Swandeh Terhide

On a recent Delta Airlines flight, a senior citizen who suffers from claustrophobia offered a passenger in the aisle seat $100 to switch seats. Despite the passenger’s repeated refusals and willingness to swap seats for free, the woman persisted in her offer. She explained that she felt claustrophobic in the window seat due to the specific seat configuration. The passenger, who preferred the aisle seat, agreed to switch without compensation, provided she wouldn’t mind him getting up occasionally. As the flight progressed, the two engaged in conversation about their families and careers, leading the passenger to believe the matter of payment had been resolved. However, upon landing in Atlanta, the woman again insisted that he take the money, suggesting he give it to his children as a lesson in the rewards of kindness. Eventually, the passenger accepted the money, though he questioned the wisdom of teaching his children to expect rewards for good deeds. The story was shared on Reddit, where it sparked discussions about how to appropriately reward kindness in similar situations. One commenter noted that in a similar scenario, they had alerted a flight attendant, who added points to the passenger’s frequent flyer account as a gesture of appreciation.

A special education teacher, Jackie Dennis, who received a life-saving double lung transplant, recently guided her class in creating comfort blankets for families of organ donors. Dennis expressed that while the donation brought her immense joy, gratitude, and relief, allowing her to watch her daughter grow up, she was also deeply aware of the profound loss it represented for another family. In 2020, during the pandemic, Dennis’s health rapidly declined after giving birth, leading to her being placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant. The successful surgery, a first for Henry Ford Health at the time, allowed her to form a meaningful connection with the donor’s family. Over time, she has been able to share updates about her life, including photos of her daughter and students, showcasing the impact of the donor’s gift. Dennis organized a workshop at Huron High School in New Boston, Michigan, where she and her students made blankets to send to donor families. She noted that many donor families do not have direct contact with recipients, and these blankets serve as a symbol of warmth and gratitude, helping to bridge that gap. Dennis hopes that these gestures can inspire others to form similar connections, fostering a sense of community and appreciation among those touched by organ donation.

Fray Tormenta, a masked wrestler, captivated audiences in Mexico’s lucha libre scene for many years. However, few knew that beneath the mask was a man of faith—a former drug addict turned priest—who wrestled solely to fund an orphanage. This remarkable tale, although decades old, was recently revisited by a Spanish news outlet. Sergio Gutierrez Benitez, born in 1945 as one of 18 siblings, began his struggle with addiction at just 11 years old, leading him into a life of crime and various odd jobs to support his habits. “I started when I was 11 or 12. In this country [Mexico], drugs have always been very present,” Benitez recounted in an interview with El Confidencial. “I did everything—marijuana and cocaine every day, even mushrooms from time to time. A little after that, I started heroin.” By the age of twenty, he faced murder charges after a gang-related incident resulted in a friend’s death. Fortunately, he escaped prosecution due to an alibi involving a drunken night out. This close call prompted him to seek confession; despite being initially rejected for his past sins, he later joined the seminary and became a priest in the Piarist Order, studying in Spain and Italy. Upon joining the Diocese of Texcoco, Benitez aimed to establish a shelter for homeless children and orphans but found the financial demands overwhelming. Drawing from his painful past filled with gang violence and injuries, he donned a lucha libre mask and began wrestling under the name Fray Tormenta for $15 an hour. His wrestling career spanned 23 years from 1977 to 2000, during which he traveled extensively and became a semi-famous figure in the ring. While he initially kept his identity hidden behind the mask, he eventually revealed his dual life when officiating a wedding for a fellow wrestler shortly before opening his long-desired orphanage at the turn of the millennium. La Casa Hogar de los Cachorros de Fray Tormenta—Fray Tormenta’s Puppies Children’s Home—has welcomed over 2,000 children through its doors. Many of these children have gone on to become professionals in various fields, including medicine and law. One can’t help but wonder where they found their inspiration.

In a video message, renowned actor Steve Carell surprised seniors at several Los Angeles high schools with an extraordinary announcement. Initially, students might have thought it was a prank or an AI-generated video, but they soon discovered it was genuine. Carell revealed that a nonprofit organization he has worked with, Alice’s Kids, would cover the cost of all prom tickets for the seniors. Carell’s video was broadcasted in the assembly halls of six schools in Altadena, California, where the Eaton Fire had left a significant impact, despite sparing the schools themselves. Many students had lost their homes in the blaze. Alice’s Kids, based in Virginia, focuses on providing support to disadvantaged children. In this case, they aimed to alleviate the financial burden of prom tickets, which can range from $50 to $185, allowing students to enjoy a much-needed celebration. In the video, Steve Carell announced, “I work with a wonderful charity based out of Virginia called Alice’s Kids. And Alice’s Kids wants to let you know that they will be paying for all of your prom tickets.” This generous gesture by Alice’s Kids involves a donation of approximately $175,000, ensuring that over 800 seniors from schools such as Aveson Charter, Blair High School, John Muir High School, Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, Pasadena High School, and Rose City High School can attend prom. The gesture brought immense joy to the students, as noted by Lori Touloumian, principal of Marshall Fundamental Secondary School, who said, “It brought so much joy this morning, and that’s something that our students have really been missing.” It may be trivial to you but mean so much to another. Just keep doing what you can to make the lives of others better.

Every day, from sunrise to sunset, humanity faces numerous challenges across the globe, varying in severity and location. Yet, there are countless kind-hearted individuals who consistently demonstrate extraordinary compassion, reassuring us that kindness will ultimately prevail. An incident unfolded in Makurdi yesterday which swiftly transformed from heartbreaking to heartwarming. A family, unable to fulfill their tenancy agreement, was evicted from their home. The family’s matriarch, who had taken on patriarchal responsibilities due to her husband’s poor health, reached out to Krayzeetee Atu Terver, a prominent Benue influencer. He swiftly brought the situation to public attention, and many generous individuals responded with support. Within hours, over 400,000 naira was raised to aid the family. Krayzeetee explained the plan for using the funds: securing a new home with a rent of around 200,000 naira, providing 55,000 naira for the children’s school fees, and giving the mother 150,000 naira to enhance her fufu business. This would enable her to earn enough to cover future rent. The mother, who is somewhat educated and has teaching experience, also runs a fufu business to support her family. This rapid and compassionate response is a litmus indicator to the power of kindness. It does highlight how collective efforts can transform situations and demonstrates that humanity’s capacity for empathy and generosity will always prevail. If tis swift response of good-hearted humans isn’t the peak of kindness, then someone please educate me more. Let’s keep T.A.L.K.ing

Ava Cooper, a 10-year-old girl born with multiple heart defects, missed her school’s annual father-daughter dance while awaiting a heart transplant at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Born in 2014, Ava underwent her first open-heart surgery just six days after birth. A severe sinus infection later led to heart failure, placing her on the transplant list. Despite spending over 200 days in the hospital, Ava’s spirit remained unbroken. Every February, Ava eagerly anticipated the father-daughter dance, but this year, her hospitalization prevented her from attending. Determined to make the moment special, the hospital staff transformed a room into a vibrant dance hall on February 12. Ava’s father, Sean, waited outside her room with a corsage, ready to escort her to the makeshift ball. As Ava entered the valentine-themed space, caregivers greeted her with applause. Together, Ava and Sean danced to a playlist of her favorite songs, curated by a music therapist. The event was deeply moving for Sean, who described it as “an unforgettable experience.” He expressed gratitude to Ava’s care team for creating such a memorable moment. Sean also reflected on the joy of being a “girl dad,” saying it inspires him to be better.

Two nonprofit organizations have joined forces to eliminate medical debt for over 1,500 families in Maine. Mainers for Working Families (MFWF) partnered with the national group Undue Medical Debt to purchase and forgive $1.8 million in unpaid medical bills. This initiative targeted low-income individuals whose medical debt exceeded 5% of their annual income or whose earnings were less than four times the federal poverty line. The effort was made possible through a donation of just $12,740 from MFWF, which allowed Undue Medical Debt to buy the debt portfolios at steep discounts—less than a penny on the dollar. Recipients of this relief were not required to take any action, as letters were sent notifying them of their cleared debts. Undue Medical Debt, formerly known as RIP Medical Debt, was founded by Wall Street investors after the Occupy Wall Street movement. Since its inception, the organization has erased $14.8 billion in medical debt across the U.S., including this first partnership in Maine. Advocates like MFWF Executive Director Evan LeBrun emphasize that while this initiative is impactful, it represents only a small fraction of the medical debt burden faced by Mainers, with an estimated 40% of residents carrying such debt.

Despite serving as student council president and being voted “most likely to succeed,” 16-year-old Shawn Moyer faced rejection when his prom invitation was declined. Left needing a backup, Moyer invited Elena Hershey, a junior with ringlet curls and a radiant smile. Little did he know, this decision would save his life 35 years later when Hershey donated a kidney through an innovative paired exchange program. The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center’s paired exchange program allows donors and recipients who are incompatible to participate in a system where kidneys are swapped between pairs, ensuring everyone involved receives a compatible organ. This program became key to Moyer’s survival. Back in high school, Hershey eagerly accepted Moyer’s invitation, as juniors could only attend prom if invited by a senior. Though the two lost touch shortly after the event, their lives reconnected decades later through mutual friends. Hershey learned that Moyer, who had already undergone two kidney transplants in his life, was back on dialysis and in desperate need of another kidney. Hershey, a health-conscious individual already considering a kidney donation, decided to help her former prom date. However, they were not biologically compatible. Through the paired exchange program, Hershey’s kidney was matched with another recipient, while Moyer was prioritized for a compatible donor. When the transplant process began, Moyer immediately informed Hershey of the good news. Reflecting on her decision, Hershey emphasized how minimally donating impacted her life—she was driving within days and back to her fitness routine within weeks. For her, the chance to save a life was an easy choice: “A few weeks of rest and discomfort to extend someone’s life? It’s a no-brainer.”

A group of strangers came together to save a truck driver after his rig skidded on a snowy Pennsylvania road, leaving the cab dangling off a steep cliff. Matthew Collins was driving through a severe winter storm on Friday when two cars ahead lost control. Attempting to brake, Collins lost control of his 18-wheeler, which smashed through 30 feet of guardrail before stopping, with the cab precariously hanging over the edge. Collins was trapped inside, unable to open his door due to obstructing tree branches, while the smell of leaking diesel raised fears of fire. Moments later, a rescuer arrived, cleared the branches, forced the door open, and pulled Collins to safety with one arm. Looking up, Collins saw eight men forming a human chain to secure their descent back up the icy slope. Truck driver Arlyn Satanek captured the dramatic rescue in a photo and described the moment as instinctive teamwork: “It was just like everyone knew—we have to get this guy up. It was awesome,” he told WTAE News. After ensuring Collins’ safety, the rescuers quietly returned to their vehicles. Although Collins didn’t get a chance to thank them immediately, he later expressed gratitude for their selflessness and remarked on their exemplary kindness, saying it’s reassuring to know such people still exist.