Swandeh Terhide

In the midst of the devastating Ebola outbreak that swept across West Africa in 2014, a Nigerian physician named Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh emerged as a pillar of courage and selflessness. When the first case of Ebola arrived in Nigeria, Dr. Adadevoh’s quick thinking and dedication to public health prevented a catastrophic outbreak in the most populous country in Africa. Dr. Adadevoh correctly diagnosed the index patient, Patrick Sawyer, as Nigeria’s first case of Ebola in July 2014. Despite pressure from Liberian officials who wanted Sawyer discharged to attend a conference, Dr. Adadevoh refused to release him, stating “for the greater public good” she would not allow him to leave. Her actions were crucial in containing the virus and preventing the Nigerian index case from spreading it further. Tragically, Dr. Adadevoh contracted Ebola while caring for Sawyer and died on August 19, 2014. However, her selfless actions saved countless lives. By isolating the index patient and alerting authorities, Dr. Adadevoh set off what became Nigeria’s successful Ebola containment strategy. As a result, Nigeria was declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization just 3 months after the first case. Dr. Adadevoh’s heroism serves as an inspiration to put the greater good above personal interests, even in the face of grave risk. Her legacy lives on through the Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh (DRASA) Health Trust, an organization working to improve public health in Nigeria. Dr. Adadevoh’s courage and dedication in the darkest of times reminds us of the power of one person to make a difference and save lives.

This story of kindness has captured the attention of many, taking into account a moment of compassion in a challenging world. Ryan Hamilton was enjoying a meal on the rooftop of Old Crow Smokehouse near Wrigley Field in Chicago when he witnessed a blind man, Yusef Dale, struggling to hail a cab after the Chicago Cubs’ 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Dale had been trying for several minutes without success. Noticing his plight, a young woman named Casey Spelman approached Dale and asked if he needed assistance. When he affirmed that he did, Spelman stood by his side until a taxi arrived. Hamilton later shared this encounter on social media, expressing his admiration for Spelman’s kindness. “Wanted to give a shout-out to this girl,” he wrote. “Awesome to see such kindness in a world that the media portrays so much hate in.” Dale praised Spelman for her respectful approach, stating, “She did not presume I was incompetent or unable … she didn’t get in my personal space and most importantly, she didn’t touch me, which is an issue for some people with disabilities.” Spelman, a 26-year-old from Indianapolis, has since minimized her actions, insisting that such kindness should be the norm rather than an exception. When we make kindness a norm, life becomes truly beautiful.

Bilal Quintyne, a 24-year-old boxer from Smyrna, Georgia, is being praised for his selfless act of helping a woman in need. While preparing for a training session with his coach, Quintyne spotted 67-year-old Belinda Whitaker sitting in her 360-pound electric wheelchair on the side of the road. Whitaker’s wheelchair had run out of battery power, and despite being near several busy establishments, she had been stranded for nearly an hour with no one stopping to assist her. Quintyne approached Whitaker and offered to push her all the way back to her senior living home, a 30-minute journey. Without hesitation, Quintyne tirelessly pushed the heavy wheelchair, with his trainer capturing the moment on video. The footage, later uploaded to social media, quickly went viral, amassing millions of views and sparking a wave of admiration for Quintyne’s kindness. Members of Whitaker’s church reached out to Quintyne on social media, inviting him to attend one of their services. During the sermon, the pastor commended Quintyne for his community service and for using his abilities to help those in need. As a token of appreciation, Quintyne was presented with a plaque, a t-shirt, and a $25 gift card to The Cheesecake Factory, which he plans to use to take his two children out for dinner. “I just felt so much love,” Quintyne told The Washington Post. “I don’t see myself as no superhero, I don’t see myself as no great guy. I’m just a moral man doing what I was put on this Earth to do.” Quintyne’s simple act of kindness is a reminder that even the smallest gestures can have such immense impact on people’s lives. Let’s keep spreading the seeds of kindness patternlessly.

A cab driver in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, is receiving commendations for his integrity after returning a significant overpayment made by a Chinese-American tourist. Zhang Peng, the driver, discovered that a passenger had mistakenly paid 6,500 yuan (approximately $950) for a ride that only cost 65 yuan (about $9.50). Zhang suspected the payment was an error, likely made by a group of four tourists he had recently transported from the train station to a hotel. After unsuccessful attempts to contact them through his dispatchers, he went directly to the hotel to clarify the situation with the front desk clerk. When the passenger, identified only by his surname Liu, learned of the mistake, he was shocked. Liu explained that it was his first visit to China and that he was unfamiliar with the WeChat payment system, which led to the confusion. “In the US, there’s usually a space for decimal points, so I thought I had to do the same here,” he said. Despite Liu’s offer of a reward, Zhang insisted on returning the full amount of the overpayment. Grateful for Zhang’s honesty, Liu left a glowing review on WeChat, expressing his disbelief and appreciation for the driver’s integrity, especially given the substantial sum involved. “For some people, money is their only goal, and 6,500 yuan is a lot of money. I felt so excited yesterday because you returned it,” Liu wrote. Let us ensure that our pursuit of daily sustenance does not diminish our honesty and humanity. Together, let’s remain steadfast in our kindness and integrity.

Despite enduring a brutal fight against kidney failure and stage one breast cancer, Amy Pettenato has remained fiercely positive in the face of her health problems. When it finally came time for her to shave her head, however, the mother-of-one couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. Thankfully, an “angel” in a restaurant swooped in to lift her spirits right when she needed it. In addition to Pettenato undergoing dialysis and cancer treatments, she has also been working full-time at a credit union in Medford, New York—which is why she was so relieved to go out with her family for a lazy Sunday brunch at Metropolis Diner earlier this month. As she was eating, Pettenato noticed that there were four little girls dining next to her with their parents. She later recalled the incident on Facebook, saying: “At times I noticed one of the daughters looking at me and then noticed the mom looking and smiling at me.” Since it was Pettenato’s first time out in public with only her cancer survivor hat to hide her shaved head, she felt embarrassed and self-conscious. The neighboring family eventually paid their check and got up from the table, but before they left, the mother sat down next to Pettenato and began sharing her own experience as a 13-year cancer survivor. After encouraging Pettenato to stay positive, the woman left the restaurant. Not only that, Pettenato was later informed that the woman had secretly paid for their meal. Pettenato was so emotional over the heartfelt experience, she took to Facebook in hopes of tracking down the woman so she could thank her for her kindness. “She was an angel and made my day,” wrote Pettenato. “Not because she paid the bill but because she wasn’t afraid to sit next to a total stranger and share her experience and wish me the best.” Her Facebook post ended up being shared hundreds of times until the woman was finally identified as Kerry Holmes-Vallario. When asked why she reached out to Pettenato, Kerry Holmes-Vallario told News outlet: “When I saw her I knew exactly what she was feeling—I remember the day my husband shaved my head; it was the hardest day of my life. When I saw her sitting there I just wanted her to know that she isn’t alone in her fight and that ‘we’ as warriors are all here for each other. “On my journey I had met so many women who became friends from this disease and I wanted a just reach out to her and let her know I was there for her,” she added. We may forget everything else but I hope we won’t forget one vital lesson here – to be there for each other. Let’s stay fiercely kind.

A 19-year-old Walmart cashier named John Lopez Jr. recently captured the attention of his community in Princeton, Texas, after he selflessly paid for a distressed woman’s $110 grocery bill. The incident unfolded when a woman ahead of another shopper, Laci Simms, realized she did not have enough money to complete her purchase. In a moment of compassion, John stepped in and offered to cover her expenses, using part of his college savings to help her during a challenging time. Laci, impressed by his kindness, took a photo and shared it on Facebook, praising John’s upbeat demeanor and his ability to inspire faith in humanity. As Laci’s post went viral, numerous community members began to share their own positive experiences with John. One local resident, Brandon Weddle, recognized John from the photo and expressed how he and his wife had often discussed the young man’s impact on customers. Motivated by John’s generosity, Brandon decided to create a GoFundMe page to raise funds for him, aiming to support his college aspirations. Initially set to raise $1,000, the campaign quickly gained traction, surpassing its goal and ultimately raising over $34,000 within just a few days. The outpouring of support for John did not stop at the crowdfunding effort. He was also honoured by his manager and the mayor of Princeton, who presented him with a certificate and a medallion recognizing his good deeds. The funds raised through the GoFundMe campaign were transferred to John’s bank account, and he expressed his gratitude, stating that he plans to use the money for his college education. This recognition not only painted John’s character in positive lights but also showcased the community’s appreciation for kindness and selflessness. May this scenario awaken the spirit of kindness in us. Let’s show kindness to all.

Despite the popularity of Girl Scout cookies, few would consider spending $540 on them. However, that is exactly what a generous man did earlier this week. This Good Samaritan’s motivation wasn’t a love for Samoas; he aimed to help two Girl Scouts escape the frigid weather. Maya and Emerson were selling cookies outside a store in Greenville, South Carolina, when a man first approached and purchased seven boxes for $40. Shortly after, he returned and announced he wanted to buy their entire stock, allowing the girls to leave the cold behind. In total, he spent $540 on cookies. We can all learn to take actions solely to assist others. By putting others first, we thicken the abundance of kindness and generosity in our daily lives. Small gestures of support like the one here, set the frequency of kindness resonating all through the vastness of existence.