-samaritan-and-two-volunteer-heroes-emerge/>>. Posted at Firerescue1.

(211) Source: "Maryland men rescue fishermen from sharks, high seas off Fla." The Associated Press. 11 November 2005 <<http://jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/111105/D8DQLJO0J.shtml>>.

(212) Source: "Man Rescued From Rip Currents." WESH.com. 15 November 2005 <<http://www.wesh.com/r/5333755/detail.html>>.

(213) Source: Carrie Johnson, "'Angel' plucks boy from sunken car." St. Petersburg Times (FL). 5 November 2005 <<http://www.sptimes.com/2005/11/05/Tampabay/_Angel__plucks__boy_f.shtml>>.

(214) Source: George Mair and Jim McBeth, "Award for the hero doctor who risked her life to save a schoolgirl." Daily Mail (London). 28 August 2010 <<http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-235838205.html?key=01-42160D517E1A176C1B090A1D066B4B2E224E324D3417295C30420B61651B617F137019731B7B1D6B39>>.

(215) Source: "Four rescued from sinking trawler." Australian Associated Press. 4 November 2005 <<http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/70432/four-rescued-from-sinking-trawler>>.

(216) Source: "Surfers tell of cave rescue drama." BBC News. 17 October 2005 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/cornwall/4351526.stm>>.

(217) Source: Lee Marlow, "We're not heroes, we're just people doing our jobs." Leicester Mercury (UK). FindArticles.com. 20 September 2011 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/leicester-mercury/mi_8142/is_20110813/heroes-just-jobs/ai_n58007354/>>.

(218) Source: Emma Haines, "Teenage heroes save the life of stunt biker suffering multiple skull fractures." This is Cornwall. 14 July 2010 <http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/Teenage-heroes-save-life-stunt-biker-suffering-multiple-skull-fractures/story-11452489-detail/story.html>.

(219) Source: Mark Havnes, "Boy hailed for action in fatal S. Utah rollover." The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah). 15 June 2010 <http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=9739203&itype=storyID&keyword=&qtype=>.

(220) Source: "Dispatcher: Boy Who Called 911 a 'Hero.'" CBS/AP. 10 March 2010 <<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/03/10/national/main6286935.shtml>>. Also: "Child Hero—Calls 911 and Saves Family From Attackers." 10 March 2010 Bin's Corner. <<http://www.binscorner.com/pages/c/child-hero-calls-911-and-saves-family-fr.html>>. Also: Mike Celizic, "Boy, 7, who saved family thanks 911 dispatcher." TODAY.com. 11 March 2010 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35794401/ns/today-today_people/t/boy-who-saved-family-thanks-dispatcher/#.ToM-_WCldKA>.

(221) Source: Sandra J. Pennecke, "Young hero is honored by Virginia Beach Safety Council." The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star (Norfolk, VA). 19 November 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20091119/young-hero-honored-virginia-beach/ai_n42170601/?tag=content;col1>>.

(222) Source: Erik Potter, "Brockton boy honored for rescue call for grandmother." The Enterprise (Brockton, Massachusetts). 10 May 2011 <<http://www.enterprisenews.com/features/x901985861/Brockton-boy-honored-for-rescue-call-for-grandmother>>.

(223) Source: "Young child calls 911 and saves mother's life." ABC News. 22 September 2011 <http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local/new_york&id=8364456>.

(224) Source: Jacob Heller, "A Young Hero is Honored in Storm Lake, Iowa." KMEG. 25 November 2010 <<http://www.kmeg.com/story/13566413/a-young-hero-is-honored-in-storm-lake?redirected=true>>.

(225) Source: "Boy hailed a hero for saving mum." The Age (Australia). 10 January 2004 <<http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/10/1073437499608.html>>.

(226) Source: John Munford, "Boy, 4, big hero to mom." The Citizen News (Fayetteville, GA). 31 January 2001 <http://www.thecitizennews.com/main/archive-010131/news/fp-03.html>. Posted at Real Life Little Heroes <http://www.chinastrategies.com/lithero.htm#Boy,%204,%20big%20hero%20to%20mom>. Accessed 12 September 2011.

(227) Source: "Fourth-grade girl saves mom's life twice: She wakes to burning home, gets them out—then gets help when mother passes out later." WSMV-TV. 9 September 2011 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44463526/ns/us_news-wonderful_world/#.Tmys7GClfBA>.

(228) Source: "Herlong girl saves mother's life." Lassen County Times (CA). 9 March 2011 <<http://www.lassennews.com/home/6649-herlong-girl-saves-mothers-life>>.

(229) Source: "2-year-old girl saves mom following collapse." KATU-TV. 16 September 2007. <<http://www.katu.com/news/9821817.html>>. Last updated 26 March 2010.

(230) Source: Erin Frustaci, "Girl calls 911, saves mom's life." Greeley Tribune (Colorado). 1 May 2005 <<http://www.greeleytribune.com/article/20050501/NEWS/105010077>>.

(231) Source: John Sharpe, "6-year-old honored as a hero: Zion Paschall Called 911, Helped Responders When Grandma Suffered A Stroke." The Chapel Hill News (North Carolina). 13 July 2011 <<http://www.chapelhillnews.com/2011/07/13/65571/6-year-old-honored-as-a-hero.html>>.

(232) Source: Toby Lewis, "Girl, 10, honored for saving mom's life." The Roseville Press-Tribune (CA). 23 June 2011 <<http://rosevillept.com/detail/181792.html>>.

(233) Source: Shelby Levins, "12-year-old awarded local 911 hero medal of honor." KXII.com. 9 August 2010 <<http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/100321719.html?storySection=story>>.

(234) Source: "Bravery award for 999 rescue girl." BBC News. 19 October 2005 <<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/shropshire/4356134.stm>>.

(235) Source: Sophie Doughty, "Sons called 999 after mum fell unconscious." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 6 January 2011 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2011/01/06/sons-called-999-after-mum-fell-unconscious-72703-27941099/>>.

(236) Source: "Little Hero Gets Big Award." WHSV.com (Virginia). 13 October 2005 <<http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/1780356.html>>. Also: Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors. 12 October 2005 <<http://www.rockinghamcountyva.gov/webimages/05-10-12.pdf>>.

(237) Source: "Cheltenham youngster saves mum's life." This is Gloucestershire. 27 November 2009 <<http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Cheltenham-youngster-saves-mum-s-life/story-11869137-detail/story.html>>.

(238) Source: Suzanne Herel, "Lost ring of See's candy worker is found." San Francisco Chronicle. 23 December 2005 <<http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-12-23/news/17405393_1_diamond-ring-helzberg-diamonds-bagged>>.

(239) Source: Donna J. Miller, "Twinsburg woman finds wallet containing $4,600, gives it to police. What would you do? Poll." Cleveland Plain Dealer. 2 September 2011 <<http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/09/twinsburg_woman_finds_wallet_c.html>>.

(240) Source: "9-year-old's lost wallet, cash returned." UPI Quirks in the News. 9 August 2011 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=123&sid=e197feea-ffcd-4d02-b049-7f2c2d954a23%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=bwh&AN=B930292808296>.

(241) Source: "Boys give back lost wallet." Fiji Times. 30 April 2010 <http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?ref=archive&id=145508>. Also: Geraldine Panapasa, "Towers of honesty." Fiji Times. 22 June 2010 <<http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=150570>>.

(242) Source: George Hesselberg, "A tale of a protester, a lost wallet and an anonymous Good Samaritan." Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI). 16 March 2011 <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=8&hid=123&sid=e197feea-ffcd-4d02-b049-7f2c2d954a23%40sessionmgr115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=nfh&AN=2W63350238403>.

(243) Source: Anita Clark, "IT WAS MY MIRACLE FOR THE DAY." Capital Newspapers. Madison.com. 27 October 2005 <<http://host.madison.com/mobile/article_64bca9bd-99c1-53ee-b7ca-c3bdff70b722.html>>.

(244) Source: Todd Hunt, "Thank you note: A very good deed." Letter to the Editor. Midland Daily News (MI). 9 April 2011 <<http://www.ourmidland.com/opinion/article_0b1059e7-1bdc-5973-9908-08bb4e84a25b.html>>.

(245) Source: Janice B., "Starbucks Coffee and My Lost iPhone – Honesty Story #28." Honesty Blog. 7 August 2009 <<http://honestyblog.com/2009/08/07/starbucks-coffee-and-my-lost-iphone-honesty-story-28/>>.

(246) Source: Andrew, "$130 Cash Turned in – Honesty Story #29." Honesty Blog. 14 September 2009 <http://honestyblog.com/2009/09/14/130-cash-turned-in-honesty-story-29/>.

(247) Source: Bette Sowell, "Generous lottery winners." The Arizona Republic. <<http://www.nicemagazine.org/2005/12/lottery-winners-gone-good.html>>. Posted at Nice Magazine. From the "Acts of Kindness" column of The Arizona Republic.

(248) Source: Sheiladbauman, "Helping One Mother to Another." Helpothers.org. 17 May 2011 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=25839>>.

(249) Source: William H. Hull, editor, Nurse: Heart and Hands, pp. 75-77.

(250) Source: "Her Heart Was Bigger Than This Room." Dailygood.org. <<http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=79>>. Accessed 17 August 2011. Also: "Rachel's 9th Birthday Wish." <http://mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=16396>. Accessed 17 August 2011.

