kindness

For years, Bill Moczulewski braved rain and cold, walking six miles to his nightshift janitor job at Walmart. His routine changed dramatically when a woman offered him a ride. Christy Conrad discovered that despite being legally blind, Bill was determined to make the trek in any weather. “I picked him up in nine-degree weather the other morning,” Christy recounted, noting that Bill had previously cycled to work until he was struck by a car. However, with her own family commitments, Christy couldn’t always provide him a lift. To address this, she created a Facebook group to find other volunteers willing to help. The group, named Mr. Bill’s Village, quickly grew to over a thousand members who wanted to assist the man known for his camouflage jacket seen walking at dawn or dusk. One member remarked that it had turned into a friendly competition: “Who can give Bill a ride today?” “There are many good people in this world,” Bill shared with CBS News during their visit to Cabot, Arkansas, where they highlighted this uplifting story. After the segment aired globally, Christy was moved to tears—“happy tears,” she emphasized. On the Mr. Bill’s Village Facebook page, she expressed her hope that others would embrace the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you would want to be treated.” She encouraged people to help whenever they see a need. Local business owner Chris Puckett also wanted to contribute. He planned to gift Bill a vehicle; however, since Bill cannot drive, the car was donated to Christy—a perfect illustration of the saying, “It takes a village.”

In a remarkable tale of determination and compassion, a Canadian family dedicated themselves to finding a cure for their newborn son’s rare disease. Terry and Georgia Pirovolakis, residents of Toronto, embarked on a journey to save their son and also help other children suffering from the same condition. In 2017, they welcomed their third child, Michael, who initially appeared healthy. However, as time passed, the couple noticed concerning developmental delays. After an exhaustive 18-month search for answers, Michael was diagnosed with spastic paraplegia 50 (SPG50), a rare neurological disorder affecting fewer than 100 individuals globally. The prognosis was grim: doctors advised the Pirovolakis family that Michael would likely be wheelchair-bound by age 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dr. Eve Elizabeth Penney, an epidemiologist, explained that children with SPG50 face serious challenges but can adapt and strive despite early developmental setbacks. With no effective treatments available through the FDA, Terry refused to accept this fate for his son. He traveled to Washington D.C. for a gene therapy conference and sought out researchers at the National Institutes of Health in the UK who were studying SPG50. Determined to change Michael’s future, Terry and Georgia liquidated their life savings, refinanced their home, and financed a team at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center to develop a proof of concept for Michael’s gene therapy. Their efforts bore fruit when they discovered that the treatment halted disease progression in laboratory settings. Their journey continued as they collaborated with a pharmaceutical company in Spain to produce doses of the gene therapy drug. In March 2022, Michael became the first person in the world with SPG50 to receive this groundbreaking treatment through a lumbar puncture. The results were promising; as weeks passed, Michael showed improvements in movement, coordination, and speech. His doctors confirmed that the treatment was effective. However, instead of keeping the remaining doses for themselves, Terry and Georgia chose to share them with other children diagnosed with SPG50. Motivated by the plight of other families facing similar challenges, Terry initiated a phase 2 clinical trial that treated three additional children with SPG50. One of these children was six-month-old Jack Lockard, whose mother reported significant progress following treatment. Despite his success as an IT manager, Terry recognized the financial burden of developing treatments for rare diseases like SPG50—each dose costing around $1 million. After realizing that pharmaceutical companies were uninterested due to limited market potential, he left his job to establish Elpida Therapeutics (meaning “Hope” in Greek). His team is working towards a phase 3 trial set to begin at the NIH. Terry hopes that philanthropic support will emerge to finance this crucial trial. His relentless pursuit has already transformed lives and holds promise for many more children facing rare diseases like SPG50.

Curled from the book, HumanKind: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time When Larry Stewart was growing up in his grandparents’ home in a small Mississippi town, he didn’t know they were impoverished. It wasn’t until he started school that he learned what he “lacked”—the bathrooms, telephones, hot water and gas stoves to be found in other kids’ homes. As a young adult, Larry confronted poverty again. Living paycheck to paycheck, he became homeless when his employer went out of business owing Larry more than one check. So Larry resorted to living in his car, covering himself in his laundry in an effort to stay warm and hoping to forget his hunger. By the time he’d gone two days without a regular meal, he was so desperate that he went to the Dixie Diner and ordered breakfast without knowing how he’d pay for it. When he finished eating, he started looking around on the floor, pretending he’d lost his wallet. The cook even came out from behind the counter and helped him look. Then, suddenly, the search was over. “You must have dropped this,” the cook said. He was holding a twenty-dollar bill. Larry was so grateful that he made a vow to himself: as soon as he was able, he’d do something for others like what the cook had done for him. Over time, he became financially stable, and he set out to keep his vow. Although he wasn’t well off by any means, he knew he couldn’t put off getting started. One evening, he stopped at a drive-in restaurant and noticed that the waitress was wearing a tattered coat that couldn’t have been keeping her warm. When he handed her money to pay for his food, he knew it was the moment. “Keep the change,” he said. Tears welled in the waitress’s eyes, and her hands shook as she held the money. “You have no idea what this means to me,” she said, her voice shaking, too. But Larry did have an idea what it meant to her. Afterward, he was so inspired by what had happened that he started driving around looking for people who needed help. They weren’t hard to find, and he gave away $200 in fives and tens. The more successful Larry became, the more money he gave away. By the time he’d earned considerable wealth in cable and phone services in Kansas City, Missouri, he was anonymously giving away substantial amounts as a “Secret Santa.” He consulted with local social workers, firefighters, and police officers to find needy and deserving recipients. He also found some of them on his own, at laundromats, social service agencies, government housing facilities, and businesses that paid minimum wage. At thrift stores, he often found people who were raising their grandchildren. When he would give them anywhere from $100 to $300, it would change the whole complexion of their Christmas as well as their outlook. For many of them, this money made it possible to buy presents and cover necessities like utility bills. Larry didn’t want people to have to beg, get in line or apply for money. “I was giving in a way that allowed them to keep their dignity,” he said in an interview with a local news station years later. Just like the cook at the Dixie Diner had done for him. All told, Larry gave away more than $1.4 million over the years. There are many stories from people whose homes he saved. People who told their families there wasn’t going to be a Christmas but wound up being able to buy gifts because of the money Secret Santa gave them. People who were able to pay their bills and get their gas turned back on, thanks to Larry. In 2006, after serving as an anonymous Santa for more than twenty years, Larry was diagnosed with terminal cancer. At that point, he decided to go public because a tabloid newspaper was about to reveal his identity. Larry thought he should be the one to tell his story, hoping it would recruit more Santas to take his place. He’d seen that every time a Secret Santa was written about in the media, the coverage was followed by a wave of new Secret Santa appearances. He hoped making his identity public would continue to add to the ranks. Larry got his wish. Thousands of people visited his website and signed up to become Secret Santas. And based on the number of people who emailed the site about their experiences that Christmas season, the new Secret Santas did more than sign up; they also turned out in force. When Larry died in 2007, his handpicked successor—an anonymous Kansas City businessman—took over for him and continues to lead the Society of Secret Santas today. Its members follow in Larry’s footsteps around the world. The postings on the society’s website tell of giving money to victims of fires, people who had been evicted from their homes, and veterans and military families in need. They tell of former NFL player Dick Butkus handing out hundred-dollar bills in San Diego and former Major League Baseball player Luis Gonzalez doing the same in Phoenix. A foundation was also formed in Larry’s honor to accept donations to be used by the Santas. The first donation was from former Kansas City parking attendant Sam Williams, who wanted to make a small gift in memory of the man who’d given him a hundred-dollar bill a few years before. “He gave me the biggest gift I ever got in my life,” Williams told KMBC News. Larry gave Secret Santas everywhere a gift, too. As the society’s website says, “The compassion shared from one spontaneous random act of kindness is elevating, priceless and not easily explained. It is an instant connection between souls that can change a life forever. Being a Secret Santa has blessings beyond words.” What’s more, it’s a gift anybody can give. “It’s not about the man, it’s not about the money—it’s

In northern Saskatchewan, Canada, a woman is being celebrated as a hero after bravely risking her life to rescue a child from an icy river. The incident occurred when a young boy fell through the ice while playing, prompting his friend to rush to the Sucker River Community Store where Elaine Ratt was beginning her shift. Ratt, a member of the Lac La Ronge Band of Indians, anticipated a typical workday until she saw the fear etched on the boy’s face. “The fear in [his] eyes scared me,” she recalled as she sprinted toward the river. Upon reaching the water’s edge, she called out to him to keep his head above water. However, as she edged closer, she heard the ice cracking beneath her feet. Just as Ratt reached the boy, the ice gave way, plunging both of them into the frigid water. Despite the shock, Ratt managed to guide him to a solid patch of ice. Remembering safety advice, the boy rolled onto the bank without trying to stand up, but Ratt struggled due to her heavier weight; each attempt to pull herself out caused more ice to break away. Eventually, in a state of shock, she too escaped. “I carried him, with all my soaking clothes and his soaking clothes. It was more of a reflex,” Ratt explained. “I’d rather risk my life than see something worse happen to him.” First responders at the community store quickly transported the boy to the hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia and eventually stabilized. After changing clothes at home, Ratt returned to find emergency crews still on-site; her heroic actions were met with applause from those present, moving her to tears.

When a Michelin-starred chef in England had over 2,000 Christmas pies stolen on their way to a Christmas fair, an unlikely baker stepped in to help. The story comes from the country’s northeast, where an award-winning Christmas market called the St. Nicolas Fair in the city of York, was set to feature 2,500 pies baked by Chef Tommy Banks, whose restaurant received the coveted star in 2013 during his first year as head chef. However, the van transporting the pies to the event was stolen, driven off, and abandoned, with all the pies inside perishing. Autistic 11-year-old Joshie Harris was reading the news with his father, and although he is non-verbal, he understood what was happening—that a man was sad, and that pies needed to be baked. When they had finished reading the news report, Joshie held up an iPad which he uses to communicate. On it, he wrote, “I see sad man, pies finished.” “Joshie doesn’t speak but cooking and baking is his way of showing creativity,” Dan Harris, Joshie’s father, told the BBC. “He wanted to show especially at Christmas that these kinds of things shouldn’t be happening.” Since then Joshie has been busy baking dozens of pies of all different flavors, but especially his personal favorite, apple pie. Mr. Harris has been in touch with Chef Banks, and the family hopes to be able to hand off all the pies on Saturday. Any which he can’t use will be donated, the family told the BBC, to a food bank. This story is so inspiring in the sense that, despite his age and condition Joshie still sees the need to step in and lend a hand to someone out there. When the mind is doused in empathy, truly every situation presents an opportunity to exercise our humaneness…kindness.

An inspirational artist is giving patients a “window view” with murals designed to spark an escape from the sterile environment of chemotherapy, taking them on an imaginary journey to a sunny place. Colleen Wall’s journey into the Arts & Healthcare field began in 1995, when she was diagnosed with cancer while four months pregnant. This life-changing experience fueled her passion for using art to uplift others facing similar battles. After beating cancer, she served as an Artist in Residence on the oncology floor at Women’s & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, an experience that changed her perspective—and her mission—forever. One spring morning, Colleen entered a patient’s room and remarked, “It’s such a beautiful day outside!” The patient, looked up from her bed and replied, “It always looks the same from here.” That simple exchange sparked Colleen’s idea for a project: A View for a Room—Transforming Healthcare Spaces. It was successfully funded with a crowd-funding Kickstarter campaign a decade ago, and it offered her the opportunity to go on a painting sabbatical where she created 20 inspirational paintings that she called LandEscapes. Designed specifically for healthcare environments, the window-inspired paintings incorporate elements of nature, and always include roads and paths, to invite the viewer into the scene. They also feature words of encouragement and inspiring ideals. Colleen’s goal is to give every patient a view to a sunny, peaceful place, offering a mental escape from the confines of the hospital room and a reminder that better days are ahead. Not too long, she began painting her LandEscapes directly on walls at the Roswell Park Cancer Center in Buffalo, New York, where ten window murals were recently installed. Spending long periods of time in a hospital room can feel isolating, said Ms. Wall. These window paintings are meant to help patients feel as though they are not confined to a sterile room but instead can take an imaginary journey outside into nature. “It’s my way of sharing the hope that helped me through my own challenges.” Stated Colleen.

John D. Rockfeller (July 8, 1839–May 23, 1937), the founder of Standard Oil, was once the richest man in the world. He was the world’s first billionaire. “He amassed a net worth of at least $1 billion in 1916. When Rockefeller died in 1937, his net worth was estimated to be approximately $340 billion in today’s dollars.” By the age of 25, he had one of the largest oil refineries in the United States. He was 31 when he became the world’s largest oil refiner. At 38, he controlled 90% of the oil refined in the United States. At fifty, John was America’s richest man. As a young man, every action, attitude, and connection was crafted to establish his wealth. But at the age of 53, he fell unwell. His entire body became wracked with pain, and he lost all his hair. In total anguish, the world’s lone millionaire could buy anything he wanted but could only eat soup and crackers. According to an associate, “He couldn’t sleep, wouldn’t smile, and nothing in life meant anything to him”. His personal, highly trained physicians indicated that he would die within the year. That year passed painfully slowly. As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the faint understanding that he would not be able to bring any of his fortune with him to the next world. The man who could dominate the commercial world suddenly realised he had no control over his personal life. He informed his solicitors, accountants, and management that he intended to devote his assets to hospitals, research, and charity work. John D. Rockefeller started his foundation. The Rockefeller Foundation financed Howard Florey and his colleague Norman Heatley’s penicillin research in 1941. But arguably the most astounding aspect of Rockefeller’s narrative is that when he began to give back a fraction of all he had gained, his body’s chemistry changed dramatically, and he recovered. He was expected to die at the age of 53, but he survived to reach 98 years old. Rockefeller learnt gratitude and returned the great bulk of his money. This made him whole. It’s one thing to be healed. It is another to become fit. He was a devout Baptist who attended the Euclid Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio. Before he died, he wrote in his diary: “God taught me that everything belongs to Him, and I am merely a conduit to carry out His will. My life has been one long, happy holiday since then; full of work and play, I let go of my worries along the road, and God was wonderful to me every day. Credit: Church Time and Seasons.

A four-year-old boy named Elliott Hole, who is battling leukemia, has made a heartwarming gesture by delivering over 400 bags of Christmas gifts to the children’s hospitals where he received treatment. Together with his mother, Harley, they aimed to spread joy by providing advent calendars and various entertaining items for other young patients during the holiday season. Living in Kent, England, Harley set up an Amazon Wishlist to allow community members to contribute gifts. This initiative resulted in the collection of 346 items, which included chocolates, games, bubbles, stickers, and stationery, all intended for party bags. The family distributed these gifts across three local hospitals: the Royal Marsden in Sutton, King’s College in London, and Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough. Harley shared her insights on the hospital experience: “From what I have experienced, you are stuck in a room and unable to leave because of viruses and it gets very boring.” She expressed gratitude for the warm reception from patients and nurses alike, noting their amazement at the volume of gifts delivered. “I stopped counting when we got to 400 but I would say in total we did about 440, as well as over 100 calendars,” she added. Elliott’s journey began in January 2022 when he started limping. After hospital visits and blood tests, he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia just three days later. He is currently undergoing a three-year treatment plan that includes daily chemotherapy. Reflecting on their challenging journey, Harley remarked on the emotional toll of their experiences: “When he was first diagnosed, we basically lived between Kings, Marsden, and Darent Valley Hospital for the first four months.” She now remains vigilant for any health changes in Elliott, emphasizing his resilient spirit: “He is a very kind little boy. He is quite outgoing. Considering everything that he has been through you would never think that anything was ever up.” Even in this condition,  Elliot has not allowed his condition get in the way of his kind and compassionate heart.

Larry and Kelly Peterson’s story is one of serendipity, resilience, and love that transcends challenges. Their journey began at a Spina Bifida camp when they were just 10 years old, where a remarkable coincidence unfolded: both were born on the same day. This early connection blossomed into a high school romance, but life took them on different paths, resulting to a decade of silence. However, fate had other plans. Reconnecting through social media reignited their bond, and in 2015, the couple tied the knot in Indiana. Eager to start a family, they faced an uphill battle with adoption. Kelly, unable to conceive due to her disability, was once told that her condition might hinder their chances of adopting. Yet, undeterred by these obstacles, Larry and Kelly pursued their dream with so much determination. Their breakthrough came through a special needs adoption agency when they learned about baby Hadley’s story. Instantly recognizing that they could provide the love and understanding she needed, they welcomed her into their hearts and home. This past July marked a double celebration for the Petersons: their ninth wedding anniversary and five years since they adopted Hadley, who shares their journey with Spina Bifida. Thanks to Special Angels Adoption, the Petersons found their daughter—a perfect match for their family. With their unique insights into the challenges Hadley faces, they embraced parenthood wholeheartedly. The experience has been a beautiful blend of joy and learning as they witness Hadley’s personality blossom and celebrate her milestones. Kelly brings over 20 years of experience as a special education teacher to the table, yet parenting presents its own set of challenges. Navigating life from their wheelchairs—where Kelly has no use of her legs and Larry relies on support to walk—they adapt creatively to care for Hadley. Their families nearby lend a helping hand, ensuring that love and support flow freely within their home. Now, Larry and Kelly are on a mission to empower others with Spina Bifida who aspire to adopt. They aim to dismantle stigmas surrounding disabilities and parenting while offering guidance to families grappling with new diagnoses. Their story does point to the universal truth that even in the face of personal challenges, there is always room for compassion and generosity. It’s easy to get caught up in our struggles and overlook the blessings we possess. Instead of focusing on what we lack, let’s celebrate the privileges life offers us while striving to uplift those around us. In doing so, we not only enrich our own lives but also become pools of inspiration for others navigating similar paths.

Williamson County Sheriff Jeff Diederich shared a critical update on social media, emphasizing the importance of timely intervention in a potentially dangerous situation. He stated, “Had the deputy not been present or delayed in executing this maneuver, the driver and her vehicle would likely have plunged into the water upon reaching the lake.” This highlights the crucial role that law enforcement plays in ensuring public safety. The incident unfolded rapidly, demonstrating the unpredictable nature of such emergencies. The deputy’s quick actions were instrumental in preventing a potentially tragic outcome, underscoring the importance of being vigilant and prepared in high-risk situations. The presence of law enforcement who are truly committed to effectively discharging their duties can often mean the difference between life and death. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were dispatched to the scene as a precautionary measure. The driver later informed the deputy that she was pregnant, which further justified the EMS response. Their arrival was part of a proactive approach to ensure the well-being of both the driver and her unborn child, showcasing the commitment of first responders to protect and serve their community.