 
The Kindest People: Heroes and Good Samaritans (Volume 3)

Dedicated to Dad and Brenda

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright 2011 by Bruce D. Bruce

Online reviews are appreciated.

***

If you stop on a highway to help someone, be careful. I have read many, many newspaper articles about Good Samaritans being hit and injured or killed by vehicles when they stop to help someone. Sometimes, the best thing to do is simply to call 911 or whatever your country's emergency number is.

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

Note: Stories about Violence Against Women begin with story 198.
CHAPTER 1: STORIES 1-50

Needs of Others and Ourselves

Rabbi Israel Lipkin Salanter once preached a sermon about our concerns regarding body and soul, saying that all too often, we are concerned about the needs of our body and the needs of the soul of our neighbor. However, the opposite should be true. We should be concerned about the needs of our soul and the needs of the body of our neighbor. (1)

"I've Lived My Life"

Stacie Crimm, age 41, who is from Ryan, Oklahoma, did not think that she was able to conceive a child, and she was both surprised and happy when she became pregnant. But a few months after she became pregnant, she learned that had head and neck cancer. Chemotherapy would give her a chance a life, but it would risk the life of the girl she was carrying. She opted not to have the chemotherapy in order to protect the fetus growing inside her, saying, "I've lived my life." The cancer was aggressive, and in August 2011 she fell at home and was taken to a hospital where doctors performed a C-section. Her daughter, Dottie Mae, was 10 weeks premature and weighed only two pounds. Shortly afterward, Stacey fell into a coma and three days after the C-section she died. Her brother, Ray Phillips and his wife, Jennifer, will take care of Stacey's daughter. He remembers when she called him after discovering that she had cancer: "She called me crying. She would say, 'I'm not going to live long enough to have this baby.'" Before she died, she did get to hold her daughter, who had been taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Nurses wanted her to see and hold the daughter for whom she had given so much, so they wheeled Dottie Mae in an incubator to Ms. Crimm's bed in the hospital and put her on Ms. Crimm's chest. A nurse said, "It was just one of those things you know you have to do." Her brother saw her hold her baby. He said that she "lifted up her hands and just held her and just looked at her and smiled." He added, "I felt like it was probably the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen in my life." (2)

A Killer Joke

In August 2010, British comedian Eddie Stapleton, age 77, was onstage in the Welsh holiday resort of Tenby telling jokes about snakes when he suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Fortunately, Guy Jackson, from Stourbridge, England, realized what was happening and gave him CPR. Mr. Jackson said, "He was getting to the punchline at the end of a monologue about snakes, when he suddenly keeled over sideways and crashed through an exit door. My initial reaction was that it couldn't be part of the monologue — and I ran forward to help. It was obvious that he wasn't breathing and he was turning blue. I just automatically started CPR." Mr. Jackson had learned first aid because his job is transporting prisoners for private security firm Reliance. He said, "Life is precious as far as I am concerned, and I wasn't prepared to give in. I am just so glad that my company is so keen on First Aid training for staff, and that I took note of what I was taught." Mr. Stapleton said, "I just keeled over, and the doctors later told me if Guy Jackson hadn't stepped in I would have been a goner. Guy gave me CPR and got my heart going before the paramedics arrived. I will always be grateful for that. I came close to dying onstage in the middle of my act, just like comedy legend Tommy Cooper." (Mr. Cooper died live on British TV of a heart attack in front of millions of television viewers.) Mr. Jackson said about an upcoming meeting between him and Mr. Stapleton, "He's warned me he had a cracked rib because of the CPR I gave him — and he now he wants revenge!" (3)

A Red-Carpet Guest

On 10 December 2009, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow attended the 2009 Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show at Walt Disney World. As he walked the red carpet, at his side and holding on to his arm was a fan: 20-year-old Kelly Faughnan of Clifton, Virginia. Ms. Faughnan had recently had surgery for a brain tumor, which left her body with a tremor. After her surgery, she asked her parents to take her to Walt Disney World, where she hoped to meet Mr. Tebow. There, she wore a button expressing admiration for Mr. Tebow. She also met him, he liked her, and he asked her to walk the red carpet with him. (4)

Jeremy Shockey: Hero

In August 2011, NFL player Jeremy Shockey saved the life of his Carolina Panthers teammate and fellow tight end Ben Hartsock, who was choking on a piece of pork tenderloin. Mr. Hartsock tried drinking water, but that did not work. His Chicago-based agent, Mike McCartney, said that "he couldn't breathe. Some new guy came and tried to give him the Heimlich. It didn't work. Then, Shockey hit him in the back pretty hard and out came the meat. The Panthers told me it was really scary. Ben told me Shockey came over and gave me the Heimlich maneuver and saved my life. He was in good spirits and he's real thankful for Shockey." Mr. Hartsock was teased good-naturedly during practice, as his teammates occasionally told him, "Don't choke, Hartsock." Writer Brad Biggs pointed out, "The story serves as a good reminder that it's important to know how to administer the Heimlich because you never know when a friend or teammate could be in need." (5)

Jack Meets a Soccer Hero

In March 2008 in Newcastle, England's General Hospital, eight-year-old Jack Close underwent a bone marrow transplant to cure a blood condition with the scientific name chronic granulomatous disorder, which was rendering his immune system unable to fight off infections. A soccer [European football] fan, Jack was extremely happy when star footballer Steven Taylor of Newcastle United stopped by to visit him and give him a bag of goodies, including black-and-white clothing and a soccer-match program that Mr. Taylor had signed. Mr. Taylor said. "When I come here, I realize how fortunate I am. Footballers get little kicks and niggles and complain about them. When you meet Jack and hear what he has been through, you realize how brave he is. It puts things into perspective massively, what he has had to go through, and it really inspires me to see it. But he's a Geordie [a native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England], he'll be fine." Jack's mother, Laura, age 39, who works as a dinner lady, said, "His little face lit up when we told him Stephen Taylor was coming. He was in the football club at school, but obviously he had to stop that. He's been really poorly for the last week, but today his temperature is normal and he's not been sick. This has really perked him up. He has been getting cards and presents through the post from people who don't even know him, saying how brave he has been and how handsome he is. He's taken it all in his stride." Jack's father, Bryce, age 48, a taxi driver, said, "When he gets out [of the hospital], he will have to stay inside for three months. All his friends will be playing football outside, so that will be very hard for him. But this will be his claim to fame. He will tell all his mates he has met Steven Taylor. We've only ever been to one match, but when he's better we will take him to more." Earlier, the Evening Chronicle of Newcastle had organized a bone-marrow-donor drive in order to find a match for Jack. (6)

"I Only Did What Everyone Would have Done. It's Hardly Worth Mentioning"

In 2011, Ernst Tanner, general manager of the German Hoffenheim soccer team, helped rescue a 58-year-old woman who was trapped under the rear tires of her Mercedes after she failed to set the handbrake and it rolled over her as she was shutting the garage door. Mr. Tanner was jogging at 6.45 a.m. when he heard screams. He said, "I looked around. I could not believe my eyes. My neighbor was trapped under the rear wheels of her Mercedes." Mr. Tanner and two bin men lifted the Mercedes off the woman, who was taken to a hospital. Mr. Tanner is modest about his action: "I only did what everyone would have done. It's hardly worth mentioning." (7)

Babe Ruth: Writer of Treasured Letters

Babe Ruth did such good deeds as write letters to ill children. On 15 January 1932 he wrote a letter to a boy named Freddy who had polio and was in the Children's Hospital in Boston. For a couple of months after receiving the letter, Freddie spoke about it every day. This is Babe's letter:

"BABE RUTH

"NEW YORK

"Hello Fred

"I have received some very nice reports about you and the nice way you are getting along. Now I want you to keep it up and it will not be long before you will be [up] and running around.

"You are only eight years now and who knows that some day the umpire will say Freddy Clark Jr. now batting for Babe Ruth — say Freddy? Will that be great or not. Now I want you to keep your fight and think of me.

"From your friend 'Babe' Ruth" (8)

"I Transported Myself into Another World, Free of Boredom and Pain"

Harry Potter helped Nicholas Twynham, age 11, beat leukemia. As he lay in a hospital with his body in pain and filled with drugs, his mind escaped to the magical world of Harry Potter and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Eventually, Nicholas' doctors announced that he was cured. Nicholas said, "In my mind I could see Harry acting out the adventures, and I imagined I was him. Reading the books took up whole days while I was ill. It was a way of getting away from the leukemia. I transported myself into another world, free of boredom and pain." Because he had missed so much school through sickness, Marion, his personal tutor, encouraged him to read the Harry Potter books. Nicholas said that because he had to face yet another round of hospital leukemia treatments, "I felt disappointed, but then I thought, 'I have Harry Potter, and he will help me through.'" Nicholas' mother, Michelle, said, "Nicholas was just seven when we were told he had acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I was convinced my little boy was going to die. He used to say he would finish his course of treatment then have a relapse and die. It broke my heart. Friends of his on the ward died, and although he never spoke about it, I knew what he was thinking. He was in hospital for so long his immune system had been affected and he picked up bugs easily. Marion encouraged him to read as he was so far behind with his work. It gave him something else to focus on." Nicholas wrote to JK Rowling via the Starlight children's charity: "My big dream is to meet you." A few weeks later, JK Rowling wrote back to set up a meeting. Michelle said, "Nicholas never imagined he would get a reply. When we went to see her in Edinburgh, she showed her cupboard full of Harry Potter books to Nicholas and they chatted. She seemed surprised he knew so much about the books and characters. After lunch when it was time to go, JK gave Nicholas a hug, kissed him on the cheek and made him promise to keep in touch." A month later, JK invited Nicholas to the London premiere of the movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Nicholas and JK went to the premiere in a chauffeur-driven car. Nicholas sat in between JK and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe (who played Harry). After the movie and a meal, Nicholas was introduced to cast members Zoe Wanamaker (who played Madame Hooch) and Robbie Coltrane (who played Hagrid). Nicholas said, "It was amazing, just unbelievable." Michelle said, "JK is such a wonderful woman. She inspired Nicholas to get better. He needed something else to focus on so he didn't feel down. Thanks to JK, he had Harry Potter." (9)

"He's Actually a Nice Guy"

For years, Greg Galcik published parodies of Bil Keane's Family Circus cartoons, using the drawings of Mr. Keane but writing new, sometimes raunchy captions. Mr. Galcik even published the parodies on his own Web site titled The Dysfunctional Family Circus. In 1999, Mr. Galcik received a letter from lawyers ordering him to take down the Web site. This made him angry, and he started to explore the possibility of fighting a legal battle to keep the Web site up and going. However, the 29-year-old Mr. Galcik changed his mind after a non-combative, 90-minute telephone call from the 77-year-old Mr. Keane himself. Mr. Galcik said, "Amongst other things, it's surprising to hear Bil Keane say the word 'nipples.'" He added, "When you're the guy who runs The Dysfunctional Family Circus, and you talk to Bil Keane on the phone for an hour and a half, it really takes the wind out of your sails." After the phone call, Mr. Galcik decided to take down his Web site. He explained, "I haven't run this thing for four years because it's a bastion of the First Amendment, you know? I ran it because it was fun for me." He added that "knowing now that he's [Bil Keane is] upset about it, I had to think: what say this did go to court, and what say I did win. Would it still be fun for me? I don't think so." Many, many people have parodied The Family Circus, but Mr. Keane has said about the raunchier parodies, "It hurts." Mr. Galcik said that "as we got further into the conversation, I just realized I couldn't really go on doing what I'm doing. He's actually a nice guy." The two talked about more than the Web site. Mr. Galcik said, "He goes running every other day! Damn! He probably gets more exercise than I do." Mr. Galcik does believe that the First Amendment right of free speech protects The Dysfunctional Family Circus, but after talking with Mr. Keane, he thinks that taking the Web site down is the best thing to do. By the way, Mr. Keane thought that many of the satiric reviews of his books on <amazon.com> were funny. These reviews took The Family Circus and Mr. Keane way too seriously: "Having already taken his place among the company of Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, and Dostoyevsky, with the publication of Daddy's Cap Is On Backwards Bil Keane now emerges as the master of them all...." And: "The turning point of the narrative is the episode where Jeffy sells his soul to Mephistopheles for power and knowledge, yet this can be fully understood only in contrast to the many events that precede and follow it — such as the haunting scene where little Billy carries his father out of the burning city on his shoulders, or the passage where PJ, now the viceroy of Egypt, reveals himself to his brothers as the boy whom they sold into servitude years before...." Mr. Keane died on 8 November 2011. (10)

A Great and Kind Operatic Contralto

Ernestine Schumann-Heink was a kind woman as well as a great operatic contralto, and she imparted her musical wisdom to others. Music critic Henry T. Finck once introduced to her one of his female students at the Brooklyn Master School of Music. Ms. Schumann-Heink extended an invitation to the pupil: "Come to see me at my hotel tomorrow morning." The student went, but Ms. Schumann-Heink had read a notice in a newspaper and was depressed, so she asked the student to instead stay with her all weekend at her place in New Jersey. Mr. Finck writes, "The girl did so and what she learned in those three days was worth more than a whole year's course in the best conservatory." (11)

A Surprise for Roy Clark

Country musician Roy Clark sometimes visits the Children's Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where in 1983 he saw a little girl named Davi Sallee who had been paralyzed in a car accident. She was frail and in a wheelchair, and she seemed very close to being a vegetable. Mr. Clark talked to her, although he knew that she could not respond, and as he talked to her, one of her feet slipped off a footrest. Mr. Clark lifted her leg and put her foot back on the footrest, and then he said to her, "Maybe I shouldn't have done that. It's not proper for boys to pick up girls' legs like that." On an impulse, he added, "Besides, you could have done it yourself if you wanted to." The little girl then raised her foot up and down, exciting the nurses, who had never seen the little girl make a voluntary movement since she had been admitted to the medical center. Mr. Clark and the nurses stayed in touch, with the nurses informing him of the little girl's progress, and eventually the little girl began writing him letters. The following year, he returned to Tulsa, and he went to the Children's Medical Center to present the facility with a check for the money that his Tulsa charity golf tournament had raised. The nurses had a surprise for him: The little girl walked down the hallway to him, and she hugged him. (12)

A $160,000 Shirt

On 9 November 2011, Andrew Tobias attended the 5th annual Stand Up for Heroes benefit. Among many, many attractions, veteran Andrew Kinard, who is legless and a student in Harvard's joint MBA/JD program, spoke. Another attraction was Bruce Springsteen performing with the Max Weinberg Big Band. This was followed by an auction of Mr. Springsteen's guitar. The bidding started at $10,000 and ended at $160,000 — in part because of some extra added incentives to bid, including Mr. Springsteen's harmonica and his shirt. When the bidding ended, Mr. Springsteen went into the audience and handed over the guitar, harmonica, and shirt to the winning bidder and thanked him for his generosity to a worthy cause. Despite all the cool things that happened, however, Mr. Tobias writes that "the coolest thing ever" was when the winning bidder gave away the guitar to the legless veteran, Andrew Kinard. (Mr. Tobias' advice to Mr. Kinard is "to sell the guitar — he must feel zero guilt over selling it — and use the proceeds to help finance his bright future.") By the way, the winning bidder kept Mr. Springsteen's shirt — who wouldn't? (13)

"I'm the Dishwasher, for Real. I Can't Cook a Lick"

In Red Bank, New Jersey, Jon Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi (the legal spelling of the name), opened a restaurant — not a soup kitchen. This is a place where people can eat a healthy, nutritious meal, and if they have money, they can leave money in an envelope on the table, and if they don't have money, they can volunteer at the restaurant or volunteer at one of the Bongiovis' charitable organizations. The restaurant is "The Soul Kitchen," and its menus have no prices. The Bongiovis have long been active in charitable endeavors, and their Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has built 260 homes for low-income residents. Mr. Bon Jovi said, "With the economic downturn, one of the things I noticed was that disposable income was one of the first things that went. Dining out, the family going out to a restaurant, mom not having to cook, dad not having to clean up — a lot of memories were made around restaurant tables. When I learned that one in six people in this country goes to bed hungry, I thought this was the next phase of the Foundation's work." The menu is gourmet and features such meals as grilled chicken breast with homemade basil mayo and rice pilaf; cornmeal-crusted catfish with red beans and rice; and grilled salmon with soul seasonings, sweet potato mash and sauteed greens. Some of the ingredients are grown in the herb and vegetable garden by the restaurant. Mr. Bon Jovi emphasized, "This is not a soup kitchen. You can come here with the dignity of linens and silver, and you're served a healthy, nutritious meal. This is not burgers and fries. There's no prices on our menu, so if you want to come and you want to make a difference, leave a $20 [bill] in the envelope on the table. If you can't afford to eat [and pay], you can bus tables, you can wait tables, you can work in the kitchen as a dishwasher or sous chef. If you say to me, 'I'm not a people person,' I say, 'That's not a problem. We'll take you back to Lunch Break [which provides meals to people in need] to volunteer with those people. If you don't want to volunteer with that, we'll take you to the FoodBank." People who volunteer are given a meal certificate to eat at the restaurant. Mr. Bon Jovi said, "If you come in and say, 'I'm hungry,' we'll feed you. But we're going to need you to do something. It's very important to what we're trying to achieve." He added, "This is not an entitlement thing. This is about empowering people because you have to earn that gift certificate." Mr. Bon Jovi is one of the people who sometimes works at the Soul Kitchen: "Last Friday, I was at the White House, serving on the Council for Community Solutions, got on a train, changed in the bathroom, and got here in time to wash dishes Friday night. I'm the dishwasher, for real. I can't cook a lick." (14)

Compassionate Letter #1

Some celebrities write compassionate letters to fans. For example, Paul Banks, lead singer of Interpol, wrote the following letter in 2010 to a downcast young woman following a concert in Boston:

"Dear Hailey,

"No matter how sad you may get, it's always passing. You may wake up blue, and by the afternoon, everything will be rosey. Sadness is a strange companion. And a nuisance. So try not to pay it too much mind. And be present in your happy moments — and weigh them against the sad. It's all worth it. And you will arrive somewhere wonderful with peace in your heart.

"All my love and hope to you, young lady.

"PB" (15)

Compassionate Letter #2

Here is a compassionate letter from Stephen Fry — writer, actor, comedian, and all-around good person — to a woman named Crystal Nunn, who wrote to him in 2006 when she was suffering from depression. Ms. Nunn explains, "I had no idea who to turn to. But I really needed someone to turn to and to ease the pain. So I wrote to Stephen Fry because he is my hero, and he has been through this himself. And [lo] and behold, he replied to my letter, and I will love him eternally for this [...] I though[t] that I would upload this to give other people suffering from depression a chance to read the letter which helped me so much during the deepest days of my depression." This is Mr. Fry's response to her:

"April 10, 2006

"Dear Crystal,

"I'm so sorry to hear that life is getting you down at the moment. Goodness knows, it can be so tough when nothing seems to fit and little seems to be fulfilling. I'm not sure there's any specific advice I can give that will help bring life back its savour. Although they mean well, it's sometimes quite galling to be reminded how much people love you when you don't love yourself that much.

"I've found that it's of some help to think of one's moods and feelings about the world as being similar to weather:

"Here are some obvious things about the weather:

"It's real.

"You can't change it by wishing it away.

"If it's dark and rainy it really is dark and rainy and you can't alter it.

"It might be dark and rainy for two weeks in a row.

"BUT

"It will be sunny one day.

"It isn't under one's control as to when the sun comes out, but come out it will.

"One day.

"It really is the same with one's moods, I think. The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions. They are real. Depression, anxiety, listlessness — these are as real as the weather — AND EQUALLY NOT UNDER ONE'S CONTROL. Not one's fault.

"BUT

"They will pass: they really will.

"In the same way that one has to accept the weather, so one has to accept how one feels about life sometimes. 'Today's a crap day,' is a perfectly realistic approach. It's all about finding a kind of mental umbrella. 'Hey-ho, it's raining inside: it isn't my fault and there's nothing I can do about it, but sit it out. But the sun may well come out tomorrow and when it does, I shall take full advantage.'

"I don't know if any of that is of any use: it may not seem it, and if so, I'm sorry. I just thought I'd drop you a line to wish you well in your search to find a little more pleasure and purpose in life.

"Very best wishes

"[Signed]

"Stephen Fry" (16)

Kindness in the Face of Tragedy

The two children of modern dance pioneer Isadora Duncan died tragically in a train accident. Many people comforted her, and telegrams and letters of condolence arrived to her from most parts of the world. Some art students even placed white roses and lilacs on the shrubs and trees of her garden. (17)

A Benefit Gala for a Great Ballerina

Near the end of Margot Fonteyn's life, much of her fortune had been spent in taking care of her husband, Tito, a Panamanian politician who spent the last 25 years of his life in a wheelchair after an attempt to assassinate him. In May of 1990, her long-time partner, Rudolf Nureyev, and many others danced at a benefit gala held at Covent Garden. The gala raised £250,000 to pay to treat her cancer. By the way, at the end of an October 1964 performance of Swan Lake in the Vienna Staatsoper, Rudolf Nureyev and Ms. Fonteyn took a world-record 89 curtain calls! (18)

Keanu Reeves and New Yorkers: Masters of Etiquette

In August 2011, actor Keanu Reeves was riding a subway in New York City. He noticed that a woman did not have a seat, and he gave up his seat for her. Also doing a good deed were the New Yorkers. They had to have recognized the famous actor but did not bother him. (One person did unobtrusively videotape him from a distance, hence the evidence of his good deed.) (19)

Elizabeth Taylor: Twice a Hero

Elizabeth Taylor displayed great heroism at least twice in her life. In 1967 in Salzberg, Austria, her then-husband, Richard Burton, and some friends were having drinks at the hotel when a very drunk Englishman got annoyed at Mr. Burton and pulled a gun and told him, "I don't like you very much." Two hours went by, and Elizabeth, who was upstairs and ready for bed, tried calling to her husband to come to bed, but of course he was in no position to go to her. Annoyed, Elizabeth came downstairs wearing a see-through chiffon nightie and robe. She saw the Englishman and the gun and walked up to him and said, "Put that thing down!" She took the gun from the man and put it on a coffee table, and then she told her husband, "I want you to come to bed now, buster." They left, and later the Englishman was arrested. And in 1970 in Yugoslavia, where Mr. Burton was playing Marshall Tito in a movie in a remote location, Ms. Taylor and fashion designer Vicky Tiel used to have a helicopter take them and a lunch each day to their husbands. Unfortunately, the helicopter was rickety, and on one flight a door fell off. Vicky was sitting next to the door, and she felt herself being pulled by the air out of the helicopter, but Ms. Taylor grabbed the poncho Vicky was wearing and kept her in the helicopter and alive. Vicky says, "Hooray for top-quality clothing — and a strong-willed woman who can save your life." (20)

An Eight-Year-Old Fan of 999 Lifesavers

In March 1998, Jean Ross, age 69, went into a river in New Forest, England, to rescue a dog. Unfortunately, she was then unable to climb up the slippery, seven-foot bank of the river. Fortunately, her grandson, eight-year-old Joshua Edwards, enjoyed watching the British TV series 999 Lifesavers. He went to find help, running for 10 minutes to a nearby house. Jean said, "Like the cavalry, he turned up with a couple who hauled me out. I couldn't believe a boy of his age kept so calm." (21)

How Much is a Piece of James T. Kirk Worth?

How much is a kidney stone worth? My kidney stone: nothing. Captain James T. Kirk's kidney stone: $25,000 for charity. When actor William Shatner, star of Star Trek, passed a kidney stone in 2005, he got the idea of selling it to raise money for charity. The online casino GoldenPalace.com bought it, with the proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Shatner said, "This takes organ donors to a new height, to a new low, maybe. How much is a piece of me worth?" GoldenPalace.com has a notable collection of oddities, among them an image of the Virgin Mary on a partially eaten cheese sandwich. GoldenPalace.com Chief Executive Officer Richard Rowe said, "This is a bold new addition to our fleet." Darren Julien, president of Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions, which auctioned the kidney stone, said, "This would be the first Habitat for Humanity house built out of stone." Ms. Shatner said that the stone he passed was huge, so huge that "you'd want to wear it on your finger." He added, "If you subjected it to extreme heat, it might turn out to be a diamond." (22)

Roger Moore and Audrey Hepburn: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors

Actor Roger Moore, who played James Bond, aka 007, in several movies, remembers the bad reviews he has received and jokes that he has received no good reviews. He says, "One review I had for Bond said I looked like a floor-walker who had had three facelifts. You've got to laugh." When asked how he wants to be remembered, he says, "As somebody who never walked past a beggar." He serves as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, having been recruited to the cause by fellow actor Audrey Hepburn, who died in 1993. He says, "We all have a responsibility in life to do what we can to help those less fortunate. Audrey Hepburn originally asked me to get involved with UNICEF. She was my neighbor in Switzerland; at the first press conference we did together, everyone only wanted to ask us about movies, but she wouldn't let them. She'd turn every question back to the problems facing the world's children." On 13 June 1989, as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Ms. Hepburn addressed members of the United Nations Staff. This is an excerpt from her remarks: "The question I am most frequently asked is: 'What do you really do for UNICEF?' Clearly, my task is to inform, to create awareness of the need of children. To fully understand the problems of the state of the world's children, it would be nice to be an expert on education, economics, politics, religious traditions, and cultures. I am none of these things, but I am a mother. There is unhappily a need for greater advocacy for children — children haunted by undernourishment, disease, and death. You do not have to be a 'financial whiz' to look into so many little faces with diseased, glazed eyes and to know that this is the result of critical malnutrition, one of the worst symptoms of which is vitamin A deficiency that causes corneal lesions resulting in partial or total blindness, followed within a few weeks by death. Every year there are as many as 500,000 such cases in countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, the Philippines, Ethiopia. Today there are in fact, millions of children at risk of going blind. Little wonder that I and many other UNICEF volunteers travel the world to raise funds before it is too late, but also to raise awareness and to combat a different kind of darkness, a darkness people find themselves in through lack of information on how easy it is to reach out and keep these children. It costs eighty-four cents a year to stop a child from going blind — the price of two vitamin A capsules." (23)

Edwin Forrest and the Edwin Forrest

When the steamship Edwin Forrest was in trouble, the towboat Ajax sailed out to help it, but all the pilots of the Ajax drowned. The actor Edwin Forrest, after whom the steamship was named, made sure that each pilot's widow received $1,000, a lot of money in the 19th century. (24)

"It was Like a Battle When the Books Got Burned. I Imagined that Those Books, Those History and Culture and Philosophy Books, were Crying, 'Why, Why, Why?'"

In a war, libraries and books can be destroyed. Knowing that, Alia Muhammad Baker, the chief librarian of the Central Library in Basra, Iraq, worried about the entry of the armies led by the Americans and the British into Iraq in a successful effort to topple the regime of dictator Saddam Hussein. In the library were books in English, books in Arabic, and a Koran written in Spanish. Also in the library were manuscripts that were hundreds of years old, and in the library is a book about the Prophet Muhammad that dates from about the year 1300. In early April 2003 the British came into Basra, and Ms. Baker determined to save the books. She ended up saving approximately 30,000 books, which was about 70 percent of the library's collection. It is fortunate that they moved as many books as they did because the Central Library burned down. She mourns the books that were destroyed before she could move them: "It was like a battle when the books got burned. I imagined that those books, those history and culture and philosophy books, were crying, 'Why, why, why?'" She points out, "In the Koran, the first thing God said to Muhammad was 'Read.'" Before the war started, she tried but failed to get permission from the governor of Basra to move the books to safety. When the war started, an antiaircraft gun was placed on the library's roof, making it a military target. Ms. Baker began smuggling books out of the library, placing them in her car, and taking them home where they would be safe. On 6 April 2003 British soldiers entered Basra, and she became even more worried about the books, especially with looting going on in the city. By then, government and military officials had abandoned the library. Next door to the library was a restaurant: the Hamdan. She asked one of the owners for help. Looters had taken away the library's carpets, lights, and furniture, and she wanted to save the books. Mr. Muhammad said, "What could I do? It is the whole history of Basra." Mr. Muhammad, his brothers, and his employees helped to move books from the library, over a seven-foot-high fence, and into the restaurant. Hussein Muhammad al-Salem al-Zambqa, a shopkeeper, said, "The books related to Saddam Hussein, we left them." Iraqis heard about what was going on, and they helped, including some Iraqis who were illiterate. Mr. al-Zambqa said, "The people who carried the books, not all of them were educated. Some of them could not write or could not read, but they knew they were precious books." Once Basra grew calm, Ms. Baker and her husband had the books moved to their house and entrusted some books to friends and library employees. In 2004, the library was rebuilt and Ms. Baker again became chief librarian. (25)

"I Can't Believe She had the Guts to Do It. I'm Very Proud of Her"

On 22 January 2010 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 11-year-old Catherine Davis was riding a school bus with 22 other students when the driver made a wide turn, hitting a pole and a vehicle. The driver's seat belt gave way, and he fell to the floor while the school bus was still in motion. Catherine got into the driver's seat, turned off the engine, and applied the parking brake, bringing the school bus to a stop. Catherine said, "I couldn't believe what was happening. I was surprised I could do that. Mr. Frank [the driver] calls me his hero now." Battalion Chief Gene Large of the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department said, "For someone as young as Catherine to maintain her composure and recognize that the bus driver was not within his faculties — she basically saved lives." Fort Walton Beach Mayor Mike Anderson said, "Catherine is a true hero. She stepped up and did what needed to be done. It's incredible." The bus driver had taught the students what to do in an emergency situation. Catherine gave credit to other students, including friends and her twin sister, Julia: "I was really nervous, but my sister pushed me to go. I was so nervous I forgot what to do, so my friends and my sister had to tell me what to do." Catherine's mother, Mary Davis, said, "I can't believe she had the guts to do it. I'm very proud of her." (26)

"I Don't Remember Anything After That"

On 26 September 2011 in Maus Middle School in Frisco, Texas, 12-year-old Kylee Shea fell unconscious in a school hallway. Kylee felt short of breath that morning while walking. She said, "I sat down, then I fell over, and I don't remember anything after that." Kylee began having convulsions and turned blue. Fortunately, two teachers there, Kristen Goodgion and Brent Reese, were well trained in emergency procedures. Mr. Reese performed CPR on Kylee, and Ms. Goodgion got the school's automatic external defibrillator (AED). Mr. Reese said, "When I saw Kylee on the floor, just a million things are going through [my] head. You just kind of go into shell shock, and you kind of just reboot and we went back to the training." The two teachers hooked the AED up to Kylee. The AED read her vital signs. Ms. Goodgion said, "It told us to shock, and we both looked at each other in shock, like, 'This is really what we need to do right now?'" They shocked Kylee twice, and then the AED read, "No shock required." Ms. Goodgion said about Kylee, "She started groaning and we're still thinking, 'Did we do this right?' [But] it worked." Kylee was diagnosed with a heart condition and fitted with a pacemaker. The state of Texas requires that an AED be placed in every school. Kycee's mother, Sheryl Shea, said, "I think it should be a nationwide mandate. I think every state should be required to have these in schools and public places." Without the two teachers' quick action, Kylee would have suffered brain damage or death. Ms. Goodgion said about the teachers' training in CPR and use of the AED. "[It's] extremely important. We get trained every two years, and that literally is what we fell back on. It kept us calm; we had something to [fall] back on, to know what to do." (27)

Honorary Junior EMTs

On 5 October 2011 in Lowell, Massachusetts, Sovannida Vann began choking on her lunch at Hellenic American Academy. Fortunately, representatives of Trinity EMS had been to the school and given presentations on CPR and Choke Saver. Two boys, 8th-grader Kris Anderson and 7th-grader Zach Gaudet, came to Sovannida's rescue. They used techniques that they had learned from Trinity Education Specialist Dan Scanlon when he had given a presentation at the school in June. Mr. Scanlon said, "It's one thing to teach kids the techniques and information regarding CPR and Choke Saver. It is a whole other thing to have them actually use it in a hectic setting and save a life." Kris used the Heimlich maneuver on Sovannida. Meanwhile, Zach notified the school nurse. The Heimlich maneuver worked: Sovannida was breathing normally when the school nurse arrived. For their heroism, both Kris and Zach were given plaques naming them "Honorary Junior EMTs." (28)

"You're Not Supposed to Die at 15"

In October 2010, a 15-year-old boy suffered cardiac arrest after jogging a quarter-mile during gym class at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Gym teacher Trevor Warner performed CPR on the student, whose face was turning blue, and saved his life. Mr. Warner said, "I got over top of him and started my compressions." He added, "I'm saying, 'Don't leave me, stay with me. It's not your time. Keep going, keep going.' I just kept talking to him. I didn't want him to hear my voice as the last voice that he heard. I wanted to do everything I could to sustain his life. You're not supposed to die at 15." He performed CPR for approximately four minutes, and he said, "The sound of the ambulance... that was the greatest sound I can ever remember hearing." As a gym teacher in New Jersey, Mr. Warner must be recertified in CPR every two years. He said that he would like everybody to have that training in case of an emergency: "It might be somebody at the workplace. It may be somebody at the mall, any walk of life. Somebody may require your help, and it would be a shame if somebody were there and didn't know what to do." The teenage boy recovered and had a pacemaker installed. (29)

Thanksgiving Water

On 22 November 2011, an anonymous woman walked into the Iowa City, Iowa, City Hall and donated $1,639.57 to pay the overdue water bills on 17 local water utility accounts. This ensured that those families had running water for Thanksgiving. Iowa City Revenue and Risk Manager Melissa Miller said, "We were just in shock. She obviously wanted to help these individuals out, and we tried to make it as easy as possible for her." Eleven of the accounts had had their water already shut off, and the other six accounts would have had their water shut off before Thanksgiving. Once the woman paid the overdue balances, the water was turned back on for the 11 accounts whose water had been shut off. Public Works Director Rick Fosse said, "It was a wonderful thing that she did. And the timing was just perfect with it being just before Thanksgiving. Our folks went back out and turned [the water] back on so they did have water for the holidays." The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, paid her water bill and then asked if anyone else needed assistance in paying their water bill. Ms. Miller said, "I've never seen it happen, and the majority of my staff has been here much longer than I have, and they haven't heard of anything like it either. It was a wonderful gesture." Ms. Miller added, "She just really wanted to help these people." (30)

Little Dresses

During Thanksgiving week in 2006, Rachel O'Neill, who lives in Trenton, Michigan, decided to make dresses and give them to little girls who live in the southeastern African nation of Malawi. She made and gave away many dresses, and in December 2010, NBC Nightly News aired a story about her, and then people began sending her dresses. From December 2010 to December 2011, she received over 400,000 dresses from people in all 50 states of the United States. She takes them personally to Malawi. Anthony Galloway of NBC Nightly News writes, "In a place like Thobola, a brand-new, handmade dress is not just a piece of clothing. It's a symbol of hope and a gesture of friendship from women 8,000 miles away. It's one small thing a girl can hold on to as the sun sets and Rachel O'Neill prepares to make the long journey back to Michigan, knowing her little idea brought happiness to thousands of little girls today." (31)

Letter to Santa Goes South, But Ends Up in the Right Hands

In these hard economic times, some families need a little help at Christmas to provide presents for little children. One such family was the de Beyes family, whose five-year-old daughter, Helen Berence Reyes Cardenas, wanted a few presents for Christmas. Helen's mother, Rosa Elena Cardenas de Beyes, was not sure that they could get the presents for Helen. Rosa has been out of work for nine months because she fell down some stairs and tore a ligament. Her husband recently got a job, but the family has an overdue $500 electric bill to pay. Rosa said, "Right now I don't have a job. I am incapacitated; I need surgery." She added, "I didn't know what to do. So I always told her we would send a balloon to Santa because that was a tradition when I was little." Helen wrote a letter in Spanish to Santa: "Para Papá Diosito, I want a doll, a tea set, tennis shoes, and pants." They attached the letter to two pink birthday balloons and let them go on 2 December 2011. As the balloons rose in the air, Helen called out, "I love you, Santa." Rosa said, "I felt satisfied when I saw my daughter's happiness as she let the balloons go. To me, my first priority has always been my kids' happiness. They are my biggest love." The balloons traveled from Auburn (a suburb of Seattle), Washington, 684 miles to a ranch near the small town of Laytonville, California. Frank Sanderson said, "My son Lane just came home [for] Christmas, so we were out on the four-wheeler in the middle of our 17,000-acre ranch, when we saw what we thought was garbage." The deflated balloon and weathered letter were not garbage. Lane knew a little Spanish, and he realized that the letter was to Santa. A ranch hand translated the letter, which contained a telephone number and address. The Sandersons decided to buy and mail the gifts that Helen had requested. Dennis Dodd, a friend of the Sandersons, learned about the letter. He said, "Things have been tough down here, too. Christmas is a little different out here this year with the economy, so this letter hit us all hard." Lane, his brother, and his mother (Julie) bought the gifts and mailed them. Julie said, "We're just hoping the gifts get there before Christmas. For the balloons to make it this far down here and for us to find it [the letter], is just unbelievable." Meteorologist Theron Hodel said, "It's kind of impressive that the balloons made it all that way. Because they are just regular birthday balloons, for them to travel high enough to catch an upper wind pattern is impressive. Usually they would just get tangled in a tree or something, but it's been dry and we've had a northerly flow that pointed it in a south direction, which made it possible." (32)

Secret Santas and Layaway

On 5 December 2011, a woman who was in her 30s walked up to the layaway desk of Big Kmart in Plainfield Township, Michigan. Kmart employee Dannell Goddard said, "This lady came up randomly and said, 'Can I, you know, pay off some people's layaway?'" At first, Ms. Goddard was confused. She said, "I was like, 'Well, are you trying to pick them up? 'Cause you can't pick them up if you don't have an ID. And [the Good Samaritan] replied, 'Nope, I just want to help people.'" The woman, who wanted to be anonymous, picked out three layaway contract tickets, making sure that they contained toys, and paid most of the balances off (for approximately $500), leaving only $10 to be paid on each ticket. Ms. Goddard said, "It was really crazy the way she did it. She was so excited and so happy to do it. She had a great heart, and I told her that I felt like she had a great heart, and she said she doesn't want to take appreciation for it. She just felt that she was blessed and she wanted to bless others." One recipient of the good deed was Mary Chapin, who said that it "restored her faith in people." Her layaway consisted of toys for her 12-year-old autistic son, David. She said, "They [Kmart] said that someone had paid $180 on my layaway and there was only $10 left. I thought it was a joke. She knew that it was not a joke when she saw the receipt, which contained the message, "Happy Holiday from a friend." Ms. Chapin said, "I thank her. It's the best gift that I ever received, and it's the gift of believing in people. And believing that there's good out there, 'cause you don't always see that." She called the woman an "angel" and added, "Even though we're all in the same boat, nobody's thinking about anyone else, it's every man for himself. To have somebody come along behind, and just do something that's totally unnecessary but so appreciated, it just really made a difference." By the way, after this story appeared on the local news, another Secret Santa used approximately $2,000 to pay off 13 more layaway bills. (33)

Good Samaritans at Christmas

For Christmas of 2011, several Good Samaritans paid off or nearly paid off the bills of many layaways that contained toys and clothing for young children. In Omaha, Nebraska, a father with three young children was making a payment on his layaway. He was wearing worn-out boots. A woman next to him — a stranger — said, "No, I'm paying for it." Edna Deppe, assistant manager at the Kmart store in Indianapolis, Indiana, said, "He just stood there and looked at her and then looked at me and asked if it was a joke. I told him it wasn't, and that she was going to pay for him. And he just busted out in tears." The woman did other good deeds that day. She paid off the layaway orders for several other people. She gave away $50 bills, and she paid for two carts of toys for a woman. Ms. Deppe said, "She was doing it in the memory of her husband who had just died, and she said she wasn't going to be able to spend it and wanted to make people happy with it. The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, asked people to "remember Ben." Other Good Samaritans also paid the layaway orders of strangers. Dona Bremser, a nurse who works in Omaha, received a telephone call at work telling her that a Good Samaritan had paid off the $70 balance of her layaway, which contained toys for her four-year-old son. Ms. Bremser said, "I was speechless. It made me believe in Christmas again." Salima Yala, Kmart's division vice president for layaway, said, "It is honestly being driven by people wanting to do a good deed at this time of the year." At an Omaha Kmart, Karl Graff, the store's assistant manager, called a woman with the good news that she had been helped. He said that "she broke down in tears on the phone with me. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to pay off their layaway and was afraid their kids weren't going to have anything for Christmas. You know, 50 bucks may not sound like a lot, but I tell you what, at the right time, it may as well be a million dollars for some people." He added, "To be honest, in retail, it's easy to get cynical about the holidays, because you're kind of grinding it out when everybody else is having family time. It's really encouraging to see this side of Christmas again." In Missoula, Montana, a man spent more than $1,200 paying down the layaway balances of six customers. One of the customers was telephoned at Seattle Children's Hospital, where her son was being treated. Store manager Josine Murrin said, "She was yelling at the nurses, 'We're going to have Christmas after all!" An employee at a Kmart in Plainfield Township, Michigan, called Roberta Carter with good news: A Good Samaritan had paid $59.60 of her $60 layaway. Ms. Carter, who has eight children, said, "My kids will have clothes for Christmas." Angie Torres, a mother of four young children, learned that a woman next to her was paying off Ms. Torres' layaway account. Ms. Torres said, "I started to cry. I couldn't believe it. I was in disbelief. I hugged her and gave her a kiss." (34)

The Man Who was Singing "Frosty the Snowman" Gets His Wallet Back

On 15 December 2011, Joseph Love from Lansdowne, Delaware County, lost his wallet on a SEPTA bus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, two SEPTA employees made sure that he got his wallet back in time for Christmas. He said that he boarded the bus, and "Ten minutes later I was like, 'Where's my wallet?' I looked all over and I said to myself, 'Oh, man!' I usually keep it in a zipper pocket, but I didn't that day. I was feeling panicky because I knew it was a million-in-one shot that I would get it back." His wallet contained $140 in easy-to-find cash, a $500 money order, and $500 hidden to provide Christmas for his kids. Mr. Love said, "So I called SEPTA, and they said, 'Call Wade.'" Wade Gordon, the district clerk receiver for SEPTA, immediately contacted the bus driver, Bryan DeLoatch, who fortunately had already found the wallet. Wade called Mr. Love, who recounted, "He said, 'I got your wallet!' I was, like, in shock. I said, 'You sure you got my wallet?'" Mr. DeLoatch remembered Mr. Love being on his bus. He said, "When I saw his ID, I said, 'This is the man that was singing 'Frosty the Snowman.' This is going to make his holiday extra special." (35)

"That's the Way I was Brought Up — to Do the Right Thing. That was the Right Thing to Do"

Chris Swank, a New Hampshire veteran with five deployments with the U.S. Marine Corps, lost his wallet after filling up at a gas station in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. The wallet contained a lot of money. Mr. Swank works as a bartender and attends college. He said, "I had a couple good days bartending so I had close to $600 in the wallet. I had gift cards from that day at Christmas." After filling up, he left his wallet on the car, and it fell off onto the double yellow line of Route 38 where Paul Batalis, an unemployed maintenance worker, found it. Mr. Batalis said, "I just picked it up. It was a brand-new wallet. I just opened it up, and it was full of cash, credit cards, and everything." He found ID in the wallet and returned the wallet to Mr. Swank. Mr. Batalis said, "That's the way I was brought up — to do the right thing. That was the right thing to do." Mr. Swank said, "I was like, 'Thank you so much. God bless you. Can I do anything for you?' He was like, 'No. Merry Christmas.'" Mr. Swank said he hopes that Mr. Batalis will find a job soon: "Everybody should know how amazing of a person he is. I know if I was an employer and I saw somebody like this, with the type of character he has, I would put him on my team." (36)

Bus Driver Stops Christmas Robbery

On 21 December 2009, a bus driver in Worcester, England, came to the aid of a middle-aged man who was attacked from behind by an assailant. The middle-aged man, who had been Christmas shopping and was carrying three heavy bags, was knocked to the ground and beaten. A bus driver who saw the incident stopped his bus and ran to the rescue. The attacker ran away. Inspector Jan Heritage, head of local policing in Worcester, said, "The bus driver is to be commended for his swift 'Good Samaritan' action which may have prevented this being a more serious incident in terms of potential injury to the victim and his property being taken. It is, however, always going to be a matter for the individual as to whether they think it is appropriate for them to take action in any particular circumstances, always being mindful of their own and other people's safety. Should they choose not to, they can, potentially, still play a highly important role by first providing descriptions and other information and — later — giving evidence as a witness for the prosecution." (37)

"She is Our Little Hero. I'm so Proud of Her. She Saved Our Christmas"

In December 2006, the night light of three-year-old Lilly-May Woolliss burned out, and so her single mother placed a small artificial Christmas tree with electric lights in the bedroom she shared with her one-year-old brother. But the electric lights grew hot and caught the Christmas tree on fire. Lilly-May did not panic, but instead put her duvet (quilt) over the flames and smothered the fire. Her mother, 20-year-old Jade Woolliss from Grimsby, North Lincolnshire, England. said, "It could have been a lot worse. If it were not for Lilly, we could have been dead." She added, "The tree was only in there because Lilly's night light had broken. We thought it would be nice and Christmassy for her to have a tree instead. Normally I would turn them off when we went to bed, but my friend and I were still downstairs when it happened and Lilly was still awake. I didn't really think about what could possibly happen. I really don't know where she got the idea to throw her quilt over the top of it. It's remarkable bearing in mind she is only three years old. Maybe she has seen it on TV or some kind of fire-safety lesson at her nursery. It's incredible. I shudder to think what could have happened had she not been so calm and collected when the tree first caught light. She is our little hero. I'm so proud of her. She saved our Christmas." The fire burned a hole in the carpet in addition to melting the Christmas tree's plastic pine needles. Ms. Woolliss said, "I want to warn all parents not to put electric lights on their child's tree. We are fortunate that Lilly had the presence of mind to act quickly. I'm not sure other families would be as lucky." Dave Smith, the station manager at Peaks Lane station in Grimsby, said, "For such a young child to be able to smother the flames with a duvet is remarkable, and she probably prevented the fire from spreading further." (38)

Check Your Humanity at the Door?

War happens, so check your humanity at the door. Or maybe don't check your humanity at the door. During the Battle of the Bulge, on Christmas Eve, 1944, in a small cottage on the German-Belgian border, three American soldiers — all cold and hungry, and one seriously wounded — showed up uninvited. Inside the cottage were a German woman and her 12-year-old son. For a German to shelter enemy troops was high treason, and the penalty for high treason was death, but the German woman invited the American soldiers in. Shortly afterward, four more uninvited guests appeared: Nazi soldiers. Again, the German woman invited them in, and she informed them and the American soldiers that no killing would occur on this day or on Christmas. The German soldiers and the American soldiers turned over their weapons to the German woman, and she cooked dinner — including a chicken — for everyone. The next morning, the wounded American soldier was better (a German soldier had tended to him the previous night), and the German soldiers told the Americans soldiers how to get safely back to their own troops without running into non-friendly German soldiers. The German soldiers also gave the American soldiers a compass. The 12-year-old boy was Fritz Vincken, who grew up and published the story in Reader's Digest, and who in 1995 actually met one of the American soldiers, who had been telling for years the story of German soldiers and American soldiers celebrating Christmas together in 1944. He has also met another of the American soldiers. Interviewed as an adult, Fritz remembered, "One of the German soldiers, an ex-medical student, fixed the wounded American and then Mother read from the Bible and declared that there would be at least one night of peace in this war — Christmas night in the Ardennes Forest." He added, "Many years have gone since that bloodiest of all wars, but the memories of that night in the Ardennes never left me. The inner strength of a single woman, who, by her wits and intuition, prevented potential bloodshed, taught me the practical meaning of the words: 'Good Will Toward Mankind.' Now and then, on a clear tropical winter night, I look at the skies for bright Sirius and we always seem to greet each other like old friends. Then, unfailingly, I remember mother and those seven young soldiers, who met as enemies and parted as friends, right in the middle of the Battle of the Bulge." (39)

44 Christmas Ornaments

In 1958, Ann Padmos gave up her son for adoption. He was adopted by Don and Trudy Quibell and raised in a happy home. For 44 years, each Christmas she bought a new ornament and hung it on a Christmas tree and then put it in a box to give to him if she should ever see him again. Eventually, her son, Jeff Quibell of Blue Springs, Missouri, needed a family medical history for his doctor, and he decided to look up his biological family. It took him four years to find his biological mother. When he met her, she presented him with a box of 44 Christmas ornaments, one for each year they had been apart. Ms. Quibell said, "I'm sitting here wanting to cry just thinking about it. It was an evening of a lot of laughing and crying and hugging, oh wow, it was just amazing." (40)

A Christmas Gift: Grandfather

In December 2002 in Genesee County, Michigan, Terry, the grandfather of six-year-old Abby, had a diabetic reaction early in the morning. Abby had been taught by her grandmother, a nurse, what to do in case of emergency. She called 911 and saved her grandfather's life. Abby said that having her grandfather with her on Christmas morning will be her favorite gift. (41)

A Day-After-Christmas Good Deed

Many people write letters to the editor to thank someone for doing a good deed and to let other people know that good people can be found in this world. On 31 December 2008, this letter by John Croce of Shawnee, Missouri, was published in the Kansas City Star (Missouri): "Picture this: a 70-year-old, retired TWA pilot, two heart attacks, six stents, a couple of prostate procedures and a repaired hernia, taking a walk the day after Christmas. After about a mile and a half, the old man is faced with climbing a pretty steep hill. A thought: Why not rest on this old tree stump before tackling the hill? While resting, the old guy notices a blue Honda van pass, do a U-turn and return to his position. The Hispanic lady and her two children went out of their way to check on the old guy and also offer him a ride home. Ah! This good ol' U.S. of A. Only in America. Enough said. Thank you again, ma'am." (42)

An Atheist Who is a Good Samaritan

In January 2004, George Wilson of Glebe Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland, walked his children to school and saw an old man outside a still-closed shop in St John's Road, Corstorphine (a suburb of Edinburgh). Later, when Mr. Wilson took his children home, he saw the old man at the same place. Later, in the evening, he went out for a pint, and he saw the old man again, this time outside another shop. Taking pity on the man, whom he knew now was homeless in weather that was forecast to be -1C, Mr. Wilson gave the old man, who was dressed only in jeans and a sweater, things to keep him warm: a fleece and a blanket. The old man appreciated the gifts. In a letter to the editor of the Scotsman, Mr. Wilson writes, "It struck me that on the busy parade of shops, literally thousands of people must have similarly walked past this chap through the day and into the evening. Corstorphine has, I believe, eight churches and no doubt thousands of citizens who consider themselves to be good Christians. Believe me, I am not looking for plaudits, but why did it take me, an atheist, to do a bit of the Good Samaritan stuff? Perhaps, at the end of the festive season, my fellow Corstorphine and Edinburgh dwellers' Christmas spirit has been all used up?" (43)

Airport Church of Christ: Good Samaritans

In 2011, Terri Weissinger of Sonoma, California, had very little money. She wanted to start over in Idaho, so she bought an airplane ticket through the travel website Orbitz. Unfortunately, she bought her ticket before new federal laws required the disclosure of hidden fees, such as the $30 per bag charge for baggage that U.S. Airways required. Ms. Weissinger had two bags and only $30, so she offered either to pay when she reached her destination or to leave one bag behind at the San Francisco International Airport. Both options were unacceptable to U.S. Airways, and so Ms. Weissinger ended up missing her flight. Rescheduling would cost her another $150. She spent eight days in the terminal, sleeping in a stairwell. She asked airport authorities for help, but they threatened to have her charged with vagrancy. Ms. Wessinger got help from the Airport Church of Christ after seeing its listing in a phone book. It raised $210 to help her get to her destination. (44)

Robert G. Ingersoll, aka the Great Agnostic

Robert G. Ingersoll, aka the Great Agnostic, sometimes acted more like a good Christian than regular church-goers did. A woman once went to a butcher shop and tried to get a soup bone. However, she did not have enough money for it, and the butcher, a regular church-goer, would not let her have it. Mr. Ingersoll happened to enter the butcher shop, and finding out what was going on, he bought the woman a big porterhouse steak. (45)

Returned: 37 Vietnam-Era Dog Tags

In September of 2001, married couple V.R. "Swede" and Martha Jacobsen Roskam were touring Ho Chi Mihn City in Vietnam. Martha visited a flea market and saw a vendor selling a basket of dog tags that had been worn by American soldiers. She told her husband about the dog tags. He was angry. She remembers, "He said those should not be sold on the streets as souvenirs and trivia." The following day Martha bought all 37 of the dog tags for $20. With the help of their son, Peter, who was then an Illinois state senator, they found the last known address that the U.S. military had for each soldier. Peter called the National Archives' National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The director of the National Personnel Records Center said, "Senator, give me one of the names." Quickly, the director said, "It's a match. Give me another one." The dog tags were genuine. The Roskams started trying to find the current addresses of the soldiers. Martha said, "The last address we had for many of these guys was 40 years old, so there were a lot of twists and turns along the way." Whenever possible, Swede and Martha returned the dog tags personally. The first dog tag they returned were to a woman in Phoenix, Arizona, whose nephew, whom she had adopted, had been with a platoon in Vietnam. His platoon stopped to rest, and he sat on a land mine that killed him. Martha said, "Until then, it had been sort of an academic interest for me. My husband is the one who really made it all happen. But then I walked into this very modest home and saw this woman. She had the flag that had been given to her. The first time we saw one another, we embraced and we both wept as mothers. It wasn't hard, but it was very poignant. From then on, it took a different dimension for me." Four of the soldiers whose dog tags they had bought had been killed in combat. Others had died since returning home from Vietnam. One soldier remembered that he had lost his dog tags when his helmet was shot off while he was rappelling in a firefight. Martha said, "One fellow was out in the field a lot and said, 'When all you lost was a dog tag, it wasn't a bad day.'" Swede and Martha returned all 37 dog tags, an effort that took them seven years and ended in September of 2008. Martha said, "We have been so blessed by meeting these wonderful guys who gave so much of themselves at that time and suffered so much. It was something we were supposed to do — and we did it." (46)

The Candy Bomber

In July 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin. The United States responded by flying supplies to West Berlin, which was in ruins following World War II, until the Soviet Union lifted the blockade. One of the American pilots flying supplies to West Berlin was 27-year-old Air Force lieutenant Gail Halvorsen, who one day saw some German children who were watching the airplanes. Mr. Halvorsen said, "They could speak a little English. Their clothes were patched, and they hadn't had gum and candy for two or three years. They barely had enough to eat." He gave the children some gum and promised to bring candy on his next trip to West Berlin. Back at his home base, he prepared bundles of candy and tied little parachutes to them. He then started dropping parachutes of candy to West German children. A news photographer captured him dropping the parachutes, and suddenly people began sending him packages of candy to drop to West German children. In February 1949 Halvorsen went home to America, and three months later the Soviets lifted the blockade. In 1998, Mr. Halvorsen returned to Berlin, where he met a "dignified, well-dressed man of 60 years" who told him, "Fifty years ago I was a boy of 10 on my way to school. The clouds were very low with light rain. I could hear the planes landing though I couldn't see them. Suddenly out of the mist came a parachute with a fresh Hershey chocolate bar from America. It landed right at my feet. I knew it was happening but couldn't believe it was for me. It took me a week to eat that candy bar. I hid it day and night. The chocolate was wonderful, but it wasn't the chocolate that was most important. What it meant was that someone in America knew I was here, in trouble, and needed help. Someone in America cared. That parachute was something more important than candy. It represented hope. Hope that some day we would be free." (47)

A Hero of the Halifax Explosion

On 6 December 1917, a munitions ship collided with another ship in the harbor at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The munitions ship was a French ship, the Mont-Blanc, and it caught on fire. The crew abandoned the ship, which drifted toward Pier 6. A tugboat worked to move the ship out to sea, while firefighters worked to put out the fire. Vincent Coleman, age 45, was in a nearby train station, watching the fire. Word came that everyone, including Mr. Coleman, must evacuate because the ship was going to explode. Mr. Coleman, however, knew that a train was going to arrive at the station in a few minutes, so instead of leaving immediately, he stayed and sent a telegram to stop that and other trains: "STOP TRAINS. MUNITION SHIP ON FIRE. MAKING FOR PIER 6. GOODBYE BOYS." The delay cost him his life. He was one of the more than 1,500 people who died in the explosion. However, the train stopped instead of entering the station. So did other trains. Mr. Coleman lost his life, but he saved many lives. (48)

The Arab Spring

When the Arab spring of 2011 reached Libya, Abdul Gargani, who had left Libya in 1976 and who resides in Manchester, England, wanted to help oust dictator Muammar Gaddafi. He said, "I wanted to be there. When we saw the news, we wanted to go immediately." At age 57, he felt that he could not fight, so he went on eBay and bought an ambulance. He added supplies that he thought the rebels would find useful to the vehicle such as the binoculars he used for bird watching. He drove the ambulance to Libya and delivered it to the Red Crescent. He even drove the ambulance once in a combat zone: "I found myself going fast, like 60 or 70mph in a 30-mph area. This old man driving this old vehicle. It was a very nice feeling. Really lovely." Mr. Gargani said, "It was worse when I was stuck watching it on TV." He returned to Libya twice more: once with a four-wheel drive ambulance, and once with a people carrier. During the fighting, the vehicles were much used, and they continued to be used after the death of Gaddafi. (49)

"I Think Every Bone in Them had been Broken"

British army medic Peter Langhelt of Essex, England, twice braved mines in Afghanistan in order to rescue fellow soldier Danny Kay, whose legs were badly wounded. The two were in a six-vehicle patrol in the area of Afghanistan known as Doom Mountain when a mine exploded under the vehicle carrying Mr. Kay. Mr. Langhelt put Mr. Kay in a rescue vehicle, and incredibly, a mine exploded under the rescue vehicle. Mr. Langhelt said, "The blast lifted the vehicle up and spun it around a whole 180 degrees. Immediately, there were shouts for everyone to stand still. But as Danny was screaming and shouting in pain, I didn't think about the risk, I just ran over. His legs were trapped under the front of the vehicle. After we got him free, I gave him morphine and put a splint on his legs. I think every bone in them had been broken. Even then he managed to joke with me. He grinned, 'You touch my legs again, and I'll thump you!' A Chinook [helicopter] had landed about 200 meters away, so we put him on a stretcher in another vehicle to get him to the helicopter. But as it drove off, there was another huge bang. The vehicle was lifted up and came down on its side and caught fire. Danny was trapped and was screaming again. I used a fire extinguisher to dampen the flames because the vehicle was full of mines, mortars, and ammunition and I was worried the whole lot would go up with Danny trapped inside. More people began to arrive, and we got Danny clear." Mr. Kay, age 28, said, "After the first explosion, I managed to stay reasonably calm and was trying to reassure the people around me. The second time I thought, 'Oh s**t, not again.' But Peter and everyone else were there for me both times. I'll never forget what they did." (50)
CHAPTER 2: STORIES 51-100

A Soviet Hero

On 3 October 1986 in the North Atlantic Ocean, Soviet nuclear submarine K-219 nearly suffered a meltdown when an explosion killed three sailors. The controls that automatically regulated the nuclear reactor jammed, and the reactor ran continuously, building up heat and radiation levels. A brave Soviet seaman named Sergei Preminin worked to bring the reactor under control. After 20 minutes, he succeeded, but the pressure inside the compartment had built up so much that no one could open the hatch doors that had been shut to keep radiation from leaking to other parts of the submarine, although Russian sailors worked to open the doors. Mr. Preminin died from heat exhaustion. In Krasavino, Russia, a monument to him is engraved with these words: "To Russian Seaman Sergei Preminin, who prevented the world from suffering a nuclear catastrophe." (51)

Denny's Waitress Saves Customer

In late January 2011 in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, a Denny's waitress named Sandy Beanblossom may have saved a customer's life. She is in training to be a nurse, and she recognized that a customer needed help. She said, "I offered him some water, and when he tried to take the drink of water he couldn't lift his arm. But he got his water to his mouth with his other hand. And when he did, it just drained out of his mouth, so it's one of the signs of stroke." She called 911, and Bullitt County Emergency Medical Service quickly arrived and took the customer to Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. Ms. Beanblossom said, "He was a Colonel for Homeland Security, which, that's good, we're glad to save any military man, but we'd do it for anybody." June Sally, Ms. Beanblossom's general manager, said, "We've worked together off and on for 25 years, she's my daughter-in-law, and I'm really proud of her." Colonel Holmes' wife wrote Ms. Beanblossom a thank-you letter for helping Colonel Holmes. Ms. Beanblossom said that she "thanked me very much and he wrote on the bottom of it that he made a full recovery." (52)

"Had We Not Found Her When We Did, Things Could have Turned Out Much Worse"

In March 2010, Joan Hopwood, age 88, who lives in a village near Wem, North Shropshire, England, fell and could not get up. Her caretakers were unable to contact her, so they called the police. Paramedics and police entered her home, and Constable Karena Evans found Ms. Hopwood under her bed, suffering from hypothermia. Paramedics Amanda Jones and Matthew Newell from West Midlands Ambulance treated her, she was taken to a hospital, and she recovered and donated £20 to the Police Benevolent Fund. Constable Evans visited Ms. Hopwood in the hospital. Constable Evans said about Ms. Hopwood, "She is such a lovely lady and was so grateful to the police and everybody else who helped her that day. It was one of the paramedics [Mr. Newell] who actually put the door in, and I then went into the house first. Had we not found her when we did, things could have turned out much worse.... I am just glad that Joan is recovering well." Ms. Hopwood said, "I don't remember much of what happened, but I am so very grateful to everyone who helped me that day. All of them, the police and the others, do such a good job and it was lovely to see Karena when she stopped by to visit me in hospital." (53)

Lucky Fish Combat Anemia, Save Lives

University of Guelph (Canada) researcher Christopher Charles, with the help of two researchers from Research Development International in Cambodia, took on the project of helping rural Cambodians overcome their iron deficiency. This deficiency led to anemia, with the associated problems of headaches and impaired brain development for infants. Solving the problem seemed to be easy: get more iron into the diet of the Cambodians. However, solving the problem turned out to be hard. The Cambodians were too poor to be able to afford red meat. Indeed, iron deficiency, which affects approximately 3.5 billion people, is a disease of poverty. If the Cambodians were to cook in iron pots, that would work, but they found the iron pots to be heavy and expensive and so they would not use them. Putting a piece of iron in their cooking pots while cooking food would also work, but the Cambodians disliked such designs as circles. Fortunately, Mr. Charles came up with a design that the Cambodians did like: the design of a fish that the Cambodians believed to be lucky. Mr. Charles said, "Some nights I wondered what I had got myself into; here I was in a village with no running water, no electricity, and no way to use my computer — it was like a [research] baptism by fire." He added, "We knew some random piece of ugly metal wouldn't work... so we had to come up with an attractive idea. It became a challenge in social marketing." The iron lucky-fish design worked. Mr. Charles said, "We designed it about three or four inches long, small enough to be stirred easily but large enough to provide up to about 75 per cent of the daily iron requirement. We're getting fantastic results; there seems to be a huge decrease in anemia and the village women say they feel good, no dizziness, fewer headaches. The iron fish is incredibly powerful." The iron fish will save lives and improve the quality of lives. Mr. Charles said that he did learn an important lesson: "You can have the best treatment in the world, but if people won't use it, it won't matter." (54)

Sanitary Napkins: Improving the Lives of Impoverished Rural Women in India

Sanitary napkins make life better when they are needed. John Farrier, a writer for Neatorama, wrote, "A homeless man once approached me in a grocery store parking lot and asked me to buy maxi pads for his wife. I understood the importance and did so right away. If a woman can't afford maxi pads, then she's going to have a bad time." In India, impoverished rural women used such things as rags, dry leaves, and newspaper because they could not afford sanitary napkins. Female students would stay out of school during their periods, and some would drop out of school entirely. Arunachalam Muruganantham decided that he would create low-cost sanitary napkins that these women could afford. He created a sanitary napkin-making machine that is powered by foot pedals and electricity; the $2,500 machine can make 1,000 napkins a day. In rural India, a package of eight of these sanitary napkins costs a quarter. Because of his invention that improved the lives of rural women in India, and which provided jobs to the women who run the machines, Mr. Muruganantham has won many awards. He said, "My vision is to make India a 100% napkin-using country. We can create 1 million employment opportunities for rural women and expand the model to other developing nations." By the way, in India, menstruation can be a taboo subject for men and women to talk about together, so Mr. Muruganantham found it difficult to do the research needed to find a good design for his sanitary napkins. Lakshmi Sandhana writes, "When Arunachalam Muruganantham decided he was going to do something about the fact that women in India can't afford sanitary napkins, he went the extra mile: He wore his own for a week to figure out the best design." (55)

"People were Helping Out Other People — Just Regular Citizens Who were Coming Together and Putting People in the Back of Trucks and Trying to Get Them Help as Soon as They Could"

On 22 May 2011, a deadly tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, killing approximately 160 people. In the tornado's aftermath, Wichita Eagle (Kansas) photojournalist Jaime Green took a photograph that showed a woman and a young man, who was wearing a red Pittsburg State University T-shirt, in the back of a pickup. They were holding on to two victims of the tornado as the driver of the pickup drove the victims to Freeman Hospital in Joplin to get medical help. William Sullivan, a doctor of internal medicine at Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kansas — a town 35 miles northwest of Joplin — was the driver of the truck. The woman in the back of the pickup was his wife, Patricia, a nurse practitioner, and the young man in the red Pittsburg State University T-shirt was Lucian Myers, a 20-year-old ROTC cadet at Pittsburg State. When the tornado struck, the Sullivans drove to St. John's hospital in Joplin, but the hospital had been destroyed by the tornado, so the Sullivans started to drive around looking for anyone they could help. They went to the Stained Glass Theatre, a Christian-based community playhouse in Joplin, where a performance of I Remember Mama had just concluded when the tornado struck. The theater was flattened, and the Sullivans found Mr. Myers, who was trying to help his 16-year-old friend Malachi Murdock, whose jaw had been crushed. The Sullivans and Mr. Myers loaded Mr. Murdock onto a door and then lifted him to the bed of the pickup truck. Then they took him to Freeman Hospital. Mr. Myers said, "The Sullivans had gathered up medical supplies and rubber gloves and gauze and medical tape. They asked me if I would go back out with them. [...] I felt like that's all I could do. I could go help." They made at least five trips over four hours, taking over a dozen victims to Freeman Hospital. President Obama mentioned the image of Ms. Green's photograph in a speech he made in Joplin: "The world saw how Joplin responded. A university turned itself into a makeshift hospital. Some of you used your pickup trucks as ambulances, carrying the injured on doors that served as stretchers." That night, the Sullivans dropped Mr. Myers off at his parents' home and then went to Pittsburg's Via Christi and worked to help the more than 130 victims there. People other than the Sullivans and Mr. Myers also used their vehicles as ambulances. Mr. Myers said, "People could see in the picture that people were helping out other people — just regular citizens who were coming together and putting people in the back of trucks and trying to get them help as soon as they could. I was doing all I could do, and the picture kind of represents everybody else who was helping, too." (56)

Graham Denison: "I've Given My Daughter Life Twice. Once When She was Born and Then Again Two Days Ago"

On 1 September 2010, Graham Denison donated a kidney to his daughter, Kaye Noone, a 28-year-old schoolteacher in Teesside, England. At age 13, Kaye was diagnosed with polycystic kidney syndrome. For 15 years, she often suffered infections and required repeated trips to hospitals, and eventually she needed dialysis and then a transplant. Kaye said about her father, "After the operation, he was telling people, 'I've given my daughter life twice. Once when she was born and then again two days ago.' I think it's absolutely amazing. He's an amazing dad anyway. There's an extra bond now. I feel closer to him. I'm really grateful and he knows — I've said 'thank you' a lot! I ask him how he is all the time and he's really well." The transplant frees her from the three hours of dialysis that she needed daily. Kaye said, "I'm young, had just got married, and am quite career orientated, so I was worried three hours a day on dialysis would affect my lifestyle. I wasn't worried about having a transplant because I always saw it as the solution and dialysis as a temporary measure. Because I'd been in hospital quite a lot, I was reassuring dad. But when I asked him if he was nervous, he said he wasn't. He's the kind of guy who just gets on with things." Her father, Graham, a computer engineer, said that he had "only done what any parent would do." He said that he is proud of Kaye, who graduated from a university despite being forced to take time off due to her bad health. He called her his "little hero." Graham said, "The fact it is your child overrules any risks or nerves that you might have. I couldn't have not done it. I don't feel particularly brave. You just feel you've done your duty. You've done what any parent would do." He supports organ donation: "I think it's a shame wasting organs when someone dies." Kaye said, "I know how lucky I was to have someone who was able to give me a kidney as 90% of organs needed are kidneys, according to UK Kidney Research. If more people were on the register, we would be able to keep more people alive for longer." (57)

"We Met Rocky, Who Received Drew's Lungs, He Let Us Listen to Drew's, Our Son's, Lungs with a Stethoscope and How Wonderful that Is"

In 2009, Drew Swank, a 17-year-old living in Spokane, Washington, was hit by an opposing player in a football game. He was taken to Sacred Heart, where he died. His family donated his organs to seven people, whose lives were saved or whose sight was restored. His mother, Patti, said, "I knew when his accident, when he, he didn't make it that he would want to do that." His father, Don, said, "We met Rocky, who received Drew's lungs, he let us listen to Drew's, our son's, lungs with a stethoscope and how wonderful that is." Patti remembered about Drew, "Out of the blue he asked me, 'Mom, what do you think about organ donation?' and I think it had to do with he just got his drivers license and they asked that." His sister, Tara, said, "Drew is a hero. He's a hero to everyone in our family." (58)

"Hopefully He will Now Lead a Full and Active Life Free from Health Worries"

In September 2001, Ben Ferguson, age four, became Scotland's first patient to receive a grandparent-donated kidney. Ben had suffered from kidney problems (renal failure) all his life; he even had to have one kidney removed and had been going through dialysis. In 2000, doctors at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill in Glasgow decided that he needed a kidney transplant. His parents, Angela and Sam, from Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, were unsuitable donors. Fortunately, one of his grandfathers, 54-year-old Joe Boyd, was a perfect match. Mr. Boyd, a construction site manager in excellent health, said, "It was fantastic being able to give this gift to my grandson, and I am delighted the operation has gone so well. The best part is being able to see the difference it has made to little Ben, and hopefully he will now lead a full and active life free from health worries." Dr. Anna Murphy, a consultant pediatrician at Yorkhill and Ben's pediatrician since his birth, said, "Everyone is delighted at how well the operation has gone and how well both Ben and Joe are doing. The bond between the two has been very strong ever since Ben was born, and I know Joe is overjoyed that he has been able to give this gift to him. Ben really has beaten all the odds to come this far; he is a very determined little lad and has impressed us all with his courage." (59)

Maureen Dowd: "If Jennifer is Brave Enough to Do It Alive, How Can I be Scared of Doing It Dead?"

In June 2003, Jennifer, a 33-year-old trial lawyer, impressed her aunt, New York Times syndicated columnist Maureen Dowd, by showing her a scar. The scar was from a liver transplant. Jennifer had donated half of her liver in order to save the life of her uncle, who is Maureen's brother. Maureen called the scar the "most beautiful scar I've seen. A huge stapled gash on her stomach, shaped like the Mercedes logo. A red badge of courage." Living donors are rare, and Jennifer is one of them. If all went well after the transplant, her liver grew back to its normal size, as should the part of her liver that was transplanted into her uncle's body. Maureen was so impressed by Jennifer's courageous act that she filled out a form allowing her organs to be harvested for transplant after her death. After all, she wrote, "If Jennifer is brave enough to do it alive, how can I be scared of doing it dead?" (60)

"Whenever Things Seemed Too Much, I'd Say, 'You Go, Girl — Get on with It'"

Following a liver transplant on 5 December 2005, Glenis McGrath got an extra added bonus: the return of her eyesight. Ms. McGrath, who moved to Brisbane, Australia, from Dubbo, Australia, for the transplant, said, "The how or why of what's happened cannot be explained, but doctors are now busy documenting my amazing recovery. I'm just so happy to be able to see again and to have a donor liver that's giving me a whole new chance at life. My excited doctors told me to go out and tell the world, and I certainly haven't needed any encouragement to share the good news. It just goes to show what can be achieved through medical technology, the power of prayer, and sheer determination." Ms. McGrath had endured 20 years of pain, deteriorating health, and bowel and bile duct surgery before the transplant. She said, "Whenever things seemed too much, I'd say, 'You go, girl — get on with it.' There was no point giving up or feeling sorry for myself. I was prepared to fight every step of the way because there's just so much to live for." She almost did not get a liver transplant: "I lived in Brisbane for six months before receiving the call that a liver was available. After [I was] prepped for surgery, doctors said the donor liver was too fatty so I was sent home. I was absolutely devastated and returned to Dubbo not knowing what was likely to happen with my health. Fifteen months ago an alarming deterioration in my liver function and eyesight prompted a quick move back to Brisbane. Doctors were unsure about what could be done, and two months ago I reached the point where I could barely see at all. The Royal Blind Society was preparing to train me to use a guide dog, then after another hospitalization I found myself back on the transplant list." After the transplant, she spent a lot of time in intensive care. She said, "Then an amazing thing happened — a nurse came into my room, and I could see her face. At first I thought it was my imagination, but later when they took me outside in a wheelchair I could see flowers, trees, and colors. It was absolutely amazing, and stunned medical staff were over the moon. Perhaps it was the transplant or the massive vitamin A doses I had been given in an attempt to combat the blindness. Being able to see is a wonderful gift that is allowing me to return to my passion of painting. I used to paint five days a week — it was my life." (61)

"I Know I'll be Perfectly Fine with One Kidney. It's Not Really that Big of a Deal"

In 2008, Nicole Goldenstein, age 23, gave her brother, Joey Goldenstein, age 25, her left kidney. Ever since the 6th grade, he had battled kidney disease. In July 2008, his kidneys were functioning at nine percent and he started dialysis. To survive, he needed a kidney transplant. Nicole said about her decision to donate one of her kidneys to her brother, a father of two, "I have a child of my own. I can't imagine him growing up without me." After the operation, she said, "Seeing him [Joey] play with his kids, knowing he'll have more time with his kids, giving him a better quality of life... it was really definitely worth it. He's smiling more. He's happy." It took a while for Nicole to recover from the surgery, but she is happy with her decision. Nicole said, "You're down a little bit, but not that long. It's definitely worth it. Joey's doing really, really good. He felt good right after the transplant. When you don't feel well for so long... his color is better, he starts getting an appetite, he just starts feeling better." She also encouraged other people to consider becoming a living donor of a kidney. She pointed out, "The biggest misconception is it's going to cost you money. The recipient's insurance covers all medical expenses. The only thing it costs you is a couple weeks off work." As far as living the rest of her life with one kidney, Nicole said, "I know I'll be perfectly fine with one kidney. It's not really that big of a deal." Washington University transplant surgeons performed the surgeries at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. (62)

"If I Give My Blood, Will Souad Feel Better?"

In 2003, fourth-grader Souad (Arabic for "luck") Barry received a special gift from her younger brother, Obie, age seven: a bone-marrow transplant that cured her sickle-cell disease. In 2004, the children's mother, Titi Barry, held a big party for 200, including people from as far away as Africa, at the Lomax AME Zion Church in Arlington, Virginia, to celebrate her daughter's cure. Titi said, "I was praying and I was telling God if this works, I will praise Him and invite all the people involved." Before the transplant, Souad suffered. She said, "The pain would wake me up. It was mostly in my stomach." Her family tried to ease her pain. Souad said, "They would rub my body and use a hot washcloth." In July 2002, her health was very bad, and she needed three blood transfusions — in three days. Getting the money for the $400,000 procedure was difficult. The salaries of father Oumar Barry, an airline worker, and Titi Barry, a sonographer, could not cover it. Titi said, "I didn't understand. Our insurance company didn't want to pay because they said it was experimental." She wrote to many nonprofit organizations to ask for money for the procedure, but she said, "I received 10 responses. All of them said it was the end of the year and they didn't have funds." Fortunately, she learned that the procedure could be done free at the Children's Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, California, so Titi and her children went to Oakland while Oumar stayed in Arlington and worked. Titi said, "It was hard because we didn't know anybody there. But I said if I had to sleep on the street, I will do it because we'd been through so much already." Previously, Souad had protected her brother from playground bullies. Souad said, "He's always playing basketball. One day, this boy wanted to take his ball and I pushed him away." Now Obie helped his sister. Titi said, "Obie had seen Souad have crises. He asked me, 'If I give my blood, will Souad feel better?' I said 'Yes.' Then he said, 'Okay, I'll do it!'" After the bone-marrow transplant, Souad felt better and was free from sickle-cell anemia. She wants to learn gymnastics. She said, "I want to learn to do a cartwheel." (63)

Lydia Hernandez: "This Changes the Way You Look at Life. You are Giving Life"

Before the family Christmas party in 2004, Reynaldo Garza telephoned his relatives to announce that he could not attend the party because of swollen feet and legs. Because he never missed the party, his relatives knew that something must be very wrong. However, his brother-in-law said, "Get sandals on and come over." He did attend the party, although he had to cut the sides of his shoes a little in order to put them on. Afterward, Mr. Garza saw a doctor, who told him that his kidneys were not working. For years, he was on dialysis, and he was put on a list for a transplant. His sister, Lydia Hernandez, worried about him. In Spanish, she said, "You do not know if he is coming back, and he was getting sicker." She volunteered to see if she was a good candidate to donate a kidney to him for a kidney transplant. She underwent a series of tests, including a psychiatric evaluation. Lydia said, "They wanted to know if somebody was forcing me to make a donation, but no, I wanted to help my brother. That was all." She was a good candidate, and on 19 October 2011, the kidney transplant took place at the South Texas Transplant Center at McAllen Medical Center. After the operation, Lydia said, "I'm in pain, but I will overcome it. What calms it is that I am happy, because I was able to help my brother." She added, "This changes the way you look at life. You are giving life." (64)

"It is Amazing What He has Done for Me. This is the Best Gift a Brother can Give"

In 2005, father-of-two Micky Bergin, a signmaker, needed a kidney to stay alive. His younger brother, John, a truck driver, became a living donor and gave him one of his kidneys. Micky caught pneumonia after the transplant, but he recovered. Micky said about John, "I simply can't thank him enough. It is amazing what he has done for me. This is the best gift a brother can give." Micky needed the kidney because since age eight, he has been diabetic, and this placed immense pressure on his kidneys, resulting in a need for dialysis, and eventually, a transplant. Micky said about his brother, "We have always been close, and I would do the same for him. The hospital did tests on John and my two sisters, Kathy and Bernie, but only John's kidney was a match. John was adamant he was going to give me a kidney and felt it was something he should do. If he was frightened, he never showed it." The Bergin family showed its appreciation for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, where the transplant took place, by holding a charity dance at the Emerald Club in Small Heath, England, and raising £8,000 for the hospital to buy new equipment. (65)

"I'm Not Even Sure if Ross is Aware It Saved Her Life"

In 2010, Shannon Mackenzie, age 13, learned that she had leukemia — for the second time. To survive, she needed a bone marrow transplant, but neither of her parents was a match. Fortunately, her eight-year-old brother, Ross, was a match, and he volunteered for the transplant, which went well. Lynsey, their mother, from Wallyford, East Lothian, Scotland, said, "I'm not even sure if Ross is aware it saved her life. People tell him he was brave, and he says he doesn't think he was. He sees it as helping his sister out. They are so close, and he just couldn't cope with seeing her so unwell. I'm extremely proud of them both." (66)

Carol Burgess: A Good Gift-Giver

Carol Burgess, a secretary for the Coast Guard in Norfolk, Virginia, knows how to give good gifts to her big brother, Darold. When he turned 11, her birthday gift to him was his very first skateboard — she had saved $12 so she could buy it for him. And in 2005, for her big brother's 40th birthday, she gave him one of her kidneys. Carol, age 37, said, "We have always been best friends. He was always my protector. I had a chance to save his life, and I was not going to walk away from that chance." In 2002, Darold, who lives in Brooklyn, began to experience swelling. He said, "I had had high blood pressure since 1998, but I took my medicine faithfully." He went to the hospital for tests. He said, "Within two days, I had lost 95 percent of the function of both kidneys. The doctors told me I had to start dialysis immediately." His sister volunteered to donate a kidney right away; however, Darold was leery: "I was nervous. I didn't want her to go through that." For one thing, their family has a history of diabetes, hypertension, and kidney problems. Carol could develop one or more of those problems during her life. Unfortunately, three years later, Darold's kidneys had developed so many problems that they had to be removed from his body. Carol was tested to see if her kidney was a good match for his body. Darold said, "We matched perfectly. People asked if we were twins." The transplant took place, and all went well. Their mother, Loretta Burgess, said, "I would have been devastated if anything had happened to either of them." However, the operation had a bonus for her. She said, "I haven't taken a trip in two years [because] I was so worried about Darold. For Thanksgiving, I'm going to go see my daughter, Carol." (67)

Brooklyn Firefighter John Jensen: "I Just Feel that I Wouldn't be Able To Sleep at Night Knowing that I Didn't Help Someone"

In 2004, Brooke Williams, age 27, of Gouverneur, New York, was so ill from acute leukemia that she was making plans for her funeral and trying to decide whom to ask to care for her six-year-old daughter. Then she received the good news that a donor had been found for her. The stem cells of Brooklyn firefighter John Jensen were a perfect match for Ms. Williams, and two years after his stem cells were surgically transfused into her body, she was cured of leukemia. She said, "Thank God it was him. If he hadn't done it, who knows what would have happened?" She added, "Him being a firefighter on top of that. I mean how much more could you do?" Mr. Jensen had signed up to be a donor while he was in the Fire Academy at Randall's Island. He said about his decision to become a donor, "I didn't give it a second thought. I just feel that I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing that I didn't help someone." (68)

Laura Roe: "I was Lucky Enough to be Able to Save My Son, But Some People Won't be So Fortunate"

In April 2011, Laura Roe, a 25-year-old mother in Manchester, England, saved the life of her one-year-old son, Cameron, by giving him a quarter of her liver in a live donation. If she had waited for a transplant from a deceased donor, chances are her son would be dead. Cameron had yellow skin when he was born, which doctors attributed to jaundice. However, for weeks Cameron had such symptoms as white stools and foul-smelling urine, and Laura insisted on more tests. The tests revealed that Cameron had Bilary Atresia, a rare liver disease. In May 2010, he had an operation, but a few months later his stomach began to bloat and doctors discovered that his liver was failing. In December 2010, when he was eight months old, he was put on a transplant list. His father, Giles, age 35, and Laura's father, age 48, were both tested to see if they could be live donors for Giles, but they were not good matches, so Laura was tested next. Laura said, "We knew that a live donation would give Cameron a good chance of finding a match quickly. My husband and my Dad volunteered first, as we figured it would be best for me to be there for Cameron to look after him when he was recovering. But after their tests came back as unsuitable, I stepped up next to be tested. It was [a] great relief to find I could donate to him, and save his life if a donor couldn't be found. But I was also really anxious about leaving him in hospital to go through his transplant without him by my side." Laura underwent more testing to ensure that she was healthy to undergo the operation. She said, "Being a compatible with Cameron was just the first hurdle, I had to have chest x-rays, scans, and tests to make sure I was in good enough health to go ahead. Not only that but I also had to be interviewed by a social worker, psychiatrist, and the team of surgeons, to confirm I hadn't been pressurized to do this, or even blackmailed." The operation took place on 6 April 2011, a few days after Cameron celebrated his first birthday. The operation went well, but Laura could not see her son until five days later because both were recovering. Laura said, "It was heartbreaking as he was in so much pain, and he just couldn't understand why his Mummy had left him. He wouldn't cuddle me as he was so upset, and just kept clinging onto his Dad. I'm sure he'll understand when he's older, but I was crushed at the time." For four days, Cameron was not allowed to eat after the transplant. Laura said, "As well as being in so much pain, the poor little man was starving hungry. When he was finally allowed a bottle of milk on day five, he drained it in seconds." Cameron is now healthy. Laura said, "We took him swimming for the first time this week, and it was so amazing to feel like a normal family. I'm so glad that I pushed for Cameron to be referred for more tests when he was a baby. If I hadn't done so, he probably wouldn't have been diagnosed in time for his initial surgery, and it is very probable he wouldn't be here today. You have to follow your instincts, and I'm lucky that I stuck to my guns." Laura encourages people to join the donor list. She said, "I was lucky enough to be able to save my son, but some people won't be so fortunate." (69)

A Heart Becomes Available

Sometimes, only a heart transplant can save the life of a baby. Claude Bride was sitting by the hospital bed of her 14-month-old daughter, Margaux, when Margaux suffered a heart attack. Ms. Bride said, "The nurse began to scream for help and four doctors ran in with a defibrillator. As they ushered me out, I knew things didn't look good. I just stood there sobbing and calling out her name. It took three attempts before they restarted Margaux's heart. But the next day it stopped again and the doctors warned me that time was running out. She had been on the transplant register three months. Why would a new heart suddenly become available in the next few days?" Eighteen hours later, a new heart became available. In October 2011 Sir Magdi Yacoub performed the transplant, and Margaux recovered at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, England. Ms. Bride said, "It is the most incredible feeling to hold her and see her smile. It is truly a miracle." Since birth, Margaux had had 17 operations on her heart. Unfortunately, for a child's heart to become available for transplant, a child must die. Margaux' heart came from a child in the mainland of Europe. Ms. Bride said that she would write that child's family to let them know that their child's heart saved the life of her daughter. She said, "I [...] hope it may bring them some comfort." (70)

Altruistic Donation

Luc Delauzun, age 25, wanted to save someone's life, but in his job as a marketer, that seemed unlikely. However, he found a way to do it: He donated his left kidney to a stranger. He donates blood, and when he read at the blood bank about altruistic organ donation (that is, donating an organ to a stranger as opposed to a family member), he decided to do it. He says, "It was the idea of instantly helping to save a life that appealed. I'm not a doctor or a soldier — I work in marketing at a communications agency in London and Abu Dhabi [United Arab Emirates] — so the likelihood of rescuing someone is relatively low. I don't know anyone with kidney disease, but everyone has friends or relatives hit by cancer or brain tumors. When that happens you want to help but can't. So I thought, here are people going through equally awful things and this time there is something I can do." The operation took four hours and he spent four days in the hospital, but in two weeks he was back at work. Mr. Delauzun says, "I have had some amazing experiences — traveling to the Himalayas and bungee jumping. But to know I have made a radical difference to someone is a whole other level. The only thing I would quibble with is that it is called 'altruistic.' [For it t]o be truly altruistic, I wouldn't have got anything out of it — and that couldn't be further from the truth." (71)

"Anybody with Any Brains at All Would Not have Stood and Watched Something like That"

On 25 September 2010 in Dearborn Heights, Michigan, Gerald A. LaMonica, age 75, saw a 45-pound, adult male pit bull dog leave its owner's yard and attack and repeatedly bite without provocation Madison P. Boljesic, age 10, the daughter of a Dearborn Heights police officer. Mr. LaMonica said, "I hollered in a loud voice and kicked it in the chest. It grabbed my leg." Madison's brother, Jacob, arrived and grabbed the scooter his sister had been riding and swung it at the dog, which left. Madison received 14 stitches to close bite wounds on her arms and legs; Mr. LaMonica received 15 stitches to close the bite wound on his leg. Mr. LaMonica said, "Anybody with any brains at all would not have stood and watched something like that. I thank the Lord that I was there at the right time. If not, he could have went for her throat." The pit bull was put down, and its owner was put on probation. In December 2011, Mr. LaMonica was awarded a Carnegie Medal for Heroism. (72)

"It Feels Pretty Good, You Know, to Help the Lady Out"

In July 2011, a black bear was coming too close to hiker Erin Prophet in Yellowstone National Park just a few days after a grizzly bear had killed a man. She was in between the bear and a lake and running out of room to retreat. Fortunately, Dave Beecham, age 37, from West Linn, Oregon, who was in a kayak with his son and his father-in-law, saw the woman and the bear. Mr. Beecham said, "We just thought, 'We've got to save this woman's life,' but then on the other hand I had my son in the kayak, so we were like, 'When do we go get her?' And when the bear got too close, we decided we had to take some action." Ms. Prophet got in the kayak, and they paddled away from the bear. Mr. Beecham said, "We were afraid the bear was gonna come after us — and it was about 20 or 30 feet away — and we just real calmly stroked the kayak back." He added, "It feels pretty good, you know, to help the lady out." The bear may have been attracted by an apple in Ms. Prophet's pack. (73)

Attack by Wolves

Hunger can make a wolf attack human beings. On 22 December 2007, two families from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, Canada, learned this. The two families were tobogganing east of Fort Nelson when two wolves with protruding rib cages and shrunken bodies appeared. Being towed by an all-terrain vehicle were three young children in a sleigh. Kyle Keays' wife saw the wolves and screamed. The wolves were coming toward the children. Shadow, the Keays family's pet Rottweiler-cross, ran toward the wolves and intercepted them. Mr. Keays, age 36, riding in a different ATV, said, "I looked back and saw my dog intercept the lead wolf — there were two of them. They were heading towards the kids, and the dog came in." Mr. Keays was far from the children, so he went to the nearby camp to get a rifle. Mr. Keays said, "The first wolf hit [Shadow] in the side and grabbed his shoulder. He spun around and grabbed that wolf by the face. I was thinking, 'Good dog, you get steak dinners for the rest of the month if you make it through this.'" Rod Barrie, who was towing the children, drove them to a nearby truck. He and his wife, who was at the truck, got the children inside. Mr. Barrie used a shovel to hit the wolves. Mr. Barrie then jumped on his ATV and drove the wolves back into the bush. But the wolves returned. Mr. Keays followed the tracks of one wolf and shot it. He said, "The wolves were definitely not afraid. They were skinny, skinny. Very hungry." Shadow was OK after the confrontation. The next day, the wolf's carcass was half-eaten, perhaps by the other wolf. Mr. Keays then tracked and shot the second wolf. This kind of confrontation is very unusual. Mr. Keays, a gas plant operator, said, "You never see them [wolves]. I work out in the bush all the time, and normally your first glance is your last glance." (74)

"I Just Got the Shovel and Started Banging on His [the Pit Bull's] Nose and Head; I Probably Hit Him Six to Eight Times Before He Let Go"

In September 2011, a pit bull attacked a 72-year-old woman and her dog in Spokane, Washington. Fortunately, a neighbor came to her rescue. When the attack occurred, Joan Scott was walking her dog, Cinnamon, as usual. She said about Cinnamon, "She's a sweetheart; she is very lovable. We used to go at least five days a week and take nice long walks." But then they were attacked. Ms. Scott said, "A car drove by and a black dog jumped out the window and first of all he grabbed my arm and hand and bit me. I just know my whole body aches, and my hand is the worst of all. Cinnamon defended Ms. Scott: "She [Cinnamon] growled at that dog and that's when that dog took after her." The pit bull bit Cinnamon's ear and would not let go. Neighbor Linda King said, "I heard this dog yelping, and I knew it was a painful yelp." She came to the rescue: "I just got the shovel and started banging on his [the pit bull's] nose and head; I probably hit him six to eight times before he let go." The pit bull went back to the black car, which took off with the dog inside. Ms. Scott said about Ms. King, "She's definitely my hero; she deserves a medal for that ." (75)

Dotty the Donkey Saves Stanley the Sheep

On 18 April 2009, Dotty the donkey saved the life of her stablemate, Stanley the sheep, when a pit bull attacked Stanley at the farm in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, they live on. Witness Ann Rogers, age 63, said about Dotty, "She just sprang into action. The dog had its jaws clamped around Stanley. Dotty was behind in close pursuit. Seconds later, she jumped off the bank she was on and with a screech of rage pinned the dog to the ground. Dotty clamped her teeth around the dog's back and was biting down hard for a couple of minutes. Eventually the pain must have become too much and the dog ran off." Stanley lost two teeth due to the attack but recovered. The pit bull had also attacked two horses; it was found and put down. In April 2011, the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a charity, honored Dotty with a bravery award. PDSA Trustee John Murphy said, "When Dotty was faced with her moment of truth, her ultimate test of character, this brave rescue donkey did not shy away. And even if she felt fear, she did not show it for a second. We are not sure how donkeys think. But we know Dotty saw her friend Stanley, the sheep, being viciously attacked by a dog and was compelled to gallop to his rescue. Dotty saved her friend with, it seemed, no thought of the obvious danger to herself. Today, it is PDSA's turn to recognize Dotty for her bravery and her overwhelming need to protect her friend." Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinary surgeon at PDSA, said, "Donkeys are very stoical and protective animals. Often, when faced with a threat they will rise up to face their enemy, in this case an aggressive dog. Dotty showed herself to be a true protector of the animals she sees as her family and her bravery saved Stanley from further harm, and possibly death." Ms. Rogers said, "Dotty was so brave on the day of the attack. She saw her friend Stanley in distress and charged down the field to rescue him from the dog's jaws. I am so proud of Dotty and so pleased that her bravery has been recognized by PDSA." (76)

Reagan the Dog Saves Skipper and Tipper: Two Kittens

In 2011 in Madison County, Iowa, someone placed a litter of kittens inside a Meow Mix sack and closed it and left it on a country road. All of the kittens should have died. Some did, when a car ran over the sack. But two kittens were still alive, and a dog named Reagan found the sack and dragged it home and whined until his owner opened the sack. She called the Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary, whose workers say that animal cruelty is all too common. Linda Blakely of the Raccoon Valley Animal Sanctuary said that when Reagan's owner reached into the sack that "the horror of these kittens covered in blood and guts quickly revealed there was more that didn't make it." The surviving kittens are Skipper and Tipper. Ms. Blakely said, "The instinct of the dog was to nurture and not kill the kittens. With all the blood, some dogs would have responded to the scent. Reagan the dog is a hero." Ms. Blakely added, "Whether them being dumped out was an act of cruelty or desperation we will never know, but we want people to know there's better ways." Skipper and Tipper had to be fed every two hours, but they survived and became healthy. Ms. Blakely pointed out, "Our slogan here is that we're living proof there is a way. These guys are testament to it." (77)

Lima the Cat: Unlikely Hero

On 21 May 2010, two pit bulls attacked and knocked down Cherry Woods, age 39, near her home in Pearland, Texas. She screamed, and her husband, Harold, ran to the rescue — and so did their pet cat, Lima. Harold said, "Our cat came out of the bushes, and scratched one of the dogs and started hissing at it. They both turned their attention to the cat. I was able to grab my wife and pull her inside the house." Lima is an unlikely hero. Harold said, "She's the most reclusive, timid animal I've ever seen. I'm very glad that we had [Lima] and that she was here, because when it came down to my wife getting hurt, she jumped right in. It's amazing." (78)

Dog Named "Hero" Lives Up to Her Name

In February 2010, a fire, apparently caused by an electrical fault, broke out in the home of the Rankin family in Brackenridge, Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the family's pet dog, Hero, a Weimaraner-German shorthair, barked continuously and woke up Wendy Rankin. Wendy came downstairs and saw that a kitchen wall was on fire. She woke up her husband and their 11th-grade daughter, and all, including Hero, escaped from the fire that demolished their home. Wendy said, "If it wasn't for [Hero], we wouldn't have gotten out. I know that." A few months previously, a car had hit Hero, who suffered a badly broken leg, but the Rankins would not allow her to be put down. Wendy said, "My daughter said, 'No, amputation is not an option, and we're not putting her down.' So, we nursed her and she had surgery, and her right leg is wired together." Wendy's daughter, Emily, named Hero after a character in William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. Wendy said about Hero, "She's our hero, and if we wouldn't have saved her with her leg, she wouldn't have saved us today. I'm getting her the biggest steak that she can eat." She added that Hero "truly has been a blessing, and we're just thanking the Lord for her. We have a pretty strong faith that everything happens for a reason. We truly believe that God sent that dog to us, and she was our hero." Fire chief Rick Jones said, "The dog is what saved them. Hero — what a name for the dog." (79)

"A Couple More Hours and I Wouldn't Be Here"

In November 2011, Erma Iverson survived a 20-hour ordeal in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota, with the help of her dog, Crackers, and a postal carrier named Stan Boushek. Ms. Iverson, who is 79 and suffers from Parkinson's Disease, lives in a rural home along the Minnesota River. Other homes are on the road, but they are widely spaced. She intended to walk about one-third of a mile to visit her sister, but she fell and she could not get up again. On her wrist was a medical alert button, but pressing it didn't work. She yelled for help, but no one heard her. Night came, and Crackers stayed by her, chasing off raccoons and coyotes all night. When she heard the coyotes, she says that she thought, "Oh no, not them." The next day at 12:45 p.m., postal carrier Stan Boushek arrived, saw her, and telephoned for help. One of her eyes was completely swollen shut, and her other eye was nearly swollen shut. She spent nine days in Granite Falls Hospital, but recovered. Ms. Iverson said that nurses told her that "a couple more hours and I wouldn't be here." (80)

Lassie to the Rescue

In January 2006 in eastern Australia, Lassie, a 13-month-old cattle dog, came to the rescue when her owner, George Crowther, a 90-year-old farmer from Queensland state, fell from a horse and broke his hip and pelvis. Lassie stayed with him and kept him warm. Mr. Crowther's wife searched for him when darkness fell, but she could not hear his cries. Austin, Mr. Crowther's son, said, "She went out and called for the dog, and Lassie came up to where she was and [started] whimpering. She said, 'Where's George?'" Lassie led her to where Mr. Crowther lay. Mr. Crowther was taken to a hospital, and 37 screws and two metal plates fixed his broken hip and pelvis. Austin said about his father and Lassie, "He named her properly." Lassie was a collie that starred in many movies and a 1950s TV series in which she often performed heroic rescues. (81)

"Ms. Smail Would have been a Goner if the Dog had Not Raised the Alarm. She Owes Her Life to that Dog"

In early 2006, fire broke out in a new extension to the Dalkeith Cattery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fortunately, the barking of a two-year-old Pomeranian dog named Cleo awoke owner Evelyn Smail, who managed to rescue five of the seven cats staying there. Sheila Grey, a volunteer at the cattery, said, "She was awoken when one of the show dogs started barking madly. Ms. Smail got out of bed at 1:55 a.m., thinking the dog needed to go to the toilet. She looked out her back window to find that the building was acutely ablaze and immediately called the fire brigade. She then ran outside to the adjacent cattery buildings and rescued five boarding cats on the premises. Another two cats had been overcome by the fumes and couldn't be saved." Five of Ms. Smail's dogs also died in the fire. Ms. Grey said, "The fumes had already attached themselves to the side of the house. Ms. Smail would have been a goner if the dog had not raised the alarm. She owes her life to that dog. It was a terrible, tragic thing that happened. But it could have been even more terrible if it wasn't for this dog. If it wasn't for the owner putting her own life at risk, there would have been many more animals dead. She's absolutely devastated. Animals are her life — she's not married and it's terrible for her that some of them have died." Detective Sergeant Mike Wynne, of Dalkeith Police Station, said, "As a result of the fire within one of the kennel blocks, five dogs and two cats have perished. Due to the quick actions of the kennel proprietors, the rest of the animals were saved." (82)

Baby Saves Baby

In January 2006 in Taipei City, Taiwan, a single, pregnant woman did not feel well and she went to the bathroom. She did not realize it, but she was in labor, and she gave birth. She cut the umbilical cord with scissors, and then she collapsed. She was too weak to call for help. Her newborn son fell into the toilet and would have drowned if not for her dog, a female huskie puppy named Baby. The woman's social worker said, "The dog approached her owner, who was lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and saw the infant... she snatched up the baby's leg with her mouth and rescued him from drowning." The dog licked the newborn boy on the face, and the boy started breathing and crying. The mother was able then to cry for help. The mother gave up for adoption both the newborn boy and her pet dog because of financial reasons. (83)

"I Think I've Already Won"

When Maureen Porter, a 69-year-old grandmother, fell and broke her hip in Cenarth, Ceredigion, Wales, in May 2005, no humans were close enough to hear her cries for help. Fortunately, Pedro, her 15-year-old border collie, stayed with her for 18 hours, keeping her warm all night and prodding her with his paw to keep her awake. The next morning, Mrs. Porter's husband, Eric Porter, who was visiting Essex, telephoned her. When she did not answer, Mr. Porter telephoned a neighbor, Pat Milner, who checked up on and found Mrs. Porter. Mr. Porter, age 70, said, "Maureen had dirt under her fingernails from trying to move. It was very dark and cold throughout the night, and she could hear owls and foxes. But Pedro made sure she was safe and warm." Ten years previously, Mrs. Porter had adopted Pedro from a dog's rescue home. Mr. Milner said about Mrs. Porter, "She was cold and unwell. I dread to think what would have happened but for him [Pedro]." Mr. Porter said, "Someone in the village shop asked me the other day if I was going to play the lottery this week and I said, 'No, I think I've already won because I've still got Maureen.'"

Animal Heroes and Human Heroes

In January 2011 in Leeds, England, Johanna Kaye, age 50, was out walking her two 18-month-old Lhasa Apsos, Lady and Milly, when she slipped on the ice and was knocked unconscious. She said later, "There had been a fall of snow followed by another snow flurry which had frozen again. I was walking down the road [near her home] and had taken six or seven paces when I slipped and banged my head on a wall." Her two dogs ran to get help from two men working on gas mains. Gas engineer Matthew Giles said, "We were working down a hole when we heard the dogs barking. I looked up and saw both dogs still had their leads on, but barking continuously. We followed the dogs and saw Johanna on the ground, the dogs were barking, and it was like a scene out of Lassie." The other engineer, David Cowan, said, "We followed them and were shocked when we spotted Johanna lying unconscious in the snow. I lifted her up and carried her to her house. We knew where she lived because we'd helped her husband dig his car out of the snow the week before." When Ms. Kaye woke up, she was lying on a sofa in her home. She said, "I could have been lying there for hours. Our road is very quiet, and it was after everyone had gone to work so without the gas men and my little dogs the story might have ended very differently — it was very cold that day. I am all right now, but it was a lucky escape. I dread to think what might have happened had they not saved me." She has rewarded her dogs: "They've been to the salon to get their hair done, and Lady has been getting her tea in a china cup just the way she likes it. We've always treated them like part of the family, and it's like this is their way of saying thank-you." (85)

Happiest Possible Ending for Mother and Baby Elephant

In November 2011, a mother and baby elephant became trapped in mud near the Kapani Safari Lodge in Zambia, Africa. Lodge staff and tourists, the South Luangwa Conservation Society (SLCS), and the local wildlife authority decided to rescue the elephants. Team managers from the conservation society got the baby elephant out of the mud by tying a rope around her and pulling her out. The team managers said that the baby elephant was "terribly frightened." The mother elephant was dehydrated and exhausted, but the SLCS team used a tractor and a rope to get her out. Staff at the Kapani Lodge said that it was "heart-warming to see how many local people joined in the efforts to free the two elephants... it was the happiest possible ending." After the rescue, team member Rachel McRobb said, "Most conservationists believe that man should not meddle with the natural order and that we should allow nature to run her course however cruel or grim it seems to be. We agree on the whole; unless a wildlife problem has been created by man (for instance in the case of snaring or being trapped in a fence, in which case it's justifiable to intervene), then nature should be left to her own devices. She has a plan. However, every rule has an exception and the dreadful plight of a baby elephant trapped in the mud of the Kapani Lagoon and her mother, who had also got stuck trying to save her yesterday, had us all in a frenzy of activity. We simply could not stand by and watch them struggle and slowly die." (86)

Two-Day-Old Kitten Flushed, Then Rescued

Three-year-old Alannah Merleto of Sydney, Australia, enjoyed flushing things down the toilet. In October 2010, this became a problem when the family realized that its two-day-old kitten was missing. Alannah's mother, Ammie, asked her where the kitten was. Alannah replied, "'Down the toilet." Members of Alannah's family searched for the kitten and realized that Alannah had been telling the truth when they heard the kitten mewing through a pipe under the house. Ammie said, "I didn't know what else to do, so we rang the fire brigade." Eight firefighters came and used a camera on an 80-foot-long cord to see the kitten on a monitor. The kitten was stuck in a bend of the pipe, but it had enough air to breathe. The firefighters dismantled the toilet, and then used a jackhammer to break apart a concrete slab. After working for four hours, they reached the pipe and rescued the kitten, which was soggy but otherwise OK. Alannah promised never to take the kitten near the bathroom again, and her family named the kitten Cain, after the firefighter who led the effort to rescue it. Superintendent Ian Krimmer of the New South Wales Fire Brigades said, "Cain actually worked as a plumber before he joined the fire brigade, so he was certainly a handy member to have on the crew." (87)

A 24-Hour Effort to Save a...

During the winter of 2011 in the village of Anglesey, North Wales, passersby heard meowing. The meows were coming from a recycling bin, and they were afraid that a cat was trapped inside, so they called emergency services. Unfortunately, no one could get the locks, which had been tampered with, open, even though the fire service, the RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] and bin operators all tried. Eventually, they transported the bin to specialist engineering firm K Owen in Llanrhyddlad — an 18-mile trip. Almost 24 hours after the meowing was first heard, engineers cut their way with a steel saw into the bin. Kelvin Owen said, "Once we got into the bin, we heard the meow again. It sounded just like a cat, and we all started to carefully search the bags. Then I found a bag of toys and picked out a toy cat. I said, 'It couldn't be this, could it?' It wasn't making any noise, and I asked if I could cut it open to investigate. As I held it, it went off, 'Meow, meow.' Mystery solved! The lads were in stitches, it was such a laugh." Jasmine Hazelhurst said, "I did feel embarrassed when they pulled out the stuffed cat. But I am also proud at the way everyone rallied around to save the 'cat.' Local people did so much to save the 'cat,' and it shows what community spirit there is. We feared finding a dead cat in the clothes bank, so to find a stuffed toy was a relief." (88)

Everyday Heroes and Good Samaritans

The good people at Stubbydog.org wanted to recognize everyday heroes and Good Samaritans, so they asked people to send in stories of people helping animals. Here are a few stories: 1) "My friend's husband found a dog in a vacant building. She was tied up and left there with no food or water. He cut her loose and took her home. He bought some dog treats on the way home and she scared him to death lunging for the treats. She was so hungry. Mind you, this dog weigh[ed] 8 lbs. at the time so it was unlikely she could really hurt him much. She was also so dehydrated she growled if anyone went near her water after they got her home. Things got better — my friends have had her for two months now and she weighs 43 lbs.!" — Encyclopedia Faye. 2) "I found a dog wandering the streets one day, I made my friend take off his belt to make a 'leash' and we took him out via subway, took a photo, and then posted him on Craigslist! We found the owner in three hours." — Yvonne Kai. 3) "A few years ago we were driving on I-95 in CT when we spotted a dog running on the road between the lanes! I was horrified and apparently so was everyone else on the road. People started to slow down and then stop. Two young guys got out of their car and got the dog to safety. Everyone just waited. It was miraculous." — Nancy Witters. (89)

Deer Rescues

On 11 November 2011, Deputy Ryan Swartz responded to a car-hitting-deer accident on Hellems Road in Dwight Township, Huron County, Michigan. The deer was a small doe, which was not seriously hurt but which was dazed and standing in the middle of the road. Deputy Swartz picked up the small doe and carried it to the side of the road, where it stayed for about 20 minutes before running off into a field. By the way, a writer who calls himself "forcd ind" and posts on a Chevelle Tech blog remembers seeing a deer that was stuck on a fence. He put on gloves and lifted her hind legs over the fence, being very careful to avoid any kicks. He writes that "after she got over, she turned and looked at me, almost like she was thanking me, then w[a]ndered off." (90)

Operation Roger

Lots of truckers are using their wheels to get dogs to new homes. Sean Kiel, a 46-year-old who has been a truck driver for 30 years, helped to rescue a curly white Bichon Frise from life in a puppy mill. He took the ball of fluff to a woman in California who was eager to adopt it. Mr. Kiel said, "Here I am, a big ol' tough truck driver, and I'm sitting here choking up right now. She was so happy to get that dog — just absolutely happy. It was so touching to see." Sue Wiese, age 68, is a former truck driver from Joshua, Texas; she is also an animal lover. Ms. Wiese said, "You just have to do something." Following Hurricane Katrina, a natural disaster in which lots of pets lost their homes, Ms. Wiese took action. She said, "My heart was just breaking from all the stories about the pets. I was driving down the road and I was praying, 'Lord, what can I do? I'm just a truck driver.' And then I heard one word: Transport." She founded Operation Roger. People can read online about animals that need a home, and truck drivers can volunteer to take the animals to the people who wish to adopt them. From 2005 to 2011, Operation Roger took approximately 600 animals to new homes. In some cases, animals are reunited with their owners. For example, Robert Montagna, age 56, a truck driver and Operation Roger volunteer living in Michigan, witnessed a waitress in Colorado being reunited with her chocolate Labrador retriever. Mr. Montagna said, "When they saw each other, they just ran together toward each other like it was in a movie. She cried and cried when she saw that dog." Mr. Montagna said he loves being a member of Operation Roger: "I just love doing this. I always say that if I won a big lottery, I'd buy a big RV and I'd call Sue up and say, 'Where's the dog at? I'll deliver it.' And after that, I'd call her and say, 'OK, where's the next dog at?' I'd just keep doing this all over the country." (91)

"I Thank the Good Lord and Jacob that I'm Still Alive"

In March 2011 in Florence, Florida, Jacob Suggs, age 13, heard his grandmother, Donna Hewett, choking in the kitchen. He ran to her. Jacob said, "Grandma couldn't speak, and her face was really red. I knew immediately that she was choking on something." He performed the Heimlich maneuver on her twice. It worked. Ms. Hewett said, "I was eating cereal with nuts in it when I looked up at a picture. I had a mouth full. The food all of a sudden ran down my throat before I could swallow and I choked." She added, "Everything happened so quickly that I didn't know what to do. I couldn't get any air, and I couldn't breathe. I thank the good Lord and Jacob that I'm still alive." Jacob's father, Tim Suggs, the youth pastor at the Church at Sandhurst, said, "I credit the Boy Scout training with Jacob knowing what to do. The Heimlich maneuver was one of the first things he learned when he joined the scouts. I'm just thankful for the Boy Scouts. It's a great program that teaches character and principles. I'm an assistant scoutmaster in Jacob's troop." Tim Fisher, scoutmaster, said, "Jacob is a great kid who comes from a great family. We are extremely proud of him for saving his grandmother's life." (92)

A Hero with Down Syndrome

On 12 November 2005 in the Town of Tonawanda, New York, Therese Smith, age 81, was saved by an unlikely hero: her grandson, David Freund, age 20, who has Down syndrome. Therese was choking on a morning pill, and David performed the Heimlich maneuver on her, saving her life. Therese said, "I was choking. I was petrified. I didn't know what to do." David's father, Jerry Freund, had recently taught him how to perform the Heimlich maneuver. The two practiced the maneuver together. However, David's mother, Patty Freund, the principal at St. Gregory the Great School in Amherst, New York, was not sure that David should be taught the maneuver. She said, "What if he does it to someone who doesn't need it?" Therese began choking on a morning pill at the breakfast table. She said, "I couldn't get it to go up; I couldn't get it to go down. I have breathing difficulties, too. I didn't know what to do." David said, "I heard Grandma." Therese said, "He came right around and did the Heimlich maneuver." It worked: the pill popped out. David said, "I grab my hands and Grandma's stomach... and Grandma can breathe." Therese said, "It was just like he was supposed to do that." David's mother said, "I was shocked that he would remember what to do — and relieved. He's very strong. My mother is very frail at 81. My fear was, 'Did he break her rib because he's so strong?' But he didn't hurt her." She added, "He's just a terrific person. He's a very loving and caring young man. He works real hard. He loves life. [...] People don't give persons with disabilities enough credit. They don't give them opportunities to show themselves. But without asking and without prompting, he was able to figure out what to do, and I think that's incredible. People say he's retarded. But he's wise in his ways." She is proud of what her son did: "I told him he was a hero. He was his grandma's hero." (93)

11-Year-Old Heimlich Hero

In October 2011, Brian Kennedy, age 11, saw a friend choking while eating lunch at Pennridge North Middle School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania. The friend, Ryan Shire, said, "I choked on the hot mozzarella cheese [...] and it got stuck in the back of my throat." Ryan could not speak, but he made motions that he was choking. Brian said, "And I just saw him. I just rushed over to him." Brian performed the Heimlich maneuver three times, and Ryan was able to breathe again. Ryan said, "I really think he saved my life because if I would have went any longer I would have passed out and stopped breathing." Brian said, "I was like 'Oh, my God, I just saved a life. I just saved my friend's life, so it just felt awesome." Brian had learned how to perform the Heimlich maneuver both in 5th-grade health class and at summer camp. Assistant Principal Matthew Cole said, "I thought it was awesome, and when I went over to him he was just like 'Oh, it's another day in the cafeteria." Ryan's mother, Michelle, said, "Having that instinct that he [Brian] jumped right in and he knew how to do it, it saved his [my son's] life. I was really proud of him." (94)

Foreclosure Hero

In 2011, Lee Castillo, a 34-year-old IT systems engineer, decided to help his friend, Julio Salazar, when his friend, who has a hair-cutting business in Falls Church, Virginia, was a short time away from losing his house because of financial problems stemming from the bad economy. Mr. Castillo said, "He had been trying to work with CitiMortgage and OneWest bank to get a loan modification, and they made it extremely difficult for him, especially since English was not his first language. He came to me and said he needed to find a place to rent because the bank kept saying they didn't receive all the documents they needed and that they were gonna foreclose. So I said, 'Let me look into this for you and see what's going on.'" Mr. Salazar had gone to a company to help him keep his house, but the company was ineffective, although he paid $2,300 upfront. Frank Dorman, a spokesman for the Federal Trade Commission, said, "We advise people to avoid any company or individual that requires a fee in advance, guarantees to stop a foreclosure or modify a loan, or advises the homeowner to stop paying the mortgage company. Many of the complaints received by the FTC include not being able to contact the company after paying for mortgage refinance services, not being able to get their money back, and not receiving proper help from the company after paying for services." David Rodriguez, an executive at OneWest, said, "Our loss mitigation services are free of charge. Anyone or any company asking for money up-front should be thoroughly examined before a customer agrees to pay for such services." Mr. Salazar said after hiring the company to help him keep his house, "I got a foreclosure letter after three months. They took my money and did nothing." At this time, Mr. Castillo got involved. He sent the OneWest bank the financial documents they required. In addition, he said, "I met with the director at OneWest, I went to the president of Freddie Mac, the lender, and I even got Congressman Gerry Connolly's office involved. You can get to these people in the executive offices. You have to be smart enough to navigate the web, but you can get ahold of them and pester the hell out of them until they do something. I said, 'Look, if you fix this and get this through, then I don't have to bother you anymore, but if you don't then you're gonna hear from me every day until we get this resolved.'" OneWest stopped the foreclosure and modified the loan, dropping the monthly mortgage payment to $850 from $1,700. Mr. Salazar kept his house. Mr. Castillo said, "I'm not a religious person, but I am very fortunate to have a really good job, and I think it's my duty as a human being, when another human being is going through a hard time, I need to step up to the plate and help. I think if we as Americans or neighbors or friends took the time to get to know someone and take on someone's cause, well, imagine if everybody did that?" (95)

"Most Terrifying of All were His Eyes: Big, Wide Open, and China Blue, Without a Hint of Human Shine"

British mother Catherine Foster was listening to her three young children's voices coming from another room when she noticed a change. The children grew silent, and she could hear the worried voice of her partner. She immediately went to the children and saw that Luke, her son, was not breathing. Luke was a twin, and he had been born, near full term, weighing only 2.8 lbs. because the nutrients had mainly gone to his twin sister due to the placements of their placentas. As a baby, he had had two near cot-death misses (NCDM), but then had grown normally and had appeared to be completely healthy. However, now Luke was motionless. She remembers, "As he was thrust into my arms, I could feel him contort into a strange shape. He lay in my lap as stiff as a doll. Most terrifying of all were his eyes: big, wide open, and china blue, without a hint of human shine. 'What happened?' I asked through chattering teeth. 'What had he been doing?'" Her partner replied, "He was just eating off his tray with his fingers." Catherine slapped Luke's back when holding him by his feet. No result. She performed the Heimlich maneuver, but it did not work. She ran with him to the nearby home of a physician, but the physician was not home. Her partner had called an ambulance, but it would not arrive for another 10 minutes, which would be too late. Catherine remembers, "In a frenzy of fumbling fingers, I ripped his clothes off him. When he had stopped breathing before, this had brought him round again. Still no response, and as a last resort I jammed my little finger down his throat. He gagged, coughed. I jabbed again, brutal now. He coughed again and the tiniest piece of bacon came loose on the end of my finger, and without warning pink flooded the grey of his cheeks. The veins on his head, which had been bulging and black through lack of oxygen, faded, and his eyes looked living and human again." Catherine hugged Luke, and her partner had tears running down his cheeks. In 2011, Luke was 24 years old and finishing a degree in law. Catherine says, "I was told I was lucky to have brought him round — even three or four more minutes of oxygen starvation could have caused brain injury." She adds, "Luckily he'll never remember how close we came to losing him." (96)

Seven-Year-Old Andrew Roberts Saves Friend from Accidental Hanging

In July 2010 in Newcastle, England, seven-year-old Andrew Roberts saved the life of a friend, eight-year-old Mason Schubeler, who had jumped from a tree and gotten a rope wrapped around his neck like a noose. He was unable to breathe, so Andrew stood under him and pushed upward on Mason's feet so Mason could breathe and unwrap the rope from around his neck. Mason's mother, Donna, age 32, said, "An accident like that is every parent's worst nightmare — I feel sick even thinking about what could have happened. They were only playing on a tree on the estate, which I can see from my house, so you assume they are safe. They'd made a Tarzan-like rope swing and were swinging-off by their arms. I think they'd made it out of rope from a washing line. Mason was sitting on a branch and decided to jump down when his younger brother shouted for him, but he somehow managed to get the rope caught round his neck, acting like a noose. He was dangling in the air, unable to breathe. He was literally being strangled and was choking. Most of the kids there, who obviously got a big shock, ran to find me to get help. But my neighbor's little boy Andrew saw what had happened and ran over to Mason, before pushing him up by his feet so he could breathe. It must have been quite a weight for him to lift up as Andrew is only seven but he managed to keep him there long enough for Mason to be able to loosen the rope and slip free. Mason's little brother Sonny had ran to get me, but he couldn't speak [because] he was in so much shock so it was only when the other kids came that I realized what had happened and ran up. I was in such a panic — it's such a horrible feeling. Mason was on the ground by this point, and his neck was grazed and bleeding. I'm thankful to Andrew — he's a little star. I dread to think what would have happened if he'd hadn't have been there because I don't think we would have reached Mason in time. He saved his life." Andrew talked about the rescue: "I ran over and pushed his feet up — I'm quite strong so he didn't feel that heavy — and we tried to get the rope off. I thought I needed to push him up so the rope would come off. Mason got it off. I don't know why I knew I had to push his feet up; I've not seen it before. I do feel a little bit like a hero because everyone is saying that. We're not allowed to play on the swing any more; it's been thrown away." Mason had a few scrapes around his neck, but he said, "I'm feeling loads better. It really hurt and I got a big shock, but Andrew was really good. He pushed my feet up so I could get my neck out [of the noose]. I've said thank you to him." Andrew's mother, Julie, added, "I'm really proud of Andrew. It's just unimaginable thinking about what could have happened if he hadn't acted the way he did. I honestly don't know where he learnt to do that if someone was hanging. I don't think he knows where either." (97)

"He Says He had a Fight with a Truck and the Truck Won"

In August 2003, as a truck came toward them in Tyne and Wear, England, Shaye Corrie, age nine, stood in front of five-year-old Jack Briggs and tried to stop the truck by putting out his hand. The truck did not stop. It struck both boys, who suffered serious head injuries, but survived. Shaye's mother, Judith, said beside Shaye's hospital bed in Newcastle General Hospital, "I thought he was going to die. I really thought we were going to lose him." She added, "That's the kind of thing he would have done to help his little pal. He's a kind, caring boy. His school will tell you that's the way he is. It was touch and go last week. I wouldn't have given much for his chances. The doctors had to insert a bolt in his head to relieve pressure, but it's out now and I'm just so relieved he's still with us. He's still very weak, but he's 100 percent better than last week. He can't remember the crash. He had to have 14 stitches in his wounds and has to wear a neckbrace. We don't know yet when he's coming out of hospital." Jack's mother, Jeanette, and stepfather, Ed Eddon, visited the Corrie family at the hospital. Ed said, "We've been told that Shaye took hold of Jack in his arms and then put his hand out in an effort to stop the truck. It was very brave of him. They had known each other for only two weeks, and Shaye loved our Jack." Jack spent a week in the hospital and then returned home. His mother said, "We're just so glad to have him back home. It's been a nightmare for us. We want to praise Shaye for what he did and for trying to protect Jack." Jack's stepfather said, "The nurses put both boys in beds next to each other when Shaye came out of intensive care. When Jack was leaving the hospital on Sunday, Shaye cried. He didn't want his friend to go. Our Jack is still weak. He's traumatized and talking fast all the time. He's got stitches in his head, and there are two cysts on his brain. Every so often he falls asleep. The doctors say he'll be like this for another couple of weeks. He remembers what happened. He says he had a fight with a truck and the truck won." (98)

A Seven-Year-Old Lifesaver

In August 2005, Shaun Lee Brown, a seven-year-old pupil at Parkside Primary School in Backworth, near Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear, England, saved the life of three-year-old Cory Gallagher by pulling him from a hole filled with water. Shaun Lee said, "The men had been digging a hole in our street, and it was filled with water. Cory was running around it, and I saw him fall in. I ran and told his mum and raced back out. I saw his body under the water. He was frightened, so I just pulled his arms and dragged him out. He was soaking wet. He's only three and he can't swim, so he was frightened. I didn't want him to drown. I saved his life. I didn't think I would be doing something as exciting as this on my school holidays." Cory's mother, Clare, said, "I can't thank Shaun Lee enough. He saw what happened, ran across to my house and shouted for me to come. I ran out behind him and was running around like a fairy not knowing what to do. I could see him up to his neck in water, and he was terrified. Shaun Lee took control. He quickly pulled Cory out. Cory could quite easily have drowned, but Shaun Lee saved Cory's life. I don't know if he realizes how amazing he was. He was absolutely superb." Shaun Lee's parents, Shaun and Sandra, are understandably proud of their son. Mr. Brown said, "I thought it was quite fantastic what Shaun did. I was out when it happened, and when I came back Shaun Lee was telling me all about it. I think it's wonderful that a seven-year-old can think so quickly. He pulled Cory to safety without stopping to think about himself. We're really proud of him." (99)

"My Mom Just Died"

Jailyn Emmett, of Saratoga Springs, Utah, suffers from supraventricular tachycardia, a heart-rhythm disorder. After speaking on the telephone to her husband, who was hundreds of miles away and going through Army Reserve basic training, she felt her heart racing. She said, "I couldn't control it, which I had been able to do in the past with a deep-breathing technique." Six months pregnant, she first tried telephoning her parents, who live near her but did not answer the phone, and then she dialed 911. Then she passed out. She woke up in an ambulance, and the emergency workers told her what had happened. Her five-year-old son, Tregan, had taken the phone from her and talked to the emergency dispatcher, whom he told, "My mom just died." Tregan answered the dispatcher's questions — although Tregan used the names "Spider-Man" and "Peter Parker" instead of his real name. An ambulance went to what emergency workers thought was the Emmett residence. Unfortunately, the Emmetts had recently moved, so the ambulance went to the wrong address. Fortunately, their new home was close to their old home, and Tregan, who was still on the phone with the dispatcher, obeyed orders and flashed the outside light on and off so emergency workers could find the residence. In the excitement, Tregan's brother, 15-month-old Lincoln, went outside. Tregan told a police officer that Lincoln was missing, and the police officer found him nearby playing with a neighbor's puppy. Tregan said, "It was scary to find my mom like that." His mother called him her "little superhero." (100)
CHAPTER 3: STORIES 101-150

"My Dad was on the Floor and Gasping for Air"

On 2 October 2003, Dylan Cartner, a fourth-grader at Grant Elementary School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, came home to find his father lying on the floor, gasping for air because of a severe asthmatic attack. He called 911 and got emergency help for his father, who recovered. Emergency operator Corey Afandre said about Dylan, "He was awesome. He stayed calm and gave me every single piece of information I asked him for." Ms. Afandre added, "A lot of children don't know what 911 is. They think it is something to play with." Dylan said, "If you ever have to call 911, try to stay calm." He added, "I was really scared, and I didn't know what to do. My dad was on the floor and gasping for air." Ms. Afandre said, "A lot of times, kids who call in to 911 are better than adults. They answer questions and stay calm. This boy definitely did that." (101)

"They are Little Heroes. They Saved My Life. It was Just the Three of Us in the House and It Must've been Terrifying for Them, But They Worked as a Team Really Well. I was So Lucky to have Them There"

In February 2006 in North Kenton, Newcastle, England, Jessica Nichol, age eight, and her brother Marc, age six, came to the rescue when their mother, Corinne, suffered an epileptic fit while sleepwalking and started screaming, waking them up. While Marc looked after their mother, Corinne called 999, Great Britain's emergency telephone number. Jessica also let paramedics into their home. Emergency control room operator Rob Livermore, age 29, from Durham, who took Jessica's call, said, "For someone so young, she did fantastically. She listened to what I had to say and carried out all the instructions to the best of her ability. She also gave me an excellent description of her mum's condition. I've known adults who have not acted half as well as she did. She made our job a lot easier. She explained that her mum had collapsed. I asked her to find out whether she was conscious by shaking her and talking to her to see if she answered. She did that, and then told me her eyes were open but she wasn't talking." Paramedic Stuart Riley quickly arrived on the scene and found Corinne lying on the floor. He said, "The children did a fantastic job of explaining what exactly had happened to their mum right down to the minute detail." Corinne, who recovered, said, "I had got up in the night and started shouting, which must've woken the kids up, but I was totally out of it." She added, "They are little heroes. They saved my life. It was just the three of us in the house and it must've been terrifying for them, but they worked as a team really well. I was so lucky to have them there." (102)

"I Owe My Life to These Three People, and I will be Forever Grateful to Them"

In April 2008 in Hadrian's Lodge, Wallsend, England, eight-year-old Ellie Warnes came to the assistance of her mother, Donna, who suffered a life-threatening asthma attack. Ellie was sleeping in a bed with her mother when she was wakened when her mother fell out of bed and made a thumping noise. When Ellie realized that her mother was seriously ill, she pulled an emergency pendant that her mother constantly wears around her neck. The pendant alerts emergency personnel. When the paramedics arrived, Ellie let them into her home. She also telephoned her grandfather so he could give the paramedics her mother's medical history. She then comforted Madison, her four-year-old sister. Ellie told a paramedic, "My sister's crying because she thinks Mummy's going to die, but I'll look after her." Donna, her mother, said, "I had gone to bed and Ellie was sleeping with me, as she does when my partner, Keith, is away. Ellie said she was awoken[ed] suddenly when she heard a thump. I wear a pendant at all times because my asthma is so bad. When pulled, it automatically alerts a carer and the ambulance service." Paramedic Peter Read said, "In 20 years as a paramedic, I have never seen such a brave youngster. When we arrived at the house, Ellie was waiting for us. Colin [Reed, another paramedic] had gone in ahead and Ellie came running out and shouted, 'Your friend says bring the chair and hurry.' I knew then that this was a very serious call. While we began treating Donna, Ellie started to clear room for us so we would be able to make a quick exit from the house. She also phoned her grandad to let him know and passed the phone to me, so I was able to get further medical history and contact information. Donna is the most severe asthmatic I have come across in all of my years as a paramedic, and these were exceptionally stressful circumstances for Donna's children. When we had finished treating Donna, I went downstairs to let the girls know we would be taking their mum to hospital. Madison was sobbing and Ellie had her arm around her and was comforting her. I couldn't believe Ellie's maturity, and as a father of two daughters myself, I was overwhelmed." Donna said, "I was so impressed with Ellie's bravery, and although I can't remember anything about the night it happened, it speaks volumes that Peter and Colin got in touch to thank her formally. I would like to extend my thanks to Peter and Colin as well, as there is no doubt in my mind that had it not been for their quick thinking and treatment, I would not be here today. I owe my life to these three people, and I will be forever grateful to them." (103)

"I've been Calling Her My Superhero"

On 20 October 2011 in Houston, Texas, Larissa Taylor fell in her home next to the bed of her eight-month-old daughter. She suffered seizures and was lying in such a way that she could not breathe. Fortunately, her two-year-old daughter, Lia Vega, picked up a telephone and pressed the call button twice. This rang the last number called, which was her grandmother's. Bobbie Gonzalez, Lia Vega's grandmother, said, "Her mom will call and let her talk to me a lot, but using the phone and calling me on her own, I was very surprised." Lia told her, "Mommy fall down to the floor of sissy's bed," and Ms. Gonzalez quickly arrived. Ms. Taylor was taken to the hospital, where she learned that she fallen and suffered seizures because of diabetes and low blood sugar. Ms. Taylor said, "I don't know how my daughter knew to call my mom or anything. I never taught her how to use the phone and she saved me that day." Ms. Gonzalez said, "Without her, I don't know how long my daughter would have laid there and possibly died. It's just amazing what kids learn without even being taught." Ms. Taylor added, "I've been calling her my superhero. Because she saved me, she saved my life that day." (104)

"Luckily I was Just in Time"

In February 2009 a blind man named John Syrett misjudged his footing and fell onto some subway tracks and in between two carriages (railway passenger coaches) in the Monument Metro station, Newcastle, England. Mitchell Webb, age 14, said, "There was a woman saying a blind man's stuck in between the carriages. People were crowding around the carriage, and a man was shouting for help as well. I just ran from the middle of the station to tell the driver what had happened. I banged on the window but he couldn't hear or see me, so I had to run round to his cabin. Luckily I was just in time. It was just instinct to run for help. Within five minutes, the police, paramedics and fire service were there." If Mitchell had not told the driver what had happened, the driver would have pulled out of the station, running Mr. Syrett over and probably killing him. Paramedics treated Mr. Syrett and then took him to Newcastle General Hospital. He suffered a broken leg. Mr. Syrett said that he was very grateful to the young schoolboy who had saved his life. (105)

"Will You Need the Ambulance Today, Mum?"

In December 2007, Hannah Lerego, age 30, suffered an asthma attack at home in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, England, and passed out. Fortunately, her four-year-old daughter, Olivia, took care of her. Olivia brought her mother an inhaler and called the emergency telephone number to get help. Hannah said, "I don't think I would be alive without Olivia. One minute I was sitting on the bed all breathless, [and] the next I was coming to on the floor in the dark with Olivia stroking my hair and talking to me. I must have been unconscious for about 30 to 45 minutes and was too ill to move or talk. But Olivia collected my inhaler from the bathroom and fetched my phone to call an ambulance. She even tried to give me a vitamin C tablet to make me better. I could hear her calmly chatting away to the operator. When she asked if my lips were blue, she said they were pink like hers but turning purple and she knew that for sure because purple is her favorite color." Olivia knew that they would be going to the hospital, so she put on a sparkly blue Cinderella costume — a recent birthday present — over her pajamas so she would be properly dressed. Hannah believes that she would have died had her daughter not been present. Hannah said, "Whenever I think of what would have happened if Olivia had not been there to raise the alarm, I remember the film Four Weddings and a Funeral where one of [the] main characters, Scarlett, dies of an asthma attack.... There's no doubt that I'm lucky to be here today, and that's all because of Olivia." Hannah spent four days in a hospital and recovered. For a while after the incident, Olivia was very protective of her mother and asked her every morning, "Will you need the ambulance today, Mum?" Olivia's nursery school taught her what to do in case of an emergency, and Hannah also taught her what to do in case Hannah had an asthma attack. Hannah said, "I can't believe how calm she was, and I'm very proud to have such a clever little girl. She really is my life-saving star." (106)

A Three-Year-Old Boy Becomes a Hero — Twice in One Week

In September 2004, three-year-old Lucas Helland of Whidbey Island, Washington, became a hero twice, rescuing both his mother and his younger brother. His mother, Carla Helland, used a chair as a footstool, but when she stepped off the chair, she injured herself. She said, "I stepped off and when I did, I stepped wrong and snapped my ankle. I threw my head backward and hit my head and I passed out." Lucas got her cell phone and called relatives. He can't read, but he knows what his family's names look like. He scrolled through the numbers she had saved on her phone and called each name that looked familiar to him. He left a message for each family member, and his father quickly called home and then got help. Five days later, Lucas and his two-year-old brother, Logan, were playing by their father's truck when it caught on fire due to an electrical malfunction. Their mother came running, but Lucas had already grabbed Logan and was getting him away from the truck. She said, "He, at that time, was still pulling out his brother, who was kind of screaming, 'Leave me alone! Leave me alone!' But he pulled him away from the truck." Lucas said about the truck, "It got burned up." His mother is proud of him: "I think he was put on this Earth for something, and maybe this was it, I don't know." (107)

"Mom-Mom's Sick"

In February 2010, three-year-old Jaden Bolli, of Maple Shade, New Jersey, became a hero after his grandmother passed out. Jaden called 911. When the dispatcher asked him what was the emergency, he replied, "Mom-Mom's sick." Jaden's grandmother had suffered a stroke. Paramedics arrived quickly, and his grandmother survived. Jaden's mother, Candace Robbins, had taught her son how to call 911 just four days earlier. She said, "If you don't hear my heartbeat or somebody falls or anything, you have to dial 911 — hit the green button and just tell them you need help.' He said, 'OK.'" CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said about Jaden, "He's a little hero." Dr. Ashton recommends that every child be taught how to call 911 in times of emergency. They also need to know their address. She added, "They need to know that they're doing the right thing by calling an adult, and that they need to stay calm, that help will be coming." (108)

Young Boy Shields Two Four-Year-Olds from Vicious Dog

In April 2011 in Homestead, Florida, a German Shepherd-Akita mix got loose and attacked three children: Timo Perez (reports state his age as either six or seven) and two four-year-olds — Timo's brother Carlos, and a neighbor boy. Timo shielded the two younger children with his body as they hid under a black pickup truck. Timo said, "I wanted to save my brother. Then, he [the dog] started attacking me." The dog bit Timo's head, shoulder, and arm, necessitating a trip to Miami Children's Hospital, but the two four-year-olds were not harmed. Carlos said about the dog, "He had big teeth." Homestead Police Detective Fernando Morales said, "As the dog began barking at the children and attempting to attack the children, the four-year-old boys dove underneath a vehicle, and to prevent the dog from getting to the four-year-olds, the seven-year-old covered both." Speaking through a translator, Timo's father said, "I saw the dog on top of three children and the largest of the three covered the two smaller ones, then the dog grabbed the larger boy's head. I grabbed a shovel, hit it in the back, and the dog ran away." Timo said that despite the attack, he is not afraid of dogs: "No, just the one dog that's mean." The dog that attacked the children was euthanized. (109)

"I Kept Thinking if They had Thought I was Just Sleeping and [They had] Gone Upstairs to Play, I Definitely Wouldn't be Here"

In May 2008 in her house in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, Sharon Lyall fell into a diabetic coma. Fortunately, her five-year-old daughter, Holly, and four-year-old niece, Nadine, knew to call 999, Great Britain's emergency telephone number. They did not speak on the phone, but the phone call was traced and emergency personnel arrived and took Ms. Lyall to a hospital. Ms. Lyall believes that the children knew to call 999 because some emergency personnel had recently visited Nadine's nursery. She said, "They saved my life, and I can't believe it. I didn't know they even knew anything about dialing 999. I kept thinking if they had thought I was just sleeping and [they had] gone upstairs to play, I definitely wouldn't be here." (110)

Fred Pattison: Postal Hero

In May 2010 in Teesside, England, postal employee Fred Pattison, who works at Guisborough delivery office, was delivering mail when he found an old-age pensioner lying facedown outside the pensioner's home. Mr. Pattison, age 61, said, "I've been a postie in the Guisborough area for 10 years and was coming down to the Warren Chase area. I turned into this drive and saw this man's body on the floor. I shouted his name, but he didn't reply. Then I looked at his head and saw a large bump and blood coming from it and realized he'd had a fall. I shouted again and he responded, but then his body began to shake. I knew it was serious. His body was very cold, and I realized he needed to be inside his house in the warm. So I put him over my shoulder and carried him into his house." Mr. Pattison called emergency personnel. When they arrived, he told them that he had found inside the home a prescription for diabetes medication. He said, "The first one that arrived called for back-up, and he said it was a serious diabetic seizure. By this time the man was unconscious." Emergency personnel took the man to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital, from which he was discharged after a few days. He has thanked Mr. Pattison. (111)

"Someone, Help My Baby!"

In October 2011 in Bermuda, brothers Allan and Norris Wilkinson and off-duty firefighter Caleb Zuill saved the life of a little girl who had stopped breathing. The mother, who did not want her name to be used, of the girl said, "Words fail me as to how to thank these three young men for all that they did. It's difficult for me to express my gratitude and to put into words the way I feel. They saved her life and deserve recognition. The 10 minutes before the ambulance services arrived were terrifying for me, and according to the doctors they are the most crucial. It is something my family will never forget." Allan and Norris heard a woman screaming outside Belvins Store in Middle Road, Devonshire, Bermuda. Allan said, "We ran outside and saw this lady holding her child. She was screaming and crying. The little girl looked like she was really struggling to breathe. I put my jacket down in the middle of the road, and we laid her on it. We then started CPR on her. Other people were diverting the traffic, and Mr. Zuill stepped in, too. He did the breaths, and we took it in turns with the chest compressions. There was a horrible moment when she stopped breathing completely, but we carried on and were able to get her back. I called over the mom, and she was speaking to the little girl as we worked. I honestly believe that hearing her mom's voice helped us get her back. It must have been 10 minutes that we kept it going. It all happened very quickly and is a bit of a blur now. The ambulance arrived and took the little girl and her mom off to hospital. I was shaking afterwards, and it was quite emotional, too, as I have a daughter of the same age. We were just happy to help." Norris said, "We came out on to the street and heard this lady yelling, 'Someone, help my baby!' She was asking if anyone knew CPR, and I had just learned it at school in Alabama. I was just trying to think back to what I had learned before. It's a whole different situation when you're dealing with real people. We started the chest compressions and just kept going. It was an amazing moment when the little girl opened her eyes again. It was like we had got her back. I don't think I realized the effect of what we had done until a day later. It was good to be able to help." Emergency personnel arrived and took the little girl to a hospital. The girl's mother said, "I came out of the hospital to call family, and Allan and Norris approached me anxiously wanting to know how the baby was. They were incredibly emotional and overcome with relief to hear that they had saved my daughter's life. We spent some time comforting each other and then they were permitted to go in to the ER and see her. The next day Allan came to visit with his daughter when my girl was on a general ward." Deputy Director Dr. Rosalyn Bascombe-Adams, said, "If correct first aid is administered by a bystander to a child or adult who becomes unresponsive or stops breathing, this act can make the difference between life and death. The initial response is even more valuable than the follow-up medical intervention because if the correct actions are not taken initially, there will be no life for the medical team to fight for." (112)

"We're Getting Help. It's Going to be OK. Stay with Me"

On 10 May 2010, Marianne Cavanaugh-Wozniak, age 45, started her new job as a clinical medical assistant at Advocate Medical Group-Sugar Creek Pediatrics in the Advocate BroMenn Medical Office Building in Normal, Illinois. Forty-five minutes later, she saved a man's life. The approximately 60-year-old man collapsed outside the Advocate BroMenn Medical Office Building. Ms. Cavanaugh-Wozniak saw him on the ground and asked him if he was all right. He groaned. She then checked him and detected no breathing and no pulse. She yelled to a security officer for help and told the fallen man, "We're getting help. It's going to be OK. Stay with me." She started doing CPR and less than a minute later, help arrived. BroMenn emergency department staff took over the CPR and emergency care and got the man into the hospital. Ms. Cavanaugh-Wozniak said, "I just started crying. It was a stress release. In the moment, I was doing what I had to do, but once that was over...." She added, "It's great that he recovered. That was a very big 'wow' moment for me. But I went through a CPR class just like anyone could." The man had suffered a massive heart attack, but he recovered. She said, "I was told that with the severity of his blockage, if he had been there for much longer, he would not have made it." Jan Berlin, the training center coordinator at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, said, "The lesson here is the importance of everyone learning CPR." (113)

Teen Fails CPR Test, But is Able to Rescue Man Anyway

On 9 December 2011 at Rockaway Lanes, a bowling alley in Rockaway, New Jersey, Christa Fairclough, age 16, from Denville, New Jersey, was bowling when a 75-year-old man in the lane next to her suffered a heart attack and collapsed. Although Christa had failed to receive a CPR certificate in her health class at Morris Knolls High School in Rockaway, she saved the man's life by performing CPR on him for approximately five minutes. Christa's mother had gotten help, and the man's pulse had returned by the time emergency personnel arrived. Rockaway Police Sergeant Michael Gosden said, "If it had been a few more minutes, the patient might not have made it." Emergency personnel took the elderly man to a hospital, but unfortunately he died there several days later. In her health class, Christa did not receive a CPR certificate because of her long hair, which obstructed her vision so that she could not see the CPR dummy's chest rise and fall. (114)

"In This Day and Age, So Many People May Not have Done Anything. I Just Want to Thank This Man Personally For Saving My Husband, But I Don't Even have a Description of What He Looks Like"

In Scotland in 2008, John Logan boarded a Lothian bus and then collapsed. The bus driver immediately called Britain's emergency number — 999 — and a passenger gave Mr. Logan CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation]. Mr. Logan's heart had stopped, and the passenger, whose name is unknown, saved his life. Mr. Logan's wife, Jeanette, said, "John has always had good health and has never had heart trouble. I'm told he collapsed suddenly and a member of the public said he knew CPR. The doctors later told me that John's heart had stopped and he had died, but this man was able to bring him back again. The doctors said he undoubtedly saved John's life. He would've had no chance of making it otherwise. The bus driver had called 999 and an ambulance got there after three minutes. John was rushed to the hospital, where he had to undergo a major operation." Mr. Logan had just gotten off his job as a cleaner of Edinburgh University buildings. Jeanette said, "I tried to phone his mobile when he didn't come back for dinner, and someone from the hospital answered it and told me what had happened. I was sick with worry. I don't know what I would do without him. This came totally out of the blue. John's still not woken up yet, so I've not been able to speak to him. He was taken off the ventilator at the weekend, but he was put back on again as a precaution. But the doctors say they expect him to make a full recovery." Jeanette added, "I called the bus company to try and find out who this Good Samaritan was, but they didn't know. I think the driver heard on the bus that he was an off-duty policeman, but he wasn't sure. In this day and age, so many people may not have done anything. I just want to thank this man personally for saving my husband, but I don't even have a description of what he looks like." (115)

A Good Deed Quickly Repaid

Some good deeds are repaid quickly. On 5 November 2011, Victor Giesbrecht, age 61, of Winnipeg, Canada, acted like a Good Samaritan when he helped a motorist change a flat tire on Interstate 94, about nine miles east of Menomonie, Wisconsin. He got back in his pickup truck and started driving down the interstate, but suffered a heart attack. His wife, Ann, brought their pickup truck to the side of the interstate. She called 911 and waved her arms at the vehicle coming towards them. That vehicle was the one that had had the flat tire. One of the people in the vehicle, Lisa Meier, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, performed CPR on Mr. Giesbrecht until help arrived. The state highway patrol and a Dunn County deputy arrived, took over the CPR, and used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to give Mr. Giesbrecht three shocks to restart his heart. His heart started beating, and he began breathing on his own again. Patrol Sergeant Michael Newton said that if Mr. Giesbrecht had not helped with the tire change, the person who initially gave him CPR might not have been in a position close enough to help him. Patrol Sergeant Newton said, "If he had been a few more miles down the road and had his heart attack, it could have been a different outcome. It's an interesting turn of fate." Patrol Sergeant Newton also pointed out the role that the AED played in the rescue: "Without that defibrillator, I don't know that the outcome would've been the same." (116)

"And I'm Sitting There Thinking, 'I Just Saved His Life'"

In June 2011 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, 10-year-old Hunter saved the life of his best friend, nine-year-old Carter, by performing the Heimlich maneuver on him. While eating sour gummy worms, Carter fell off a chair and started choking. He said, "I was wiggling around and fell off." Hunter said, "At first I thought he was joking." Carter remembered, "He said, 'Are you joking?' And I didn't say anything." However, Carter did make the universal sign for choking (hands clutched to the throat). Hunter said, "I ran over there... I didn't want to waste time." Carter said, "He went behind me and did the Heimlich maneuver five times." Hunter said, "On the fourth time, it was starting to come out, so I did it really hard on the last time and it came out." Carter said, "And I was like, thank goodness." Hunter said, "He sits down and he looks at me, and he says, 'You just saved my life.' And I'm sitting there thinking, 'I just saved his life.'" Carter's mother and Hunter's stepmother are both registered nurses who taught their children how to make the universal sign for choking and how to perform the Heimlich maneuver. If not for that education, the outcome of the emergency might have been tragic rather than heroic. Carter's mother, Janet Sharpe, said, "It was scary to think about he could've really died." She added, "I can't say enough thank yous or thank you in a big enough way." Hunter's stepmother, Shannon Schulz, said, "I couldn't live without Carter, couldn't live without him. I'm very grateful, too." Hunter's mother, Cherrish Campbell, is proud of him: "Just very proud, as a mommy, incredibly proud." She added, "I said, sweetie, nobody has to see you do something to be a hero. Sometimes it's the things people don't see that make you the biggest hero." Hunter said, "We didn't really think it was a huge deal." (117)

"God Answered a Prayer that Day. He Put Me There at that Moment"

On 25 November 2010, as Carlos Gonzalez was driving on Gainesboro Avenue in Spring Hill, Florida, he saw Miriam Pabon frantically waving her hands at him. Beside her was her unconscious 19-month-old son, Patricio, who was not breathing. Mr. Gonzalez stopped his truck, ran over to Ms. Pabon, and performed CPR (which he had learned in the United States Army) on her son and got him breathing again. Quickly, medical personnel arrived and took the boy to a hospital, where he recovered. Mr. Gonzalez, age 49, said, "Things went by so fast. Something inside of me just told me what I needed to do." Mr. Gonzalez was very happy when Patricio took his first breath: "I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I said to myself, 'We made it.'" Spring Hill Fire Captain James Billotte said about Mr. Gonzalez, "He bought us precious minutes. And as you can see, that can make all the difference in the world." Mr. Gonzalez said, "God answered a prayer that day. He put me there at that moment." (118)

"After I Got Done [Saving A Life], I Went Outside and Cried"

Joel Schnurstein Jr., age 28, who has been trained as a volunteer firefighter, became a hero on 3 October 2011 at his place of employment: Torella's Catering in Cheektowaga, New York. A regular customer, Jerry Young, age 62, was using a penny to scratch lottery tickets when he was stricken with a serious cardiac attack. Molly Barthin, a 23-year-old employee, said, "I heard him drop his penny. Then, I heard a very deep wheezing sound and he started shaking. He started sinking to the floor, and he was shaking really bad." Ms. Barthin ran to Mr. Young and helped him to the floor. She also screamed for help from Mr. Schnurstein. Ms. Barthin said, "He was probably the best person who could have been there for the guy." Mr. Schnurstein performed CPR on Mr. Young. He said, "I found him lying on the ground. He was breathing, but it was really, really slow — five breaths per minute? And he had no pulse." He performed CPR for only a few minutes. Emergency personnel quickly arrived and used an automated external defibrillator to resuscitate Mr. Young. Ms. Barthin said, "I did notice the guy did flatline about three minutes, but they brought him back." She added, "I was never really scared. I tried to do everything I could to help Joel. If Joel wasn't here, I'm not really sure what would have happened to the man." Mr. Schnurstein said, "This is the first experience in which I've been there this quick to react." After the rescue, Mr. Schnurstein told his co-workers, "You guys just witnessed a miracle." What is it like to save someone's life? Mr. Schnurstein said, "After I got done, I went outside and cried." (119)

"Before I Keeled Over, I Said, 'In Christ'"

Floyd Brodhagen, an 85-year-old retired insurance broker, fell unconscious in Washington state. He said, "Before I keeled over, I said, 'In Christ.'" Fortunately, four people — Kathy McLean, Mark Maggiora, Cheryl Snodgrass, and Tammy Wilson — performed CPR on him and kept him alive until paramedics arrived and took over. Mr. Brodhagen survived. In June 2007, the four heroes were honored with Citizen Lifesaving Awards, bestowed by Roxy Barnes, emergency medical services administrator for the fire department, Fire Chief Don Bivins, and other fire department officials in Vancouver, Washington. (120)

"I have No Doubt He Saved Her from, at Minimum, Serious Injuries, if Not Worse"

In November 2011 in Clifton Park, New Jersey, Raleigh Powell, age 20, was making a delivery for Upper Crust Pizza when he smelled smoke. At first, he thought the smoke came from a bonfire, but when he turned a corner in his car he saw a burning home and an elderly man outside. He stopped and asked if everyone was out of the home. The elderly man replied that his wife and his dog were still inside. Mr. Powell said, "I didn't even stop to think." The front door was locked, so he broke a window, climbed through, and opened the door from the inside. The dog ran through the door. Mr. Powell shouted for the woman, but she didn't answer. The heat and smoke were too intense for him to search for her, so he asked the elderly man if he knew where she was in the home. Learning that she was in a rear bedroom, he went to the back, climbed on a lawn chair and broke two windows. The elderly woman came to the second window, and Mr. Powell and a neighbor got her out of the home. Mr. Powell gave credit to the U.S. Army Reserves training he received: "They always teach you to keep calm in intense situations like that." Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Company Chief Ron Bruzdzinski said, "I have no doubt he saved her from, at minimum, serious injuries, if not worse." Mr. Powell's mother, Christina Cole, said, "I'm extremely proud. He was just in the right place at the right time." (121)

"I Can't Thank This Young Man Enough. I Don't Know What Would have Happened had He Not Come to My Rescue"

On 22 November 2011 in western Pennsylvania, fire broke out at the home of Charlene McMasters, age 74. She said, "I don't know what it was, but I remember something woke me up. I noticed smoke and I rushed to get my handbag and I went to the window and screamed and screamed." Justin Ritchie, her 14-year-old neighbor, woke up when he heard first his dog barking and then her screaming. New Castle Assistant Fire Chief David Joseph said about Justin, "He went out and saw this woman hanging out of the window.... It was Charlene, and her house was on fire," Justin saw a rickety wooden ladder and leaned it against the wall so that she could climb out of her window. He warned her that the ladder was rickety, but she replied that she didn't care. She took two steps down the ladder, it broke, and she fell. She said, "I came crashing down and fell a long way." She broke some ribs in the fall and was taken to a hospital. She said, "I got a walker, a good therapy session, and I will heal. I can't thank this young man enough. I don't know what would have happened had he not come to my rescue." She added, "I'm grateful to be alive. It was quite an ordeal." (122)

"I Feel Bad Because of What Happened, But I Feel Good that I Helped. I Saved a Life"

In November 2011 in Spokane, Washington, 18-year-old Jeremy Driskell heard screams coming from a house. He said, "I popped up, looked out the window, and see that my neighbor's house is on fire. Instincts told me I have to go in there and get everyone out." The front door of the burning house was locked, so he ran to the side. An elderly woman inside the house was banging on a window. Jeremy said, "So I punch the bottom window and then, she's like popping up, and I grab her and drag her out into the front yard." An ambulance took the woman to a hospital. Meanwhile, other neighbors rescued a woman and her baby from the burning house. Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer said that what could have been a tragic story turned into a heroic story "thanks largely to the community and to neighbors paying attention and being present and taking the risks. They did an absolutely wonderful job." Jeremy said, "I feel bad because of what happened, but I feel good that I helped. I saved a life." (123)

"They Claim in Situations like that, You Go Back to Your Training, and I Guess that's What Happened. I Just Knew I had to Get Them Out"

In January 2006 in Raceland, Kentucky, Raceland Police Chief Don Sammons and local woman Kim Gabbard rescued four people from a burning house. Ms. Gabbard was on the scene and climbed a small tree to get to a woman and her one-year-old daughter, who exited from a window and climbed to the roof. Mr. Sammons heard cries for help from the side of the house. He used a ladder to reach two teenage girls and help them reach safety. Mr. Sammons said, "They claim in situations like that, you go back to your training, and I guess that's what happened. I just knew I had to get them out." Ms. Gabbard could not see the woman and one-year-old because of all the smoke, so she banged on a gutter with a branch and yelled for the woman to "come to where the noise is." The woman did, and a few seconds later, Ms. Gabbard said, "I saw the baby coming at me." She grabbed the child and handed it down to another woman, who is named Jerri Womack. Then, Ms. Gabbard said, the mother "kind of lunged" and got on the tree. All four people in the burning house were rescued. (124)

Two Good Samaritans Rescue Burn Victim

In August 2011 in the North Side of Chicago, Nick Salazar smelled smoke. A man banged on his door, and then Mr. Salazar and the other man went to another first-floor apartment, knocked down the door, and dragged to safety a 45-year-old man who had been burned over 75 percent of his body. Mr. Salazar said, "I grabbed him by the wrist and felt something wet. It was his skin." The burn victim was taken first to Swedish Covenant Hospital and then was transferred to the Loyola University Medical Center, which has a burn unit. (125)

"I Want to Grab Him and Hug Him. I Feel like Saying 'Thank You' isn't Enough"

In February 2004 in Topeka, Kansas, B.J. Jones, age 16, got up very early to get some water. He ended up saving the lives of his neighbors, Deana and Joe Cordero and their four children, ages four to nine. Looking out a window, he saw flames coming from his neighbors' home. He called 911, and then he went to his neighbors' home and woke them up. Deana Cordero said, "I want to grab him and hug him. I feel like saying 'thank you' isn't enough. I believe he deserves recognition for what he did. He saved our family." B.J. said, "At the beginning, there was smoke and little flames shooting out of the top of the chimney. And then, little balls of fire start[ed] pouring and dropping into the snow." Deana Cordero said, "I opened the door, and B.J. was standing there and said, 'Your house is on fire.' I freaked out. I ran and got all the kids." She added, "If that kid didn't ring our doorbell, I don't know what would have happened." Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Weaver said that the wooden framework around the fireplace flue caught on fire, and then the fire spread to the attic. (126)

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Single father Kenneth Riggins and his daughter, Angelica, then five years old, fell asleep on a couch in their home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At 2 a.m. Mr. Riggins was awakened by the barking of his dogs and by the smell of smoke. He said, "I opened the door, and a backdraft of fire came in the doorway." He woke up Angelina and told her to get out of their home. Kindergartner Angelica knew exactly what to do — Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and some firefighters had recently made a fire-safety presentation at her school. She said, "The smoke was everywhere, so I crawled under it and out of the house, just like Sparkles taught me. I was really scared, but I moved as fast as I could." She went to the home of a neighbor, and the neighbor called 911. When firefighters arrived, Angelica told them that her father might still be in the burning home. He was. He had stayed in the home to look for another little girl, who had been staying with them. Mr. Riggins said later, "I was so confused from all the smoke that I forgot her mom had picked her up earlier." Firefighters found him lying unconscious in the living room. Mr. Riggins said, "If Angelica hadn't run to our neighbors for help, I wouldn't have made it." In January 2009, Principal Tanya Davis of Celia Clinton Elementary wrote about Angelica: "After a few days out [of school following the fire], she came back to school and I had the chance to talk with her. I asked her how she got out of the house. She said, 'I crawled on the floor just like Sparkles taught me to.' She got down on the floor and demonstrated it to me right in the office floor. She said, 'Smoke was everywhere and I stayed low to get away from it.'" Sparkles also helped save other lives. Principal Davis wrote, "Then, I was walking down the hallway on Monday and one of my third graders came running up to me and said, 'Mrs. Davis, my microwave caught on fire and I grabbed my brothers and sisters and we got out of the house because we saw smoke.' She took a quick breath and then said, 'Sparkles taught us to get out quick, so we ran outside. My mom couldn't find us because we were all outside.' She said, 'Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles would be very proud of us.'" (127)

"Thank Goodness Micah Came to Get Me So Quickly. He Saved Moses' Life!"

Linsey Knerl, a home-schooling mother from Tekamah, Nebraska, looked up a recipe in her kitchen while her three children — Micah, age 4; Matthias, age 3; and Moses, age 11 months — played in another room. Micah appeared in the kitchen and said, "Mom, Baby Moses needs help." Ms. Knerl did not think it was serious because she could not hear Moses crying, so she said, "Okay, just a minute." But very quickly, Micah returned and said, "No, Mom, I really think Moses needs help." He grabbed her hand and led her to Moses, who was unable to breathe because a window-blind cord was wrapped tightly around his neck. Ms. Knerl said, "I started screaming and crying, and so did his brothers." She unwrapped the cord from around Moses' neck, and he started crying. She also called her pediatrician, but Baby Moses was fine. She got rid of the window blinds, and she said, "Thank goodness Micah came to get me so quickly. He saved Moses' life!" (128)

"If My Kids had Not Survived, I Would be in an Insane Asylum"

On 18 January 2002, fire broke out in the Sacramento, California, home of Sofia Monteiro. She grabbed the hands of two of her children — Rachel, age five, and Isabelle, age three — and led them out of the burning house. She thought that her other two children — four-year-old twins Ricardo and Rosalia — were behind her, but then she discovered that they were still inside the house. She screamed. Inoke Waqavesi, a pastor at the Arena Fijian Assembly of God just across the street from her home, ran to the burning house. Fire blocked the front door, and smoke poured out of the back door. Mr. Waqavesi, age 31, said, "I couldn't see more than a foot in front of me." He kicked in the back window of the twins' room and reached through it, feeling for the twins. He said, "Just as I was about to pull out, I felt a leg." The leg was that of the unconscious Rosario, and he rescued her. Another hero, Romanian immigrant Gabriel Gherle, age 26, appeared. Ms. Monteiro told him, "One of my babies is still inside!" Mr. Gherle broke a front window and climbed in the house, but he was forced to retreat by fire and smoke. He sprayed himself with a garden hose, then carried the hose as he went through the broken back window of the twins' room, felt Ricardo's foot, used the hose to drench him with water, and carried him to safety. Both twins recovered. Ms. Monteiro said, "If my kids had not survived, I would be in an insane asylum." Her husband, Richard, age 40, a recycling-firm manager who was at work during the fire, said, "Now I have two new brothers." (129)

"I could Hear Crackling and Sparking as the Stereo went up in Flames"

In January 2008 in Beaumont Close, Bury St. Edmunds, East Anglia, Suffolk, England, firefighters rescued a 23-year-old man whose apartment was on fire. The man's neighbors saw smoke and called 999 (Great Britain's emergency telephone number). Firefighters arrived quickly. Bury firefighter Steve Morgan said, "Thick black smoke was coming from both windows at the front. Smoke was billowing out of both windows, but we told him to stay calm. Firefighter John Roderick went up [on a ladder] and got him out." Mr. Morgan said, "We had him rescued and on his way to Bury's West Suffolk Hospital within five minutes, and at the same time we ascertained there to be no one else in the flat." Assistant Divisional Officer Henry Landis said about the firefighters, "I think they were absolutely brilliant. They were very quick." One neighbor said, "The man who lives there was hanging out of the window. He had undone most of the windows, but the firefighters had to break the glass in the kitchen as it would not open fully. They ended up bashing the door in as well, and as soon as they did that, I could hear crackling and sparking as the stereo went up in flames. The firefighters arrived in about four minutes, which was good as within half an hour things would have been a lot more serious." (130)

"The Kids are Alive, and that's All that Matters"

During the evening of 3 January 2010 in Abbotsbury, Dorset, England, a house caught on fire. The mother, Tracee Barlow, jumped from 15 feet high and broke her pelvis. Referring to her five children, she screamed, "Get them out!" This roused Matthew Robinson, age 18, and his parents. When Matthew first arrived at the scene of the fire, he smashed through the front door, but he could not enter the house because of the flames. His mother, Jackie Robinson, age 40, rescued two of the children after climbing a ladder: a 12-year-old girl and a 16-month-old boy. A 16-year-old girl then climbed down the ladder. Matthew then climbed the ladder to rescue the other two children: an 11-year-old boy and a five-year-old girl. He said, "I had to feel my way round the room trying to find the two kids and get them to make some noise so I could find out where they were. The boy was in a pretty bad state, almost passed out. They were too shocked to say anything." He added, "Being in the room with all that smoke, I started to panic, wondering whether I would be able to find them or not. It was impossible to see anything." If not for the Robinson family, one or more of the children would have died. Matthew said, "Anyone would have done the same thing. I was in the right place at the right time, and it was adrenaline that took over." Jackie Robinson added, "The kids are alive, and that's all that matters. It all happened so quickly we didn't really have time to think about our own safety. Matt was very calm. I am very proud of him. He has more guts than I have considering he is only 18." Steve Isaacs, station manager at Weymouth fire station, said, "There was some very, very quick thinking on the part of Jackie and Matthew which certainly helped save some lives. Normally we would never encourage people to go into a burning building, but on this occasion it all worked out well. We're still investigating the cause of the fire, but we suspect an electrical fault in the living room." (131)

Tomorra Finley: Heroic Mother Dies But Saves the Lives of Five Children

In October 2010 in Louisville, Kentucky, when a fire broke out in their apartment Tomorra Finley, age 31, saved the lives of her three children and two nieces by dropping them from an upstairs window into the hands of neighbors, but she died of smoke inhalation. Karey Hudson, an African-American male neighbor, first got his children out of the building and then returned to get his pants. When he came out again, he saw Ms. Finley and the children at an upstairs window. He said, "She went away saving those kids." He added, "We did what we could do. I know the mother let the last kid out before we didn't hear anything else from her." Mr. Hudson and another man caught the children as Ms. Finley dropped them from the window. Mr. Hudson said, "We just started saying, 'Jump, I'll catch you.' They know me. They're comfortable with me. 'If you jump, I'll catch you.'" Louisville Fire Department Capt. Salvador Melendez said, "I can safely say that if it weren't because of the working smoke alarms that the mother heard, we would've have had more than one fatality this morning." The children know Mr. Hudson and call him "Uncle Karey." He said, "I'm not a hero. I'm far from a hero. The heroes are the men and women in uniform; my hero is God. There's more heroes. More people deserve to be heroes than me." The children Ms. Finley dropped from the second-floor window were her nine-year-old son and three-year-old fraternal twins, a boy and a girl, as well as her five-year-old niece and two-year-old niece. (132)

Lawrence Fort: "I Just Told Her to Drop the Baby, and I Told Her I Promised Her I Would Catch It. So I had to Catch the Baby"

In October 2011 in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, fire broke out in the apartment of Ashley Brown. Trapped inside were her mother, her two young children, and some rope that belonged to her fiancé, a roofer. Ms. Brown made the decision to lower them from a third-floor window into the hands of a neighbor. She said, "It's scary. It's definitely scary, and I couldn't make my mind up for a minute. I was going back and forth." First she lowered her two-month-old son, then her three-year-old daughter, and finally her mother. Ms. Brown said about her two-month-old son, "I tried to get my body out as far as I could out the window. I held him gently and I dropped him gently and he landed just fine." Lawrence Fort, an African-American, caught her baby in a big fluffy coat. Mr. Fort said, "I just told her to drop the baby, and I told her I promised her I would catch it. So I had to catch the baby." Firefighters then arrived and got the remaining people out of the building. Ms. Brown said, "I'm feeling blessed that my kids came through, and that's all that mattered." (133)

"My First Thought was to Get Her Out of There"

In September 2008, in Maes y Dre, Caerwys, Wales, a fire started when an old-age pensioner left a frying pan unwatched. The house filled with smoke, confusing 75-year-old grandmother Margaret Dunn, who suffers from both osteoarthritis and cancer. Fortunately, passerby David Williams, age 38, heard an alarm and saw smoke. He came to the rescue and helped Mrs. Dunn get out of her home safely. Mr. Williams, who lives in Penyffordd, Wales, said, "It was black with smoke and I had to duck down to see anything in the hall but could make out Mrs. Dunn. My first thought was to get her out of there and I supported her and we got out [of] the house and I found somewhere for her to sit down." Mrs. Dunn said, "It was frightening, and I was very confused. When I went to the kitchen, the flames were leaping up. Because I have arthritis and cancer, I am not very mobile, but before I knew what was happening someone had burst in to help me. I am very, very grateful to them for helping me." Mr. Williams went back inside the house to combat the fire. He said, "By then other neighbors had come to the house to help. It shows that there is still community spirit and that people will look out for each other." Tony Jones, who works for the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said, "This incident highlights the danger that pans left unattended can cause. Fortunately the alarm caught the attention of the passerby, and on noticing smoke coming from the property he was able to help the woman make her way outside from the hallway." (134)

"I Would Do the Same Again if I had to. [...] I was Worried that There were Bairns [Children] Inside"

In September 2008, Ray Gillespie, age 41, was visiting his fiancée, Josie Noble, in Bleach Green, Blaydon, England, when she heard a loud bang and shouted to him. He investigated and saw smoke coming from an apartment. He immediately went to the building, kicked in the front door, and ran to the second floor. He said, "I shouted from room to room. Then I heard coughing coming from the living room. I went in and there was smoke everywhere and a man was lying on the floor. I dragged him by his arms out of the room, then put my arms around his waist and started to help him down the stairs." Another Good Samaritan, who was also passing by, helped Mr. Gillespie get the man outside to safety. Mr. Gillespie said, "I was coughing and spluttering when I came out. I felt really dizzy. I don't know the lad who I helped out." He went to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead to be checked, but he was quickly released. Mr. Gillespie, who said that he has had a bad chest ever since he was a child, stated, "I would do the same again if I had to. At the time I acted on instinct. I just kicked the door in, went upstairs, and didn't think of the consequences. I was worried that there were bairns [children] inside." His fiancée said, "I'm really proud of him, but I was worried that there was going to be an explosion and he would be hurt." Watch manager Steve Burdis, who is based at Gateshead Fire Station, said the rescued man took action to save his life: He threw a stereo speaker through the window to alert people that he was inside. Mr. Burdis added about Mr. Gillespie and the other Good Samaritan, "The bravery of the two passersby helped save this man's life." (135)

"... and After that I was Relaxing in the Police Car"

In October 2011, an apartment complex in Boston, Massachusetts, caught on fire and was destroyed. Fifteen people could not find their way out, but were rescued; 55 people lost all their possessions. Neighbor Besnaldo Torres said, "It was a big bang, smoke everywhere, people screaming." Judith Lamb and her six-year-old grandson, Xavier Lara, tried to escape from the fire, but they were unable to. Ms. Lamb said, "On our way down, the smoke was just so white and it started to burn." Xavier said, "My mouth was like burning hot, and it hurt really bad." Ms. Lamb took Xavier to a 3th-floor window and screamed for help. She said, "There was a firefighter and a young man, a neighbor I think, and they positioned themselves so that I could drop him." She dropped Xavier to the two men. Ms. Lamb said, "I was just praying to God that they just don't miss the catch when I drop him, and he was fine, they did catch him." The two men below the window were afraid that they would miss catching Xavier. Neighbor and rescuer Jonathan Martinez said, "I didn't want her to throw him because it was going to be a nightmare for me, for my whole life, seeing that baby dying over there in my eyes." Boston Fire Lieutenant Glenn McGillivray said, "I was just praying that I was going to get him." He added, "It only took a second. He thankfully landed right in my arms." Mr. McGillivray, a 22-year-old veteran, called this his "most dramatic rescue." Of everyone involved, Xavier seems to have been the least worried. He said, "I remember when I fell like off the window, and someone catch me and after that I was relaxing in the police car." (136)

"... I was Calling for Her, and She was Calling for Me"

In September 2007, fire broke out in the Corpus Christi, Texas, home of Brenda Rodriguez and her two daughters. She managed to keep both of her daughters safe. Ms. Rodriguez said, "Grab the kids [...] was my first instinct. I didn't even care, you know, what burned or what didn't burn. I was just worried about getting them out." She made sure that Selena, her 12-year-old daughter, got out of the house, but Ms. Rodriguez needed to return to rescue 10-year-old Ariel, who said, "I was in my room. All I saw when I opened my door, I saw the smoke all around me." Ms. Rodriguez said, "By the time I went back in to try and get her, the smoke was all in my face and everywhere. I had to try and just reach for her, and I was calling for her, and she was calling for me." Ariel said, "I had heard her, and I had seen her hand and grabbed it." The fire destroyed the house. Ms. Rodriguez said, "Everything has collapsed, everything." (137)

"There was No Way I'd Leave Him Behind and Save My Life"

On New Year's Day, 2004, in Dallas, Texas, a small airplane crashed into a garage, killing the pilot and passenger and causing a fire that quickly spread to the house. Inside the house were retired surgeon L.S. Thompson, Jr., who was unable to walk, and his caretaker: Elnora Denmark. Bystanders yelled at Ms. Denmark to save herself and get out of the house, but she insisted on rescuing Dr. Thompson, wrapping him in a blanket and carrying him to safety. Ms. Denmark said, "There was no way I'd leave him behind and save my life. I wouldn't have done that for nothing in the world." She has cared for many elderly people in Dallas. She said, "My grandmother always taught me [to] do the best you can and never say what you can't do. I never will forget that in life. She would always teach me to respect your elders, do what you can do for them because one day you'll be in the same shape they're in." Ms. Denmark is deeply religious, and she regards as a sign from the Lord a charred Bible that survived the fire. (138)

Two Heroes Save Two Young Girls

On 8 November 2007, fire broke out in the ground-floor kitchen of a two-story house in Gloversville, New York. Inside the house, which belonged to their grandmother, were Chelsea M. Palma, age five, and her sister, Jocelyn L. Palma, age three. Both were upstairs on the second floor. Next door was James C. Carpenter, a 28-year-old warehouse worker. Becoming aware of the fire, he ran to the house and ran upstairs through heavy smoke. Chelsea came to him, but Jocelyn went to a bedroom. Mr. Carpenter carried Chelsea outside the house to safety. Meanwhile, Leanue Davis, Jr., a 46-year-old disabled construction worker who lived in the burning house, returned home and made his way upstairs, calling for Jocelyn. He found her, but by then the stairway was on fire. He made his way to a window and lowered Jocelyn to two men and then jumped to safety. Both men won the Carnegie Hero Medal in 2008. (139)

"Hopefully It's the Last Time One Will Catch Fire!"

In January 2010 in Huddersfield, England, old-age pensioner Suzanne Hoyle, age 74, was riding in her mobility scooter (a kind of mechanized wheelchair) when it caught on fire. Fortunately, bus driver Richard Stones saw her, stopped his bus, and with the help of a woman, got her off the scooter. He also got a fire extinguisher, which a passenger used to put out the flames. Another woman got another fire extinguisher. Ms. Hoyle, a widowed grandmother and retired cook who suffers from arthritis, said, "I'd not been out since a fortnight before Christmas because of the rain and snow. I indicated to turn into the estate and the scooter went really slow and I got enveloped in smoke. But I didn't know it was on fire. I thought, 'What's happening here?' I was scared something awful was going to happen." Mr. Stones said that when he saw the fire, "I stopped my bus immediately — I had about six passengers on at the time and we all got off to help. I could see flames coming from the underneath and there was an elderly woman shouting, 'Am I on fire? Am I on fire?'" Ms. Hoyle said, "Then the bus driver told me to get off because I was on fire. I couldn't get off, so he got me off. I just want to say thank you to everyone concerned. He saved my life, and I want him to know that. If he hadn't been there or had passed me, I don't know what I would have done.'' Ms. Hoyle added, "When I was taken to safety, I felt sick for [the] whole day and the one after that. I just hope I haven't lost my confidence when I get another scooter. The scooters are marvelous." (140)

Tustin Mains: Six-Year-Old Truck-Driving Hero

In May 2009, Phillip Mains, who has diabetes, was driving his truck with his two sons, one only six years old and the other only three years old, as passengers when his blood sugar level dropped and he lost consciousness. Fortunately, his six-year-old son, Tustin, a kindergartener, climbed onto his father's lap and steered the truck and kept it from crashing. Being so young, he could not reach the brake pedal to stop the truck. Fortunately, his father's foot had slipped off the accelerator, but the truck still kept moving at 10 to 15 mph. Many people in addition to Tustin became heroes that day. People saw that a child was driving the truck and called emergency services. People drove vehicles in front and in back of the truck and put on their emergency flashing lights. And eventually, a police officer caught up to the truck on foot and put it in park, stopping it. Phillip said, "I remember backing out and circling around the road to the stoplight and I remember getting up to about the mall. That was at about 6:45. The next thing I remember was waking up to the officers and paramedics and it was 8:15." North Platte Police Officer Roger Freeze stopped the truck. He left his patrol car and ran to the truck, reached in through the window, and put it in park. North Platte Police Chief Martin Gutschenritter said, "Investigator Freeze's quick action possibly averted tragedy. I will be issuing him a departmental citation for his quick, professional action on this case. That is also a very special young man. He was able to take quick action when his dad was incapacitated and we are very proud of him, too." Phillip said, "I just want to thank everybody from the people who saw it and called it in to those who helped out by driving behind Tustin with their hazards, but especially Officer Freeze. To chase down a moving vehicle and get it stopped the way he did took a lot of nerve and [if] it weren't for him, things could have turned out much worse." Tustin said, "I saw my dad fall asleep, and I climbed over the seat and got on my dad's lap. I was scared." Tustin said that when Officer Freeze finally stopped the truck, "I was just happy." (141)

Eight-Year-Old Girl Takes the Wheel When Her Grandmother Loses Consciousness

In 2009 in Cleburne, a town south of Forth Worth, Texas, the grandmother of eight-year-old Emma Hicks suffered a seizure and lost consciousness while driving her home from school. Afterward, Emma's grandmother, Jeannie Mendoza, said, "I told her [Emma] I felt funny and I was going to pull over. I pulled over a little bit, and I don't remember anything after that." Unfortunately, her foot was still on the gas pedal. Fortunately, Emma began steering the car. Emma explained, "On the way home my grandma, she blacked out. And her foot was on the gas pedal and then we were going." She added, "I had to undo my seatbelt and I had to get in the front seat and I had to steer the truck. And then we came to a turn and I couldn't make it." The truck crashed, but things could have been a lot worse. Emma said, "So we went through a metal fence, a shed, and we hit some wood. And then the car stopped, but the doors were jammed on her side and my side. And so, I opened the window and I went to go get help." Previously, she had driven only a lawnmower and a tractor owned by her grandfather. (142)

In the Last Moment of His Life, He Made the Right Decision

When I (David Bruce, the author of this book) was young, I lived in a rural area in Ohio and travelled by school bus to get to school. On a day I was absent, one of my older classmates, Sam Sharkey, was driving very, very fast in a car. He turned a corner and the school bus was in front of him. He had a choice to make: hit the school bus or steer the car into a pond. According to my friend, fellow student, and eyewitness Mark McHenry, Sam instantly made his decision and steered the car into the pond. Driving the car very fast and very recklessly was a bad decision, but in the last moment of his life Sam made the right decision. Sam died in the pond, but if he had hit the school bus, he likely would have injured and possibly killed other people. (143)

"Courage Under Pressure that is Truly Awe-Inspiring"

In August 2001, Larry "Scott" Travis, a truck driver from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was driving near Sheridan, Arkansas, when he saw an overturned SUV on fire in a deep ditch. He stopped, ran to the SUV, and saw some movement in the driver's seat. A woman behind the steering wheel was unconscious as the fire burned. Mr. Travis got her out of the SUV and struggled to get her away from the fire zone and up the steep bank of the ditch. Seconds after he got her to a safe area, the SUV exploded. In 2002, Mr. Travis was named Goodyear's 19th annual North American Highway Hero and was given a $10,000 savings bond and a diamond ring. Ted Fick, vice president of the Goodyear Highway Hero program, said that Mr. Travis showed "courage under pressure that is truly awe-inspiring." (144)

"Thank You, You're a Lifesaver.... You Saved My Life, Thank You"

In December 2006, a woman crashed against the front door of HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. Her car caught on fire, but fortunately Good Samaritan Andrea Rosenthal pulled the driver out of the car. Ms. Rosenthal had seen an orange glow at the area. She said, "I didn't know if I was seeing it correctly.... I'm thinking, 'Is that a car?'" She drove closer, saw that it was a burning car, and pulled the driver out. Ms. Rosenthal said, "She just told me, 'Thank you, you're a lifesaver.... You saved my life, thank you.'" Ms. Rosenthal then called 911. Lieutenant Mark A. Wickenhiser of Ladder 2 said about the rescued woman, "She was dazed and confused. After that kind of impact, it's not unusual." She was treated at the Erie County Medical Center. (145)

God "Sent Me A Guardian Angel in Shane Mitchell"

On 3 May 2003 in El Paso County, Colorado, Ashley Gargiulo, age 19, was severely injured in a rollover accident. El Paso County sheriff's deputy Shane Mitchell, age 34, saved her life. Ms. Gargiulo said, "I totally believed that God healed me, and he sent me a guardian angel in Shane Mitchell." Three people were in the car. The driver, who was unhurt, called 911 but she was unable to identify the car's exact location. Ms. Gargiulo was thrown from the car. Her pelvis was shattered and she suffered severe head trauma — her head made an impression on the ground where it struck. Fortunately, sheriff's deputy Mitchell was driving on that road and came across the accident. He called 911 and let paramedics know the location of the accident, which he called "a horrific rollover." He also found Ms. Gargiulo in the field. He said, "When I found her, she was unconscious with agonized breathing. I could tell something was wrong with her neck." When she stopped breathing, he gave her CPR. He did not think that she would live. He said a few months after the accident, "To see her walking and talking and this vibrant young lady — it's just incredible." Ms. Gargiulo said, "His courage and his faith and perseverance that he had — he was alone out in that field. He knew he had to do it [save my life]. That's just really honorable." (146)

"He was an Example of How Every Man Should Love a Woman and How a Woman Should be Loved"

On 1 October 2011, a pickup truck drove into the lane Chris Phillips was in on Highway 94 in Colorado as he drove home following a visit to his family. The pickup was going to hit Chris' girlfriend, Deb Mason, who was in the passenger seat, but Chris swerved his car, and the pickup hit him instead. He died. Deb said, "He was an example of how every man should love a woman and how a woman should be loved. I had him [in] my life for a whole year. Most people don't get that kind of love in a minute." Deb said that Chris was happy when he died because he had just visited his family. He told his father, who had had a stroke, that he loved him. She said, "He was happy because he got to see everyone in his family and hug them and say he loved them. He got to say words that people don't often get to say to their fathers before they died. So he had no regrets." Chris left behind two children: a daughter and a 19-year-old son. (147)

Robert Vega and George Santana: Rescuers of Four People from a Burning Car

In June 2011, two men rescued four people from a burning crashed car on Interstate 10 in Arizona. They were unable to rescue a fifth person, who died. Robert Vega was driving a truck when he witnessed a tractor-trailer crossing the median and colliding with a car. Mr. Vega and his fellow truck driver, George Santana, ran to the burning car. Mr. Vega broke the back window. He then pulled out a four-month-old infant and handed the infant to Mr. Santana. They then rescued a husband and wife and the couple's preteen daughter. All during the rescue, the car was burning. They were unable to rescue a grandmother, who died when the car exploded. (148)

"She Got Clear Maybe 10 or 15 Seconds Before the Train Hit Her Car. Those Civilians are Heroes"

In January 2006 in Fullerton, California, Amanda Pratt's Ford Escort was broadsided, disabled, and knocked into the path of an oncoming 70-car train. Warning bells started ringing, the crossing gates came down, and the locomotive engineer blew the horn. Ms. Pratt tried to get out of the car, but the door on the driver's side was stuck. Ms. Pratt, age 20, said, "I panicked. I didn't know how I was going to get out of the car." Fortunately, a man forced the driver's door open. He and another man carried Ms. Pratt, whose arm and head were hurt, off the train tracks. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad train then hit her car. Pete Gray, age 40, an off-duty Fullerton Fire Department engineer, said, "She got clear maybe 10 or 15 seconds before the train hit her car. Those civilians are heroes." Neither hero was identified. Ms. Pratt said, "I'm very lucky that they helped me. I was just out of it. I wish I could say thank you." (149)

DJ Wee Fat Bob: "The Car had Rolled Over a Few Times and was on Its Roof. The Man and Woman were Screaming in Italian. It was Shocking"

In November 2000, Scottish late-night radio DJ Wee Fat Bob, whose real name is Robert MacLennan, was driving a car with his girlfriend as a passenger near Pitlochry, Scotland, when they came across a two-car accident. Mr. MacLennan stopped and assisted the victims of the accident, including pulling a 22-year-old woman from a burning car and helping a 14-year-old boy get out of the other car. Unfortunately, Maunzio Codagnone, the Italian driver of a Peugeot, age 35, died. Mr. MacLennan gave credit to the other people who assisted at the scene of the accident: "There were four other people there as well. It wasn't just me. It was everybody. It was a horrible experience. The car had rolled over a few times and was on its roof. The man and woman were screaming in Italian. It was shocking. We managed to get the woman out through the window." (150)
CHAPTER 4: STORIES 151-200

Johnny Byrd: "I'm Still Sore from Being Hugged"

In September 2011 on a dark night in Colleton County, South Carolina, Morgan Blocker and her father, Johnny Byrd, a 48-year-old pastor at Glory Bound Ministries, came across a wreck. Their headlights shone on a car resting on the passenger side. Mr. Byrd told his daughter that they would call 911 and wait for help because he did not want to risk further injuring anyone by moving them from the crashed car. Mr. Byrd said, "As soon as I said that, it was like someone took a lighter and lit a fire in the back of the car." The fire grew larger quickly. Mr. Byrd went to the car and reached inside, thinking that the person inside might be dead. He touched the person's hand, which moved. He then flagged down passing motorist Mark Dawson. The fire spread, and the man in the car started to scream. Mr. Byrd said, "It was just an awful sound. It was like he was standing in a lake of fire." They were unable to pull the man out, so Mr. Byrd used a piece of wood to beat on the car's sunroof. But he became exhausted. He said, "I fell to my knees. I said, 'God give me strength or tell me what to do.'" He attacked the sunroof again. The fire grew hotter. His hat caught on fire. His daughter screamed, afraid that both her father and the man inside the car would die. The hot fire blew out the tires of the car. Finally, the sunroof shattered. Mr. Byrd and Mr. Dawson tried to pull the man inside through the small shattered window. Mr. Byrd said, "It was like pulling a grown man through a coffee can." The car exploded, and the explosion thrust the man through the window. They dragged him away from the car and the fire, and they put out the fire that was melting his clothing. Colleton County Fire and Rescue firefighters and paramedics arrived and put out the burning car and took the man to a hospital. He was then moved to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, where he was in critical condition. Colleton County Fire-Rescue Director Barry McRoy said, "They definitely saved this man's life." The rescued man's wife said, "He's expected to make a full recovery. He just has a long road ahead of him." The man's family thanked Mr. Byrd, who said, "I'm still sore from being hugged. It's amazing that man is alive. God puts us in certain places. If it had been five more seconds, he'd be a dead man." He added, "I'm not the hero. God is." (151)

Kevin McDonnell: "I Just Couldn't Sit There and Literally Watch Another Person Get Burned Up in His Car"

In January 2010 in an off-road area near the Bishop's Garden on the grounds of the Washington (D.C.) National Cathedral, a car containing an elderly man caught on fire. Bystanders yelled for the man to get out of the car. Driving nearby was Kevin McDonnell, age 40, who investigated out of curiosity, but who then took action. He thought that the man inside the car must be overcome by smoke, but he discovered that some small trees were blocking the man's exit. He cleared away the small trees, although his jacket caught on fire. He then got the man out of the car. The elderly man declined medical treatment. Mr. McDonnell said, "Clearly the biggest concern, and why I don't think anyone else approached the car, was the fire was moving backwards. It was just a matter of time before the gas tank ignited, which it was kind enough to do after we got him to the top of the hill." He added, "I just couldn't sit there and literally watch another person get burned up in his car." Although he most likely saved the man's life, afterward Mr. McDonnell wondered about the wisdom of risking his own life while he is married and he and his wife are raising four children. He said, "The really weird part is this sort of second phase. I don't know if it's guilt, guilt on risking my wife and my children's future by playing with fire. I just think it's nerves kind of settling back in, and your brain starts to run a lot of the 'what ifs.'" Eyewitness Michael Cotter said about the rescue, "It was the bravest thing I have ever personally seen." (152)

Rick Buckner: "The Lady is Just Very, Very Lucky to be Alive"

In January 2006, Mary Lillian Anderson, age 88, drove off the road in Washington state on her way back home from a trip to the grocery store and was trapped in her car for six days. Unfortunately, her car was hidden in a thick clump of blackberry bushes, and people thought that she was dead because her credit card did not show any activity. In addition, Ms. Anderson's groceries were in the truck where she could not reach them. Fortunately, Andrew Thompson, a truck driver who delivers propane in rural Clark County, saw her car from his high vantage point. He stopped his truck and looked inside the car, bracing himself to see a corpse. He said, "She was sitting right there, staring back at me. She looked very happy." Mr. Thompson said that he had a good view of her car from the cab of his truck, but he said that it is lucky that the accident happened in January, when leaves are off the bushes and trees. He pointed out, "If there had been leaves on the trees, I don't think she would have made it — I wouldn't have been able to see her." Detective Rick Buckner said, "The lady is just very, very lucky to be alive." The car door was wedged shut when Mr. Thompson found Ms. Anderson. He went to his truck and called 911, and then returned to the car. He was able to get the door open, and then the two waited for emergency assistance. Mr. Thompson said, "She held my hand." One of her sons, Rob Johnson of Pendleton, Oregon, said that she survived by wiping condensation off the windshield and sucking on the towel. Mr. Johnson said about Mr. Thompson, "We're very thankful to him. He's definitely sort of an angel." (153)

"If that was Me, I Would've Wanted Someone to Stop and Save My Life"

In October 2011, Keenia Williams, a 22-year-old, African-American woman who works at an adult day health center, rescued 52-year-old Michael Finerty following a crash in which one car spun out, another car hit it, and Mr. Finerty's cement truck hit both cars and then overturned on Highway 101 in San Francisco, California. Mr. Finerty got out of his truck but fell down unconscious as fuel from his cement truck caught on fire a short distance from him. Ms. Williams, who was driving her five-year-old daughter to school, saw the accident and stopped to help. She said, "I just see the [driver of the truck] and oh, my God, I hop out, run, see the guy just sitting there. He's like standing between the fire. He passes out. And now I am like, 'Oh, my God, oh, my God.'" She added, "I put my arms under his arms, and I dragged him all the way to my car. He wasn't talking or anything. He was just lying there." Fire officials and the California Highway Patrol arrived and put out the fire. Ms. Williams splashed water on Mr. Finerty's face and then yelled for help for him. San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said to Ms. Williams after the rescue, "You had the opportunity to see what was going on and see that driver was in a lot of danger and needed immediate assistance.... Very impressive. You left your daughter and, at a great risk to yourself, you saved a man's life. Seconds count in accidents like this, and without your bravery, the situation would've been entirely different." Ms. Williams said, "When he was going away [in the ambulance], he kept asking for my name. He was telling me he would never [forget] me, and for somebody to say that when they don't even know me, wow." Other people saw the accident, but they did not stop to help. Ms. Williams said, "Most people kept going. I don't know what made me stop, so I am glad I did. If that was me, I would've wanted someone to stop and save my life." (154)

Brave San Antonio Police Officers and San Antonio Citizens

In February 2009, the San Antonio, Texas, Police Department honored some of its brave officers. Police Chief William McManus said, "These individuals risked their lives very valiantly to save another's life. Unfortunately, this is about all we get to do to honor our heroes. We take a few minutes out of our day to thank them publicly, from the bottom of our hearts, for their heroic actions and all that they've done." The Lifesaving Award was presented to Officer Modesto Gutierrez, Officer James Sanford and Officer Craig Nash, who worked together to save several people from a burning car. One victim was a small child who had been ejected from the car. Lying in tall grass, the child was unnoticed for a while, but one of the officers found the child and saved the child's life. The car became an inferno, but the officers succeeded in saving lives. Crisanto Navarro and Elijah Ramirez, two young San Antonio citizens, were also honored at the ceremony. They witnessed a man assaulting a woman and running away with her purse. They chased the man and caught him and held him until the police arrived. Assistant Chief Harry Griffin said about another honoree, "Sergeant Anthony Linson also receives an award for talking a woman down from the edge of a bridge on I-35. The woman was distraught and was trying to kill herself. Anthony managed to calm the woman down, get close enough to her to pull her down and save her life. These are the moments that make us proud to be a part of this team. The men and women of the San Antonio Police Department work hard on a daily basis, and there are still many unsung heroes." (155)

James E. Backman: Hero

In the summer of 1954, James E. Backman, a cement truck driver for the Utah Sand and Gravel Company, saved four lives in a car crash that killed a man and a three-year-old girl. Mr. Backman said, "I was driving along 21st South when there was an awful crash, and I saw a cloud of dust and smoke go up a little way down the road. The cars were on fire, and I could see several people inside. I saw that my fire extinguisher would be useless, so I turned the hose from the truck on the fire and put it out in a few seconds." Mr. Backman was presented with a gold watch engraved, "To James E. Backman, for Heroism." (156)

"I Decided Right Then and There that Somebody had to Go in the Water"

On 14 November 2011 at the Van Ham dairy east of Dupont, Ohio, John Neumeier, age 58, was on top of his milk truck, sealing the tank, when he heard a splash that was made by a car going into a pond. Mr. Neumeier said, "I was up on my truck, sealing the lid up when I heard this thump, thump, bang. And I looked up. I seen this car coming across the water. It made it about all the way across, then it sank." In the car was the driver, Earl Kuhlman, age 63, of Fort Jennings, Ohio. Mr. Neumeier called 911 and then ran to the pond. The car was sinking in approximately eight feet of water, and Mr. Neumeier said, "I decided right then and there that somebody had to go in the water." That somebody was him. He got a wrench from his truck and used it to break the car's window so he could get Mr. Kuhlman out. He said that breaking the window took three tries: "I had to hit that window with everything I had." Mr. Neumeier said, "I could see him moving around in there. I could see the light of his cellphone. I got the window knocked out and the glass away from the opening as much as I could. The car was under water." Mr. Neumeier got Mr. Kuhlman out and saved his life. Mr. Neumeier, who has been a truck driver for 25 years, said, "I just try to be prepared. You see a lot of things out on the road." (157)

No Driver License for You

A woman who was trying to get a driver license ended up in the sea. In November 2011, in the historic port of Antofagasta in Chile, the woman accelerated when she should have braked. She ended up in the port, and a bystander — a saleswoman at the nearby Terminal Pesquero — swam to the vehicle and rescued her. Her driving examiner swam to shore and — apparently disgusted — walked away. (158)

"You Just Do It, You Don't Even Think About It. Everything Goes that Fast. All We Wanted to Do was Get the Baby Out"

On 1 November 2011 on the Thames-Coromandel coast of New Zealand, Suellen Matthewson, age 21, was driving when her car slid on a corner and ended up upside down in the sea. She managed to get out, but she was unable to open the door to get her daughter, two-year-old Mikaylah Wilson, out. She started screaming, "My baby! My baby!" Two men, who did not know her or each other, stopped their vehicles and came to the rescue. Nicholas Hughes, age 33, and Simon Griffin, age 50, freed Mikaylah after breaking the window and bending the window frame and took her to shore. Ms. Matthewson said, "I needed to get my baby out, and I just undid my seatbelt, opened my door, and got out of the car. I went to go open my baby's door and couldn't get it opened, so I started panicking. And then these dudes came running across the water and were so good to me." Mr. Griffin said that the baby "was quite fine. She was more distressed from the mother screaming, 'My baby!' When I hugged her and spoke to her, she was fine." Mr. Griffin added, "You just do it, you don't even think about it. Everything goes that fast. All we wanted to do was get the baby out." Mr. Hughes said, "I wasn't thinking, I jumped straight into it. I did what any other person would do. I jumped in, work boots and all — I was up to my waist in water." Ms. Matthewson said, "I want the people to know how appreciative I am they helped get my daughter out of the car and looked after us... They're awesome." Thames Fire Brigade station officer Ken Brokenshire said, "I think these guys fill the description of modern-day hero. The toddler was in a car seat in the back, and these two brave fellows got her out." (159)

"It was like the Worst Day of My Life and Also the Best Day, and I Thank God that He Put All These Good People There for Us"

In August 2007, Mauricio Gonzalez heard screams. He looked out the window of his 15th-floor Aventura, Florida, apartment and saw a car in the water of a canal. A mother was screaming, and a child was trapped inside the car. Another child was outside the car with his mother. Mr. Gonzalez said, "I'm a father of two kids. I just felt the pain and the panic of their mother, so I decided to be there and to help." Tatiana Columbus lived with her children, 12-year-old Esteban and 4-year-old Mia, in the same apartment tower as Mr. Gonzalez. She was getting ready to drive. Her son was in the front, and she was strapping her daughter in a child-safety seat in the back. Over-inquisitive Esteban jumped into the driver's seat and started the car, which had a manual transmission and was in first gear, so it started moving forward. Ms. Columbus said, "I had no idea what my son was doing at the time. When I realized he was in the driver's seat, it was too late and the car was already in motion. It jump-started and proceeded to go in the water." She tried but failed to hold the car back. She said, "I couldn't believe what was happening to me. When I realized we were all going in the water, I jumped in after my children." Esteban got out of the car as it began to sink, and he tried to go back to get his sister, who was breathing the air in an air pocket as the car began to sink. He said, "It was pretty scary. I held my breath for as long as I could." Another resident of the building ran to help. Ms. Columbus said, "I believe he was on his way to work and he jumped in with us. He attempted to open the door to get the baby out, and he couldn't. There was nothing we could do." Mr. Gonzalez, a triathlete and father with two sons, had called 911 and then ran to the rescue. He said, "I thought that this required immediate attention if we wanted a happy ending. I grabbed my goggles because I knew I was going in the water, and ran down the stairs from the 15th floor and jumped in the water to help." He saw Mia and screamed for a tool to break the window. He tried using a hammer but could not swing it hard enough underwater to break the window. Next, he used a lawn edger, and on the second swing he broke the glass and grabbed Mia and hauled her out. In doing so, he cut his hand, necessitating eight stitches. Firefighters had arrived on the scene, and they determined that Mia was all right. Esteban said, "I would just like to say thank you. I screamed so loud and I'm happy that Mauricio came down, and I'm happy that the other person came down and tried to open the door." Mr. Gonzalez said, "I think people should try to help as much as possible. I'm glad that I was there. I believe I'm an instrument of God. I'm glad I was there to help, and this is a happy ending for everyone." Ms. Columbus said, "It was like the worst day of my life and also the best day, and I thank God that He put all these good people there for us. I understand that Mauricio travels a lot for work, and I was just so happy he was there to help us out. He's our hero." (160)

"It was like a Scene out of that Movie Titanic. It was Dark and There was Screaming"

On 11 April 2009 on Highway 304 just east of Makwa, Saskatchewan, Canada, a car carrying a woman and three young children went out of control on the flooded highway and into a ditch that was filled with water. Fortunately, three teenagers — Devin Knot, age 19; Brett Opikokew, age 18; and Joshua Lasas, age 19 — came to the rescue. In the car were April Chatelaine; her nephew, age eight; and her two children, ages one and four. April's sister, Amanda Skoretz, who was in a car with her husband (Corey) and her 12-year-old son, said, "We took that highway that morning and there was nothing on it. [...] We were about a car length behind, and this water came up on our windshield so quick. All we seen were taillights. I said to Corey, 'What's going on? Get out of this water. Where did it come from?' He swerved to the other side of the highway, and when we pulled over her car was gone in." That is when the three teenaged boys, who were parked nearby, arrived. Amanda said, "These three guys came running. I said, 'My sister and three babies are in that car,' and they went in with no hesitation, nothing." Corey said, "I fell in and ended up swallowing a bunch of water and then came up and went swimming. I was having a hard time breathing. I heard one of the three guys come back with the one-year-old, and when I pulled her out of the water her body was lifeless. All I could do was put the baby over my shoulder and pat her on the back and then I heard her start coughing." Mr. Lasas said, "We didn't plan anything. It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing." Mr. Lasas has asthma and collapsed from exhaustion after rescuing the first child. Mr. Opikokew said, "I just heard this kid screaming; we didn't hesitate." He rescued a second child: "I remember when I swam to the vehicle, it wasn't very far, but it felt like the longest swim of my life." Then Mr. Knot went to the vehicle to rescue the third child. He said that when he jumped in the icy water, "The shock set in, but I didn't really think about it." Amanda said, "Somebody asked us to describe ... it was like a scene out of that movie Titanic. It was dark and there was screaming." Amanda said about the three teenagers who jumped in the water, "We owe them so much. They saved our family. With no hesitation. April said these guys were just there. There are angels out there." She added, "Just when you think something like that can't happen to you, it just changes your whole life." Mr. Lasas said, "We were just at the right place at the right time." No one was seriously hurt. (161)

"Get Her Out Now, or She is Drowning"

A woman suffered what may have been a seizure and slumped over in early 2006 while driving a car in unincorporated Orland Township in Illinois. She and her car ended up in a retention pond, but fortunately three men came to her rescue and kept her from drowning. The three heroes are George Cavelle, age 38, a maintenance manager, from Orland Park; Bill Duggan, age 46, an off-duty Orland Park police officer, from Lockport; and Dan O'Halloran, age 42, a service manager for a heating and air conditioning contractor, from Homer Glen. Mr. Duggan stopped his car and pounded on the runaway car's windows before it went into the icy water, but the woman in the driver's seat was slumped over and did not respond to him. He went into the water after the car, broke the driver's window, and unfastened her seat belt, but he could not get her out. Mr. Cavelle and Mr. O'Halloran then went into the water. Mr. Cavelle said, "I remember just freezing." He added that the water was so muddy that "it was like quicksand." Mr. Cavelle said, "Get her out now, or she is drowning." He got her seat belt unwrapped from her leg, and he and the other two men got her to shore, making sure to keep her head above water. Neighbors gave them blankets. Mr. O'Halloran said, "All the people involved were so heroic." Emergency personnel took the woman to Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet. Mr. Duggan said, "I'm just happy I was able to do something. If she drowns and I can't get her out, there is going to be something dying within me." (162)

Construction Workers Rescue Pregnant Woman and Her Boyfriend from Underwater Car

In July 2011 on Route 290 in Auburn, Massachusetts, a car containing a pregnant woman and her boyfriend went off the road and into a swamp, where it ended up upside down. Fortunately, two construction workers — John Bukkhegyi and Craig Bussiere — heard a splash and came to the rescue. Mr. Bussiere said, "We spent I think a good five minutes, kicking the windows, panicking basically. The car was underwater." Mr. Bukkhegyi said that he and Mr. Bussiere worked harder because they knew that the woman was pregnant. The two rescuers broke windows with a hammer and rescued the couple. (163)

"There's No Chance that the Female Occupant Would have been Strong Enough to Break Out of the Vehicle and Swim to Safety"

On the night of 29 November 2011 on the North Shore of Auckland, New Zealand, a 62-year-old woman accelerated her silver Nissan SUV and drove into the sea. It drifted for a while and then began to sink. Stephen Bibby, age 54, witnessed the incident and attempted to rescue the woman. He used a fire extinguisher to attempt to smash the rear window as the car filled with water. Mr. Bibby said, "It [the fire extinguisher] was only a little one, and I had a real problem breaking the windows. Every time I hit the window, because I was in the water, I would get forced back." It took him five attempts, but eventually he did smash the car's rear window. He said, "But as soon as I did that, the car was just engulfed in water and I put my hands in there and I managed to get her hand and try to pull her out. But because the car was now vertical, all the rubbish that she had in the back of the car was now on top of her and I couldn't actually pull her out." He added, "She was shouting, 'Help me, help me! I can't breathe! Get me out. There was only about a foot of airspace in the roof when we actually got her out." Constable Antony Hawkings, who was off-duty, swam 40 meters into the water and helped Mr. Bibby get the woman out of the car. Mr. Bibby said, "So I had hold of her hand and her hair and I was heaving and heaving and next minute a police fellow had swum out as well and he gave me a hand and we eventually got her out and then the car sunk." He added, "I was really stoked to get her out because once I had hold of her hand I was determined I wasn't going to let her go; once I had hold of her hand if I had have lost her it would've been devastating. I saw the look on her face, you know, and there was just a piece of glass between the two of us. It was a pretty scary thing." Rodney Police Area Commander Inspector Scott Webb said, "There's no chance that the female occupant would have been strong enough to break out of the vehicle and swim to safety. Mr. Bibby's actions, with the assistance of Constable Hawkings, meant this rescue was successful." The woman, who told Mr. Biddy that she had mixed up the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal, was treated at North Shore Hospital. Mr. Bibby did ask the police to call his wife and explain why he was coming home two hours late. He said, "I got the police to ring her 'cause I thought if I ring her she's not going to believe me — she's going to say, 'Nah, you're lying. You're in the pub.'" This was Mr. Bibby's second rescue. In 2008, he helped police rescue a woman off Red Beach. (164)

"She was Pretty Shaken Up. I was Worried She was Going to Drown"

On 24 February 2011 in the Sunshine Coast region of Queensland, Australia, Sam Toldi, an 18-year-old chef, was working at Il Secondo when his boss yelled, "There's a car in the water!" An approximately 80-year-old woman had accidentally driven her Mazda 121 into Cornmeal Creek. Mr. Toldi took off his shoes and dropped his keys and went into the water. He said, "She had managed to get the window down a tiny bit. I signaled to her to bring it down further and put her bottom on the ledge. She said her foot was stuck and she seemed to be fiddling with her handbag. I told her to hold on. I was going to get her out." The water was rising in the car. He said, "I took a deep breath and went underwater, grabbing her underneath the arms and dragging her up." He and two other young men — Steve Smith and Matt Goodwin — got her safely to shore. Mr. Toldi said, "She was pretty shaken up. I was worried she was going to drown." Because she was in shock, she was taken to Nambour Hospital and treated. Rhiannon Krause, age 21, made a call to emergency services. She said, "I heard tires screech and looked up. There was a car going forward out of the Big Top carpark with so much force that it plunged head first into the water. She launched over the rocks and between the trees. I just thought, 'Oh, my God, she is going to drown.'" (165)

"I've Always Wanted to be a Hero, But I was Pretty Scared When It Happened. I Couldn't Just Watch a Young Girl Drown"

In February 2011, Gabrial Ingram, age 37, became something that he always wanted to be: a hero. He was on the Noosa North Shore ferry in Queensland, Australia, at about 7.45 a.m., when he witnessed an accident. A new driver, 16-year-old Kristi Mierocha, who was driving a car with her grandfather, Joe Mierocha, inside, hit the accelerator instead of the brake and drove the car into the Noosa River. Mr. Mierocha was able to get out through a window, but he could not get Kristi, who was panicking, out. Mr. Ingram dived into the water and got Kristi out, hurting his foot in a car door as the vehicle sank. Mr. Ingram said, "I just did what I had to do. I would have done it for anyone. I've always wanted to be a hero, but I was pretty scared when it happened. I couldn't just watch a young girl drown. I got a couple of black toenails out of it, but I'm just glad she's okay." Mr. Mierocha said, "I told her [Kristi] to put her foot on the brake as we came onboard [the ferry], but she just put her foot right down on the accelerator instead. The car just took off. After it was all over, she was really shaken up and just screaming. I was just grateful she was okay. I couldn't have cared about the car at all." Kristi had obtained her driver learners' permit the previous week. (166)

"That was So Cool, Dude! You Saved a Boy's Life!"

On 6 August 2011, in Bridgeton, Missouri, near St. Louis, Justice Pate, a 12-year-old African-American boy named after former Atlanta Brave David Justice, became a hero when he pulled a drowning seven-year-old boy out of a hotel pool. When Justice arrived at the pool at the Embassy Suites, he saw "a big, grayish object." The object was a motionless boy in the water. Justice told his father, Garry Pate, but his father thought that Justice had seen an artwork painted on the bottom of the pool because the boy was lying on a painted line and it looked as if the object had six limbs. Justice then jumped in the pool, grabbed the boy, and lifted him so that his head was above the water. His father shouted, "Call 911!" The drowning boy's father, who had been watching some other, younger, children, gave the boy CPR. Garry was not sure that the boy could be revived. He said, "I was more discouraged than encouraged — until he opened his eyes." After the rescue, a Bridgeton police officer told Justice, "That was so cool, dude! You saved a boy's life!" The Pates, who were attending a family reunion, live in Stone Mountain, DeKalb County, Georgia. DeKalb County CEO Burrell Ellis said, "Justice is a true hero in our county. He is a prime example that one person can make an extraordinary difference. Because of his quick actions on August 6, a young man now has a bright future." (167)

Garda Colm Finnerty Saves Three Men from Drowning in the River Liffey

In December 2002, trainee Garda (Irish police officer) Colm Finnerty, age 23, from Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland, saved three men from drowning in the River Liffey after he received an emergency call saying that two men were in trouble in the icy river. Garda Colm said, "When I arrived on the scene, there was a crowd of about 20 people and two men were in difficulty in the river. There were two life belts floating beside them, but they were not trying to grab on to them as they were panicking too much. They were obviously not able to swim and were going under the water, so I had no option but to go in after them." Garda Colm said that he knew that he had to act quickly. He said, "I took off my patrol jacket and my radio and jumped — I knew I would be able to help them, but it was just a matter of making myself get into the water. When I hit the water, it was a pure shock — the water was painfully cold, but I dived under the water to grab the men as by this stage they had disappeared from view. I managed to get them to the safety of the ladder attached to the quay wall." A third man jumped into the river to help, but the current started to sweep him away. Garda Colm said, "Someone entered the water after me, but the current was strong and he got carried down the river. I swam after him and dragged him to the ladder as well. I kept them all together until the fire brigade arrived — hypothermia was setting in at this stage." This is the first time that the young garda has made a rescue. He said, "I come across plenty of incidents every night, but it is the first time that I have been left wet and cold. I've been given lots of compliments from my colleagues — it has been great. My family are very proud of me as well." Garda Colm's boss, Superintendent Edmund Quirke, said, "We are all very proud of Colm. He acted in a courageous and professional manner." (168)

"When I was at the Pier and Saw the Guy Floating in the Water, Face Down, I Thought He was Dead and I was Pretty Scared"

In 2011 in Frankston, Victoria, Australia, Therese Hughes, age 14, of McClelland College became a hero when she rescued Nino Deliseo, age 48, of Seaford, who had hit his head on a pylon after jumping from a pier. Ms. Deliseo was grateful for the rescue and another chance at life. Therese said, "When I was at the pier and saw the guy floating in the water, face down, I thought he was dead and I was pretty scared. I was upset because I didn't want him to die. Now we both have a new start. Like for me not getting into predicaments like I have in the past." Therese has played hooky from her school in the past. Once while playing hooky, she and a friend were stalked by a man who was in his 40s. Fortunately, two older women did the very good deed of taking her and her friend back to their school. Therese said, "Now I have a second chance and I want to do the right thing. I used to wag [play hooky] a lot — at least twice a week — and now I hope to stop that, try harder at school, and perhaps work towards a job. I have more courage now to help others and perhaps help myself." Therese had learned lifesaving at the McCrae Lifesaving Club in Rosebud. School assistant principal Amadeo Ferra said, "It is thrilling to see our students grow through experiences and end up saving the life of someone else." (169)

Ronald May and Richard Tracy: Savers of Four Lives

On 23 October 2000, Ronald May, a 29-year veteran retired firefighter from Los Angeles, California, and his friend Richard Tracy saved the lives of four people. A 26-foot cabin cruiser — the Charades — with six people aboard struck a large mooring buoy off El Segundo and began taking on water — lots of water — while sailing from Catalina Island to Marina del Rey. Mr. May said, "We were headed back to Marina del Rey from Catalina, too, when we heard a lot of chatter on Channel 16. I didn't pay much attention until I heard someone say, 'El Segundo.' We were right there." He spotted lights about a mile away. He said, "By the time we reached the boat, it only had about six inches of freeboard aft and we saw people in the cabin, terrified, and screaming, 'We're sinking, we're sinking.'" All of the people on board were wearing lifejackets. Mr. May told them to enter the water. Three did. He said, "We yelled to them to swim toward us as we threw lines to them, but I've never seen people so scared in my life. Even when we got them to the boat, they wouldn't let go of the ropes." Mr. May and Mr. Tracy got the three people on board. But two — a grandmother and a 3rd-grade boy — were still in the cabin of the wrecked vessel. A man had climbed onto the bow of the wrecked vessel. An experienced diver, Mr. May dove into the water. The vessel was nearly vertical by this time, so he had to dive to get into the vessel's cabin. He said, "I could see a woman's legs inside the cabin, and I tried to pull her down and out through the cockpit but I just couldn't budge her." The buoyancy of the life jacket she was wearing made it impossible to get her underwater far enough to get her out through the cabin door, which was now 10 feet underwater. Mr. May said, "When I came up, the guy on the bow yelled, 'Did you see my son?' and that's when I realized the boy was still in there. I went down three times and I kept thinking, 'If this boat really starts to go, how am I going to get out?'" The vessel did not sink, apparently because of an empty water tank. However, Mr. May was unable to get either the grandmother or the boy out of the cabin. Mr. Tracy had radioed the Los Angeles County Harbor Patrol for help, and Mr. May fired flares so the rescue boat could find them. The diver was able to get the grandmother and boy out of the cabin, but neither survived. Mr. May was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal (which is solid gold); it is the highest honor the Coast Guard can bestow on a civilian. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Ernest R. Riutta, who made the presentation to Mr. May, said, "I've been in the Coast Guard for 34 years, and this is only the second Gold Lifesaving Medal I've ever seen or awarded." Mr. May feels bad because he could not rescue the boy and his grandmother: "I still think about it. You second-guess yourself: What could I have done differently?" Mr. May and Mr. Tracy saved the lives of four people. (170)

"It was a Brave and Daring Rescue"

In April 2007, garda (Irish police office) Declan Dennehy saved a drowning young woman who had fallen from a bridge into the fast-flowing and freezing River Slaney in Wexford, Ireland. His colleagues lowered him into the river with a rope, and then he swam to the woman and attached a lifebuoy around her and rescued her. Sergeant Colm O'Leary said. "For a brief period, both the teenage woman and the garda disappeared from sight. The rescue services were launched. Garda Dennehy managed to make it to the woman, and both were eventually lifted into the rescue boat. It was a brave and daring rescue." A local citizen said, "Given the high tide and the number of people who have lost their lives in this stretch of water, which has dangerous currents, it is a miracle no further life was lost." A few years previously, garda Dennehy had saved a man who had jumped into the River Slaney from the same bridge. (171)

"A Lot of Times It's a Loss of Life. Somebody is Trapped in Swift Water, Somebody Jumps in to Try and Save Them, and You End Up with Two Fatalities"

In January 2006, Tommy Ford, age 58, was driving his Grand AM Pontiac in heavy rain when it hydroplaned and ended up in East Memphis' Fletcher Creek in Tennessee. It then started floating down the creek, and Mr. Ford climbed on top of the roof and hoped for help. Skeeter Rutledge, a rescuer, said, "We were monitoring the water and it was rising about a foot every 25 minutes. Normally when you have these, you don't have a good surface to work on. The banks are slippery. You go through a thicket trying to get to a location." The rescuers did find a good location and used a 28-foot-long ladder to rescue Mr. Ford. Mr. Rutledge said, "A lot of times it's a loss of life. Somebody is trapped in swift water, somebody jumps in to try and save them, and you end up with two fatalities. This was done very professionally with our rescue teams." One person who deserves a lot of credit is the woman who saw Mr. Ford's car go into the creek and then called police. (172)

"We're Junior Lifeguards, and We're Here to Help You"

In May 2009 at Miramar Beach, Florida, two brothers — Cameron Chase, age 12, and Payton Chase, age 13, both of whom are junior lifeguards — saved three men from drowning. The brothers had decided to surf before going to a birthday party. At the beach, the brothers noticed a man struggling in the water. Another man tried to help the swimmer, but then he began struggling, too. Payton said, "They got pulled out by rip current. One guy's friend got him to about where the break was and then he started to need help." The two went out on their surfboards. Cameron reached them first and used his surfboard as a floatation rescue device. Payton said, "We got to them and said, 'We're junior lifeguards, and we're here to help you." Another man tried to swim out to help, but he also began struggling. Payton took the first two men to shore on his surfboard, while Cameron assisted the third man to shore. The brothers' parents arrived at the shore during the rescue — at the same time as rescue workers. Daralyn Chase, the boys' mother, said, "When we got back, we just saw the fire trucks and the ambulance. We knew our boys were out there, so at first we kind of panicked." However, a wedding party who had been watching the rescue told them, "Your boys are heroes. They were amazing." Daralyn made sure that her sons were enrolled in Destin Beach Safety's junior lifeguard program in part because she was rescued from the water as a child. At age two, she fell into a swimming pool in Atlanta, Georgia. Her nanny tried to rescue her, but drowned. Three 16-year-old boys pulled young Daralyn to safety and resuscitated her. Daralyn said about her sons, "I wanted to have that confidence they would know what to do if they got in trouble, not really thinking they would save anybody or do anything heroic at their age." The brothers said that the real rescues were harder than the rescues they had practiced. Payton said, "They [the rescued men] were a lot heavier and freaking out." Cameron said, "And the current was strong." Destin Beach Safety Patrol's Joe D'Agostino said, "We really don't encourage anybody to do those types of things if they haven't gone through lifeguard training class. They did react, and they did do a heroic thing." (173)

Swim Near a Lifeguard

Lifeguards save many lives, but for each life they save in a heroic rescue, they save many more lives through prevention. Rob Barron, chief of beach patrol at Delray Beach, Florida, from 1980 to 1987, wrote in a 2006 letter to the editor of the Palm Beach Post (Florida), "With 20 years' experience, I am sure I speak for committed water people that our greatest satisfaction is the rescues we do not have to make because of our experience and ocean savvy. Statistics from the United States Lifesaving Association show that there are 76 interventionist actions carried out by ocean lifeguards, which keep bathers out of trouble, for every rescue. And many rescues occur in off-site situations where lifeguards have no opportunity to prevent the situation. Our bumper sticker, 'Swim near a lifeguard,' encourages you to have a fun day at the beach and, we only can hope, go home without a clue about the fit and attentive mother hens who were watching you and your family." (174)

Incredible Rescue of the Crewmen of the E.S. Newman

On 11 October 1896, a storm arose and forced a three-masted schooner, the E.S. Newman, off course. It was headed for Norfolk, Virginia, but ended up 100 miles away in the surf on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where it went aground and set off distress flares. Soon, the ship would be torn apart by the waves and all on board would drown. A lookout at the Pea Island Life-Saving Station was on duty. He saw the distress flares and alerted Captain Richard Etheridge, the keeper of the life-saving station. Captain Etheridge, a former slave, was the first black person to be the keeper, and all the surfmen who worked for him were black. At first, they wanted to use a specially made launcher to shoot a line to the ship. When it became clear that this would not work, two surfmen tied a stout line around their waists and fought their way to the ship. They tied the line to the ship and then — one by one — carried each of the members of the crew to safety. David Wright and David Zoby tell the story of this incredible rescue in the book Fire on the Beach. (175)

Joel Drake and Jonathan Sundstrom: Boy Heroes

On 26 June 2006 while bodysurfing on vacation in California, Joel Drake, age 13, of Linden, Utah, and his friend Jonathan Sundstrom saw a giant wave coming toward them. They dived, and when they reached the surface again, they saw a boogie board and a girl with waves washing over her. They swam to the girl, got her on her boogie board and towed her to the shore. The girl was 14-year-old Katie Nelms of California, and the giant wave had knocked her off her boogie board. Joel said, "I didn't think. I just swam over. That's probably why we got there in time." He added, "It's the only time I've actually used something from Scouting." Sheron Drake, Joel's mom, was impressed by the rescue and started gathering testimonials so she could nominate her son for the Boy Scout Honor Medal, which he was awarded in December 2006. She contacted Katie, who in an email wrote that after the wave knocked her off her boogie board, she was growing too tired to tread water: "Then, this boy came out of the ocean after me. Joel handed me my boogie board and pulled me back into shore. I was very grateful [for] his bravery." Joel does not use the word "hero" to describe himself: "No, I don't think of myself like that — no, no. I don't really like attention like that. I don't like to be... I'm not full of myself." Sheron, his mother, said that the rescue has "changed my opinion of him now. Let's just put it this way: Joel... can be pretty difficult at times. But I've seen a new side of him." His father, Ken, said, "We can see that he's infinitely patient with other people. He does have a big heart." Debby Robert, who is Eagle and Life Saving and Meritorious Award secretary for the Utah National Parks Council, said, "It's just nice to know that there are still kids out there who automatically do... something just to help someone else, at risk to themselves." (176)

"He was Hollering that He Couldn't Swim"

In October 2011 at the Hazard Pavilion in Hazard, Kentucky, Triston Price celebrated his 7th birthday with a swimming party with family and friends. Unfortunately, he could not swim and nearly drowned in the Hazard Pavilion swimming pool. Fortunately, six-year-old Jayvon White was able to rescue him despite still being in kindergarten. Jayvon cannot swim, but he was wearing a life jacket, and so he was not afraid during the rescue. Jayvon said, "He was going down the slide. And he went down the slide and then he was swimming and then he went under water." Jayvon added, "He was hollering that he couldn't swim." Jayvon knew what to do: "I jumped in and then gave him my hand and pulled him out of the water." Jayvon's mother criticized the lifeguards. Rick Steele, the director at the Hazard Pavilion, said, "She did have a complaint that the lifeguards weren't attentive enough. One was apparently on his phone texting I think she thought, and the other lifeguard was maybe doing her homework." Mr. Steele added, "As the job says, they are there to guard the lives of the people in the swimming pool. And obviously if there was a situation where they were not paying attention, then that really can't be tolerated." Mr. Steele — and Triston — are grateful that Jayvon saved Triston's life. Triston even gave Jayvon a bracelet to show his appreciation. (177)

"All I Could Think of was to Go in and Get Her. That was Somebody's Mom"

In September 2011 in Baltimore County, Maryland, a flash flood trapped an elderly woman in her car. The elderly woman was Pauletta Schlothauer, who was about to celebrate her 70th birthday. Her daughter, Vicki Jagodzinski, said, "The water just came rushing in and she was up to her neck in water." She added, "The car had completely shut down, so she couldn't get the window open." In addition, Ms. Schlothauer could not get her seatbelt off. The flash flood also affected David Lopez and his daughter, who had to leave their jeep and make it to high ground. There they saw Ms. Schlothauer trapped in her car. Mr. Lopez said about his daughter, "She said, 'Daddy, I got to save the lady, I've got to save the lady." He added, "All I could think of was to go in and get her. That was somebody's mom." He got the car door open, unfastened her seatbelt, and carried her to high ground. Mr. Lopez said, "I can't swim, so it was kind of scary. I can imagine how scared she was." He added, "I kind of feel like it was God's will for me to be here, the way it all happened." Ms. Jagodzinski is grateful for the rescue: "I was so happy that she was OK and that there was somebody there that saved her. I don't know what we would be doing if it wasn't for him." She added, "I just wanted to say thanks so much for that." Mr. Lopez and his daughter plan to learn how to swim. (178)

"She's Really Beautiful, and I Love Her Very Much"

In April 2011 in Maricopa County, Arizona, nine-year-old Tristin Saghin knew what to do after his two-year-old sister, Brooke, was discovered floating in a swimming pool after she managed to slide open the back door. Their mother pulled Brooke, who was not breathing, out of the water. Tristin remembered, "My grandma said, 'Where is the baby?' and my mom went running out here and saw my sister floating. I think she like dropped her stroller as it was also in the pool and was trying to reach for it and fell in... her shoe too." Their mother called to Tristin, who was playing a video game. He came out to the swimming pool, only to see his mother and grandmother in hysterics, so he took action. Tristin gave Brooke chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and Brooke started breathing again. He said, "I told my grandma to call an ambulance, the neighbor came over, I did CPR on her and she was starting to breathe a little bit. I knew what I was doing." Fortunately, he had learned how to perform CPR by watching television. Tristin said about Brooke, "She's really beautiful, and I love her very much." Mesa Fire Department spokesman Captain Forrest Smith said, "I couldn't imagine what was going through his mind. Here he is, in a situation where most of us, if we had a family member in that position, as parents we tend to really panic and be concerned. I tell you, we really give kudos out to him." (179)

Luke Johnson: 10-Year-Old Hero

On 2 August 2011, Luke Johnson, age 10, was swimming in a pool as he attended a church camp in Hosford, Florida. He noticed a four-year-old boy in danger of drowning. Luke said, "He was really pale and his lips were blue. He was face down." Luke pulled the four-year-old out of the water. He said, "I could not stop shaking — it was just nerve racking." A lifeguard and Luke's cousin performed CPR on the boy. Paramedics arrived and took the four-year-old to a hospital, where he stayed for several days before being allowed to go home. The boy's parents said that he was talking and walking again. Luke said, "I don't think it was me because even if I wasn't there, he still would've been fine because God was still there." However, it may be more accurate to say that God works through people such as Luke. (180)

"I Saw Him Under the Water, So I Jumped In. You See a Child [in Danger], You Just Go"

In 2008, Corey Robinson, a water utility plant operator for Wellington, Florida, got CPR training. The training is a requirement for a distribution and collection license. He said, "We work in a lot of confined spaces, so we [need to be] trained to know what to do if someone were to pass out." A week later, he used his training to rescue a small boy. He said, "We were having a party for my son's T-ball team. I was the coach." The young players were supposed to be inside to get trophies, but a five-year-old without his water wings slipped outside to the community swimming pool. Mr. Robinson said, "I saw him under the water, so I jumped in. You see a child [in danger], you just go." (181)

Rachel Edwards: "I Knew I Couldn't Let Go of Isabella"

On 19 August 2010, near Boston, Lincolnshire, England, Rachel Edwards, age 39, who was six months pregnant, hit a pothole while driving and her car went into a dyke filled with water. As the car began sinking, Jack put his hand on his mother's arm in a protective gesture. In the car with her were her daughter, two-year-old Isabella; her son, 16-year-old Jack; and two of Jack's friends. When Ms. Edwards' car went into the water, she swam to the surface and took a deep breath. She had to decide which of her two children to save first. She chose Isabella, the youngest. She then dove and grabbed Isabella and took her to shore. Jack's two friends escaped from the car and swam to shore and called an ambulance. Ms. Brown said, "Since then I have spent every waking moment thinking about how I could have saved both my children. I pulled Isabella out, and I knew she was still alive. I tried to go back for Jack, but I knew if I let go of Isabella then I wouldn't be able to get her back. I was just screaming and screaming." Because Ms. Brown knew that she could not save Isabella and Jack at the same time, she took Isabella to shore first, planning to return to get Jack. However, paramedics had arrived and they would not allow her to re-enter the water. The paramedics got Jack out of the car and took him to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead. Jack's father, Carl Brennan, who is separated from Ms. Edwards, said, "It is a hard thing to put into words how I feel. You don't think you will ever have to bury your child." More than 300 people attended Jack's funeral. Ms. Edwards said, "The nicest thing about the funeral is that people were lining down the streets to pay their respects. I was surprised at how many people turned up. I didn't realize he had touched so many people. Jack would have loved the funeral we gave him. I can imagine he was looking down and thinking, 'What a spectacle this is.'" She added, "Jack touched so many people. He was respectful and always told the truth, and he could be trusted immensely. Jack was a character who could not fade in the background. He once knocked over a little girl in the playground by accident. He felt so bad about it, and as soon as he got home he wrote a letter to her to say sorry — that was the kind of person he was." Jack had been looking forward to attending Ozzfest, a music festival starring Ozzy Osbourne. Mr. Osbourne sent a signed ticket for the festival to Jack's family; it was buried with Jack. (182)

"Next Time, We'll Make Him Wear His Life Jacket"

On 2 April 2002, Craig Ferguson, age 58 and owner of a Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, plastics company, took a nephew and a niece, Alex Walsh (age eight) and Katie Walsh (age seven), with him in his 23-foot cabin cruiser as he sailed in the Gulf of Mexico near New Port Richey, Florida. He insisted that the children wear life jackets. Almost always, he wears a life jacket, but this time he did not. Mr. Ferguson said afterward, "It was a dumb, dumb thing to do." He saw a foam boat bumper floating in the water, and when he bent down to get it he fell overboard. No other boats were in sight, and he remembers thinking, "Oh, boy, we've got a problem here." Mr. Ferguson shouted instructions to the children. Alex stopped the engine; he also threw him a life cushion. Unfortunately, problems developed. The children could not work the radio, and they could not lift the anchor so they could drop it overboard. Alex, a 3rd-grader, said, "It was kind of scary. But I knew how to call 911." Using Mr. Ferguson's cell phone, Alex called 911 and reached the Pasco County Sheriff's office. The dispatcher coached him as he restarted the engine and steered the boat to his uncle. This took teamwork. Because Alex was so young, he was not tall enough to see over the boat's console, so Katie got on the boat's bow and guided Alex as he steered the boat. Katie says, "Uncle Craig was so far away. But I shouted to him, 'We're coming!'" Mr. Ferguson was in the water for 45 minutes, but the children saved him. In a ceremony, the townspeople of New Port Richey presented the children with the keys to the city. Katie said, "Everyone was asking me for my autograph. My friend James asked me to write my name on a piece of paper and tape it to his head." Alex said about his uncle and their next sailing trip, "Next time, we'll make him wear his life jacket." (183)

"You Don't Walk Away from Something like That"

On 27 September 2008, Michael Law, a 52-year-old legal assistant, attended an early company Christmas party aboard the Golden Princess, a Princess cruise ship. The cruise went from Seattle, Washington, to Vancouver, Canada. He dived into the pool to take a few laps, but then he saw a little girl unconscious and drowning at the bottom of the 1.5-meter-deep pool. Mr. Law said, "I panicked. I knew if I didn't do something immediately, she's a goner." He pulled her out of the water, and then he yelled for help. Two women, including a nurse, got the girl breathing again. Mr. Law said, "I saw her in the nick of time. She was drowning. I was told by the ship's safety officer that if there was a delay for a few more minutes, she wouldn't have made it." He added about the girl, "She was crying and crying. She couldn't stop crying." The nine-year-old girl was on the cruise with her aunt and uncle, who were not present at the pool. No lifeguards were on duty at the pool, a fact clearly stated by signs there. Mr. Law said about the rescue, "It's what anyone would have done in the same situation. You don't walk away from something like that." Princess Cruises thinks that Mr. Law is a hero. The company gave him a free seven-day eastern Caribbean cruise for two. The company president also wrote him a letter of commendation. Princess Cruises spokeswoman Karen Candy said, "We're very thankful he was able to save this young girl and averted what could've been a very tragic situation." Mr. Law does want Princess Cruises to post a lifeguard at its pools in the future: "They have tons of staff [on board]. The least they can do is post one guard for every pool. They should anticipate there would be kids playing in the pools." (184)

"... Oftentimes Drowning Victims, When They Come in, They're Dead. But It Wasn't His Time to Go"

In Long Beach, Washington, in the surf off Cranberry beach, two boys on a day trip with the Bethel Baptist Church group from Spanaway, Washington, got into trouble with a rip tide and nearly drowned, but both were saved. Dale Ostrander and another boy were in the water — not far from shore but on a day when the surf was violently agitated. Long Beach resident Shanon Kissel and his 12-year-old daughter, Nicole, were at the beach. Mr. Kissel said, "We noticed a large group of people to the south, and where they were at, it was shallower for a longer distance out. Something must've happened where one of those waves came in and did a riptide. We kind of saw a group of people out there and we were thinking they were goofing off, but then my daughter swam out to them. I was yelling at her to get her attention, but she couldn't hear me.... They weren't far out, but it doesn't take very far out to get into trouble." Mr. Kissel yelled to one of the boys and asked if he was in trouble. The boy, who was thrashing in the water, yelled that he needed help, and so Mr. Kissel went into the water, grabbed him, and brought him to shore. While her father was rescuing the other boy, Nicole paddled on her boogie board to Dale and told him to keep kicking and stay afloat. She got him on her boogie board, but it was hit by a large wave that knocked them off. Nicole was able to bring Dale to the surface again, but they were separated when Mr. Kissel reached his daughter and brought her to shore. A bystander took her boogie board and tried to find Dale but was unsuccessful. The South Pacific County Technical Rescue Team (SPCTR) responded to the emergency with rescue swimmers and two watercraft. SPCTR volunteer Eduardo Mendez saw Dale in the surf, and rescue swimmer Will Green and Mr. Mendez were able to get Dale out of the water. Dale was not breathing and had no pulse, but rescue workers performed CPR on him. He was put in an induced coma in the hospital and woke up later. Doctors were afraid that he had suffered brain damage, but Dale amazed them by speaking in complete sentences. Dale's mother, Kirsten Ostrander, said that her son is "doing miraculously well. He is improving every day, following commands, tracking with his eyes, and even talking some. Please continue to pray as he keeps fighting strong to recover. We appreciate all your prayers." Pacific County Fire District No. 1 Fire Chief Jacob Brundage said, "This was truly a team effort. Quickly finding the patients, our crews working on him and reviving him, the hospital stabilizing him and transferring him to a higher-level facility, and the higher-level facility continuing to provide a palette of care to preserve brain function, heart function, and specialists there to address any problems that come up. One hiccup in those steps probably would've yielded a different result. Sometimes you just never know, and that's why we go all out. And sometimes the patient's outcome isn't positive, but in this case it was very positive. This kind of surf rescue and how all the steps played out, this was certainly one in 100. It's rare that we have such a successful outcome just because oftentimes drowning victims, when they come in, they're dead. But it wasn't his time to go." Mr. Kissel was hoarse from shouting over the surf during the rescue. He said about the rescue, "It was quite the adrenaline rush, and I feel like a frog." (185)

Dutch Sailors Save Refugees from Drowning

In June 2008, a sailor on the Dutch-registered cruise liner MS Noordam saw a person floating in the water off the coast of the Greek island of Samos. Immediately, the captain and crew launched a rescue mission. A fast rescue boat and two tenders scoured the water for survivors. After a little more than two hours, they had rescued 22 people, all of whom were wearing life jackets. The survivors, who were refugees, disembarked in Turkey. Stein Kruse, Holland America Line's president, said, "In a situation such as this, we are certainly happy to have helped so many people in dire circumstances. The crew performed admirably." The people who were rescued came from a number of countries, including Iraq and Somalia. Noordam Captain Johannes Mateboer said, "Holland America Line is proud of the crew of MS Noordam, which acted correctly by saving lives. The ship's decision to rescue people in imminent danger of losing their lives is entirely consistent with its moral and legal obligations." In Geneva, Switzerland, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres said, "We are also grateful to the government of Turkey for receiving these people in need. This incident highlights the urgent need for states to cooperate in order to prevent the tragedies that are occurring almost daily, in the Mediterranean and elsewhere, when people use desperate means to seek a better life or refuge." Assistant High Commissioner for Protection Erika Feller said, "Rarely a week goes by without some news of an unseaworthy boat that has sunk with its passengers on board, dead bodies being washed ashore on the holiday beaches of southern Europe, and people who have paid huge sums of money to human smugglers whose last concern is the welfare of their clients." (186)

"The Only Thing I could Manage to Get Out at that Point was 'Girl in the Water!'"

On Sunday, 22 May 2011, an eight-year-old girl was playing by the Cuyahoga River in downtown Kent, Ohio, when she fell in. Kent State senior Eric Johnston, a music education major, saw her go into the water. He said, "Me and a group of friends decided to go down and walk by the river since it was nice out Sunday. My friend John and I were standing on top of the dam there, and I saw the little girl fall in backwards. The only thing I could manage to get out at that point was 'Girl in the water!'" Mr. Johnston knew that downriver was a shallow area. If he reached it in time, he could pull the little girl out of the river. He said, "I instinctively thought I could make it down there before her and wade out into the water and get her." As his friends called 911, he raced to the shallow area, reaching it just before the girl did and pulling her out of the water. Kent Fire Captain John Tosko said, "She could have easily drowned. [...] I think he saved her life." The Kent firefighters arrived just as Mr. Johnston was helping the girl's father out of the river. He had jumped into the river in an attempt to save her, but he had been unable to catch up to her. Fire Chief Tosko said that just five days earlier the department had been training for water rescues in the river, adding, "I can't imagine going in that in street clothes." (187)

"You've Done a Great Job: You Thought, You were Calm, and You Worked as a Team"

In January 2006, two men in their twenties were in danger of drowning after their jet ski broke down in the sea at Mornington Peninsula, Tootgarook, Australia. They were in the water, clinging to the jet ski, for over two hours before two boys saw them. Ben Eliya, age 14, from Sydney, swam out to the men, 150 meters from shore, and assisted them to shore. One man was able to swim on his own, but he had been too exhausted to help the other man reach shore. Meanwhile, Liam Payne, age 12, of Diamond Creek, alerted his mother, Desiree, to the plight of the two men, and she called the Australian emergency number 000. Liam kept going into the water and running to his mother to give her updates to convey to emergency personnel. Three other children also helped the two men. Liam's sister (Gemma Payne, age nine) and two of her friends (Daniel Gilbert, age 12, and Holly Gilbert, age nine) ran to get blankets to keep the men, who were suffering from hypothermia, warm while they waited for the ambulance to arrive. Desiree Payne praised the children: "I said to all the kids, 'You've done a great job: You thought, you were calm, and you worked as a team.' Between the five kids, they just did a brilliant job." Police Senior Constable Wayne Wilson said, "The two young boys were level-headed, quick thinking, and we no doubt praise their tremendous efforts." (188)

"If the Anchor Would have Let Go, They Would have had No Chance. They Would have Gone Over"

On 18 June 2011 at the Horseshoe Falls of Niagara Falls, a Canadian helicopter pilot and a Niagara Parks police officer rescued two American police officers who had recently performed a rescue of their own. The American police officers were on a New York State Police jetboat. Because of heavy fog, they were unable to see. They knew that they were very close to the falls, so they threw the anchor and waited for help. Ruedi Hafen, the Canadian helicopter pilot called to help in the rescue, said, "They could hear the falls, they could see the falls, they could smell the falls. It was a desperate situation for them." The police officers' boat, which was about 274 meters from the edge of the falls, would gone over in another minute. Mr. Hafen, who is originally from Switzerland, said, "If the anchor would have let go, they would have had no chance. They would have gone over." The police officers had previously rescued four teenagers from a motorboat that had broken down and was heading toward the falls. Mr. Hafen said about the police officers, "They'd already gone through the first major rapids. And from that point on, the river is really wild. They tried to get out with engine power... and they still went down the river. Such a little boat, such a big anchor. That saved their lives." Helicopters on the American side of the falls were grounded by fog, and attempts at a rescue from shore had failed, so Mr. Hafen was called upon to use a helicopter to rescue the police officers. Also in the helicopter were Constable Shawn Black of Niagara Parks Police and engineer Ken Irvine, who acted as a spotter. To rescue the police officers, they used a short haul rescue lift. Constable Black suspended himself from a 33-meter line attached to the bottom of the helicopter, and Mr. Hafen lowered him to the police officers' boat. Constable Black carried off one police officer at a time. The fog lifted, and the police officers, now safe on shore, realized just how close they had been to the falls. Mr. Hafen said, "They were snow white, like a bed sheet. They were very shook up, and they couldn't stop thanking us." New York State Park Police Sergeant Mark Van Wie called the rescue effort "seamless," pointing out that Canadian and American officials train together for such emergencies: "We thank everybody that was involved. With any of these rescues, we lean on each other on both sides [of the border] to get these things done." (189)

"It Felt like Two Arms were Pulling Me Under"

Lindsey Burgess and her fiancé, Richard Waggoner, who are both from Missouri, were hiking at Devil's Hole at Buffalo (NY) Niagara when Lindsey slipped on a rock and fell into the water. She said, "It felt like two arms were pulling me under." The strong undertow took her under the water several times, and she lost consciousness. Fortunately, a boat from Whirlpool Jet Tours was passing by and Captain Corey Ziraldo saw Richard frantically waving his arms. He then saw Lindsey's head before the strong undertow took her under the water again. Captain Ziraldo steered the boat close to Lindsey, and crewmember Brittany Thompson used a hook to latch on to Lindsey and get her to the boat. Two passengers helped Brittany get Lindsey on board the boat, and then Brittany and a passenger performed CPR on Lindsey, who was taken to a hospital, recovered, and then thanked her rescuers. (190)

"Lucky to be in the Right Place at the Right Time"

Northfield, Illinois, Police Sergeant JJ McCulloh heard the sound of a car crash while he was on patrol on 30 May 2011. A man had lost control of his car and driven through a railing, ending up unconscious in over three feet of water. Sergeant McCulloh said, "I decided I was going to have to get wet, so I jumped in." He opened a front car door and found a man inside. He said, "I could see there was a gentleman in there who was floating. He was lifeless." Sergeant McCulloh used a knife to cut the man's seatbelt and got the man out. He said, "He magically just floated out into my hands." He then got the man out of the water and started providing CPR with the help of a Good Samaritan who had stopped. Sergeant McCulloh said, "After about five minutes of CPR, he started to revive. The pulse came back, and he started to regurgitate and he started to breathe on his own." He added, "I've done CPR multiple, multiple, times. Usually it's not successful." Northfield Officer Kevin Tierney entered the water and searched the car for any other passengers, but there were none. Both officers needed to get cleaned up after the rescue. The Northfield Water Department tested the water, and Sergeant McCulloh said, "We were told there was a 90 percent chance that it contained raw sewage coming down from Highland Park." After cleaning up and putting on fresh uniforms, the two police officers worked another five hours that were not as exciting as what they had just been through. Sergeant McCulloh said, "I was very happy. I was very grateful to the powers that be that the gentleman looked like he came back. That was a good feeling, for sure. You could work your whole career and not have something like that happen to you. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time." Northfield Police Chief Bill Lustig said, "I'm very proud of them. There's a lot of training that goes into being a police officer in this police department, and they displayed a great know-how." (191)

"We were Almost in Tears"

In September 2011 near the South Jetty in Newport, Oregon, a small 18-foot aluminum boat carrying three crab fishermen — Dan Hande, Rob Hicks, and Craig Smith — capsized. Swen Anderson said, "My brother saw them going out and he's like, 'Man, that's a small boat to be going out there in the waves.' I mean they were big!" Swen Anderson witnessed the boat capsize, and he called 911. Christopher Speakman of Corvallis, a 60-year-old surfer, saw heads bobbing in the water. The three men were trying to hang onto the capsized boat, but this was dangerous because their weight could make the boat sink. Mr. Speakman paddled toward the three men, got off his surfboard, and pushed it to two men to hang on to. Mr. Speakman said, "Immediately it was clear that if I gave the two guys that were closest to me my surfboard they would have something to relieve themselves of trying to hang onto this boat." Then he did his best to stabilize the capsized boat. Quickly, a Coast Guard ship arrived and picked up the four men. Mr. Speakman said, "That was really where I was meant to be, and it was just a good fortune situation." Swen Anderson said, "We were almost in tears. When they got out of the water, we were just like, Oh, what a sigh of relief; these guys are going to make it, you know." (192)

A Five-Year-Old Hero

During the summer of 2002, in Saskatchewan, Canada, five-year-old Jonathan Muir saw his younger cousin Tessa jump into a backyard swimming pool — she was not wearing her water wings. It's a good thing that Jonathan saw this because everyone else was getting out of the pool to start a barbeque. Jonathan said, "I was the last one in the pool. I was going to get out, and I saw bubbles. I went to check it out, and it was Tessa. I saved her. I pulled her up by the side." Jonathan's father, John Muir, said, "It was pretty overwhelming for him to tell me what happened because I didn't see it. He got a whole bunch of pats on the back, and it really sunk in after, how brave he was." (193)

Rage at 37,000 Feet

In January 2006 a drunken passenger became belligerent on a flight 37,000 feet in the air. The plane had left Mexico and was heading to England, but the pilot diverted the plane to Florida. Fortunately, eight passengers piled on the drunken man after he threatened to kill everyone on board. One of the heroic passengers was Dean Rawlings, a 43-year-old plasterer, who said, "He had broken the toilet door and was trying to open the main door of the aircraft. He said he was going to kill everybody. I think the adrenalin just took over and we all jumped on him. He was obscenely strong. He had the physical stature of a bear. It took eight of us to hold him down." At Sanford Airport, Orlando, Florida, armed FBI agents arrested the man, whom Mr. Rawlings said became first annoying and then belligerent after drinking duty-free alcohol. Mr. Rawlings said, "About an hour into the flight, this guy started walking up and down the aisles. He wasn't being aggressive, just annoying. He was tapping people on the head. He was a big guy, about 6 feet, 4 inches, and he looked like he was a bit mad. He had dark, evil eyes." One of the passengers complained about the drunken man's behavior. Mr. Rawlings said, "A steward asked him to sit down. He swore and said, 'I'm not doing anything you tell me.' He refused to sit down again, pushed the steward in the chest, and he went flying." Mr. Rawlings and some other passengers (two of whom were off-duty police officers) grabbed the man and restrained him. Mr. Rawlings said, "We grabbed hold of him and sat him down. He was screaming and bellowing, then said he was going to open the door and kill everybody, so we just looked at each other and piled on top of him." Everyone on board the plane stayed the night in Florida and the next day resumed their flight to England. Mr. Rawlings said, "It didn't really hit me until I got home and saw my daughter. She was upset, and I felt a bit shaken up when I thought about what could have happened." (194)

"I Moved that Gun that Killed Mommy. I Don't Want My Sisters to Die like Mommy"

On 15 January 2006 in San Jose, California, a man murdered 28-year-old Guadalupe Barajas in her home, and then he committed suicide. Inside the home were four-year-old Andrea Barajas and her sisters: Lizbeth, age three, and Alexandra, age 20 months. Andrea woke up and needed to go to the bathroom. She saw the bodies of her mother and the man who murdered her, and she saw the gun. She placed the gun under some pillows so that her sisters would not find it, and she took her sisters into another room and took care of them. She told them not to go into the room with the bodies, saying, "There is a gun in there that will kill you." She was not strong enough to open a new container of milk so she gave her sisters water and mints. They were alone for 16 hours. The girls' grandparents became worried because they had not heard from their daughter, who was supposed to drop off the children to be babysat when she worked. Police arrived and got into the home. They were surprised that the gun had been hidden. In Spanish, Andrea told Detective Sergeant Raymond Barrera, "I moved that gun that killed Mommy. I don't want my sisters to die like Mommy." Mr. Barrera told her, "You did the right thing. You are a hero." Andrea's maternal grandfather, Francisco Barajas, said about her, "She watches over the other kids when they are playing. She takes things upon herself." Detective Sergeant Brian Ferrante said, "I've been a cop for 20 years, and listening to this little girl and what she did, taking on the role of protecting her sisters.... Well, it really got me." (195)

"I Think There's Someone in my House. I Don't Know Who. I'm 13 Years Old. I Don't Know What to Do"

On 15 December 2011 in Harrison Township, Michigan, Chloe Symington, age 13, was home alone, ill in bed. She heard knocking at the door, but she did not answer it because she isn't allowed to when she is home alone. She did see a black van drive away. Shortly afterward, she heard somebody in the house. Two men had entered it from the garage. They were burgling the house. Chloe dialed 911 and said, "I think there's someone in my house. I don't know who. I'm 13 years old. I don't know what to do." She was curled up by her bed when one of the men entered her room. She whispered to the 911 dispatcher, "He's in my room," then she stayed quiet. The man looked around and then yelled to the other man that no one was home. After the man had left, the 911 dispatcher asked Chloe, "How did he not see you?" Chloe replied, "I don't know." She stayed under the bed until police arrived. The two burglars started carrying stuff such as Christmas presents to the black van, but took off running when they saw police waiting for them. They were later arrested. Macomb County Sheriff Tony Wickersham said, "She did a great job. Obviously, you never know what to expect. And such a young girl, knowing someone broke into her house, she did a great job remaining calm." Her father, Noel Symington, had advised her to stay calm in emergency situations — if you need to panic, do it later. He said, "It's common sense that cooler heads prevail. In a situation that is out of control, you have to remain in control." Chloe said, "My life was on the line. Who knows what would have happened?" (196)

"I Just Feel like I Saved Somebody's Life, and Maybe Someday Somebody will Save My Kids' Lives"

On 31 August 2010, someone shot a 14-year-old boy in the thigh in Chicago's South Side. The gunman then approached the boy who had fallen, and seemed to be about to kill him, but Malik Mentor, age 46 and a native of the West Indies, begged for the boy's life. He said, "When he fell... the guy walked up to him and then pointed the gun in his face about to blow his brains out." Mr. Mentor said, "I'm not going to let this kid get killed right in front of me." He then screamed, "Please, can you give him another chance!" The gunman looked at him, and Mr. Mentor continued begging. But only after Mr. Mentor dialed 911 on his cell phone did the gunman leave the boy alone and flee. Mr. Mentor said, "At the time I wasn't even thinking about myself. I was just thinking about the kid lying on the ground about to die." After the gunman had fled, Mr. Mentor started shaking, but he said, "I just feel like I saved somebody's life, and maybe someday somebody will save my kids' lives." (197)

Police in India Foil Kidnapping

In July 2011 in Gurgaon, Delhi, India, five drunk men kidnapped a woman and drove off with her. Police chased the vehicle for approximately 90 minutes and rescued the woman, who was unhurt. Four women had gone to a mall in Gurgaon. Five drunk men who were celebrating the purchase of a new car by one of them had just been denied admittance into a disco at the mall. The drunk men saw the women and asked them to dance, but were rebuffed. The men chased after the women, who had entered a taxi. The men took the women's cell phones and dragged one woman into their car. Fortunately, the women's taxi driver immediately called the police. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chayya Sharma said, "Barricades were put up and vehicle checking intensified. The accused, after abducting the woman, drove towards Andheria Mor and then towards the Aaya Nagar picket so as to escape to Faridabad. However, at the picket, on seeing heavy police presence, they took a U-turn and sped off on the wrong side of the carriageway." The car chase continued for approximately 90 minutes and involved seven police motorcycles, an emergency response vehicle, and a gypsy cab. Eventually, the chase was successful and two of the five men were arrested. (The other three men were identified.) Chayya Sharma said, "They were cornered from all sides. The men got off and tried escaping into the darkness. However, policemen on motorcycle[s] managed to apprehend two of them while three others escaped. The victim was rescued unhurt from the car." (198)

Dr. Yamini Adbe: Rescuer of a Young Victim of Rape

Early in the morning of 24 July 2011, Dr. Yamini Adbe was working night duty at the Dehuroad Cantonment Hospital in Pune, India. She saw some ward boys driving away what appeared at a distance to be a stray dog. She asked them about it, and they told her that they had driven away a girl who was wearing very little clothing. Dr. Adbe got in her car and searched for the girl. She said, "It was pitch dark and the alleys of Dehuroad showed no sign of the girl, but I noticed a herd of stray dogs chasing a human figure, who then jumped a garbage heap. I immediately got off the car and yelled, 'Bachcha, mama aai hain' ('Child, mother is here'). The girl, who looked like she was in her twenties, sprang to her feet and jumped into the back of my Safari through the window. She was trembling and even tried to run away when she saw the ward boys." Dr. Adbe knew that the young woman was in shock: "I could see that she was petrified at the sight of any man. We then informed the police." Dr. Adbe cared for the young woman's physical wounds with first aid. Dr. Adbe said, "I told her to write down things about herself and she wrote a page-and-half, mentioning several addresses. But it was difficult to co-relate, as much of it was irrelevant." The police took a long time to show up. Adbe said, "Only after the intervention of a human rights activist did the police come. The medical examination and the girl's statements made to us revealed that she had been repeatedly raped by an unknown person or persons. Considering the condition of the girl, we shifted her to Sassoon hospital." Dr. Adbe said that the repeated rapes had made the young woman incoherent: "I do not think that the girl had any mental disorder, but I feel she was psychologically traumatized after the incident." Dr. Adbe was able to contact the young woman's parents in Chhattisgarh. Police Inspector Rajendra Patil said, "We have handed over the girl to her parents and sent an officer with them to verify whether the girl hails from the same family." An article in Mid Day about this rescue stated, "Adbe said she received threats from local politicians after the incident. She said the politicians came with eight people to threaten her for helping the rape victim. Adbe said she had informed [police officer Sandip] Karnik about this. Karnik said he had asked his officers to look into the matter." (199)

"I Will Never Forget What It Felt like to Carry This Girl Out of the Room. I Wanted to Go 'Dexter' on These Guys"

On 3 March 2007, Lauren Bryeans, April Grolle and Lauren Chief Elk, members of the De Anza college soccer team, went to a post-game party, where they heard noises that disturbed them. Through a door, they saw a man raping an unconscious, 17-year-old girl. Seven other men were in the room. Ms. Chief Elk said, "She was very intoxicated and hardly breathing. She was disheveled." The three women entered the room and rescued the girl, calling 911 and taking her to the hospital. Ms. Grolle said, "To be silent about something is not right, but [intervening] was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do." No charges were filed. Ms. Chief Elk said, "The situation does not justify what happened to this girl. I will never forget what it felt like to carry this girl out of the room. I wanted to go 'Dexter' on these guys. We had no idea what was going to happen that night." Janelle Boo, coordinator of Sexual Assault Response at the James Madison University Counseling and Student Development Center, said, "I think students can always be more aware of these situations at parties. They need to start increasing their knowledge about sexual assaults and take political action." (200)
CHAPTER 5: STORIES 201-250

No Means No

Members of the West Mercia police force are engaged in trying to prevent rape through education. Members of the police force want people to be careful, to realize that No Means No, and to report sex crimes. Detective Superintendent Ivan Powell, Force Crime Manager for West Mercia, said, "We take all reports of rape very seriously and have improved our service to the community by having dedicated specialist officers, improved rape suites, and better partnership work with the voluntary sector. Rape is a horrendous crime, but there are some simple steps people can take to protect themselves. You can be vulnerable if you drink too much and don't stay with your friends. We advise people to make sure they use licensed cabs and get home safely. Don't go off with a stranger unless you have told a friend where you are going and watch your drink when you are out to reduce the risk of someone putting something in it without you knowing. Alcohol features in two thirds of all rapes. We want people to enjoy the party season and let their hair down without letting their guard down. If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of crime, you should call police as soon as possible, or if you feel unable to do so, please use one of the support services there are on offer in our region" or, of course, in your region. (201)

Should This Mouse Receive an Award?

In December 2011 a man in Taylorsville, Utah, saw a mouse in the home he shared with three other men and shot at it. The bullet went through a wall and hit one of his roommates in the abdomen. Police arrived, and when they went through the home, they found a 13-year-old girl hiding in a closet. She had been having a sexual relationship for a few months with a man who lived in the home. Because she is underage, the police arrested the man and charged him with rape and aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Taylorsville City Police Sergeant Tracy Wyant said, "When officers and fire personnel arrived, they discovered a 28-year-old male that had been shot in the abdomen. The victim's roommate had witnessed a mouse run across a counter and shot at the mouse with a 9mm handgun. The round went through a wall and into an adjacent restroom, striking the victim." Sergeant Wyant added that police officers "discovered a 13-year-old female hiding in a closet. It was quickly learned that this 13-year-old did not belong to any of these adult men." The police questioned the girl. Sergeant Wyant said, "At this point, it appears the young female victim had been sneaking out of her home, which is about 12 to 15 miles away from where this incident occurred, during [the course of] this relationship." Her parents said that they were unaware of the relationship. Sergeant Wyant said, "The day before [the shooting], we were in the national news because we had a case where a lady sprayed an ice cream truck driver in the face with a cleaning chemical. Now we have this. It's like, what the h*ll is going on?" What about the mouse? Sergeant Wyant said, "I've had more inquires on the mouse than anything. It is my understanding he missed the mouse, and it fled." Sergeant Wyant added, "We had one call suggesting the mouse receive an award. I guess the mouse is the hero in this matter." (202)

Bellingham Walmart Employee Helps Woman in Need

Early in the morning of 29 November 2011, a woman who said that she had been raped got help from a Walmart employee in Bellingham, Washington. The woman and her alleged rapist walked into the Walmart, and according to Bellingham Police Department spokesperson Mark Young, the woman "discretely shared that she had been raped and needed help getting away from her attacker. The store employee was able to create an opportunity for the victim to come to the office alone to use the phone, and it was there that she learned of the attack." The Walmart employee called 911. Police interviewed the woman and arrested her alleged rapist. The woman had been at a Pet Smart store when the alleged rapist saw her. Mr. Young said, "The suspect grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. The victim continued by saying she felt compelled to get into the truck fearing for her safety." According to the woman, she was assaulted inside the truck. Afterward, she was able to convince the alleged rapist to let her make a telephone call in Walmart. Mr. Young said, "She [the victim] and the suspect walked into the Walmart where she was able to summon help." (203)

Josefa Lopez: "When You See Your Daughter in Trouble, You have to Do Something"

Mothers protect their children, no matter how old the mothers are. On 19 December 2011 in Hialeah, Florida, a gunman beat and robbed the 61-year-old daughter of 80-year-old Josefa Lopez, who used her cane to fight the gunman and scare him away. Josefa saw her daughter lying on the ground and bleeding with the gunman standing over her. Josefa said in Spanish, "I thought she was dead. I yelled at [the gunman], 'I am going to kill you, [son of a b*tch]!' I wasn't myself. To me, she was dead." The gunman had pulled her daughter out of the SUV in which Josefa was seated. The gunman yelled at Josefa's daughter, "Give me!" Whether he was trying to steal her purse or the SUV is not clear. The daughter, Teresa Medina, said in Spanish, "I was worried he was going to do something to my mother. I was trying to scream to my mother to run inside the house." Josefa got out of the SUV and tried to hit the man with her cane, and the man turned around and fired a shot at her but missed. He then fled. Josefa said, "When you see your daughter in trouble, you have to do something." (204)

Darren Weingrow: Good Samaritan

In December 2011 in Brooklyn, New York, Delores Gillespie, age 73, was set on fire and burned to death in an elevator in her apartment building. Deputy Chief Steven Moro said, "It was the most horrific thing I've ever seen." An eyewitness, John (he did not want to give his last name) said that he heard yelling and then noticed "an acrid smell, like an electrical fire. I looked out my door and saw smoke coming out of the elevator and we all evacuated." When he looked back, "The elevator looked like a furnace," he said. John added, "It is deeply upsetting that someone would trap a person in an elevator and light them on fire, especially in our community and in our building." Darren Weingrow, a Manhattan hedge fund manager, did the very good deed of paying for Ms. Gillespie's funeral expenses, although he did not know her. (205)

Stolen But Returned: Wedding Dress

In December 2011, Chicago, Illinois, police officers John McKenna and Paul Sandoval pulled over a car that they thought was stolen. It had been stolen, and in its trunk was a wedding dress. Officers McKenna and Sandoval returned the car and wedding dress to the rightful owners: a couple from Iowa. Officer Sandoval said, "They didn't care about their belongings. There was other stuff missing from the vehicle, but as soon as she saw the wedding dress she was ecstatic, so it was a nice feeling. It was a nice end to a good story." And yes, the wedding dress was returned to the couple in time for the wedding. (206)

"God, if You are Going to Take Me, I'm Ready, But I've Got to Help Out"

On 1 November 2011, truck driver Mike Schiotis of Spring Hill, Tennessee, saw a bleeding woman being beaten by a man with a gun alongside Interstate 380 outside Scranton, Pennsylvania. The woman's attacker was her ex-boyfriend, who was enraged when the woman told him that she was pregnant with his child. Mr. Schiotis said, "She was shrieking and in fear for her life. I said a quick prayer: 'God, if you are going to take me, I'm ready, but I've got to help out." He said that when he jumped out of the cab of his truck, "I could hear the sound of the gun hitting her head." He pulled the woman inside his truck and drove away, with the ex-boyfriend in pursuit. He said, "I was swerving to keep him from pulling up next to us and shooting at us. My load was only about 6,000 lbs., and I was able to maneuver fairly well." He added, "If I was fully loaded, I would have been easy pickings for him." Mr. Schiotis used a CB radio to explain to other drivers why he was driving so erratically, and a truck driver for Dupre Transport drove beside Mr. Schiotis in order to block the other lane. Mr. Schiotis also called the highway patrol and drove until he saw troopers in the rearview mirror. Mr. Schiotis, an independent contractor, works for Panther Expedited Services. Panther spokesperson Kyle Mitchin said, "We are very proud of Mike and his exceptional bravery under these extreme circumstances. Panther is made up of quality individuals, and we are humbled by the dedication that they show on a daily basis." Mr. Schiotis said, "I knew I couldn't ignore her and just go on down the road and later read that something bad had happened to her." He added, "She said, 'Nobody else would help me. You stopped and saved my life.'" Mr. Schiotis' sister, Stephanie Johnson of Columbia, Tennessee, said, "I was crying when he told me. I said, 'Mike, do you realize you are a hero? You saved that woman's life and her baby, too!' I believe the Lord was with him every step of the way." (207)

Good Samaritan Chases Away Muggers

In April 2003 in Portobello, Scotland, two muggers, described as being in their late teens to mid-twenties, attacked a 39-year-old man, hitting him in the head and then kicking him after he fell. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan who was walking his dog appeared and chased the muggers away. The victim was taken to a hospital. A police spokeswoman said, "The two men were unsuccessful in their attempts thanks to the Good Samaritan, who we would like to trace. We believe he may have seen the attackers and can give us vital information." (208)

Identify Yourself!

In 2011, a member of the Oakland, California, police force taped over his name while in uniform, thus making it difficult for him to be identified. This can be a problem when it comes to holding police responsible for their actions. (Yes, most police officers are good people and many are heroes, but a few are neither.) Legislators are aware of this, and California Penal Code Section 830.10 states this: "Any uniformed peace officer shall wear a badge, nameplate, or other device which bears clearly on its face the identification number or name of the officer." A vblogger did the right thing and called the attention of Lieutenant C. Wong to a police officer who had used black tape to cover his name. Lieutenant Wong did the right thing and removed the black tape that covered the police officer's name. Posting on the Disinformation Web site on 4 November 2011, "JacobSloan" wrote, "The issue of 'anonymous police' remains a serious problem. This is especially true for 'riot police' who wear dark anonymous uniforms while firing rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and flash-bang grenades into the crowd."

"You are Going to be All Right. The Ambulance is Coming"

On 12 March 2007, in Memphis, Tennessee, Heather Fox drove to her weekly Bible study class. She gave a woman with a baby a lift, but the woman pulled a gun on her and told her to stop at an ATM. At a red light, Ms. Fox jumped out of the car and ran, and the woman shot her in the back, rupturing a vein near her heart, and then drove away with Ms. Fox' car. (The woman was quickly arrested, tried, and given a 22-year-old sentence in prison.) Ms. Fox lay screaming in the street, bleeding. She said, "I was going cold. I felt my legs to make sure I wasn't paralyzed." An 18-year-old African-American stranger, Ashley Sanders, came to her aid and pushed down on the bullet wound, slowing the loss of blood. Ms. Fox said, "She kept telling me, 'You are going to be all right. The ambulance is coming.'" Ms. Fox recovered — hospital officials said that she would have died without Ms. Sanders' help — and she and Ms. Sanders became friends. At the time when Ms. Fox was shot, Ms. Sanders had few good prospects in life, and she asked Ms. Sanders for advice about finding a job. Ms. Fox did more than give advice. She thought education would help Ms. Sanders, and she emailed friends and set up a $6,000 educational trust fund for her. Ms. Fox then helped Ms. Sanders get into the Tennessee Technology Center. After seeing Ms. Sanders on television, the Tennessee Technology Center gave her a full scholarship. When Ms. Sanders graduated with a pharmacy technology degree in 2009, Ms. Fox was in the audience. Ms. Sanders said, "I have a career now." (210)

"Thank You, All the People of West Salem"

During trick-or-treating for Halloween, 2011, in West Salem, Oregon, two teenage boys robbed Michael Harper, age 13, and his sister, Michelle, age 10, of their candy. Upset, a family member wrote on Craigslist about the robbery. An anonymous person then donated 10 pounds of candy and money for next Halloween's costumes to Michael and Michelle, gifts that police delivered to the children. Michael said, "Thank you, all the people of West Salem. Thank you for your donation. God bless you." (211)

"That's When I Heard the Screams Coming from the Trunk"

In 2011 in Scotland County, North Carolina, Lieutenant Tommy Butler, a Sheriff's Deputy, was on his way home around 4 a.m. after an exhausting shift with three hours overtime when he saw a car go past a stop sign without stopping. He said, "Something just felt different about that one. I immediately turned around and went after it." The car, a red Hyundai Sonata, was going about 85 mph at first, but then it sped up to 115 mph. Eventually, the car stopped and the driver ran away. Lieutenant Butler started to chase the driver, but then he stopped because, he said, "That's when I heard the screams coming from the trunk of the suspect's vehicle." Inside the car trunk was a woman who had been getting gas when a pregnant woman asked her for a ride. She agreed, but the pregnant woman's boyfriend also got in the car. They forced her, at gunpoint, to drive into a rural area, and then they put her in the trunk. She was not injured, and the suspects were arrested. Lieutenant Butler said that the woman was very happy to be rescued. When he opened the trunk, she reached out and grabbed him and almost pulled him into the trunk rather than him pulling her out. She gave Lieutenant Butler a big hug for rescuing her. (212)

"The Rich People have Blessed Our Family. We are Still Homeless, But Restored by the Hearts of the One Percent. It's Amazing the Love and Support Shown by the Ones Who We Thought Cared the Least"

In 2011, the Givens family, which consists of Renzell, Kimberly, and 12-year-old Kobe, was homeless. To survive, they stood on a grassy median along a street across from a mall in Los Angeles, displaying signs such as this: "FAMILY NEEDS HELP. NOT CONS, NOT ADDICTS, NOT FELONS." By doing this, they get enough money that they can buy meals and rent a motel room to stay the night. They do have a car: a Monte Carlo. Renzell said, "I would never have thought in my life that I'd be standing out here with a sign, or sleeping in a car with my wife and child." They became jobless in October 2010, when Renzell lost his job (the department where he worked was closed down). Kimberly said, "We used his final check to pay the rent. We were evicted the next month." For a few months, they used county assistance, unemployment benefits, and United Way vouchers. Kimberly said that when those sources of income ran out, "We discovered that if you're drug and alcohol free, married, employable, not mentally ill... the assistance out there for you is minimal." For example, subsidized housing has a two-year waiting list. For a while, they used shelters and church soup kitchens. Skid Row frightened Kimberly, who said, "We drove through there one night. I couldn't imagine my child down there. That frightened me more than the thought of sleeping in our car." Then Kimberly had a revelation: "We ought to be in Beverly Hills. They can't help me on Crenshaw. They're in the same position I'm in." The place where they beg is near Beverly Hills: the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and Avenue of the Stars. Kimberly said that "the rich people have blessed our family. We are still homeless, but restored by the hearts of the one percent. It's amazing the love and support shown by the ones who we thought cared the least." Many celebrities have helped the Givens family, Kimberly said: "Spike Lee stopped by twice, just to check on us. Morgan Freeman ran a red light and cut across three lanes to pull over. [He gave the family money for a motel room.] Chris Brown drove up in a Lamborghini, gave us $26, and apologized because that was all the cash he had." In addition, she called Jon Voight a guardian angel: "He told us, 'This is where you ought to be [instead of on Skid Row]. You are testing the heart of us.' That makes me feel like this is bigger than 'We just need a place to sleep.'" People who are not in the one percent also learn from the Givens family. Kimberly said, "Some people say, 'That could never be me.' But others stop and want to hear our story. Some people just pull over and pray with us." An elderly waitress often gives them a little money. Renzell said, "We try to turn it down. She looks like she needs it as much as we do. But she said, 'Every time I give to you guys, my tips soar.'" In December, a man stopped and tossed Cody a jacket, saying, "Take this, little man." Not everyone helps. Some yell, "Get a job!" Renzell said, "Mentally, they think 'con' first." Kimberly said, "I get it." She knows some people take advantage of other people. Back when she was not homeless, she gave money to a couple who showed her a photo of a little girl. They said that the girl was their daughter. They said that she had been killed in a drive-by shooting and they needed money for her funeral. Months later, she saw the same couple, telling the same story. She said, "And I knew I'd been taken advantage of." However, she said, "Every time I'd see homeless people, asking for a dollar at the gas station, I'd give them what I had. Now we're one of 'those people.' And some days, behind my sign, I am just so shamed." The Givenses make sure to wear clean clothes and to comb their hair. Kimberly said, "We want people to see we're just like them. We're not blameless for our situation; we could have done better. I go back every day and replay it. But I have faith things are going to get better." (213)

"You Need to Feed 5,000 People"

Natalina DePina passed out homemade sandwiches that she carried in a large plastic bucket to the homeless in Los Angeles. She had made a wrong turn one day and ended up driving through Skid Row. She said, "I broke down. I had never seen anything like this in my life. It was hard to imagine this existed a few blocks from where I shop for things to sell at my boutique." Shortly afterward, she had a dream, which she regards as "a revelation from God." What was the revelation? It was this: "You need to feed 5,000 people." She said, "That was the message. I don't believe in coincidence. I'd come to Skid Row for a reason." Once each month, Ms. DePina, Monet Ravenell (one of her friends), and other people spent all night making 500 to 800 sandwiches, and then went to Skid Row and gave them away. The first trip to Skid Row to give away sandwiches occurred on 14 November 2010. She reached her goal of feeding 5,000 people on 4 December 2011. On her final trip to Skid Row, she brought peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. How much did Project 5K cost her? She said, "A lot. But that doesn't matter." (Some people volunteered time and money to Project 5K.) She said that something humbling occurs "when somebody says, 'God bless you,' and you know they have so little, and God has blessed me with so much." (214)

"Don't Mention It. We Don't Want You to Get Hurt"

Priyanka Bhatia, a student at Louisiana State University, got off the bus five blocks too early, and she realized that she was in a bad part of town. Worse, she stuck out because she looked exotic and she was wearing a T-shirt with a pro-sex-education slogan. She worried. She worried more as she waited for the next bus and two people — a woman and a man — from a lower socio-economic class approached her. The woman sat next to her and asked, "What's your name?" Priyanka lied and answered, "Annie." The woman said, "You don't look like you belong here. Where are you headed?" Priyanka said, "I'm trying to get to Corporate Boulevard, but I got off the bus too early, so I'm waiting for the next one. Do you know when it's coming around?" The woman replied, "Probably not for another hour, but you should really get out of here before that. You're young and you don't blend in very well. I'm only helping you because you look like my niece and I can't see you get hurt. You're like fresh meat out here." The woman showed Priyanka a photo of her niece, and then she said, "So Mike and I are going to walk you to wherever it is you need to go — the bus station is only a few blocks away and you can catch the next bus out there but I want you to be safe." Priyanka thanked the woman, whose name was Barbara, and Barbara said, "Don't mention it. We don't want you to get hurt." Priyanka reflected later, "I was blown away by their act of complete kindness and generosity. These were strangers who I had been afraid of but what I really learned instead, was that they were far better, stronger people than I had ever been." (215)

Rewards for Good Driving

For a week in December 2011, the police department of Prosper, Texas, pulled over good drivers and gave them gift cards for driving well. Prosper resident Caitlin Woody said, "I have never been pulled over before, so I was like, 'Oh, no!'" But when she was given a $10 gift card, she said, "I was like, 'That is really awesome.' It makes my day." The police gave away the majority of the gift cards to people dropping off their children in school zones. Assistant Prosper Police Chief Gary McHone said, "There's such a high concentration of drivers at pick-up and drop-off times that we can safely approach those vehicles. Maybe they had a safe speed coming into a parking lot, their inspections were up-to-date, they were using the safety belts in the vehicles, their child was in a safety restraint." Mr. McHone said, "To protect and serve — I think [...] a key component in serving is to acknowledge and give thanks to our community." (216)

Paul Abraham: Proponent of Small Business

On 28 September 2011, Paul Abraham died suddenly. He was the owner of the Campus Sundry, a small business that had been in Athens, Ohio, for over 50 years. He despised what he regarded as the greed of big business, and in his small store, he told people who were short of money to pay what they could and to go ahead and take the merchandise they wanted and to pay him the rest of the money they owed later. According to Paul's brother, Ray, even after Paul died, people kept coming into the Campus Sundry to pay off their small debts. After Paul died, his family gave away many of the items in the store. Athens County Children Services received approximately $500 worth of candy, and Athens City Schools got all of the store's school supplies. Paul was a 1964 graduate of Athens High School; his classmates donated money so that AHS' Hall of Fame can add a plaque to honor him. (217)

A Homeless Good Samaritan

Flo Wheatley and her very ill son, who was travelling to get chemotherapy, were having a very difficult time in pouring rain entering a subway station in New York City. Fortunately, a homeless man — a Good Samaritan — saw that they were having trouble, so he carried their suitcases in the rain — without asking for anything in return. Flo appreciated the help and started The Sleeping Bag Project, My Brother's Keeper Quilt Group. For 29 years (as of 2011), Flo and other volunteers have been sewing recycled cloth into sleeping bags for the homeless. (218)

"I Realized, You Know, If I Didn't have a Home or I Didn't Remember Where I Lived or It was Cold Outside, I'd Want Someone to Help Me Out"

In January 2011 in Michigan, Raphael Gonzalez saw 75-year-old Johnnie Shaw walking with difficulty in the snow alongside a road. Mr. Shaw was wearing a baseball cap and a light jacket in the nine-degree weather. Thinking that Mr. Shaw was homeless, Mr. Gonzalez took him in his home and let him stay for a while. Mr. Gonzalez said, "Sometimes, we can recognize when somebody's in trouble — when somebody needs help, and I think it's our duty to try to help him." Mr. Shaw said that he was homeless; however, he has dementia and had wandered away from his caretaker, who had reported that he was missing. Jerry Hernandez, Mr. Gonzalez' son, said, "He was like, really quiet. He just stayed in one spot the entire time. We would, like, ask him things about his past, and he just gave us little sentences. He really wouldn't say a lot — really polite, though." Mr. Gonzalez allowed Mr. Shaw to sleep on a mattress in the living room, for one and a half days, and then he took him to a church in order to find permanent accommodations for him. At the church, he discovered that Mr. Shaw had been reported missing. Deputies of the Kent County Sheriff's Department took Mr. Shaw to his caretaker. Taking a stranger into their home was a new experience for Mr. Gonzalez and his son. Jerry Hernandez said, "At first, I was like, ah, what are you guys doing? It was really uncomfortable, and later on, I realized, you know, if I didn't have a home or I didn't remember where I lived or it was cold outside, I'd want someone to help me out." (219)

Aikido in Combat: Love and Reconciliation

Terry Dobson, an aikido student (and eventual 5th-degree black belt) who studied in Japan, knew that his teacher did not want the students to fight. In fact, his teacher said, "Aikido is the art of reconciliation. Whoever has the mind to fight has broken his connection with the universe. If you try to dominate other people, you are already defeated. We study how to resolve conflict, not how to start it." Mr. Dodson tried to follow this wisdom, even going out of his way to avoid pinball punks at the train station who would have been happy to fight him. However, one day a large, drunken Japanese man came onto the train car that Mr. Dodson was riding. The drunk started cursing and hitting the other passengers, and Mr. Dodson prepared mentally for a fight. He would not start the fight, but if the drunk started a fight with him, Mr. Dobson would finish it. Mr. Dobson thought, This is it! This slob, this animal, is drunk and mean and violent. People are in danger. If I don't do something fast, somebody will probably get hurt. I'm gonna take his *ss to the cleaners. But when the drunk threatened Mr. Dobson, a voice rang out, "Hey!" Mr. Dodson and the drunk looked to see where the voice was coming from. A small, old Japanese man was smiling and speaking to the drunk: "C'mere. C'mere and talk with me." The drunk bellowed at the old man, "Talk to you? Why the h*ll should I talk to you?" The old man said, "What'cha been drinkin'?" The drunk answered, "I been drinkin' sake, and it's none of your god d*mned business!" The old man replied, "Oh, that's wonderful. Absolutely wonderful! You see, I love sake, too. Every night, me and my wife (she's seventy-six, you know), we warm up a little bottle of sake and take it into our garden, and we sit on the old wooden bench that my grandfather's first student made for him. We watch the sun go down, and we look to see how our persimmon tree is doing. My great-grandfather planted that tree, you know, and we worry about whether it will recover from those ice storms we had last winter. Persimmons do not do well after ice storms, although I must say that ours has done rather better than I expected, especially when you consider the poor quality of the soil. Still, it is most gratifying to watch when we take our sake and go out to enjoy the evening — even when it rains!" The drunk said, "Yeah. I love persimmons, too...." The old man smiled and said, "Yes, and I'm sure you have a wonderful wife." The drunk said, "No, my wife died." He began to cry, saying, "I don't got no wife, I don't got no home, I don't got no job, I don't got no money, I don't got nowhere to go. I'm so ashamed of myself." The train came to Mr. Dobson's stop, and he got off. As he left the train, he heard the old man say, "My, my. That is a very difficult predicament, indeed. Sit down here and tell me about it." Mr. Dobson reflects, "As the train pulled away, I sat down on a bench. What I had wanted to do with muscle and meanness had been accomplished with a few kind words. I had seen aikido tried in combat, and the essence of it was love, as the founder had said." (220)

A Lesson in Kindness

In Oakland, California, Pancho Ramos Stierle lives in a house situated between two gangs. A few boys once smashed glass bottles on the streets. Pancho heard the noise and went outside in his bare feet. He started picking up the shards of glass and told the boys in Spanish, "Brother, you see that house over there? They have a young one, and when he walks out on the street, we don't want them to get hurt." The boys helped Pancho pick up the broken glass. (221)

"If He had Slipped, He Would have Died"

In July 2005 in Newcastle, England, seven-year-old Alex McCabe had an accident that left him impaled on a garden railing with a spike going into his chin and out his mouth. Fortunately, Sean Pugh, the 13-year-old son of Derek Pugh, went out of his home in order to go to a store. Derek said, "About a minute later, Sean came running back in calling for help and asking someone to phone an ambulance. I ran outside and saw Alex on the fence. By the time I got there, he was hanging off the fence. If he had slipped, he would have died; the spike went through his chin and out of his mouth — it would have gone into his eye. I grabbed him and thought I mustn't move him. All I could think about was that if he was moved, the spike might hit an artery or something and that would be the end of him." Meanwhile, Derek's wife, Carol, called emergency services. Derek said, "The emergency services got there pretty quick, but even the firefighters were shocked by what they saw. They asked me if I was OK, but I was just thinking about Alex. They were very good. They discussed the best way of freeing Alex and decided they would have to cut the fence away but leave the spike in Alex's mouth. I have had nightmares about it ever since. It was all just so horrible. I don't think there is anything anybody could have done about it; it was just an horrendous accident." Alex spent three days in a hospital, including two nights in intensive care, and then returned home. He paid a visit and thanked Derek, who said, "He came round with a card and a bottle of wine. He's such a lovely little boy. I told him that I was proud to have helped such a lovely little lad." Carol said, "When Sean came in screaming, I rang the emergency services, but I think I was in a panic as well. I'm so proud of both my boys for what they did. Alex plays here a lot because he lives on a main road and it's safer here generally. But I do not think those fences are safe, and maybe this will just remind people of the care they need to take around them. Sean was initially shocked by the whole thing, and he wouldn't talk about it, but since Alex came round he has been okay. Alex is a lovely little lad, and I think our families will stay in touch now. We have a common bond now." Nicola McCabe, Alex's mother, said, "I would just like to thank Derek, Carol, and Sean for what they did for Alex. Without them, Alex might not have been here and I will always remember that. Alex was desperate to see Derek when he came out of hospital. We owe him so much." Acting station officer Roy Lewis, from the West End fire station, said, "I have to praise the man who was holding him. He did a tremendous job." (222)

A Kind and Helpful Driver

Lee Castelani, a Senshido instructor in Montreal, Canada, has a brother who was in a taxi that broke down at a red light. When the light turned green, the driver in the car behind the taxi honked his horn — not aggressively, but as a way to alert the taxi driver that the light had turned green. The taxi driver got out of the taxi and apologized to the driver, who offered to take the taxi driver's passenger to wherever he was going. (People in Canada are often very, very nice.) He drove the passenger to the passenger's parents' house, and he asked, "Hey, do you know Lee?" The driver turned out to be a friend whom Lee had not seen for a while. Lee wrote, "My brother is a pessimist and doesn't have a very good view of the world. But he was blown away by the generosity of a complete stranger." (223)

"I'm Used to Saving Lives, but This was the First Time It has been a Friend"

In January 2006, Great North Air Ambulance chopper pilot Jim Martin and his friends Rupert Bennett and Jon Ker, both of whom also work at Cumbria, England's air ambulance, were climbing the Tower Ridge on Ben Nevis — Great Britain's highest peak — when the boulder they were attached to became dislodged. Mr. Martin and Mr. Bennett fell 100 feet down the mountain. Mr. Ker, a 37-year-old paramedic, was able to grab onto the rock face and avoid falling. The fall killed Mr. Bennett, who worked as a physician, and broke several bones in Mr. Martin's body. Mr. Ker's hand was injured, and he had no safety equipment, but he set off to find help. He found some hikers and used their cell phones to call for help. Jim spent four hours lying injured on the mountain, and then he was airlifted from the mountain to a medical facility, as he has airlifted so many other people. In October 2006, British Prime Minister Tony Blair presented Mr. Ker with a Vodafone Life Saver Award. Mr. Martin said, "He thoroughly deserves this award. He really put his life on the line to save me. He was 800 feet above the ground with no protection. If he had fallen, he would have killed himself." Mr. Ker said, "At the time I didn't think I was being particularly brave. It's just what you do for a friend. But one slip could have killed me. I was really shocked when I found out about the award. I'm used to saving lives, but this was the first time it has been a friend. It's great to see Jim get back to normal. Now we can wind each other up all the time again." (224)

"These Guys are Heroes, No Question About It"

In March 2009 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, Robert Lemire, age 45, was talking on a cell phone when he saw a toddler in danger. The toddler was hanging from a third-floor window. He ran across a busy street, where he yelled for help. Alex Day, age 23, came out of the home, where he had been attending a Bible study meeting. The two men caught the toddler when she fell. Mr. Day caught her top half, while Mr. Lemire caught her bottom half. Mr. Lemire said, "I've only seen something like that on TV. She's lucky. Everybody is lucky." Mr. Day called the event "absolutely incredible. She was so small, she would have really been hurt.... It was pretty amazing when I look back on the whole thing." The child's father was busy caring for a newborn at the time of the heroic catch. Police Chief John Romero said, "These guys are heroes, no question about it." (225)

The Nanjing Bridge: A Popular Place to Commit Suicide

A popular place to commit suicide in China is the Nanjing Bridge. Chen Si is a volunteer who patrols the bridge on weekends to look for potential suicides and attempt to save their lives. He said, "I look for people filled with a sense of gloom and doom." In 2008, he estimated that he had saved 144 lives. In one case, he ran across four lanes of traffic in order to grab a young woman and keep her from jumping. He said, "After I yanked her back, all she did was cry." In 2003, Chen knew an elderly neighbor who would encourage him whenever he felt depressed. This neighbor starved himself to death, apparently because his family was arguing about who should take care of him. Chen said, "It was a shock to me. I thought to myself, 'Why didn't I go visit him, talk to him?' Maybe I could have saved his life." In 2004, he saved his first life on the bridge: a man who had thrown his shoes in the river and was preparing to jump. Chen said, "I grabbed him by the waist, he hardly fought back. I pressed him to the ground. He started to cry." The man was a farmer whose partner had stolen the money gained from a wheat harvest. The farmer was ashamed to go home to his wife and children, and so he had spent his money on alcohol. After drinking it to numb himself, he was ready to commit suicide. Chen, who gave the farmer money to get home, said, "In a time of crisis, all people really need is one person willing to lend a hand. It could make the difference between life and death." (226)

"God's Timing was So Perfect"

On 1 September 2007, Merlin Harn, age 40, was a passenger in a truck driving by some railroad tracks in his hometown of Menasha, Wisconsin. He and his wife saw some unattended children playing by the railroad tracks. They were about to call police when the crossing alarms activated. A train was coming, and a three-year-old boy, unaware of the danger he was in, was very close to the tracks. Mr. Harn jumped out of the truck and ran to the boy. As the Canadian National Railway train approached, Mr. Harn grabbed the three-year-old and leapt away from the train. Mr. Harn said, "I didn't even look how close the train was. I just bolted out the door. The conductor thought he had hit me and the little boy. I know when I grabbed the little boy and I turned, the train had already passed me. So it was very close." Both Mr. Harn and the boy were unharmed. Town Police Chief Rod McCants said that Mr. Harn "saved the kid's life. There's no doubt. The little three-year-old was oblivious that there was any danger." Mr. Harn said, "As soon as I picked him up, he was pointing his finger at the train, saying 'Train, train.'" Mr. Harn said the boy was "about a foot and half away from the rail." Another child was a little further away. He added, "I know [the three-year-old] would have been hit by the train or would have fallen into it." Train engineer William Reid initiated an emergency stop as soon as he saw the children. He said that Mr. Harn was running "as fast as I've ever seen" a man run to grab the three-year-old. Mr. Harn believes in divine intervention. Normally, he would have been driving and he would have been wearing sandals. On the day of the rescue, he was a passenger and he was wearing running shoes. He said, "God's timing was so perfect. He gets most of the praise and glory. We're just his hands and feet." In 2008, Mr. Hern was awarded a Carnegie Medal for his heroism. (227)

"God had Something to Do with That. Other People Told Me I was There for a Reason. I Don't Really Believe that, But He has a Plan for Everybody"

In October 2011 in Madison County, Georgia, Norb Krzak saw a car swerve and crash. Mr. Krzak said, "What I saw was a mangled car and two occupants who were ejected. One was covered in blood [by the side of the railroad tracks]; the other was sitting upright in the middle of the train track[s]." Mr. Krzak heard a train coming as he called 911. He said, "I started yelling at the young man on the tracks to get off, but he was not responsive to my calls." The man moaned in pain. Mr. Krzak got the man off the railroad tracks before the train, which was going 50 mph, hit the car the man had been in. The emergency dispatcher told Mr. Krzak, "God bless you." Mr. Krzak said, "I assume I threw him because he was just lying there after the train hit the car." Mr. Krzak was going to work at a job building a fence; he was supposed to have finished the job the previous day, but he could not because of rain. He said, "God had something to do with that. Other people told me I was there for a reason. I don't really believe that, but He has a plan for everybody. Maybe that was his plan for me." (228)

Good Samaritans: Elizabeth Kullman, Age 13; Allyson Laughton, Age 14; Brianna Schonheiter, Age 13; Kaylee Wilson, Age 13; and Rachel Baransky, Age 11

In November 2011, Barbara Lingsch of Flemington, New Jersey, noticed a good deed and wrote a letter to the editor of the Hunterdon County Democrat (New Jersey) to give credit to the Good Samaritans. A partial load of wood fell onto Bridge Street in Milford, New Jersey, blocking both that street and a side street. Several young women picked up the wood: 8th-graders Elizabeth Kullman, age 13; Allyson Laughton, age 14; and Brianna Schonheiter, age 13; 7th-grader Kaylee Wilson, age 13; and 6th-grader Rachel Baransky, age 11. (229)

Man Saves Baby in Tsunami

On 29 September 2009, two earthquakes occurred in the Tonga Trench, causing a tsunami that hit Samoa. On the island were Jack Batchelor and his wife, Carol, two Americans from Eugene, Oregon, who were running a beachfront resort there. Carol said, "We woke up in the morning and felt the earthquake outside; it was a steady shake that went on for several minutes. The pop can in the fale [Samoan dwelling] didn't even tip over." The Batchelors had watched video of the 2004 tsunami, and they were aware that tsunamis often follow earthquakes. Carol said, "My husband said to watch the sea and see if we needed to run. When we walked outside, the ocean was gone. Where the reef was, it looked like the edge of the Earth had just dropped off." Jack screamed, "Run!" Carol ran to higher ground, while Jack ran to warn his neighbor and friend Kenny, and Kenny's family. Carol said, "When he got there, he pointed to the sea and told him to run. Kenny grabbed one of his babies, but the waves came in and dragged them away. Jack took the other two babies and started to run up the hill. The waves crashed on top of Jack, but he continued to swim as hard as he could while he held on to the babies." The tsunami pushed him high on the mountain, but Jack could not save one of the babies. Carol said, "The suction of the retreating wave pulled one of the babies out of his arms and took it out to sea. He held on to the remaining baby as he was under the water. He could see the sky through the bubbles and the rock cliff. So, he tossed the baby up onto the rocks." Jack and one baby survived, as did Carol, who said, "I don't know how he survived that." The two children who died were only two and three years old. Kenny also died. (230)

Lost, Found, and Turned in to the Authorities: Almost $78 Million

In Japan, many people died in the March 2011 tsunami, and much money was lost. But Japan has a culture of honesty, and Japanese citizens turned in $48 million in yen notes that they found. For example, an unmarked envelope containing $40,000 in yen notes floated into the living room of a Japanese citizen. And a woman saw a purse on top of a pile of debris; she opened it and found $26,000. In addition, $30 million was recovered from more than 5,700 safes that had been swept away by the tsunami; all but $500,000 of the money found in the recovered safes had been returned to its rightful owners by September 2011. In one case, a police locksmith found $1.3 million in yen notes in a recovered safe. Kouetsu Saiki, a Miyagi prefecture police officer, helps oversee the return of money and other valuables lost in the tsunami. Mr. Saiki said, "People tell me they just want the money to go to its owner." He added, "Everyone wants to help each other in any way that they can." The $1.3 million in yen notes from the recovered safe was returned to its owner, who also owned a local company. Mr. Saiki said, "He was so grateful to have his money back. He didn't keep it but distributed it among his workers and their families. It's not about personal gain here. Everyone has suffered in this tsunami." Of the $24 million in loose cash that was turned in to Mijagi prefecture, one of three prefectures most damaged in the tsunami, Mr. Saiki has managed to return to the rightful owners $21 million. Money is important, but other things are also important. Mr. Saiki was able to return to its owner, who cried, a set of lost family photo albums. Mr. Saiki said, "His family and his home were all lost in the tsunami. The photographs in the safe were the only connection he had to his life before the disaster." (231)

Lost, Found, and Returned: Wallet Containing $1,300

In December 2011, Alan Jaques rode his bike near Bellarmine High School in San Jose, California, and lost his wallet, which contained $1,300. An unnamed unemployed mother of two who attends San Jose State University returned his wallet to him. She would not accept a reward, but Mr. Jaques said that he managed to sneak $100 into her purse. (232)

"I Wanted to Show My Kids the Right Thing to Do"

In early December of 2011, Mitch Gilbert vacationed in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the Las Vegas airport on his way back home to Greenwood Village, Colorado, he found two unmarked Caesar's Palace envelopes. Opening them when he returned home, he found money. Mr. Gilbert said, "There was $5,000 in each envelope. I just about fell over, I couldn't believe it." But he did believe this: "If it happened to me, I sure would want that back." He called the Las Vegas airport and discovered that a man named Ignacio Marquez in El Paso, Texas, had reported losing money that had been placed in two Caesar's Palace envelopes. Mr. Marquez had won the money gambling but had lost it while running to catch a flight home. Two days before Christmas, Mr. Gilbert deposited the money in Mr. Marquez' bank account. Mr. Gilbert said, "I think he was pretty much in shock. I don't know if he believed it." Mr. Marquez said, "Relief is an understatement. Cash money is very difficult to get back. I'm very appreciative to Mitch and his family. You do not find people like this. I will always thank Mitch for doing this." Mr. Gilbert said, "I wanted to show my kids the right thing to do. It would have been a lot easier keeping it to be honest with you. But I felt like I had to get it back to the right person." He added, "I would have loved to have $10,000. You think about all the bills you can pay. But it didn't belong to me. It felt so good to be able to get it back to the guy. I felt like I was floating on air. I felt like a million bucks." (233)

"I will Pray for Him All the Rest of My Life. I will Never Forget That"

On 5 December 2011, David Hecht, a St. Augustine, Florida, electrician, drove down State Road 207. He saw a purse lying on the road and stopped and picked it up. It was filled with over $12,000, as well as credit cards and ID. Mr. Hecht said, "It would have been real simple to take the bag and walk away. That's not the way I am." Instead of taking the money, he called the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office. Of course, he could have used the money. After all, he had been injured and had been unable to work for a while, although he had been working for three months straight. His wife, Elena, said, "He's had his challenges, too. But that doesn't give you the right to take money." The woman who had lost the money and got it back, Immaculee Denis, age 69, said, "I still don't believe it. You don't find people like this in the time that we live in." Ms. Denis does not trust banks, and so she was carrying the money with her as she traveled from Palm Bay, Florida, to Georgia to see relatives. She called Mr. Hecht to thank him for turning the money in to the sheriff's office. Mr. Hecht said, "She said over and over again how excited she had been. She said, 'Thank you,' and she prayed for me." Sixteen years previously, Ms. Denis had found a wallet filled with money and had been able to give it back to its rightful owner, a man who was sending the money to people in Haiti. Ms. Denis said, "He didn't know what to say. He was so happy." Sixteen years after finding the wallet, Ms. Denis was in the same position as the man from Haiti. Fortunately, Mr. Hecht did the right thing, as she had done when she found the wallet. She said, "People think you can't trust anybody. There are still good people out there." She added about Mr. Hecht, "I will pray for him all the rest of my life. I will never forget that." (234)

"We Just Did What Jesus Would have Done. My Father was a Minister, and He Always Told Me, 'Just Do the Right Thing'"

On 21 December 2011, a Springfield Township couple lost $12,000 in Akron, Ohio. They were lucky. A woman and her husband found the money, and the woman called the police, who were able to return the $12,000 to the rightful owners. The Akron woman, age 63, who did not wish to be identified, said, "We just did what Jesus would have done. My father was a minister, and he always told me, 'Just do the right thing.'" The woman found the money and some papers inside a tan cloth bag with a zipper. The bag was lying in the middle of a road. The Akron woman and her husband met the couple who had lost the money. The Akron woman said, "They're Christians, and we're Christians. God just kept his hand on that money." Akron Police Lieutenant Rick Edwards said, "With today's economy and the way things are, to have someone find the money and turn it in, they're very lucky it was found by such an honest couple." (235)

Lost, Found, and Returned: $140,000

On 11 March 2008, while on his way to work, Eli Estrada found $140,000 in a bag in the middle of Gridley Road in Cerritos, California. The money consisted of $20 bills in bundles of $20,000 each. Mr. Estrada's first reaction was that he was rich. However, Mr. Estrada said, "That's just your first reaction, but it's [the money is] not yours and you feel nervous and you feel like you did something wrong, even though you didn't." Despite being in debt and having financial difficulties, he did the right thing and turned the money in to the Long Beach Police Department. They discovered that Brinks armored truck drivers had lost the money. Long Beach police spokeswoman Dina Zapalski said, "I've had people come to me with purses and wallets with cash in it and they'll turn it in." But she had never seen anything like this. Brinks gave Mr. Estrada $2,000 as a reward — money he does not have to feel guilty about keeping. (236)

Lost, Found, and Returned: $800

In October 2011, two teenagers in Auburn, California, found $800 worth of $20 bills lying on the ground between two cars in a parking lot near the athletic field of Auburn's Placer High School. The teenagers, who wished to remain anonymous but who are a 15-year-old female student at Placer and an 18-year-old graduate of Del Rio High School, turned in the money to high school officials. They called the police, and Auburn Police Sergeant Dave Lawicka traced the license plate numbers of the two cars. He found Josh Maxwell, who was coaching the high school football team's defensive line. Sergeant Lawicka asked Mr. Maxwell to go to his car and see if anything valuable was missing. He did, and he discovered that the $800 he had gotten from a sale of his bike and jogging trailer had fallen out of the pockets of his shorts. Mr. Maxwell gave the two teenagers what he called a small reward, which they were reluctant to take. Mr. Maxwell, a 36-year-old construction worker, said, "It restores my faith that there are good kids out there. It would have been easy for them to walk off and not even think twice about it." Sergeant Lawicka said, "Quite often you hear about kids doing bad things. I think it's great when we can see that there are still good kids and good people like this out there." (237)

Handbag with Jewelry and Cash Worth More than $110,000 Returned to Rightful Owner

In January 2006, a woman left a handbag hanging on a shopping trolley (cart) in a car park (parking lot) in Victoria, Australia. Inside the handbag were gold bracelets, rings, chains, earrings, and pendants, and a large amount of cash. In total, the contents of the handbag were worth more than $110,000. Fortunately, another woman, who wished to remain anonymous, turned in the handbag and its contents to police. Police spokesperson Shaun Livori said, "Victoria police are very pleased that a Good Samaritan has actually decided to hand it in and not keep it for themselves, especially [as it is] a large quantity of jewelry and cash. The person who lost the jewelry was very unfortunate that she lost it, and she's an extremely lucky person that she's going to get it returned to her." The owner of the handbag, who wished to be identified only as Kathy, said, "I can't believe it at all — I am so grateful to that person. I didn't expect to ever see it again." (238)

Homeless Man Finds $3,300, Returns It to Rightful Owner, and Cleans Up His Life

In 2011 at a local light-rail station in Tempe, Arizona, Dave Tally, a homeless man, found $3,300 in a backpack. The money was a fortune to him, and he was deep in debt and had lost his driver license due to DUI, but he knew that the right thing to do was to return the money and backpack to its rightful owner (a college student named Bryan Berlanger), and that is what he did. This worked out well for him. Arizona Republic reporter Dianna M. Náñez wrote, "Meeting Belanger and hearing the student thank and praise him for his honesty and kindness made Tally feel good about himself, he says. He hadn't had that feeling in awhile." As word got out, donations poured in: $10,000 worth. Mr. Tally did not waste the money. He paid off bills, he took steps to clean up his driving record, he moved into an apartment, and he found a job managing a community garden. He also oversees a program in which homeless people volunteer to work in the garden. Mr. Tally says that he doesn't preach, but "I let them know that when they're ready to make changes, it's possible." He adds, "My bills, they get priority. Nothing else gets done until they get paid. It's a great feeling to be able to put back into society after being a person who was dependent on society for so long." After work, Mr. Tally has a home to go to. He says, "The key that opens my door is a privilege, and I have to earn it." (239)

"It was Almost the Worst Day of My Life"

In December 2011 while riding a coach of the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail, Katelyn Peckham, age 25, lost a diamond engagement ring. She said, "I didn't realize it until I got to work. I sat here crying hysterically for a while. Then I went back and started running through trains asking people to help me look." Her co-workers at Conover Tuttle Pace used Twitter and Facebook to ask for help finding the lost ring. An employee of the MBCR saw the notice on social media and used an intercom to broadcast news about the lost ring. Quickly, conductor Thomas Booth found it. Mr. Peckham said, "I just can't even believe this happened. I'm so thankful. It's awesome people were willing to help and the conductors were so helpful." She added, "It was almost the worst day of my life." Hugh Kiley, General Manager of the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Rail, said, "It's the Miracle of North Station... it's just another example of a good deed done by an MBCR employee." (240)

"She's the Love of My Life. That Ring was Meant for Her and No One Else. She's Everything to Me"

In November 2011, Brian McGuinn of Margate, Florida, threw away a disposable razor. In doing so, he accidentally threw away his wife's $10,000, one-and-a-half-carat diamond engagement ring. Brian called this "the worst move of my life, horrible." His wife, Anna, said, "I just started crying, and I would stop crying and remind myself that jewelry is replaceable." Their trash had already been picked up, but Anna called Wheelabrator — their waste-management company — and Brian got ready to search more than eight tons of trash for the ring. The waste management company spread out the 10-foot-high pile of trash from their neighborhood to make it easier for him to search for the ring. Eventually, he did. Brian said, "Once I found it, I actually let out a manly scream!" Anna said, "It was covered in muck. He just slipped it right on my finger and promised to never touch it again." Brian said, "She's the love of my life. That ring was meant for her and no one else. She's everything to me." (241)

Good Samaritans Recover Lost Diamond Ring

In November 2011 in Bedford, Massachusetts, Joan Sawyer accidentally threw a diamond ring — a family heirloom that had been owned by her great aunt — into the trash. It was picked up by a trash truck and mixed among 10 tons of rubbish. She said, "I was in a total panic." When Joan realized that she had thrown away the diamond ring, she telephoned the Bedford Department of Public Waste. An employee there telephoned Allied Waste Service and got Joan the number of the truck that had picked up her trash. She and her husband waited three hours at the trash facility for the truck. Employees at the trash facility carefully went through the trash, looking for the ring. Fortunately, something looked familiar to Joan: "I said, 'Oh my God, that's my bag — I recognize something in it." Her husband, Bill Sawyer, tore the bag, and the diamond ring dropped out. Bill said, "I don't know who was more excited, Joan and I, or the folks here." Ken Nydam, an employee at the trash facility, said, "You could almost see the tears in her eyes; she was thrilled she found it. And then everyone who helped out, they were just happy they got to see how happy she was and we were happy we could help them out." (242)

Class Ring Returned After 20 Years

In 1985, while Janet Leigh West was living in South Richmond in Richmond County, Virginia, her Amelia Academy class ring disappeared. She assumed that someone had stolen it from her jewelry box. She said, "There were really only two suspects. One is dead, and I don't know about the other." She also assumed that the class ring was gone forever. Fortunately, a Good Samaritan found the class ring in the apartment of a woman who had recently died in Newport, North Carolina. This Good Samaritan tracked down Ms. West and sent her the ring. Ms. West said in January 2006, "I got it back yesterday! My momma went and picked it up." The ring had been cut in half, perhaps, Ms. West speculates, because the person wearing it was in an accident and the ring had to be cut off. She said, "It's spooky." The Good Samaritan was Tina Sibley, who lived in Newport. She said that when she found the class ring, "I thought, 'This is odd.' I did not know what Amelia Academy was, so I got online and looked it up." The initials "JLW" were on the ring, as were the words "Class of 1976." Ms. Sibley called the school and talked to Carol Chambers, the school's business manager, but Ms. Chambers could not find a graduate with those initials. (Ms. West had dropped out of school to get married.) However, she did not stop there. She called Debbie Poore, a graduate from back then, and Ms. Poore remembered Ms. West. Ms. West said about getting her ring back after 20 years, "I couldn't believe it." (243)

Lost Class Ring Returned After 16 Years

In October 2011, Mary Combs of Columbia County, Georgia, got back something that she had never expected to see again: a $300 class ring that her mother had given her in 1985 and which had been lost for 16 years. The ring was Ms. Combs' Waynesboro High School ring, and Troy Pinson's father had found it while vacuuming a used truck that he had bought. Mr. Pinson decided to track down the ring's owner. The Columbia County News-Times published an article about the ring, and one of Ms. Combs' former classmates contacted her and she got in touch with Mr. Pinson. She said, "I was so shocked, and I was just so overwhelmed. I have been looking for it for years. I thought I'd never get it back." The ring has an orange topaz birthstone; the name "Mary" is on one side and the image of a cross is on the other. Long ago, Ms. Combs and her mother had gone to the Augusta (Georgia) Mall and designed the ring. Ms. Combs said, "I haven't told her yet, but when I do, I know she's going to have tears in her eyes. She's just going to be so grateful." (244)

Lost and Found: Class Ring

In the early 1980s, Ethel Ridley stepped out of her truck at Ute Lake, New Mexico, and stepped on a Class of 1973 Grady (New Mexico) High School ring inscribed with the initials "GW." She put the ring away and forgot about it for a very long time. When she reached her early 90s, she moved into a senior citizen resident center, where her son, Paul, saw the ring. Paul said, "I asked what it was and where it came from, so she told me the story." He decided to find the ring's owner and made a couple of telephone calls to Grady High School. A secretary told him that her brother, Glenn Williams, had been in the class of 1973. After being reunited with his ring (in 2005), Glenn said, "I am definitely happy to have this back. I would wear it, but it does not fit anymore [...] 50-year-old knuckles are much bigger than 17-year-old knuckles." He had lost the ring in the early 1980s during a water-skiing trip. Ethel joked, "It would be great if you could find my class ring." In 1932, she had lost her 1931 Cement, Oklahoma, class ring during a storm of the Dust Bowl era. (245)

"The Only People Who Would have Seen that Tape Would be Family. So I Guess You're Family Now"

In January 2006 in Flint, Michigan, Fred Murray bought an inexpensive video camera at a Goodwill store. Inside the camera he found something of irreplaceable value: a 40-minute tape that contains footage of a just-born baby girl being weighed and measured, and then being held by her grandfather. It also contained footage of a family reunion. Knowing the videotape's sentimental value, Mr. Murray used clues in the videotape to track down its true owners: 1) In a pillow appeared the name of the hospital where the baby girl was born. 2) Nurses mentioned the date (Friday the 13th) and the baby's hospital ID number and weight. Mr. Murray returned the videotape to Sherry Ewing of Grand Blanc, Michigan. Ms. Ewing told him, "The only people who would have seen that tape would be family. So I guess you're family now." The baby girl in the videotape, who was 14 when the videotape was returned to her family, can now see the way she looked when she was just born. (246)

"To Infinity — and Matthew's Home"

In March 2011, New York Times writer Jodi Rudoren learned about a charity bazaar from a local parenting e-mail list. She went, and she happily paid $1 for a Buzz Lightyear figure that her three-year-old daughter found among the toys for sale. However, her daughter's twin brother was without a Buzz Lightyear figure, so Jodi made a post on the local parenting e-mail list telling about the Buzz Lightyear figure she had recently purchased and asking if anyone had a Buzz Lightyear figure that needed to be loved by a small child. But she received this email: "Did you happen to purchase the Buzz Lightyear doll at St. John-St. Matthew-Emanuel Lutheran Church? They had a rummage sale Saturday morning. If so, my son lost his Buzz Lightyear at that sale on Saturday morning. His arm is broken off, but I have been gluing it back with Gorilla Glue and it seemed to work. My son has been asking where Buzz is. Please let me know if you might be the keeper of his lost Buzz action figure." The woman's son is named Matthew, and he loved his Buzz Lightyear figure. Matthew's mother added, "I know your children are attached to it now, but if they would be willing to return it, that would be great." Jodi did ask for a little time to get a new Buzz Lightyear figure (and a new Woody figure), which Matthew's mother readily granted: "If your daughter and son are attached to the current Buzz, keep it for now until the new one comes in. If they want to keep the old one, too, then we are happy that Buzz has a good new home (the last thing we want is any unhappy children). But, if old Buzz doesn't hold the luster as it did before the new Buzz and they want to give it up, then we are happy to take it back." The new figures arrived, and Matthew and his mother came over to pick up Matthew's old Buzz Lightyear figure. They even brought a DVD of Toy Story 3 to show their appreciation for getting Buzz back. (247)

A Small Gesture Meant a Great Deal

A person who calls him- or herself Amer once was the recipient of a small but much-appreciated good deed. Amer has back pain that flares up from time to time. Amer wrote on Helpothers.org, "Yesterday I was out walking while carrying shopping bags and my keys. My keys slipped from my hand and fell to the ground. The problem was that because of my back I couldn't bend down to get them. I was just thinking of how to get around this when two teenage girls came up beside me. Without even speaking to me, one of the girls just reached down, picked up my keys, handed them to me and went on her way." Even though this seems like a small gesture, to Amer it means a great deal. (248)

"I have No One in the World to Look After Me"

A woman who calls herself Janupd while posting on Helpothers.org tells about being the daughter of a Hindu family in Nepal. When she was 16 years old, she and some friends were waiting for a bus to take them to a movie when another bus stopped and an aged woman got off with a load of her possessions and a walking stick. The old woman talked to some shopkeepers, but it was obvious that she did not get the help she wanted, so Janupd talked to the old woman: "What's the matter, grandmother?" The old woman was looking for a particular big temple because the religious people there would take care of her for the rest of her life. Janupd asked her, "Don't you have your sons and daughters to take care of you?" The old woman said that she did have children, one son and two daughters, but that they had gotten tired of taking care of her. She said, "I have no one in the world to look after me." Janupd walked with the old woman to the big temple and left her there. The old woman said to her, "You showed such kindness to me. Thank you very much for walking with me, for helping me reach the temple. God will bless you in every step of your life." Janupd went home and hugged her parents and told herself, "I will always be with you, to love and care for you." (249)

A Hero Pothole?

Can a pothole save a life? Actually, yes. In November 2011 while attending school in Cincinnati, Ohio, eight-year-old Laci Davis accidentally swallowed a heart-shaped gold locket that lodged in her throat, making breathing difficult. She said, "I was trying to put my hair up and I had my locket in my mouth, and he [a friend] was making me laugh so I was laughing at the same time, and it just went down my throat." She found breathing difficult. She said, "It felt like something was stabbing me right in the middle of my chest." Doctors X-rayed her throat and told her mother to take her to Cincinnati Children's Hospital. Her mother rushed her to the hospital, and on the way the car hit a pothole. The jolt dislodged the locket, which fell into Laci's stomach. Laci's mother, Amanda Cullum, said about the drive to the hospital, "We hit a pothole, and she looked at me and said, 'Mom, I feel better.' I said, 'What do you mean you feel better?' She said, 'I don't feel it anymore."' Laci said about the pothole, "It was my hero and when I got home I was like, 'Thank you, bump.'" She added, "It's going to have to come out the old-fashioned way. I'm just going to get a new necklace because I'm not going through that 'treasure.'" (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: AN EXCEPT FROM DANTE'S PURGATORY: A RETELLING IN PROSE BY DAVID BRUCE

Ch. 1: The Island of Purgatory and Cato the Guard (Purgatory)

Dante the Poet thought, Now my talent for poetry must be put to a new test. I have left behind me the Inferno, where unrepentant sinners are punished. Now my subject is Purgatory, where repentant sinners are purged of their sins so that they may ascend to Paradise. Muses, let my poetry be worthy of this subject! Let Calliope, the Muse of Epic Poetry and the leader of the other Muses, assist me! Let Calliope keep me from pride! Pride would keep me from telling this part of my tale correctly. Once, the proud daughters of King Pierus, whom he had named after you Muses, challenged you Muses to a contest of song. They had unwisely sung a song about the proud giants known as the Titans rebelling against their rightful ruler, Jupiter, King of the gods. You, Calliope, sang a song that utterly defeated the proud daughters of King Pierus, and then you changed them into magpies. They were proud challengers, but I am a humble suppliant. Pride is the worst and the foundation of all sins. Please, Calliope, sing for my benefit so that I may properly write about the Mountain of Purgatory!

Dante the Pilgrim looked around him at the base of the Mountain of Purgatory. He and his guide, Virgil, had entered the Inferno on Good Friday of the year 1300. Now, on Easter Sunday, 10 April 1300, dawn was nearing. The Inferno is always in darkness, but here on the Mountain of Purgatory are both day and night. The air of the Inferno always stank, but here the air is always pleasing. Sinners of the Inferno never saw Venus, the planet of love, but here Dante looked up at the sky and saw the bright and beautiful planet.

Dante the Pilgrim then looked to his right, and he saw four stars.

Dante the Poet thought, These are the stars that the first man, Adam, saw clearly, and no man since him has ever seen so clearly. These four stars, which can be clearly seen from the Forest of Eden, are Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Fortitude. They are the four cardinal virtues. A person who has Prudence is able to judge which of a number of actions is the correct action to pursue. A person who has Temperance is able to practice self-control when self-control is needed. A person who has Justice is able to correctly balance his or her own self-interest with the needs of others, and a person who has Courage is able to conquer fear so that he or she can do the right thing. Virtuous pagans such as Virgil have the cardinal virtues.

Dante looked away from the four stars, and he saw an old man of dignity who commanded respect. Any stranger looking at him felt like a good son looking at a good father. The old man was alone. His beard was long, and it was streaked with white among the black. His hair was long, and on each side of his head his hair flowed down to his chest. His face was brightly lit with rays from the four stars. In fact, so brightly lit was it that a viewer could almost say that the Sun — given to us by God — was shining on the old man's face.

The old man saw Dante and Virgil and asked, "Who are you? You have escaped from the Inferno by climbing along the passage through which a stream flows from the Forest of Eden at the top of the Mountain of Purgatory into Cocytus in the Inferno. Who is your guide? Who provided you with light to escape from the forever-dark pit of Hell? Have the laws of God changed? Has God decided that some of the damned may come to the Mountain of Purgatory?"

Dante thought, This is interesting. Can God change His laws? Why not? Once we had an Old Testament and now we have a New Testament. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good. God is not limited. Could God decree that a virtuous pagan enter Paradise? Why not? God is all-powerful. God is not limited by Humankind's interpretation of the Bible. If God were to allow virtuous pagans into Paradise, it would be a triumph for Omnipotent Love.

Virgil had recognized the old man. Virgil grabbed Dante's arm, and motioned for him to kneel and show respect to the old man. Dante quickly obeyed.

Virgil thought, This man is Cato the Younger. He is also known as Cato the Stoic and as Cato of Utica. In his life, he was renowned for possessing Prudence, Temperance, Justice, and Courage in abundance. He was morally upright. He understood law. He valued freedom. He declined to take bribes. He detested the corruption of his age. When war broke out between Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great, Cato sided with Pompey because he believed that Julius Caesar was the greater enemy of freedom. When Julius Caesar decisively defeated Pompey at Utica, Cato committed suicide there rather submit to a person whom he considered to be a foe of freedom. Such a suicide is much different from that of Pier della Vigne, who committed suicide out of self-pity and the hope of getting people to feel sorry for him. Pier della Vigne is and deserves to be in the Inferno. Cato's suicide was a vote in favor of freedom. Cato is a suicide, a pagan, and an opponent to Julius Caesar, but he is virtuous.

Virgil spoke to Cato, "I am not here to help myself. I am here on a mission given to me from a lady in Paradise. She asked me to be a guide for this man. You have requested that we explain what we are doing here, and I will obey your request. This man is still alive; he has not yet died. To avoid being condemned to the Inferno after he dies, he needs help, and so a lady in Paradise asked me to help him. This is the only way that he can avoid eternal damnation. I have guided him through the Inferno with all its damned souls, and now I need to show him all those who are on the Mountain of Purgatory to get him ready to enter Paradise. It is the will of Heaven that we proceed. Please welcome this man. He is searching for freedom, and you value freedom so highly. You committed suicide at Utica because you loved freedom so much. There you cast off your body — a body with which you will be reunited on the Great Day that is the Day of Judgment. Neither this man nor I have broken Heaven's laws by coming here. This man is still alive, and Minos has never judged me and found me guilty. I come from Limbo, where the virtuous pagans, including Marcia, your wife, resides. Marcia loves you and still wishes to be your wife. Out of your love of her, please allow us to climb the seven ledges of the Mountain of Purgatory. I will tell her of your kindness to us, if you will allow me to mention your name in Limbo."

Cato said, "While I was alive, I would do anything for Marcia. But now I am doing the Will of a Greater Power, and she can no longer command me. But since a Heavenly lady wishes you to be here and to climb the mountain, that is all that is necessary. You may climb the mountain. You need not flatter me. Take this man and tie a humble reed around his waist. Also clean his face. The tears of Hell are on his face, and it is not fitting that he see angels. Go down to where the waves break upon the shore. Reeds are growing in soft sand. Most plants cannot survive there; the waves would break their stalks. But the humble reed bows before the waves and so survives. When you are ready to climb the mountain, do not come back here. The daylight will show you where to go."

Cato left them.

Dante rose from his knees, and he looked at Virgil.

Virgil said to him, "Follow me. I see where the reeds grow."

Daylight was more pronounced, and Dante could see the waves. Dante and Virgil walked to the shore. They were like two men who had wandered from a path and were eager to find the path again.

They reached a place that was still shaded, and so the dew remained. Virgil put his hands in the dewy grass, and Dante turned his face to him. Virgil cleaned from Dante's face the traces of the tears that he had shed when he had pitied some sinners in the Inferno — a pity that had angered Virgil and that Dante had learned was undeserved. Once again, Dante had a clean face with no trace of Hell left on it.

Then Virgil pulled a reed to tie around Dante's waist. Immediately, another reed grew to take its place.

This is a place of miracles, Dante thought. It is also a place of growth. Good things happen here.
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 a retired 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

Clark, Roy. My Life — In Spite of Myself! With Marc Eliot. New York: Pocket Books, 1994.

Finck, Henry T. My Adventures in the Golden Age of Music. New York and London: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1926.

Goodman, Philip. Rejoice in Thy Festival. New York: Bloch Publishing Company, 1956.

O'Connor, Barbara. Barefoot Dancer: The Story of Isadora Duncan. Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books, Inc., 1994.

Robinson, Simon. A Year With Rudolf Nureyev. With Derek Robinson. London: Robert Hale Limited, 1997.

Tiel, Vicky. It's All About the Dress. New York: St. Martin's Press, 20011.

Verstraete, Larry. At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times. New York: Scholastic Inc. 2009.

Wagenknecht, Edward. Merely Players. Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 1966.
APPENDIX F: ENDNOTES

(1) Source: Philip Goodman, Rejoice in Thy Festival, p. 87.

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(3) Source: Jasbir Authi, "Black Country comedian seconds from delivering killer joke." Sunday Mercury(Birmingham, England). 15 August 2010 <http://www.sundaymercury.net/news/crime-news/2010/08/15/black-country-comedian-seconds-from-delivering-killer-joke-66331-27063685/>.

(4) Source: "Tim Tebow and his special red carpet guest at Walt Disney World." YouTube. <<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUdSgb0QTjg>>. Accessed on 21 December 2011. Also: Dennis Powell, "Christmas is when we embrace how good humans can be." Athens News (Ohio). 18 December 2011 <<http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35588-christmas-is-when-we-embrace-how-good-humans-can-be.html>>.

(5) Source: Brad Biggs, "Jeremy Shockey saved a teammate's life in lunch." National Football Post. 29 August 2011 <<http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jeremy-Shockey-saved-a-teammates-life-in-lunch-room.html>>.

(6) Source: Amy Jones, "Battlers united; BONE MARROW OP BOY JACK GETS TO MEET HIS TOON HERO." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 27 March 2008 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2008_March_27/ai_n28506794/?tag=content;col1>>.

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(9) Source: James Weatherup, "HARRY POTTER AND J.K. SAVED ME." Sunday Mirror (UK). 3 February 2002 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20020203/ai_n12835000/?tag=content;col1>>.

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(11) Source: Henry T. Finck, My Adventures in the Golden Age of Music, p. 239.

(12) Source: Roy Clark, My Life — In Spite of Myself!, pp. 217-218.

(13) Source: Andrew Tobias: "The Guitar." Andrewtobias.com. 14 November 2011 <<http://www.andrewtobias.com/newcolumns/111114.html>>.

(14) Source: Wayne Parry, "Jon Bon Jovi's charity restaurant opens in NJ." Associated Press. Philly.com. 19 October 2011 <<http://www.philly.com/philly/food/20111019_ap_jonbonjovischarityrestaurantopensinnj.html>>.

(15) Source: "Sadness is a strange companion." Letters of Note. 24 October 2011 <<http://www.lettersofnote.com/2011/10/sadness-is-strange-companion.html>>.

(16) Source: "My Letter from Stephen Fry." Deviantart.com. <http://xchingx.deviantart.com/art/My-letter-from-Stephen-Fry-93510114>. Accessed 25 October 2011.

(17) Source: Barbara O'Connor, Barefoot Dancer: The Story of Isadora Duncan, pp. 63-65.

(18) Source: Simon Robinson, A Year With Rudolf Nureyev, pp. 30-31, 92.

(19) Source: "Man of Etiquette: Keanu Reeves Keeps It Classy While Riding NYC's Subway." Hypervocal.com. <<http://hypervocal.com/entertainment/2011/man-of-etiquette-keanu-reeves-keeps-it-classy-while-riding-nycs-subway/>>. Accessed 12 December 2011. Also: YouTube <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMB1EOnUwX8&feature=player_embedded>.

(20) Source: Vicky Tiel, It's All About the Dress, pp. 106-108, 198-199.

(21) Source: "Gran day out for hero aged eight." Sunday Mirror (London, England). 15 March 1998 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Gran+day+out+for+hero+aged+eight.-a060660975>>.

(22) Source: "William Shatner sells kidney stone." USA Today. 17 January 2006 <<http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-01-17-shatner_x.htm>>.

(23) Source: Interview by Laura Barnett, "Portrait of the artist: Roger Moore, actor." Guardian (UK). <http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2011/nov/28/roger-moore-actor>. Also: "Audrey Hepburn's Statement to members of the United Nations Staff as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, at the invitation of the 1 Percent for Development Fund." Geneva, Switzerland. 13 June 1989. Accessed 29 November 20111. <<http://www.audrey1.org/biography/23/audrey-hepburns-statement-to-the-united-nations>>.

(24) Source: Edward Wagenknecht, Merely Players, p. 117.

(25) Source: Shaila K. Dewan, "AFTER THE WAR: THE LIBRARIAN; Books Spirited to Safety Before Iraq Library Fire." New York Times. 27 July 2003 <<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/27/world/after-the-war-the-librarian-books-spirited-to-safety-before-iraq-library-fire.html>>. Also: Julie L Baumler, Guest Author, "Alia Muhammad Baker - Chief Librarian of Al Basrah (Iraq) Central Library, Cultural Heroine." Bella Online. 2011. <<http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art27329.asp>>.

(26) Source: Angel McCurdy, "Fifth-grader honored for school bus heroics." Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida). 1 March 2010 <<http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/heroics-26365-beach-honored.html>>.

(27) Source: Michael Inbar, "Quick-thinking teachers revive girl, 12, after collapse: She could be dead or brain-damaged if not for speedy use of CPR, defibrillator." 10 October 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44842240/ns/today-today_people/#.TpN8p2B2kVk>.

(28) Source: John Collins, "Mass. teens honored for helping choking victim." The Lowell Sun. 7 October 2011 <<http://www.lowellsun.com/rss/ci_19062078>>.

(29) Source: Cindy Hsu, "N.J. Gym Teacher Saves Fallen Teen's Life: Trevor Warner Used CPR To Save Stricken 15-Year-Old." CBS New York. 27 October 2010 <<http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/10/27/n-j-gym-teacher-saves-fallen-teens-life/>>.

(30) Source: Mitchell Schmidt, "Good Samaritan Pays Overdue Bills." Iowa City Press-Citizen (Iowa City, Iowa). 1 December 2011 <http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/press_citizen/access/2523954401.html?FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&fmac=8814ddb050be5ad4b57e8f1163f95a88&date=Dec+1%2C+2011&author=&pub=&desc=Good+Samaritan+pays+overdue+bills>.

(31) Source: Anthony Galloway, "Little dresses bring hope and friendship to Malawi." 20 December 2011 <<http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/20/9584376-little-dresses-bring-hope-and-friendship-to-malawi>>.

(32) Source: Jill Blocker, "Balloons to Santa found in time to grant Auburn girl's wish." KOMO. 22 December 2011 <<http://auburn.komonews.com/news/community-spirit/702396-balloons-santa-found-time-grant-auburn-girls-wish>>.

(33) Source: Dani Carlson, "Secret Santas pay strangers' layaway bills at Kmart." WOOD-TV. 7 December 2011 <http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Secret-Santa-pays-off-layaway-balances?ref=nf>.

(34) Source: Associated Press, "Anonymous donors pay off Kmart layaway accounts." Daytona Beach News-Journal (Florida). 15 December 2011 <<http://www.news-journalonline.com/breakingnews/2011/12/anonymous-donors-pay-off-kmart-layaway-accounts.html>>.

(35) Source: Lisa Thomas-Laury, "Lost wallet returned in time for holidays." WPVI. 16 December 2011 <http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8470323>.

(36) Source: "Stranger Returns NH Veteran's Lost Wallet." WMUR. 29 December 2011 <<http://www.wmur.com/r/30100654/detail.html>>.

(37) Source: "'Good Samaritan' Bus Driver Helps Foil Christmas Robbery." West Mercia Police. <<http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/-good-samaritan-bus-driver-helps-foil-christmas-robbery.html>>. Also: "Good Samaritan bus driver foils Christmas robbery: Worcester" WR3 - Thursday, 24 December, 2009 <<http://www.themissinglist.co.uk/police-appeal/good-samaritan-bus-driver-foils-christmas-robbery-worcester>>.

(38) Source: Paul Sims, "Three-year old saved family by putting out Christmas tree blaze with duvet." Daily Mail (UK). 26 December 2006 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-424855/Three-year-old-saved-family-putting-Christmas-tree-blaze-duvet.html>>.

(39) Source: John Champion, "6 Inspiring Tales of Friendship in the Middle of Brutal Wars." Cracked. 17 October 2011 <http://www.cracked.com/article_19480_6-inspiring-tales-friendship-in-middle-brutal-wars.html?wa_user1=2&wa_user2=History&wa_user3=article&wa_user4=feature_module>. Also: "Interview of Fritz Vincken." Conducted by Joalena Ashmore, Senior at Kahuku High in Honolulu, Hawaii. February 1997 <<http://ba-ez.org/educatn/LC/OralHist/vincken.htm>>.

(40) Source: Kathryn Hawkins, "Mother Saves 44 Years Worth of Ornaments for Son She Gave Away." Gimundo. 21 December 2011 <http://gimundo.com/news/article/mother-saves-44-years-worth-of-ornaments-for-son-she-gave-away/>. Also: "Adopted Man Gets Box Of Christmas Joy From Birth Mother: Box Of 44 Ornaments Represent 44 Years Apart." KMBC. 20 December 2011 <<http://www.kmbc.com/r/30036735/detail.html?source=htv>>.

(41) Source: "6-year-old girl saves grandfather." ABC12. 23 December 2002 <<http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/122302_NW_da_hero.html>>. Posted at Real Life Little Heroes. <http://www.chinastrategies.com/lithero.htm#6-year-old%20girl%20saves%20grandfather>. Accessed 14 September 2011.

(42) Source: John Crone, "U.S. a melting pot of kindness." Letter to the Editor. Kansas City Star (Missouri). 31 December 2008 <<http://blogs.kansascity.com/unfettered_letters/good_deed/>>.

(43) Source: "Where are the Samaritans?" Scotsman (UK). 10 January 2004 <<http://www.scotsman.com/news/where_are_the_samaritans_1_921469>>.

(44) Source: Aaron Sankin, "Terri Weissinger Trapped In Airport For Eight Grueling Days Due To Hidden Fees." Huffington Post. 2 November 2011 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/terri-weissinger-trapped-in-airport-for-week_n_1072608.html>>.

(45) Source: Henry T. Finck, My Adventures in the Golden Age of Music, p. 251.

(46) Source: "Journey to Return Dog Tags to Vietnam Veterans Comes to an End: Martha '52 and V.R. 'Swede' Roskam '51 return last of dog tags they found in Vietnam to rightful owner." Knox Magazine. Knox College (Illinois). 20 October 2008 <<http://www.knox.edu/news-and-events/news-archive/journey-to-return-dog-tags-ends.html>>.

(47) Source: "The Candy Bomber." Futility Closet. 15 November 2011 <<http://www.futilitycloset.com/2011/11/15/the-candy-bomber/>>.

(48) Source: Larry Verstraete, At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Time, pp. 2-7.

(49) Source: Simon A Morrison, "The eBay ambulance that went to Libya." Guardian (UK). 13 November 2011 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/13/ambulance-manchester-to-libya>>.

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(51) Source: Larry Verstraete, At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Time, p. 21.

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(55) Source: Lakshmi Sandhana. "An Indian Inventor Disrupts The Period Industry." Co.Exist. <<http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679008/an-indian-inventor-disrupts-the-period-industry>>. Accessed 20 December 2011. Also: John Farrier, "The Man Who Wore a Maxi Pad to Invent a Better One." Neatorama. 20 December 2011 <http://www.neatorama.com/2011/12/20/the-man-who-wore-a-maxi-pad-to-invent-a-better-one/>.

(56) Source: Denise Neil, "Joplin rescuers in photo hailed as heroes." The Wichita Eagle (Kansas). 1 June 2011 <<http://www.kansas.com/2011/06/01/1873047/rescuers-in-photo-hailed-as-heroes.html>>.

(57) Source: Sarah Judd, "THANKS DAD! Teacher Kaye gets the greatest gift of all in kidney swap op: I've given life to my daughter twice ..." Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England). 17 September 2010 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/THANKS+DAD!+Teacher+Kaye+gets+the+greatest+gift+of+all+in+kidney+swap...-a0237290856>>.

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(62) Source: Kelly Wilson, "Sister's selflessness gives gift of life to brother needing kidney transplant." Quincy Herald-Whig (Quincy, Illinois). 7 July 2008. Updated 2 June 2010 <<http://www.whig.com/story/kidney-transplant---SUN-7-6>>.

(63) Source: Miya Wiseman, "Brother Gives Sister the Gift of Life: Transplant Helps Sickle Cell Disease." Washington Post. 3 June 2004 <<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9417-2004Jun2.html>>.

(64) Source: Martha L. Hernandez, "Sister gives brother the gift of life with kidney." Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX). 30 October 2011 <<http://www.valleymorningstar.com/articles/life-96191-mcallen-brother.html>>.

(65) Source: Alison Dayani, "Thanks for saving my life, brother." Birmingham Mail (England). 7 November 2005 <<http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2005/11/07/thanks-for-saving-my-life-brother-97319-16342005/>>.

(66) Source: "Brother gives sis gift of life." Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland). 12 August 2010 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Brother+gives+sis+gift+of+life.-a0234195944>>.

(67) Source: Joyce Shelby, "Sis Gives Brother Gift Of Life — A Kidney." New York Daily News. 16 November 2005 <<http://articles.nydailynews.com/2005-11-16/local/18306784_1_kidney-coast-guard-brother>>.

(68) Source: Tony Sclafani, "Saving Lives Is Really In This Hero's Bones. City Firefighter To Finally Meet Woman Who Received Marrow." New York Daily News. 19 January 2006 <<http://articles.nydailynews.com/2006-01-19/news/18332708_1_stem-cell-bone-marrow-transplant-cells>>.

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(70) Source: Rebecca English, "Mother's joy as transplant saves baby." Daily Mail (UK). 18 October 2011 <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-33160/Mothers-joy-transplant-saves-baby.html>.

(71) Source: As told to Homa Khaleeli, "Why I gave my kidney to a stranger." Guardian (UK). 24 October 2011 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/oct/24/i-gave-stranger-my-kidney>>.

(72) Source: Christine Ferretti, "75-year-old Dearborn Heights man rescues girl from pit bull attack." The Detroit News. Posted at Pitowner.blogspot.com. 1 September 2010 <http://pitowner.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.htmlBy>. Also: "CARNEGIE HERO FUND COMMISSION CITES 18 FOR EXTRAORDINARY ACTS OF CIVILIAN HEROISM." 14 December 2011 <http://www.carnegiehero.org/awardees_recent.php#0>. Also: J. Patrick Pepper, "Woman to serve probation in pit bull attack." Press & Guide Newspapers. 24 December 2010 <<http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2010/12/24/news/doc4d14b59e4c91d556144413.txt?viewmode=fullstory>>. Also: Ben Baird , "3 honored as heroes for helping pit bull victims." Press & Guide Newspapers. 19 October 2010 <<http://www.pressandguide.com/articles/2010/10/19/news/doc4cbdea4c5f6a6734491573.txt?viewmode=fullstory>>.

(73) Source: "Oregon man rescues woman from bear in Yellowstone Park." KGW. 11 July 2011 <<http://www.king5.com/news/local/Oregon-man-rescues-woman-from-bear-in-Yellowstone-Park-125344088.html>>.

(74) Source: "Dog saves family from wolf attack: With their protruding rib cages and shrunken bodies, there was no question the wolves were hungry." The Vancouver Province. Canada.com. 26 December 2007 <<http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=44d94f6e-11cd-46b6-84c4-3f48d8df838b>>.

(75) Source: Kylee Cruz, "Neighbor Rescues Spokane Woman Attacked By Pitbull." KXLY4. 22 September 2011 <<http://www.kxly.com/news/29272320/detail.html>>.

(76) Source: "Kick ass! How Dotty the donkey saved her friend Stanley the sheep from mauling by a pitbull." Daily Mail (UK). 6 April 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1373683/How-Dotty-Donkey-saved-Stanley-Sheep-mauling-pitbull.html>>. Also: "Brave donkey honoured for saving sheep from dog attack." PDSA. <<http://www.pdsa.org.uk/about-us/media-pr-centre/news/1233_brave-donkey-honoured-for-saving-sheep-from-dog-attack>>.

(77) Source: Emily Carlson, "HEROIC HOUND: Two kittens were left on a rural road to die, but one special dog named Reagan came to the rescue." WHOTV.com. 6 December 2011 <<http://www.whotv.com/news/who-story-dog-rescues-kittens-20111129,0,5285512.story>>.

(78) Source: "Fearless Cat Saves Owner From Pit Bull Attack." NewsCore. 3 June 2010 <<http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpps/news/offbeat/fearless-cat-saves-owner-from-pit-bull-attack-dpgonc-20100603-mh_7898796>>.

(79) Source: "Doggone Hero: Pet saves family from fire... just months after they stopped vet putting her down." Daily Mail (UK). 10 February 2010 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1355271/Dog-saves-family-just-months-stopped-vet-putting-down.html>>.

(80) Source: Tom Cherveny, "Faithful companion guards woman during 20-hour ordeal." West Central Tribune (Willmar, Minnesota). 21 November 2011 <<http://www.wctrib.com/event/article/id/86904/>>.

(81) Source: "Lassie to the rescue as OAP thrown from horse." Breakingnews.ie. 24 January 2006 <<http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/2006/0124/world/cweykfcwausn/>>.

(82) Source: "Praise for little dog who saved her owner from blaze." Scotsman (UK). 6 February 2006 <<http://www.scotsman.com/news/praise_for_little_dog_who_saved_her_owner_from_blaze_1_979954>>.

(83) Source: "Dog, named Baby, saves baby." News24.com. 6 January 2006 <<http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Dog-named-Baby-saves-baby-20060106>>.

(84) Source: Richard Alleyne, "Pet saves injured pensioner's life." Telegraph (UK). 26 May 2005 <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1490787/Pet-saves-injured-pensioners-life.html>. Also: "Pet dog's vigil for injured owner." BBC News. 25 May 2005 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/4580687.stm>. Also: "Pet Dog Kept Vigil for Injured Pensioner." Good News Blog. 26 May 2005 <http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/05/26/pet-dog-kept-vigil-for-injured-pensioner>.

(85) Source: Lynn Curwin, "Small dogs are big heroes to injured woman." Digital Journal. 23 January 2011 <<http://digitaljournal.com/article/302811>>.

(86) Source: Dominique van Heerden, "Dramatic rescue of mother and baby elephant." CNN. 10 November 2011 <<http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-10/africa/world_africa_elephant-rescue_1_adult-elephant-dramatic-rescue-mother-and-baby?_s=PM:AFRICA>>. Also: "Mother and baby elephant rescued from mud lagoon by conservation workers." Daily Mail (UK). 11 November 2011 <<http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/animal-magic/2011/11/11/mother-and-baby-elephant-rescued-from-mud-lagoon-by-conservation-workers-115875-23552545/>>.

(87) Source: Richard Shears, "Eight firefighters spend four hours on dramatic high-tech rescue of baby kitten flushed down the toilet by toddler." Daily Mail (UK). 23 October 2010 <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1322929/Kitten-flushed-toilet-rescued-8-firefighters-Sydney.html#ixzz13Jru7kV1>.

(88) Source: Liz Hull, "Rescuers spend 12 hours trying to save pregnant cat from locked bin... only to discover it was a TOY." Daily Mail (UK). 1 December 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068006/Rescuers-spend-12-hours-trying-save-pregnant-miaowing-cat-locked-bin-discover-TOY.html>>.

(89) Source: "Everyday Heroes: Good Samaritans." Stubby Dog. 28 October 2011 <<http://stubbydog.org/2011/10/everyday-heroes-good-samaritans/>>.

(90) Source: "Huron County (MI) Deputy Rescues Scared Deer In The Road By Picking Her Up." YouTube. 14 November 2011 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5NvCVFWQI8&feature=youtu.be>. Also: forcd ind, "Ever Pick Up a Deer." Chevelle Tech. 16 November 2011 <<http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3353283>>.

(91) Source: Laura T. Coffey, "Good buddies: Grizzled truckers transport rescued animals to safety: In the face of animal overpopulation and abuse, volunteers take matters into their own hands." MSNBC.MSN.com. 10 November 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45227747/ns/today-good_news/#.Tr00C812kVk>.

(92) Source: Dwight Dana, "Florence teen saves grandmother from choking." The Morning News of Florence. 7 March 2011 <<http://www.independentmail.com/news/2011/mar/07/florence-teen-saves-grandmother-choking/>>. Posted on IndependentMail.com (Anderson, South Carolina).

(93) Source: Maki Becker. "A special and unexpected hero." Buffalo News (New York). 3 December 2005 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/buffalo-news/mi_8030/is_20051203/unexpected-hero/ai_n42904704/?tag=content;col1>>.

(94) Source: Nora Muchanic, "Heimlich hero saves friend at lunch table." WPVI-TV. 24 October 2011 <http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8404037>.

(95) Source: Laura Bassett, "Foreclosure Hero: Man Pesters Executives, Saves Friend's House." Huffington Post. 18 February 2011 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/18/foreclosure-hero-man-pest_n_825025.html>>.

(96) Source: Catherine Foster, "Experience: My toddler stopped breathing." Guardian (UK). 9 December 2011 <<http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/09/my-toddler-stopped-breathing>>.

(97) Source: Sara Nichol, "Boy's actions prevents tragic swing accident." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 31 July 2010 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/07/31/boy-s-actions-prevents-tragic-swing-accident-72703-26969964/2/>>.

(98) Source: Matt Casey, "Our hero lifesaver." The Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 12 August 2003 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/content_objectid=13283783_method=full_siteid=50081_headline=-Our-hero-lifesaver-name_page.html>>.

(99) Source: "My lifesaver." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 26 August 2005 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2005_August_26/ai_n28293664/?tag=content;col1>>.

(100) Source: Sandra Gordon, "Kids to the Rescue: 4 Brave Kids Save Lives; Mom Collapses — Son Alerts Ambulance!" Parents. August 2010 <http://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/values/kids-to-the-rescue-4-brave-kids-save-lives/?page=4>.

(101) Source: Tom Roeder, "911 call makes boy a hero: Fourth-grader got help for ailing dad." Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado). 10 December 2003 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20031210/ai_n10026925/?tag=content;col1>>.

(102) Source: Jane Picken, "Lifesavers." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 22 February 2006 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2006_Feb_22/ai_n28331315/?tag=content;col1>>.

(103) Source: Sonia Sharma, "A LIFESAVER; Ellie, eight, saves mum from asthma attack." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 16 April 2008 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2008/04/16/eight-year-old-ellie-saves-mum-s-life-72703-20771395/>>.

(104) Source: Lisa Chavarria, "2-year-old Houston girl uses cell phone to save mother's life." KHOU 11 News. 22 October 2011 <http://www.khou.com/news/local/2-year-old-saves-mothers-life-132381663.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter>.

(105) Source: Laura Caroe, "Lad saves blind man who fell on Metro tracks." Evening Chronicle (UK). 18 February 2009 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2009/02/18/lifesaver-72703-22953723/>>.

Source: "Toddler saves her mother after she collapses from an asthma attack in bedroom at home." Daily Mail (UK). 7 December 2007 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-500319/Toddler-saves-mother-collapses-asthma-attack-bedroom-home.html>>.

(107) Source: "Toddler Saves Mom, Brother in Same Week." ABC News. 16 September 2004 <http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=89939&page=1>.

(108) Source: "Toddler Saves Grandma By Calling 911." CBSNews. 18 February 2010 <<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/28/earlyshow/health/main6150281.shtml>>.

(109) Source: "6-year-old speaks about dog attack." WSVN. 11 April 2011 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21004016844286/>>. Also: "Boy hospitalized after protecting brother from dog attack." WSVN. 8 April 2011 <<http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21003992595554/>>.

(110) Source: "Hero kids save mum; LIFESAVERS." The Mirror (London, England). 31 May 2008 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Hero+kids+save+mum%3B+LIFESAVERS.-a0179554148>>.

(111) Source: Mike Morgan, "Guisborough postman honoured at regional awards after saving OAP's life." Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England). 6 May 2010 <<http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/2010/05/06/guisborough-postman-honoured-at-regional-awards-after-saving-oap-s-life-84229-26384256/>>.

(112) Source: Simon Jones, "Heroes saved baby's life." Bermuda Sun. 5 October 2011 <http://bermudasun.bm/main.asp?SectionID=24&SubSectionID=896&ArticleID=54511>.

(113) Source: Paul Swiech, "45 minutes into new job, woman saves man's life." Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois). 18 May 2010 <<http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_54537298-622d-11df-9cc6-001cc4c002e0.html>>.

(114) Source: "Teen who failed CPR class hailed hero after resuscitating 75-year-old man." Daily Mail (UK). 23 December 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2077866/Teen-failed-CPR-class-hailed-hero-resuscitating-75-year-old-man.html>>.

(115) Source: "Help us find Samaritan who saved the life of our John." Scotsman (UK). 21 October 2008 <<http://www.scotsman.com/news/help_us_find_samaritan_who_saved_the_life_of_our_john_1_1276838>>.

(116) Source: Paul Walsh, "Good deed on I-94 quickly repaid as stricken driver is resuscitated by driver he helped." Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN). 7 November 2011 <<http://www.startribune.com/local/133356023.html>>.

(117) Source: Janna Clark, "10-Year-Old Saves His Best Friend's Life." Fox23.com. 22 June 2011 <<http://www.fox23.com/news/local/story/10-Year-Old-Saves-His-Best-Friends-Life/tJe1g_z5O0mRmdAzxFVw-A.cspx>>.

(118) Source: Logan Neill, "Modest hero honored for saving child's life." St. Petersburg Times (Florida). 9 December 2010 <<http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article1138919.ece>>.

(119) Source: T.J. Pignataro, "A hero amid the subs." Buffalo News (NY). 8 October 2011 <<http://www.buffalonews.com/city/communities/cheektowaga/article585680.ece>>.

(120) Source: John Branton, "Heroes Among Us — Lifesaving efforts honored." Columbian (Vancouver, Washington). 22 June 2007 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/columbian-vancouver-wash/mi_8100/is_20070622/heroes-lifesaving-efforts-honored-everyday/ai_n51348706/?tag=content;col1>>.

(121) Source: "Video: Pizza delivery man rescues woman from fire." Mainline Media News. 29 November 2011 <<http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2011/11/29/king_of_prussia_courier/news/doc4ed520e9a6d08358589416.txt>>.

(122) Source: Sevil Omer, "'Grateful to be alive': Teen uses ladder to rescue Pa. woman from fire." MSNBC. 23 November 2011 <<http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/23/8979102-grateful-to-be-alive-teen-uses-ladder-to-rescue-pa-woman-from-fire>>.

(113) Source: Ian Cull, "Teenager Saves Neighbor In North Spokane House Fire." KXLY4. 20 November 2011 <<http://www.kxly.com/news/29817842/detail.html>>.

(124) Source: "Police Chief, Resident Help Save Four From House Fire." Firehouse Forums. February 2006 <<http://www.firehouse.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-79224.html>>. Also: "Police Chief, Resident Help Save Four From House Fire." Good Deeds Blog. 30 January 2006 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/30/police-chief-resident-help-rescue-four-from-house-fire>>.

(125) Source: William Lee (Tribune reporter) and Randi Belisomo (WGN-TV reporter). "Residents break down apartment door, rescue fire burn victim." Chicago Tribune (Illinois). 22 August 2011 <<http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-apartment-fire-leaves-man-critically-burned-in-ravenswood-neighborhood-20110822,0,5462379.story>>.

(126) Source: Cait Purinton, "Teen saves neighbors from fire: 16-year-old called 911, then wakened family." The Topeka Capital-Journal (Kansas). 7 February 2004 <<http://cjonline.com/stories/020704/loc_teensaves.shtml>>.

(127) Source: Sandra Gordon, "Kids to the Rescue: 4 Brave Kids Save Lives; Kindergartner Saves Dad from Burning Home." Parents. August 2010 <http://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/values/kids-to-the-rescue-4-brave-kids-save-lives/?page=2>. Also: "Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog's Save Page." <http://www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com/saves.html >. Accessed 21 November 2011.

(128) Source: Sandra Gordon, "Kids to the Rescue: 4 Brave Kids Save Lives; Baby Safe, Thanks to Big Brother." Parents. August 2010 <http://www.parents.com/kids/responsibility/values/kids-to-the-rescue-4-brave-kids-save-lives/?page=3>.

(129) Source: Richard Jerome and Susan Schindehette, "Their Finest Hour." People (Vol. 58, No. 24). 9 December 2002 <<http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20138700,00.html>>.

(130) Source: "Man rescued from blazing flat." East Anglian Daily Times (UK). 28 January 2008 <<http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/man_rescued_from_blazing_flat_1_73986?ot=archant.PrintFriendlyPageLayout.ot>>.

(131) Source: "Heroes: Brave mother and son clamber into blazing house to rescue family of five terrified children." Daily Mail (UK). 5 January 2010 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1240463/Hero-teenager-saves-children-trapped-burning-house.html>>.

(132) Source: Daniel Kemp, "Mother Dies Saving 5 Children From Fire." WLKY News. 7 October 2010 <<http://www.wlky.com/r/25312867/detail.html>>.

(133) Source:  Leslie Miller, "Mom saves kids from fire by dropping them out of 3rd-floor window." KABC-TV. 28 October 2011 <http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=8410342>.

(134) Source: Owen Hughes, "Passer-by saves cancer sufferer from pan blaze; Hero bursts into house to guide OAP to safety." Daily Post (Liverpool, England). 12 September 2009 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Passer-by+saves+cancer+sufferer+from+pan+blaze%3B+Hero+bursts+into...-a0207683447>>.

(135) Source: Linda Richards, "I Kicked in the Front Door and Dragged Him Out; Man Tells of His House-Blaze Heroics." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 9 September 2008 <<http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2008/09/09/hero-lifesaver-tells-of-gateshead-fire-rescue-bid-72703-21709488/>>.

(136) Source: Alysha Palumbo, "Boy recalls dramatic rescue from Boston fire." NECN.com. 17 October 2011 <http://www.necn.com/10/17/11/Boy-recalls-dramatic-rescue-from-Boston-/landing_newengland.html?blockID=579010&feedID=4206>. Also: Sacha Pfeiffer And Lynn Jolicoeur, "Boston Firefighter Catches Boy In 'Most Dramatic Rescue." WBUR.org. 18 October 2011 <<http://www.wbur.org/2011/10/18/firefighter-child-rescue>>.

(137) Source: "Corpus Mother rescues daughter from house fire." Texas-fire.com. 26 September 2007 <<http://www.texas-fire.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4183>>.

(138) Source: Warren Mass, "Modest rescuer honored." The New American. 20 March 2006 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0JZS/is_6_22/ai_n24984173/>>.

(139) Source: "CARNEGIE MEDALS AWARDED TO 19 FOR EXTRAORDINARY CIVILIAN HEROISM." Carnegie Hero Fund. 22 December 2009 <<http://www.carnegiehero.org/pdfs/dec08NR_1.pdf>>.

(140) Source: "Pensioner thanks hero for scooter blaze rescue." Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England). 22 January 201 <<http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2010/01/22/pensioner-thanks-hero-for-scooter-blaze-rescue-86081-25657624/>>. Also: Joanne Douglas, "Bus driver Richard Stones saves Netherthong woman from burning mobility scooter." Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England). 20 January 2010 <<http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2010/01/20/bus-driver-richard-stones-saves-netherthong-woman-from-burning-mobility-scooter-86081-25638799/>>.

(141) Source: Mark Young, "One Big Hero." The North Platte Telegraph (Nebraska). 21 May 2009 <<http://www.nptelegraph.com/articles/2009/05/21/news/50002200.txt>>.

(142) Source: "Girl, 8, Takes Wheel When Grandma Faints." CBSNews. 29 April 2009 <<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/27/national/main4971394.shtml>>.

(143) Source: Personal story.

(144) Source: Robert Lake, "Heroes Among Us." Truckers News. 11 June 2002 <<http://www.truckersnews.com/heroes-among-us/>>.

(145) Source: T.J. Pignataro, "Driver saved in crash at HSBC Arena." Buffalo News (New York). 14 December 2006 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/buffalo-news/mi_8030/is_20061214/driver-saved-crash-hsbc-arena/ai_n42955410/?tag=content;col1>>.

(146) Source: Cary Leider Vogrin, "EVERYDAY HEROES/Penrose-St. Francis honors rescue personnel, citizens." Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado). 4 October 2003 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4191/is_20031004/ai_n10029137/?tag=content;col1>>.

(147) Source: Maria St. Louis-Sanchez. "Fatal crash victim saved girlfriend's life by swerving his car." The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado). 5 October 2011 <<http://www.gazette.com/articles/girlfriend-126152-car-life.html>>.

(148) Source: Nicole E. Matthews, "Truck Drivers Save 4 People Trapped in Car After Crash: 2 fatal crashes close 13-mile stretch of I-10." Myfoxphoenix.com. 30 June 2011 <<http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/traffic/2-fatal-crashes-close-13-mile-stretch-of-i-10-06302011>>.

(149) Source: Associated Press, "Passers-by rescue SoCal woman seconds before train strikes car." San Diego Source. 20 January 2006 <<http://www.sddt.com/News/article.cfm?SourceCode=20060120cj>>.

(150) Source: John McEachran, "DJ HAILED A WEE FAT 999 HERO." Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland). 7 November 2000 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DJ+HAILED+A+WEE+FAT+999+HERO.-a066655445>>.

(151) Source: Andy Paras, "Fiery rescue: Heroic actions saved man from burning wreck." Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). 20 September 2011 <<http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/sep/20/fiery-rescue/>>.

(152) Matt Zapotosky, "Man recounts rescue of man pulled from burning car near National Cathedral." Washington Post. 20 January 2010  http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/matt-zapotosky/twas-boyish-curiosity-that-fir.html>. Also: "Driver rescued from burning car." Washington Post. 18 January 2010 <<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/17/AR2010011703274.html>>.

(153) Source: "Amazing Rescue! Car Condensation Keeps Trapped Woman Alive." 12 January 2006 <http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x4590672>. Posted on Democratic Underground.

(154) Source: "Woman saves truck driver in fiery crash." TODAY.com. 19 October 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/44966478/ns/today-today_people/#.TqFyvWA14no>. Also: Will Kane, "Woman saves trucker from S.F. freeway-crash flames." San Francisco Chronicle. 20 October 2011 <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/19/BA3F1LJIPD.DTL#ixzz1bQLZabEZ>.

(155) Source: Maria Elena Cruz, "SAPD honors its finest in ceremony." La Prensa (San Antonio, Texas). 15 February 2009 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/la-prensa-san-antonio-tex/mi_8139/is_20090215/sapd-honors-finest-ceremony/ai_n50851500/?tag=content;col1>>.

(156) Source: "Modest Hero Honored for Saving 4 Lives." Deseret News (Utah). 31 August 1954 <http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=336&dat=19540831&id=LZUwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-0kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4989,5040507>.

(157) Source: J.D. Bruewer, "Truck driver pulls man from sinking car." Lima News (Ohio). 14 November 2011 <http://www.limaohio.com/news/neumeier-75028-car-truck.html>. Also: "Ohio truck driver pulls man out of sinking car: Rescuer uses a wrench to break the window of submerged vehicle." Msnbc.msn.com. 15 November 2011 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45306081/ns/us_news-wonderful_world/#.TsPoiM2ldKB>.

(158) Source: "A Chilean woman ends her driving test sinking into the sea." El Mundo. 21 November 2011 <<http://www.elmundo.es/america/2011/11/21/noticias/1321904303.html>> and <http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=es&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.elmundo.es%2Famerica%2F2011%2F11%2F21%2Fnoticias%2F1321904303.html>.

(159) Source: Nikki Preston, "Heroes save toddler from sunken car." New Zealand Herald. 4 November 2011 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10763773>.

(160) Source: Mike Celizic, "Good Samaritan felt mother's panic." Today. 27 August 2007 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20462424/ns/today-today_people/t/good-samaritan-felt-mothers-pain-panic/#.Ttox_5hBR4e>.

(161) Source: Jennifer Blake, "Family tells frightening story of heroic rescue." Meadow Lake Progress (Saskatchewan, Canada). 2009 <http://www.meadowlakeprogress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1526974&archive=true>. Also: Nathan Devlin. "Meadow Lake trio saves family from drowning." Eagle Feather News (Canada). Vol. 12, Number 5. May 2009 <http://aborigin.sasktelwebhosting.com/Resources/May_2009.pdf>.

(162) Source: "Trio hailed as heroes." Good Deeds Blog. 4 February 2006 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/02/04/trio-hailed-as-heroes>>.

(163) Source: "Pregnant Woman Rescued From Sinking Car." CBS Boston. 26 July 2011 <<http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/07/26/pregnant-woman-rescued-from-sinking-car/>>.

(164) Source: "Woman saved from sinking car." TVNZ (New Zealand). 2 December 2011 <<http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/woman-saved-sinking-car-4586904>>. Also: Michael Fox, "Hero saves screaming woman from sinking car." Stuff (New Zealand). 2 December 2011 <http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6075702/Hero-saves-screaming-woman-from-sinking-car>. Also: Andrew Koubaridis and APNZ, "Rescuer only had seconds to save woman from sinking car." New Zealand Herald. 2 December 2011 <http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10770367>.

(165) Source: Bianca Clare, "Woman rescued from sinking car." Sunshine Coast Daily (Queensland, Australia). 24 February 2011 <<http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/24/woman-drives-car-coast-creek/>>. Also: Bianca Clare, "Woman safe after car plunge. Sunshine Coast Daily (Queensland, Australia). 25 February 2011 <<http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/25/car-takes-plunge-cornmeal-creek-sam-toldi/>>.

(166) Source: "Mercy dive saves sinking teen." Sunshine Coast Daily (Queensland, Australia). 25 February 2011 <<http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/25/mercy-dive-saves-sinking-teen/>>.

(167) Source: Leslie Johnson, "A Hero Among Us: Stone Mountain 12-Year-Old Saved Child From Drowning." Huffington Post. 28 November 2011 <<http://stonemountain.patch.com/articles/a-hero-among-us-stone-mountain-12-year-old-saved-child-from-drowning>>.

(168) Source: Michelle O'Keeffe, "TRAINEE GARDA COLM SAVES RIVER FALL TRIO; Officer hailed a hero after Liffey rescue." Sunday Mirror (London, England). 8 December 2002 <<http://www.thefreelibrary.com/TRAINEE+GARDA+COLM+SAVES+RIVER+FALL+TRIO%3B+Officer+hailed+a+hero+after...-a095081262>>.

(169) Source: Louise Clifton-Evans, "One good deed for Frankston girl, two winners." Frankston Standard Leader (Australia). 16 December 2011 <http://frankston-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/one-good-deed-two-winners/>.

(170) Source: Ryck Lydecker, "A Solid Gold Hero." Boat/US Magazine. May 2002 <http://www.boatus.com/news/gold.htmA solid gold hero>.

(171) Source: Brendan Furlong, "HERO GARDA SAVES RIVER PLUNGE GIRL; He dives into freezing water after bridge fall." The Mirror (London, England). 30 April 2007 <http://www.thefreelibrary.com/HERO+GARDA+SAVES+RIVER+PLUNGE+GIRL%3b+He+dives+into+freezing+water...-a0162766517>.

(172) Source: "Man Saved in a Dramatic Water Rescue." Good News Blog. 26 January 2006 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/26/man-saved-in-a-dramatic-water-rescue>>.

(173) Source: Robbyn Brooks, "Local boys rescue three men from water (with VIDEO)." Northwest Florida Daily News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida). 11 May 2009 <<http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/payton-17332-cameron-party.html>>.

(174) Source: Rob Barron, "LIFEGUARDS' BEST DAYS: WHEN WE DON'T HAVE TO DO A RESCUE." Letter to the Editor. Palm Beach Post (Florida). 20 August 2006 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/palm-beach-post/mi_8163/is_20060820/lifeguards-days-dont-rescue/ai_n51929606/?tag=content;col1>>.

(175) Source: Paul Clancy, "Heroes guarded the coast." The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star (Norfolk, VA). 11 February 2007 <<http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/virginian-pilot-ledger-star-norfolk/mi_8014/is_20070211/heroes-guarded-coast/ai_n41332257/?tag=content;col1>>. Also: Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers. Amazon.com. <http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Beach-Recovering-Etheridge-Lifesavers/dp/0195154843/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1321194057&sr=1-1>. Accessed 13 November 2011.

(176) Source: Sara Israelsen, "Lindon Scout gets Honor Medal for saving a girl from drowning: Boy, 13, pulled her out of water while body surfing in California." Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City, Utah). 30 December 2006 <http://www.deseretnews.com/article/650219030/Lindon-Scout-gets-Honor-Medal-for-saving-a-girl-from-drowning.html>.

(177) Source: Jerrika Insco, "Six-year-old hero saves friend's life." WKYT (Lexington, Kentucky). 27 October 2011 <<http://www.wkyt.com/wymtnews/headlines/Six-year-old_hero_saves_friends_life_132744393.html>>.

(178) Source: "Stranger Rescues Elderly Woman Trapped In Her Car During A Flash Flood." CBS Baltimore. 29 September 2011 <<http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/09/29/stranger-rescues-elderly-woman-trapped-in-her-car-during-a-flash-flood/>>.

(179) Source: "'I would do anything for her': Boy, 9, saves two-year-old sister from drowning by giving CPR." Daily Mail (UK). 19 April 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1378586/Tristin-Saghin-9-saves-2-year-old-sister-drowning-giving-CPR.html>>.

(180) Source: Bryan Anderson, "Local Child Hero Honored." WCTV (Georgia). 15 August 2011 <http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/127799513.html>.

(181) Source: Angie Francalancia, "Lifesaving Training Pays Immediate Dividend." Palm Beach Post (Florida). 19 March 2008 http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/palm-beach-post/mi_8163/is_20080319/lifesaving-training-pays-dividend/ai_n51989385/?tag=content;col>.

(182) Source: Katherine Faulkner, "'I knew I couldn't let go of Isabella': Pregnant mother describes agonising moment she was forced to choose which of her children to save from a sinking car." Daily Mail (UK). 8 September 2010 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1309911/Mother-Rachel-Edwards-forced-choose-child-save-sinking-car.html>>.

(183) Source: Richard Jerome, Susan Schindehette, "Their Finest Hour." People (Vol. 58, No. 24). 9 December 2002 <<http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20138700,00.html>>.

(184) Source: "Girl, 9, saved from drowning on cruise ship." The Vancouver Province (Canada). 9 October 2008 <<http://www.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=11bb30ac-a59a-4715-8072-9b085fc77334>>.

(185) Source: Amanda Frink, "'TRULY A MIRACLE': 12-year-old boy alive and recovering after drowning in ocean." Chinook Observer (Washington). 9 August 2011 <<http://www.chinookobserver.com/news/truly-a-miracle/article_2128ad0c-c2df-11e0-b3fe-001cc4c03286.html>>.

(186) Source: "Cruise ship which saved 22 people in Aegean Sea praised by UNHCR." UNHCR: The United Nations Refugee Agency. 8 June 2006 <<http://www.unhcr.org/44883fba4.html>>.

(187) Source: Matt Fredmonsky, "Girl Saved from Drowning by Kent State Student: Senior Eric Johnston pulls girl from Cuyahoga River Sunday." Kent Patch. 24 May 2011 <<http://kent.patch.com/articles/girl-saved-from-drowning-by-kent-state-student>>.

(188) Source: Matt Cunningham, "Boys rescue jet skiers." 11 January 2006 <<http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?45587-12-amp-14-y.o.-rescue-jet-skiers>>. Posted on a forum at Woodenboat.com.

(189) Source: Amy Dempsey, "Canadians lead dramatic rescue of U.S. police from edge of Niagara Falls." Toronto Star (Canada) 19 June 2011 <<http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1011273--n-y-state-police-officers-rescued-by-helicopter-from-niagara-river>>.

(190) Source: Pete Gallivan, "Missouri Woman Meets Her Niagara Rescuers." WGRZ. 23 July 2011 <<http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/128398/1/Missouri-Woman-Meets-Her-Niagara-Rescuers>>.

(191) Source: John P. Huston, "UPDATE: Northfield police sergeant discusses saving crash victim's life." TribLocal.com/ 1 June 2011 <http://triblocal.com/winnetka-northfield/2011/06/01/update-northfield-police-sergeant-discusses-saving-crash-victims-life/>.

(192) Source: Mark Hanrahan, "Oregon surfer describes dramatic rescue of 3." KGW. 26 September 2011 <http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Ore-surfer-describes-how-he-rescued-3-men-130582658.html>.

(193) Source: "Little boy big hero in Saskatchewan." CBC News Online. 10 November 2003 <<http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/11/10/sask_honour031110>>. Posted at Real Life Little Heroes. <http://www.chinastrategies.com/lithero.htm#Little%20boy%20big%20hero%20in%20Saskatchewan>. Accessed 14 September 2011.

(194) Source: "Hero of rage at 37,000ft." The Star (Sheffield, England). 18 January 2006 <<http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/hero_of_rage_at_37_000ft_1_216062>>.

(195) Source: Sean Webby, "4-year-old hero, family receive $27,000 raised by donations." San Jose Mercury News (California). Posted at <newsgroups.derkeiler.com> on 4 February 2006 <<http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.true-crime/2006-02/msg00675.html>>. Also: Sean Webby, "You Are A Hero." San Jose Mercury News (California). Posted at <newsgroups.derkeiler.com> on 27 January 2006 <<http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Alt/alt.true-crime/2006-02/msg00675.html>>.

(196) Source: Megha Satyanarayana, "13-year-old's quick thinking credited for keeping her safe during break-in." Detroit Free Press (Michigan). 17 December 2011 <http://www.freep.com/article/20111217/NEWS04/112170432/13-year-old-s-quick-thinking-credited-for-keeping-her-safe-during-break-in?odyssey=mod|mostview>.

(197) Source: Becky Schlikerman and Serena Maria Daniels, "Man pleads with gunman, stops potential killing of teen." Chicago Breaking News. 2 September 2010 <<http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/09/man-intervenes-in-shooting-stops-potential-killing.html>>.

(198) Source: "Rape bid: 5 men abduct Gurgaon girl; rescued after dramatic car chase." Express News Service. 25 July 2011 <<http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Rape-bid-5-men-abduct-Gurgaon-girl-dramatic-car-chase-ends-in-rescue/821785/>>.

(199) Source: Kaumudi Jurjar. "Doctor rescues rape victim: Treats injured girl, helps trace her kin in Chhattisgarh." Mid Day. 3 August 2011 <<http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/aug/030811-Pune-Doctor-rescues-rape-victim-Chhattisgarh.htm>>.

(200) Source: "De Anza college soccer players recount gang rape rescue to promote bystander program." The Breeze (Harrisonburg, VA). 26 October 2011 <<http://www.breezejmu.org/news/article_b7ea3860-003c-11e1-bfb5-0019bb30f31a.html>>.

(201) Source: "Mercia's 'Rape – Short Word, Long Sentence.'" West Mercia Police (England). No date <http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/campaigns-and-initiatives/rape-short-word-long-sentence.html>.

(202) Source: David Lohr, "Paul Kunzler Arrested: Utah Police Call Mouse 'Hero' In Rescue Of 13-Year-Old Rape Victim." Huffington Post. 23 December 2011 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/23/paul-kunzler-arrested-utah-hero-mouse_n_1168077.html?ref=crime&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D122821>.

(203) Source: "Walmart employee helps rescue rape, kidnap victim from alleged attacker." Q13 FOX (Seattle, Washington). 1 December 2011. <<http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-walmart-employee-helps-rescue-rape-kidnap-victim-from-alleged-attacker-20111130,0,7635557.story>>. Also: Caleb Hutton, "Nevada truck driver suspected of kidnapping, raping woman in Bellingham parking lot." Bellingham Herald (Washington). 30 November 2011 <http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/11/30/2292163/nevada-semi-driver-arrested-on.html#ixzz1fEg01BtK>.

(204) Source: Ihosvani Rodriguez, "Hialeah grandmother, 80, fights off gunman." South Florida Sun-Sentinel. 21 December 2011 <<http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/crime/fl-grandma-fights-back-20111221,0,4395571.story>>.

(205) Source: "Darren Weingrow Pays For Funeral of Delores Gillespie, Woman Set In Fire In Elevators." Huffington Post. 21 December 2011 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/21/darren-weingrow-pays-for-funeral-_n_1163839.html?ref=crime>>. Also: Will Yakowicz, "Man Burns Woman Alive in Underhill Avenue Elevator." Patch. 17 December 2011 <<http://prospectheights.patch.com/articles/woman-dies-after-set-on-fire-in-an-elevator-on-underhill-avenue-nypd-investigating-possible-homicide>>.

(206) Source: Al Romero, "Cops Return Stolen Car, Wedding Dress in Time for Wedding: Couple from Iowa who got married Saturday remain grateful for two Chicago police officers who found the bride's wedding dress." NBC Chicago. 10 December 2011 <<http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/stolen-car-wedding-dress-135382698.html>>.

(207) Source: "Panther Honors Owner-Operator for Heroism." Truckers News. 14 November 2011 <<http://www.truckersnews.com/panther-honors-owner-operator-for-heroism/>>. Also: "Trucker interrupts attempted murder, saves woman's life." Fleet Owner. 10 November 2011 <<http://fleetowner.com/management/news/trucker-interrupts-murder-1110/>>. Also: "Spring Hill man helps woman escape attempted murder-suicide." The Tennessean. 6 November 2011 <<http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111106/NEWS/311060055/Spring-Hill-man-helps-woman-escape-attempted-murder-suicide?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cp>>.

(208) Source: "Robbers flee from Good Samaritan." Scotsman (UK). 15 April 2003 <<http://www.scotsman.com/news/robbers_flee_from_good_samaritan_1_875935>>.

(209) Source: "Oakland Police - covering name tags - Officer Hargraves de-taped." 4 November 2011 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=51fuOs96qIA>. Original video: <<http://vimeo.com/31568216>>. Also: "California Penal Code Section 830.10." <<http://law.onecle.com/california/penal/830.10.html>>. Also: JacobSloan, "Calling Out The Police For Hiding Their Nameplates." Disinformation. 4 November 2011 <<http://www.disinfo.com/2011/11/calling-out-the-police-for-hiding-their-nameplates/>>.

(210) Source: Chris Conley, "Reward for Good Samaritan's deed: Encounter changes two women's lives forever." Memphis Commercial-Appeal (Tennessee). 2 October 2009 <<http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/oct/02/a-friend-in-02/?partner=RSS>>.

(211) Source: Stacey Barchenger, "Siblings surprised with donated candy after robbery." Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon). 3 November 2011 <<http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20111104/NEWS/111040346/Siblings-surprised-donated-candy-after-robbery?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CNews>>.

(212) Source: "Deputy rescues woman trapped in car trunk." WRAL.com. 2 February 2011 <<http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9048819/>>. Also: Video: "Deputy rescues woman trapped in car trunk." WRAL.com. 2 February 2011 <http://www.wral.com/news/local/video/9049070/#/vid9049070>.

(213) Source: Sandy Banks, "A wealth of warmth and kindness." Los Angeles Times. 20 December 2011 <<http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-20111220,0,4312656,full.column>>.

(214) Source: Sandy Banks, "On skid row, helping the most needy of the 99%." Los Angeles Times. 6 December 2011 <<http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1206-banks-20111206,0,6837499,full.column>>. Also: "About Project 5K." <http://project5k.org/5.html>. Accessed on 23 December 2011.

(215) Source: Priyanka Bhatia, "How Good Found Me In A Bad Neighborhood." Daily Good. 30 December 2011 <<http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=154>>.

(216) Source:  Sara Story, "Police Issue Gift Cards Instead of Tickets." NBCDFW.com. <<http://www.nbcdfw.com/traffic/transit/Police-issue-gift-cards-instead-of-tickets-135620058.html>>.

(217) Source: Austin Verrilli, "Mainstay uptown business to close after owner's death." Athens News (Ohio). 11 December 2011 <<http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35555-mainstay-uptown-business-to-close-after-owners-death.html>>.

(218) Source: Deborah Swiss, "Making The Most Of Our Time." Huffington Press. 9 December 2011 <<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-swiss/social-change_b_1137689.html>>.

(219) Source: Dani Carlson. "Good Samaritans save once-missing man: Rafael Gonzalez took in Johnnie Shaw." Wood TV. 23 January 2011 <<http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/kent_county/Good-Samaritan-saves-once-missing-man>>.

(220) Source: Terry Dobson, "An Old Japanese Love Warrior." Daily Good. <<http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=133>>. Accessed 10 December 2011. In 1981, "An Old Japanese Love Warrior" was published in New Age Journal, and it first appeared in the "Lomi School Bulletin."

(221) Source: Nipun Mehta, "If You Want To Be a Rebel, Be Kind." Daily Good. <<http://www.dailygood.org/view.php?sid=127>>. Accessed 29 November 2011. This article was originally written for Parabola Magazine.

(222) Source: Gareth Deighan, "Alex thanks his lifesaver." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 22 July 2005 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2005_July_22/ai_n28286897/?tag=content;col1>>.

(223) Source: Lee Castelani, Senshido Instructor, HQ Montreal. Posting on "The Good Deeds Thread." Senshido. 21 February 2006 <http://senshido.savi.ca/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3129>.

(224) Source: Sophie Doughty, "A pilot who cheated death twice has returned to his lifesaving job." Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England). 17 October 2006 <<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_6783/is_2006_Oct_17/ai_n28380253/?tag=content;col1>>.

(225) Source: "Toddler caught after 40-foot fall from window: 2 men hailed as 'heroes' for preventing 18-month-old from hitting ground." MSNBC.MSN. 30 March 2009 <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29956301/#.TrPjrM014no>. Also: Jill Harmacinski. "Child caught after falling three stories." Eagle-Tribune (Massachusetts). 30 March 2009  http://www.eagletribune.com/local/x1650949516/Child-caught-after-falling-three-stories>.

(226) Source: Ching-Ching Ni, "Lifeline at the bridge of despair." Los Angeles Times. 24 April 2008 <<http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/24/world/fg-suicide24>>.

(227) Source: Michael King, "Town of Menasha man plucks 3-year-old boy from path of train." Post-Crescent (Appleton, Wisconsin). <http://www.truckstopusa.com/forums/showthread.php?16971-Man-Saves-3-Year-Old-From-Being-Run-Over-By-Train&s=afa48b001c0e37a5eb6ad96b23776ab0>. Posted 7 September 2007 at Truckstopusa.com. Also: Associated Press, "Carnegie Heroes awards 19 medals, cash for bravery." USA Today. 23 December 2008 <<http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-23-carnegie-heroes_N.htm>>.

(228) Source: Jerry Carnes, "CARLTON: Train rescue captured on 911 tape." 11alive.com. 26 October 2011 <<http://www.11alive.com/news/article/210556/3/CARLTON-Train-rescue-captured-on-911-tape>>

(229) Source: Barbara Lingsch, "Letters: Noticing a good deed." Hunterdon County Democrat (New Jersey). 15 November 2011 <<http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2011/11/letters_noticing_a_good_deed.html>>.

(230) Source: "Man Saves Baby in Heroic Rescue." Samoa Observer. No date. <http://www.samoaobserver.ws/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13760:man-saves&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50>. Also: Lynn Rosellini, "After the Wave." Reader's Digest Asia. 18 January 2011 <<http://www.rdasia.com/after-the-wave/>>.

(231) Source: Tom Miyagawa Coulton and John M. Glionna, "Japanese return cash recovered after tsunami." Los Angeles Times. 22 September 2011 <http://articles.latimes.com/2011/sep/22/world/la-fg-japan-returned-money-20110923>.

(232) Source: "SJSU student, unemployed mother return wallet." KGO. 14 December 2011 <http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/south_bay&id=8467782>.

(233) Source: Will Ripley, "Colorado man finds $10K in Vegas, returns to owner." 9News. 26 December 2011 <<http://www.9news.com/dontmiss/238021/630/Colorado-man-finds-10K-in-Vegas-returns-to-owner>>.

(234) Source: Sheldon Gardner, "Lost thousands returned to owner." The St. Augustine Record (Florida). 14 December 2011 <http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-12-14/lost-thousands-returned-owner#.TvnMJphBR4c>.

(235) Source: "Akron couple returns $12,000 found on street." Akron Beacon Journal (Ohio). 23 December 2011 <<http://www.ohio.com/news/break-news/akron-couple-returns-12-000-found-on-street-1.251833>>.

(236) Source: Ari B. Bloomekatz, "Man finds $140,000, then his conscience." Los Angeles Times. 10 April 2008 <<http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/10/local/me-money10>>.

(237) Source: Gus Thomson, "Honest teens find, return $800 in cash to grateful owner." Auburn Journal (California). 19 October 2011 <<http://auburnjournal.com/detail/190911.html>>.

(238) Source: "Jewellery-laden lost handbag returned." Mail and Guardian Online (Melbourne, Australia). 21 January 2006 <<http://mg.co.za/article/2006-01-21-jewelleryladen-lost-handbag-returned>>.

(239) Source: Douglas Stanglin, "Homeless man's decision to return $3,300 changed his life." USA Today. 30 November 2011 <<http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/11/life-turns-around-for-homeless-man-who-returned-lost-3300/1>>. Also: Dianna M. Náñez, "Homeless man's good deed was a lifetime in the making: Returning lost bag of money was only first step." The Arizona Republic. 30 November 2011 <http://www.azcentral.com/community/tempe/articles/2011/11/25/20111125tempe-man-good-deed-lifetime-making.html>.

(240) Source: Steve Annear. "Katelyn Peckham: One woman's diamond ring lost and found on train." Metro (Boston). 21 December 2011 <<http://www.metro.us/boston/local/article/1055461--diamond-ring-lost-and-found-on-train>>.

(241) Source: Gilma Avalos, "Husband digs through nine tons of trash to find wife's ring." NBCMIAMI.com. 11 November 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45253840/ns/today-good_news/#.Tr5-I8014no>.

(242) Source: "Woman finds her diamond ring in garbage truck." WHDH-TV. 16 November 2011 <http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45320380/ns/today-good_news/#.TsZxLc2lfBA>.

(243) Source: "More than 20 years later, class ring returned to owner." Good News Blog. 26 January 2006 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2006/01/26/more-than-20-years-later-class-ring-returned-to-owner>>.

(244) Source: Jenna Martin, "Lost ring returned to owner." Columbia County News-Times (Georgia). 20 October 2011 <http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-10-20/lost-ring-returned-owner?v=1319143917>.

(245) Source: "Lost ring returned decades later." Good News Blog. 24 May 2005 <<http://www.goodnewsblog.com/2005/05/24/lost-ring-returned-decades-later>>. The original source of this article was not given.

(246) Source:  The Associated Press, "Bargain video camera holds priceless memories." Seattle Times (Washington). 24 January 2006 <http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20060124&slug=video24>.

(247) Source: Jodi Rudoren, "Buzz Makes It Home, as Usual." New York Times. 19 March 2011 <<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/20/nyregion/20toystory.html>>.

(248) Source: Amer, "A Small Gesture Meant a Great Deal." Helpothers.org. 31 October 2011 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=28485>>.

(249) Source: Janupd, "Taking Grandmother to the Temple." Helpothers.org. 11 October 2011 <<http://www.helpothers.org/story.php?sid=28030>>.

(250) Source: "'It was my hero': Girl choking on a locket saved on the way to hospital ... by a pothole." Daily Mail (UK). 13 November 2011 <<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2060763/It-hero-Girl-choking-locket-saved-way-hospital--pothole.html?ITO=1490>>.

