kindness

In all honesty, the flame of liberty will forever burn because humans have chosen to be kind without limits. Krystal was 6 years old when Dave Polen began transporting her over 170 miles from her home in Somerville, Indiana, to a hospital. She was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome and was directed to Shriners Children’s in St. Louis for treatment on her leg and possible amputation. Dave started volunteering as driver 30 years earlier, transporting patients so they might improve their quality of life. Getting back and forth to St. Louis would have been difficult for Krystal’s family as her father worked long hours. So, they accepted an offer for hospital transportation from the local Shriners charity group. Over the course of 10 trips, the conversations were plentiful on their 3 hour back-and-forth trips to the hospital. Dave was a ‘Driver Dad’ but soon became more. He became a friend—and their unexpected friendship has lasted for over three decades. In fact, decades after meeting the “sweet little girl” with a prosthetic leg, Dave was a guest at Krystal’s wedding. As the years rolled on, Dave became sick. Eventually, his doctors gave a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure. They said Dave would need dialysis for the rest of his life or a kidney transplant. Dave also got the warning that an available kidney might take five years to obtain. Dave reached out to Krystal to talk through the process because her husband had just received a liver transplant that saved his life. Krystal immediately saw an opportunity to return the favor. She found out they shared the same blood type and, without hesitation, offered to donate her kidney. She said, at the time, “The kidney belongs to him, whenever he decides to take it.” Dave was shocked – and hesitant—as he knew Krystal was a mother to three kids with a full-time job. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer,” he recalled. In May, 2023, after a year on dialysis, Dave took her up on her offer. “Pack your bags, Dave. You’re going to get a slightly used but new kidney,” laughed Krystal. “Since I was little, I’ve always questioned why Dave was so good to us because he was so kind and so willing to help out with anything. I’ve always questioned why. “What I’ve come to understand is: If I was born with one leg so I could give my kidney to Dave, then so be it,” said Krystal. “This is a gift I can’t ever repay,” said Dave. “I am so thankful! Now, I feel like I can do anything.” Kindness Without Limits: A Journey of Friendship and Sacrifice In all honesty, the flame of liberty will forever burn because humans have chosen to be kind without limits. Krystal was 6 years old when Dave Polen began transporting her over 170 miles from her home in Somerville, Indiana, to a hospital. She was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome and was directed to Shriners Children’s in St. Louis for treatment on her leg and possible amputation. Dave started volunteering as driver 30 years earlier, transporting patients so they might improve their quality of life. Getting back and forth to St. Louis would have been difficult for Krystal’s family as her father worked long hours. So, they accepted an offer for hospital transportation from the local Shriners charity group. Over the course of 10 trips, the conversations were plentiful on their 3 hour back-and-forth trips to the hospital. Dave was a ‘Driver Dad’ but soon became more. He became a friend—and their unexpected friendship has lasted for over three decades. In fact, decades after meeting the “sweet little girl” with a prosthetic leg, Dave was a guest at Krystal’s wedding. As the years rolled on, Dave became sick. Eventually, his doctors gave a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure. They said Dave would need dialysis for the rest of his life or a kidney transplant. Dave also got the warning that an available kidney might take five years to obtain. Dave reached out to Krystal to talk through the process because her husband had just received a liver transplant that saved his life. Krystal immediately saw an opportunity to return the favor. She found out they shared the same blood type and, without hesitation, offered to donate her kidney. She said, at the time, “The kidney belongs to him, whenever he decides to take it.” Dave was shocked – and hesitant—as he knew Krystal was a mother to three kids with a full-time job. “She wouldn’t take no for an answer,” he recalled. In May, 2023, after a year on dialysis, Dave took her up on her offer. “Pack your bags, Dave. You’re going to get a slightly used but new kidney,” laughed Krystal. “Since I was little, I’ve always questioned why Dave was so good to us because he was so kind and so willing to help out with anything. I’ve always questioned why. “What I’ve come to understand is: If I was born with one leg so I could give my kidney to Dave, then so be it,” said Krystal. “This is a gift I can’t ever repay,” said Dave. “I am so thankful! Now, I feel like I can do anything.”

Emma Bassermann, 14, and Zoe Meklensek-Ireland, 13, have both trained competitively for years. Zoe has a dream of making the Olympic trials with her father as her coach, and trains at the Dorval Swim Club in Quebec with the hopes of making that happen. It was 3 p.m. on the south shore of Barbados when Emma and Zoe finished boogie boarding. They were on the island as part of a training camp, but wouldn’t go in for practice until sometime later. Suddenly, they heard a shout. “I heard someone yelling for help in the distance. I was looking around for her and I spotted her and she was about 50 feet out from where I was,” Zoe stated “So I went out to her and she told me that her husband was further out and he was struggling to swim and he needed assistance.” Belinda Stone, from England, had been caught in a riptide with her husband Robert. With Emma’s help, Zoe quickly got Belinda to shore, but Robert was way further out. Fortunately they had their boogie boards, and could save their energy as they went out for a 6-minute swim to reach Robert, who was trying to swim against the current. Many people may vacation on beaches their whole lives and never be taught what to do if caught in a riptide. Zoe and Emma, however, understood the situation well, and after loading the exhausted Robert Stone onto the board, Zoe strapped it to her ankle and the three started to swim—parallel to the shore—until they got out of the both the current and the diagonal wave pattern. It was a long, long swim, but the girls were strong. Together they made it back to the beach. It was more than just the visiting British, who celebrated the two teens’ spectacular swimming skills, but the Universe stands grateful for such heroic stunts pulled by the selfless and compassionate duo of Emma and Zoe whose father, Chuck Meklensek, was so proud and partly astonished at what his daughter accomplished. Like we’ve always maintained, none is too little to make a difference, no selfless act is too insignificant to swing the pendulum of kindness.

The Starbucks on the Marshall University Campus in Huntington, West Virginia, was always like a small family with Karen Collinsworth, 65, at the head of the table. The decades-long supervisor at the famous coffee shop location loved what she did, as well as the teams of aspiring young students who made up her staff. Word spread concerning the story of an unfortunate double whammy of bad luck that befell Collinsworth when her car—a 2004 Kia that always had some kind of problem—was burglarized; the first thief taking the catalytic converter, and the second going in and stealing interior components. At this point, Gray and her teammates, who always knew Collinsworth had trouble with her car, decided that there had to be something they could do to help. Discussing what they might be able to accomplish, the team decided that they might be able to fundraise some money for repairs since so many people around campus knew the 65-year-old barista and valued her. The fundraiser amassed $40,000, headlined by a $5,000 donation from the president of Marshall University. This enabled them to quell down the idea of repairs and reconsider a better option. Collinsworth is looking at a brand-new Subarus, all the while feeling the love and goodwill those decades of serving coffee with a smile have accumulated.

When humanity calls, may we place political ideologies on hold, suspend social status and interact as human with another human. A group of good Samaritans and highway rescue personnel united to save a 71-year-old man trapped and unconscious in a burning car on I-94 in Minnesota. The incident began when Sam Orbovich lost consciousness while driving his Honda, which subsequently drifted off the road and collided with a light pole and guardrail, igniting a fire. A multitude of good spirited individuals swiftly gravitated towards the burning vehicle with one sole aim, to get the occupant out before more worsening eventualities would creep in. Though it was a herculean and dangerous task, humanity sure prevailed. When Orbovich regained consciousness, he found that a Highway Helper had shattered the glass of his vehicle. “I am alive today because several good Samaritans and professional first responders saved my life,” he stated after the harrowing Thursday night event. He expressed admiration for the bravery of those who risked their safety to rescue a stranger from a potentially explosive situation. Orbovich’s experience is one of the many incidences which show the extraordinary willingness of individuals to help others in distress, demonstrating a deep sense of community and heroism among strangers. For kindness to be highly effective especially in moments of crises and emergencies, it is just proper that we respond kindly now and get explanations later. The actions of those who pulled this motorist from the burning car demonstrate the importance and willingness of people out there looking out for each other.

Ken Jeffries, a 57-year-old man, experienced a heart attack while waiting for his flight at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. He collapsed on the airport floor, but fortune was on his side as his flight was headed to Knoxville, where Claire Cerbie, a registered nurse from a heart and vascular hospital in Charlotte, was also traveling. Cerbie noticed Jeffries’ unusual breathing and snoring, which prompted her to check on him. Realizing he was in distress, she quickly initiated CPR with the help of bystanders while someone fetched a defibrillator. “We put the pads on him,” Cerbie recounted, “It indicated a shock-able rhythm, and it shocked him in between while we were doing compressions.” After regaining his pulse, Jeffries was rushed to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, where Dr. William Downey, a cardiologist at the Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, performed emergency surgery. Both Cerbie and Dr. Downey emphasized that without the immediate CPR and defibrillation, Jeffries likely would not have survived. In a television interview, Jeffries expressed his gratitude to Cerbie, stating, “A ‘thank you’ is not enough, Claire. Thank you for what you did; I am so appreciative and indebted to you.” Cerbie responded with humility, saying she would do it again in a heartbeat. As recognition for her heroic actions, American Airlines upgraded Cerbie to first class for her flight to Knoxville. Emergencies can occur unexpectedly, and it is only naturally proper for our compassion to come to the forefront in these moments, allowing us to make a difference and help those in need, the best way our strengths carry us.

A woman who faced only a 15 percent chance of conceiving naturally was able to give birth to a child, thanks to the generosity of strangers who donated $13,000 for her to undergo IVF. Gem Baker had always dreamed of becoming a mother, but her journey was fraught with challenges. At 38, she was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2017, greatly reducing her chances of conception. After enduring eight procedures to remove the endometriosis, she learnt from her fertility clinic that her low egg count left her with just a 15 percent chance of conceiving. Determined to pursue her dream, she began exploring in vitro fertilization (IVF) but was shocked by the high costs involved, as it goes without saying, that IVF is an expensive medical procedure. Encouraged by her friend Jen, Gem set up a fundraising page, reluctantly though. To her astonishment, donations began pouring in, showcasing the kindness of those who wanted to help her. Adding up contributions from her dad and her own savings, Gem raised a total of $13,000. In August 2021, she finally began her first round of IVF. While it wasn’t a very smooth ride for Gem, the kindness of good people around her gave her the needed strength to keep placing one foot in front of the other. Months later, Gem welcomed her daughter, Clover-Iris, into the world. Sometimes, the purest form of kindness is tendered by people we scarcely know. In a world where challenges can often feel insurmountable, the selfless acts of these benefactors brought hope and joy to Gem and her new family. May this inspire us today to act kindly where we can and make a difference in someone’s life.

When Australian teacher Bri Dredge won $20,000 on the game show Millionaire Hot Seat, she could have easily used the money for personal luxuries or to treat her family. However, Dredge’s priorities lay with her students, and she made the selfless decision to spend the entire prize on a thoughtful gift for each of them. Recognizing the importance of sturdy footwear during the winter months, Dredge chose to buy every student at her school a brand-new pair of leather shoes. This act of generosity not only provided practical support for her pupils but also conveyed a strong message of the depth of Dredge’s compassion and dedication as an educator. The children were deeply moved by their teacher’s kindness, expressing gratitude for her thoughtful gesture. Dredge’s selfless act serves as a reminder of the impact that teachers can have on the lives of their students, going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure their well-being. In a world where personal interest often takes precedence, Dredge’s story stands tall as a shining example of the power of altruism and compassion. By prioritizing the needs of her students over her own and taking into cognizance the overall well-being of her students, she has both improved their lives and also inspired others to always look beyond just self, but always put the interests of those they serve before their own. True leadership and compassion should not be measured by personal gain but by the positive change we bring to the lives of others. Through small acts of kindness and selflessness, we can create a wonderful world that transforms communities and inspire a more habitable Earth. Be inspired to TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS.

Special educators are among the best, their commitment and skill unmatched. They tirelessly support students with diverse needs, making a lasting difference. Their compassion and expertise shine brightly, fostering growth and empowerment. They are indeed the finest, embodying the essence of excellence in education. Teaching means being there for students throughout their learning journey, shaping young minds requires a unique person. It’s a commitment to nurturing and guiding students to success. In Ana Bárbara Ferreira’s classroom, a little girl faced teasing for her distinct hair buns, her signature style. Upset by her classmates’ disapproval, she confided in Ferreira, her teacher. In a heartwarming display of empathy, Ferreira decided to wear the same hairstyle the next day. When the girl noticed, she was filled with joy and approached Ferreira, expressing, “Today, I’m as lovely as you are.” Ferreira was deeply touched by the positive impact of her gesture, realizing the significance of acceptance and solidarity. This simple act of mirroring the girl’s hairstyle boosted her self-esteem as well as fostered a sense of belonging and understanding in the classroom. By recognizing the student’s struggle with confidence and taking the time to connect with them on such a personal level, Ferreira was able to create a moment of understanding, support and also instill kindness into her learners. Little things truly count, if they’re done out of genuine kindness.

Pam and Gary Willis, a couple in their 50s from California, were foster parents who had raised five children of their own. As they approached retirement, they never imagined they would end up adopting seven siblings who had lost their parents in a tragic car accident. In 2018, the Willis family saw a news story about seven siblings, aged 2 to 13, who had survived a horrific crash that claimed their parents’ lives. The children were in foster care and desperately needed a permanent home. Pam was instantly drawn to their story and knew they needed to stay together. To her surprise, when she voiced it out to her husband Gary, he was on the same page with her. Despite thousands of people calling to adopt the siblings, the Willis family stepped up to give them a forever home. Pam and Gary knew it wouldn’t be easy, as the children had suffered major injuries in the crash and faced significant trauma from their previous living situation, which included their parents’ addiction and homelessness. The kids initially struggled to trust the couple, with one, 7-year-old girl checking on them at night to make sure they were still there. Over the next few months, the children overcame obstacles and adjusted to their new lives. Finally, in August 2020, after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pam and Gary officially adopted all seven siblings. Two years later, the family’s life has been completely transformed. Pam reflects, “They have given us a second chance at parenting; we have given them a second Mom and Dad. They are our Second Chance 7.” Life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, testing the limits of our strength and resilience. Whether it’s a personal setback, a global crisis, or a series of obstacles that seem to pile up, the reality is that difficulties are an inevitable part of the human existence. However, it is in these moments of adversity that our true character shines through. When faced with daunting challenges, it is our ability to remain resolute and extend kindness to ourselves and others that can make us humans that are humane.