kindness

Ken Jeffries, like many heart disease victims, first realized he was at risk when he experienced a heart attack while waiting for a flight at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. At 57 years old, he collapsed on the airport floor, fortunate that his flight was headed to Knoxville, where Claire Cerbie, a registered nurse from a nearby heart and vascular center, was also traveling. Cerbie noticed Jeffries’ unusual breathing and snoring sounds, which prompted her to investigate. Recognizing the signs of a heart attack, she quickly initiated CPR with the help of bystanders while someone fetched a defibrillator. “We put the pads on him,” Cerbie recounted to WBTV News. “It indicated a shockable 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 performed life-saving surgery. Both Cerbie and Dr. Downey acknowledged that without the immediate CPR and defibrillation, Jeffries likely would not have survived. In an emotional television interview alongside Cerbie, Jeffries expressed his gratitude: “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, stating she would help again in a heartbeat. As recognition for her heroic actions, Cerbie was upgraded to first class on her American Airlines flight. Jeffries noted he had experienced no prior symptoms before his heart attack—a common occurrence since symptoms can often be vague, such as shortness of breath or neck discomfort. Reflecting on his experience, Jeffries emphasized the importance of recognizing early signs of cardiac distress and expressed a desire to advocate for greater public awareness about CPR and AED usage to improve survival rates in similar emergencies.

Katherine Murrell, a 27-year-old emergency medical technician with the London Ambulance Service, has survived cancer three times and credits her experiences with inspiring her career path. First diagnosed with stage four lymphoma at age 16, Murrell underwent six months of chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy. After being given the all-clear, she later faced two more cancer diagnoses. She is now cancer-free since the end of 2023.Her journey with the National Health Service (NHS) motivated her to join the London Ambulance Service, wanting to “give something back” after years of hospital appointments. Although her medical treatments disrupted her opportunity to attend university, a hospital visit as a teenager sparked an interest in emergency medicine. According to Murrell, the incredible medical staff made her realize how amazing it would be to work in that field. Now an emergency medical technician (EMT), Murrell believes her personal battles with cancer have made her more empathetic and able to connect with patients. She had a double mastectomy to minimize the risk of further cancer, after undergoing so much radiation therapy. Murrell says her cancer diagnoses have enhanced her career and made her more aware of her abilities, empathy, and compassion. She feels she can connect with cancer patients on a deeper level, understanding the physical and emotional challenges they face. Her experiences have given her a unique perspective, allowing her to provide positivity and understanding to those going through similar struggles. Murrell has chosen to reframe her experiences in a positive light and is thriving in her career. She gained significant exposure to medicine and clinical pathways during her treatments, knowledge she now uses every day. Murrell advises others in similar situations to find the good in the bad and use their experiences as a “superpower”

From a California high school comes a touching story of family, dedication, and engineering as a mob of students finished restoring a 1969 Jeep that was very special to a nearby family. Shane Porter, husband and father of two fine young men, was struggling with two cancers when he bought a 1969 Jeep Commando as a family fixer-upper. He hoped to create fond memories in what he knew could be his last few years. From 2016 to 2022 the family tinkered away, and then Porter, a 30-year employee at the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, passed away at 57. The Jeep wasn’t finished, and neither Tigger—his wife of more than 35 years, nor his sons Michael and Tim, could bring themselves to lay a finger on the car. The barely-functioning automobile sat there for months, with the family unwilling to either part with it or keep repairing it, until one day a family friend and head of the automotive technician class at Corona High School paid the family a visit and said the Jeep would be a stellar project for his students. The teacher, Bob Mauger, got a great reception from his advanced class which includes juniors and seniors, as well as from the Porter family. Once inside the school, Mauger and his class realized that the Jeep needed way more work than they first thought. The class provides free labor on cars—typically those that belong to family members of the students—provided that the owners buy any new parts. “The kids are learning how to give back,” Mauger told the Washington Post. “They’re not just learning how to fix their own car, but they’re learning how to be a good human. That’s what the world needs.” The engine needed to be rebuilt with many new parts. There were structural issues as well, and the cooling system needed refurbishing along with the transmission and transfer case. There were also electrical malfunctions and a bad infestation of rust. The rebuild took 15 months, with the class regularly involving other areas of the school’s trades program like metal shop class, and Mauger regularly paying out of pocket for parts. On July 27th, the class presented the Porter family with the car, sparkling with a new coat of metallic paint. Tim and Michael were getting ready to depart for the Army and Air Force, and were blown away by the opportunity to actually drive the car they spent so many hours working on with their father. “It was going to help the kids learn, which is what my husband was all about,” said Tigger Porter, who graduated from Corona High School in 1984. They had no idea who we were, but they did it. This was truly a work of love.”

After the death of his daughter, Sarah, Andy Emmott, a 55-year-old man from Tadcaster, UK, selflessly donated his kidney to 11-year-old Amber, who was in desperate need of a transplant.  Emmott made the decision “without hesitation” after learning of Amber’s condition and noticing the parallels between her and his late daughter. Emmott’s daughter, Sarah, had battled congenital nephrotic syndrome and other health issues since birth, spending much of her young life in hospitals and hospices.  Despite a widespread campaign that included support from soccer team Leeds United and England National Football player Kalvin Phillips, Sarah passed away from kidney disease at the age of eight, 364 days after receiving a kidney transplant. Emmott stated that he donated a kidney because a stranger had previously donated one to his daughter. Seeing Amber’s appeal, he felt compelled to help, noting the similarities between her and Sarah. Emmott is now recovering and has returned to his job at Northern Powergrid, taking on office duties until he fully recovers. Amanda White, his manager, expressed her admiration for Emmott’s selfless act. Since Sarah’s diagnosis, Emmott has been actively involved in raising funds for Theodora Children’s Charity, an organization that supported Sarah during her hospital stays by providing joy and laughter. He emphasizes the importance of donations to the charity, as they are a smaller organization competing with larger, well-known charities

In Fort Worth, Texas, a father was moved to tears when a stranger covered his family’s breakfast bill and left an emotional message on the receipt5. Dr. J. Mack Slaughter, was having breakfast with his wife and three children at Mimi’s Cafe when a secret admirer acknowledged him. As they prepared to pay, the waitress informed Slaughter that a stranger had already paid their $85 bill. He was surprised to find a handwritten note on the receipt that read, “Thank you for being a great dad”. Flipping the receipt over, Slaughter discovered another message from the stranger: “From a dad to dad. Thank you for being the dad they need you to be regardless of who’s watching. We need more men like you. Thank you for letting us all see your love for them all,” and was signed by a retired Army medic. Slaughter told SWNS.com, that he immediately teared up, unable to control his emotions. He noted that the act of kindness was especially impactful because the stranger was gone, so it was “just pure kindness”. Slaughter, an emergency room physician, had been simply playing a dot game with his children and was unaware of being observed. He stated that this act of kindness reminded him that “complete strangers can do miraculous, beautiful things when you least expect it,” and that it restored his faith in people. He also noted that the $85 was so much more to him than the stranger probably realized, and that such random acts of kindness are powerful reminders that there is still good in the world

I stumbled upon this, feeling deeply moved and impressed by Architect Nguvan Kyenge’s thoughtfulness.  I hope it inspires and uplifts your spirits too. Sometime ago, when the highly respected architect and mind coach was still trying to find her feet. She was running a drycleaning and laundry services where she sometimes charged as low as fifty naira per wear. After acquiring a shop and moving in her laundry equipment, she faced financial challenges in the first month. To increase her income, she decided to make small chops, a skill she had learned in Abia state, and also sell pure water and drinks. This allowed her to introduce her laundry services to customers who came for refreshments, which proved successful. However, the main story revolved around a daily mystery. Each morning, she would find the front of her shop already cleaned and swept, despite not having done it herself. One night, while returning to pick up a customer’s cloth for ironing, she discovered a man sitting in front of her shop. Initially mistaking him for a madman, she realized he was one of the rough guys from the streets, holding bread and akara. He had seemingly made the shopfront his resting place. Deeply affected by the thought of the man sleeping in the cold with no home, family, security, love, or companionship, she couldn’t sleep that night. The following morning, the man apologized for sleeping there and admitted to sweeping the front of her shop. Instead of reprimanding him, Architect Nguvan Kyenge told him that he could transform his life, acquire a safe and warm home, avoid unforeseen dangers, and eventually find a wife and build a family. When he asked how, she offered him a job. He would sell her small chops in schools and assist with the laundry in the evenings, and she would pay him well, saving a portion of his earnings to help him rent a room. He agreed and worked diligently. Their combined efforts doubled the business’s income, leading to expansion. Within four months, he had saved enough to rent a room. Overjoyed, he expressed his gratitude to Architect Nguvan, embracing her and recalling her inspiring words. He furnished his room and completely turned his life around. Eventually, Architect Nguvan Kyenge received a job offer in Ibadan, which required her to relocate and leave Ogbomoso. She decided to leave the entire business for him, recognizing his hard work and deserving nature. He was overwhelmed with gratitude. Architect Nguvan spoke with so much glow in her eyes knowing that her push was able to give someone the needed motivation to rightly take on the responsibility of a meaningful life. Since then, he had expanded the business beyond her expectations. He remembered her kindness and sent her 100,000 naira as a token of his appreciation. And again we plead, if ever you find yourself in a position to be kind to someone please do not hesitate because one another is all we have.

A 68-year-old widow from New Jersey became convinced of a young man’s innocence after reading about his murder conviction, prompting her to dedicate seven years and $60,000 of her retirement savings to ensure justice was served. Priscilla Read Chenoweth, an editor at the New Jersey Law Journal and a law degree holder with limited experience in criminal trials, took it upon herself to reinvestigate the case of Luis Kevin Rojas. She was struck by the fact that Rojas had no history with gangs or violence, describing him as having “no record and nice friends” and a reputation for being peaceful. Rojas, an aspiring engineer, was imprisoned at 18 after being charged with second-degree murder for allegedly supplying the gun used in a 1990 shooting that resulted in a teenager’s death in Greenwich Village. Chenoweth discovered a letter-writing campaign involving 150 of Rojas’s classmates urging the judge to reconsider his involvement, which inspired her to take action. Initially intending to assist with fundraising, she became deeply involved when she noticed that the appeal was poorly managed by a family friend who was not thoroughly investigating the evidence. This led her to meticulously review transcripts, interview witnesses, and file legal motions. Working alongside her daughter Leslie Estevao, who first introduced her to the case, Chenoweth also collaborated with retired New York City police detective Dennis O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan was so committed that he put his own house up as collateral for Rojas’s $50,000 bail. Another retired officer, Mike O’Connor, joined their efforts. Estevao earned the nickname “kitchen-table detective” as she and O’Connor found a crucial witness—a transit officer who recalled seeing Rojas just miss a train on the night of the murder. The train records indicated that Rojas could not have been at the crime scene when it occurred. Former criminal lawyer Jethro Eisenstein provided pro bono services and successfully secured an acquittal for Rojas from a Manhattan jury in October. After spending a third of his life in prison and losing his mother during his incarceration, Rojas maintained a positive outlook, sending Mother’s Day cards to Chenoweth and expressing gratitude for her support. Chenoweth admired Rojas’s patience and resilience throughout his ordeal. If kindness, generosity, and helpfulness define a Good Samaritan, Priscilla Chenoweth undoubtedly embodies this ideal in remarkable fashion.

A remarkable story of human kindness has emerged from England via Dubai, centered around a man who lost his wedding ring. Chris Brightmore was visiting family in the UAE during the week before Christmas when his wedding ring, which had been on his finger for 51 years, slipped off into the Persian Gulf near Jumeira. Desperate to find it, Chris dove about three feet into the water but was unable to locate the ring. As he surfaced, he faced the difficult task of informing his wife, Kathy, who was relaxing on the beach. Expecting disappointment, he was instead met with Kathy’s unwavering support; she immediately joined him in the search, but without masks or snorkels, they soon had to abandon their efforts. Brightmore’s son-in-law, Philip, suggested they share their predicament on a Facebook group called “British Dads Dubai” to seek assistance. “We did, and the response was overwhelming,” Brightmore recalled. “Among the many generous replies, one individual offered to lend us his underwater metal detector, while another, who owned a jewelry shop, offered to create a replacement ring for free due to its sentimental value.” Two days later, Chris and Philip returned to the beach equipped with the metal detector and snorkeling gear. Despite spending two hours searching the seabed, they struggled with buoyancy issues that made it difficult to stay submerged long enough to look for the ring. Just when it seemed they had exhausted their options among the British visitors and expats in Dubai, another couple approached them. The man introduced himself as someone who had heard about Chris’s lost ring and offered to help. “For someone married this long who has never taken off his ring until now, it would be my honor to assist you,” he said. It turned out he was a former professional diver who enjoyed diving in Dubai on weekends. Despite their best efforts with the diving gear, success eluded them until Adam Whitehead, the diver, made one final descent with the metal detector. He resurfaced triumphantly exclaiming “Eureka!”—he had found the ring buried 10 feet down in just three inches of sand. Chris Brightmore vowed never to let the ring out of his sight again and promised to take precautions whenever he plans to swim in the future. He shared this heartwarming experience on the British Dads page, which has since been flooded with comments dubbing it the “Miracle in the Gulf” and expressing renewed faith in humanity.

What a remarkable way to start February! While heading home from town, I decided to stop by Sudo Pee Supermarket Makurdi to pick up some pastries as a pre-Valentine’s treat for my taste buds. As I browsed, I spotted a nice pen and added it to my purchase along with my meat pie. Being the weekend, the supermarket was bustling with customers, and we all patiently queued as the cashiers worked diligently. When it was finally my turn, the cashier leaned in and quietly informed me that someone had offered to cover my bill. Initially, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and asked for clarification on the amount I owed. She then pointed out the young man who had graciously decided to pay for my items. To my surprise, he also offered me a ride home, saving me the cost of transportation. This experience truly revitalized my faith in kindness and reminded me that such gestures often come when we least expect them. A heartfelt thank you to Josiah Rizama for your generosity!

A California fire chief demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness by saving his brother’s home and that of a neighbor during the Eaton Fire, using only a carton of milk and a couple of beers. Brian Fennessy, who has nearly 50 years of firefighting experience, described this incident as unprecedented in his career. Upon learning about the fire threatening Altadena, Fennessy rushed to check on his brother. After struggling to reach him, he received the reassuring news that his brother and family had evacuated safely. Already in the vicinity, Fennessy decided to inspect the properties. As he drove through the neighborhood, he witnessed extensive destruction, with many homes engulfed in flames. To his relief, both his brother’s house and a neighboring residence remained intact. However, he quickly noticed that the gas meter at the back of one house was on fire. Although there was a hose nearby, it was dry. “I thought I’d check the refrigerator,” Fennessy recounted, “and all that was in there was some milk and a couple of beers.” He then used these items to cool down the gas meter, which was at risk of igniting further. “I wasn’t sure if it was going to rekindle, but it was all I could do,” he added. Ultimately, his quick thinking and improvised methods proved effective; both homes were the only ones on their block that survived the blaze. Fennessy reflected on the experience, noting that such urban fires may become more common in Southern California’s future.