My Unsung Hero

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: Lila struggled to express herself in writing until her third-grade teacher showed her a way to bring all her stories to life.

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: Four years after his mother's death, Brad returned to the Manhattan diner where he'd last seen her and found unexpected comfort in a group of strangers.

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: A few years ago, Eric's husband Dennis was diagnosed with lung cancer. Several weeks before he died, they met a nurse who offered a compassionate roadmap of what was to come.

All through the month of October, we’re bringing you some of the stories that have deeply resonated with us over the past five years. This week: When a group of girls were bullying Jennifer in middle school, someone unexpected stepped in and changed the way she saw the world.

When Rika was seven, she crashed her bicycle at a park. A stranger stopped to help and made her an origami crane while they waited for her grandfather. Years later, she discovered a message hidden inside.

At 16, Reed Norwood was trapped in a burning truck after a crash. A passing trucker stopped and saved his life.

When Teyu immigrated to the U.S. at 11, he spoke no English and felt isolated at school. A fellow student patiently helped him learn the language — and feel less alone.

After Gary was badly injured in a cycling accident, three passing motorcyclists stopped to help.

One morning at the beach, Tracy watched in horror as her young son was swept away by a powerful current. As she struggled to get him back to shore, a stranger came to their rescue.

Kate was flying home for her mother's funeral when her connecting flight was canceled. As she sobbed on the plane, a fellow passenger put a hand on her shoulder and offered to help.

When Jake learned that one of his oldest friends had been rushed to the hospital, he was stuck at college with no way home. Then two people he barely knew drove him more than an hour home so he could be there.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Ashleigh was diagnosed with cancer. Because of social distancing, she found herself missing the comfort of a hug. But one day, at the end of a chemo infusion, a nurse took a risk and changed everything.

After Annabelle was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, a volunteer living with the same diagnosis offered advice that changed the way she saw the future.

John was languishing at his job when a woman in HR reminded him of his potential. A favorite from 2022.

In high school, Susan had a stutter, and was embarrassed to speak in front of her class. Then her 12th grade English teacher told her something that changed how she saw herself.

When Solitaire was 18, she had a stroke. When she got to the hospital, doctors and nurses accused her of being on drugs. Then, her unsung hero arrived, and ensured she got the care she needed.

During her freshman year of college, Jennifer felt like the world was collapsing around her. One particularly bad day, a stranger stepped in and gave her hope for the future.

During a family trip to New York City, Lia's father lost his balance on a crowded subway. The stranger who caught him became a role model for how she hopes to respond when others need help.

In high school, Stephen had a romantic relationship with another boy. He didn't consider himself to be gay, but when he moved away to college, the loss of the relationship devastated him. One particularly difficult night, he sought out the company of a roommate who, instead of pressuring Stephen to acknowledge his sexuality, simply listened with a nonjudgmental ear.

After learning she was a candidate for brain surgery, Rebecca boarded a flight home overwhelmed. The stranger beside her turned out to be exactly the person she needed.

After becoming a mom, Missy sough inpatient treatment for depression. It was a vulnerable experience, and she found it difficult to engage in group therapy. But when she did start to open up, the most unexpected person reached over to hold her hand as she cried.

Mike's wife was dying after years of cancer treatment, and she could no longer recognize the people around her. Then her longtime chemotherapy nurse arrived.

Darrell grew up in an Army family. They moved regularly, which meant he was often lonely and a target of bullying. In the sixth grade, at yet another new school, an eighth grader started picking on him. But right before the kid hit him, another classmate stepped in and changed Darrell's life forever.

After chemotherapy left Pat without hair, she relied on a wig to feel like herself. The first day she went without it, a stranger in a convenience store gave her a compliment that Pat still carries with her.

After having open heart surgery, Barb was terrified of the immense pain she'd likely have to endure during her recovery. Then a nurse stepped in to help, and changed the rest of Barb's life in the process.

This week, a favorite episode from the archives: Bethany was feeling overwhelmed as a single mom with three small children. But one small act of kindness by a neighbor let her know she'd be okay.

More than forty years ago, at a stoplight in a new city, Rebecca sat crying. She felt trapped in a relationship she didn’t know how to leave. Then, a stranger in a neighboring car offered a gesture of kindness she'll always remember.

At 15, Everett was about to steal a shirt at the mall when a girl saw him and whispered, “It’s not worth it.” He stopped, and decades later, he still thinks about that moment.

After making a series of unfortunate choices, Jay found himself sitting in a jail cell, alone and hopeless. But a fellow inmate's words brought him comfort, and changed the course of his life.

A few years ago, John’s daughter developed a sudden illness, later discovered to be a condition known as PANDAS, and for months she could barely leave the house. On the first warm day of the year, he brought her outside. A man drove by, rolled down his window, and said something John will never forget.

After a few weeks of studying abroad in France, Holly felt overwhelmed and homesick. But an encounter with a stranger at the post office changed everything, and led to a decades-long friendship.

Dan was born with a cataract that left him mostly blind in one eye. As a kid, he was painfully self-conscious about it. At baseball practice one day, his coach noticed he was losing sight of the ball and helped him adjust. Fifty years later, it’s still a small act of kindness Dan has never forgotten.

In the 1990s, Ana Maria's father drove a taxi in Miami. One repeat passenger had a ritual: at the end of every ride, he’d give her father $20 for Ana Maria to “buy something nice.” One day, the man pulled out a $50 bill — the exact amount she needed to apply to her dream school.

After waiting in the ER for what felt like hours, Julie wondered if she was ever going to get the help she needed. Then, just as her pain became unbearable, a stranger stepped up to help — saving Julie's life in the process.

After Jean was badly injured in a mountaineering accident, she had to hike through treacherous conditions to get to the trailhead. By the time she arrived, her condition was deteriorating quickly. But a stranger stepped in and went above and beyond to ensure she survived.

When Olivia was in sixth grade, her teacher planned a Father’s Day softball game for students and their dads. But Olivia's father had recently been moved into a hospital with a rare case of both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, and couldn't be there. A young man named Bob showed up in his place.

Two months before their daughter started college, Barbara's husband unexpectedly died. On the day Barbara moved her daughter into her dorm, she was hit hard by the realization that she was a single parent. But an unsung hero stepped in and made sure the move-in was seamless.

On the day her divorce was finalized, Kristi set out alone on a mountain hike. When she broke down on the trail, a stranger asked if she needed a hug — and helped her find the strength to keep going.

After a car clipped her bike in San Francisco, Joann suddenly found herself laid out on the asphalt. But a kind and whimsical hero stopped to help her get back on her feet.

In 2007, Larry helped his brother Marty move to Utah. Marty had terminal cancer, and he and his wife wanted to be near family in the final days of his life. When they arrived, neighbors and church members — strangers — had transformed Marty’s new house into a warm home.

Today, we bring you a bonus episode from the team at StoryCorps, whose mission is record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. We'll hear from people who refused to give up on someone — even when the odds were long, or when it seemed like the person might be lost forever.

After her husband died, Connie received unexpected advice from an insurance agent: when people offer help, "let them."

At age 6, Tom wandered away from his family’s campsite and spent a cold night alone on the Lake Superior shoreline. A stranger walked through the dark to find him and carried him back to safety — a moment Tom believes may have saved his life.

A favorite from 2023: John remembers the quick thinking of his hospital roommate, who called for help when John’s speech began to slur, and may have saved his life.

At a neighborhood park, a young boy noticed Natalie's young foster daughter using a walker. His reaction left her with an unexpected feeling of hope for the future.

A Christmas Eve drive in a new town left Mary lost and alone — until a couple pulled over to help. What they did next turned her loneliest holiday into a poignant memory.

When Stephanie got overwhelmed on the first day of her very first job, a customer shared some kind words.

Shortly after being diagnosed with breast cancer, Gillian realized she had a day left to choose a health plan that could make or break her treatment. She reached out to her employer's HR representative, who not only helped with choosing a plan, but set a lifelong example of what kindness looks like.

On the first day of her new job, Emily fainted. Then a customer came to her aid.

Jolena was going through a difficult divorce and facing financial hardship. One day, a co-worker surprised her with a gift that she's never forgotten.

When her purse went missing on a trip to Chicago, Lavonne panicked. What she didn’t know: two strangers had already stepped in to help.

Almost 50 years ago, a stranger’s simple question gave her safety — and an example she’s tried to follow ever since.

In 2008, Kate was living in California when that state's voters passed Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage. It made her feel unwelcome, as if her love for her partner was being demonized. One morning on her way to work, she saw an older man standing alone on the train platform, holding a sign against Prop 8. His small act of solidarity offered her comfort when she felt most vulnerable.

When he was 15, Eric lost his mother to suicide. When he returned to school, most adults avoided the subject — until his chorus director got up from the piano and gave him a wordless hug.

In high school, Elizabeth’s choir solo ended in embarrassment after her high note came booming through the mic. But an older student’s kind words restored her confidence just when she needed it.

Midway through her first semester of college, Silvana realized she didn't have enough money to finish out the school year. A professor stepped in to help in a surprising way.

A favorite from the archives: Minutes before an important job interview in a town hours from home, Oliver realized he’d forgotten his dress shirt. A stranger offered a kind and unexpected solution.

When she was in the sixth grade, Tanya's world was unraveling. One day, overcome with grief, she cried in class — and her teacher, Mrs. Welch, wrapped Tanya in a hug.

Earlier this year, Lara was walking her large Rottweiler, The Dude, when fireworks went off nearby. The Dude panicked, and Lara began to worry she wouldn't be able to manage the situation on her own. Then a stranger offered to help, ensuring both Lara and The Dude got home safely.

When Juli's car ran out of gas in the middle of the road, three men from a nearby homeless encampment rushed over to push her car to safety.

In 1980, backpacking alone to Greece, Elaine was attacked on a train. Two strangers stepped in, and stayed by her side for nearly the entire 12-hour ride.

After his dad left, Patrick’s guidance counselor taught him to tie a tie — and showed him he wasn’t alone. Years later, he passed that lesson on to his own son.

In 2005, Ashley's mother attempted suicide. She was hospitalized, and eventually passed away. In the days after her mother's death, Ashley struggled with guilt. She had been the one to request a "Do Not Resuscitate" order. Even though her mother had requested a DNR in the past, Ashley wondered if she'd made the right choice. Then a nurse made a phone call that changed Ashley's life.

In 1974, Surinder and his family came out of a pharmacy to discover their car was gone. Not knowing anyone else in town, he opened the phone book, and dialed a stranger with a familiar Indian last name. The man who answered not only helped them, but went on to play a surprising role in their lives.

While on vacation in Mexico, Julie had an accident on a waterslide and was on the brink of drowning. Then some strangers stepped in.

When Eileen’s husband came home from the hospital after a traumatic brain injury, he wasn’t the same. He couldn't do many of the household chores he used to take care of, like raking up the leaves in their yard. So one day, Eileen decided to try to get the chore done. As she picked up the leaves in her yard, crying, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

After spilling her lunch on the way to work, Kim received an unexpected gift from a stranger. The experience not only helped her through that day, but gave her a sense of belonging and community.

After Alek's father died in the hospital, a nurse shared his grief.

A favorite from 2022: After a mortifying fall in physics class, Julie remembers the unexpected gift she received from a fellow student.

Maureen was on the subway, and feeling down. Her sister had recently passed away, and the shock of the death made it difficult to be in public. But when a stranger sat down next to her and asked how she was doing, Maureen felt she could be honest. The conversation that followed is one that she will forever cherish.

As a college freshman, Karen was sometimes inconsiderate to her hallmate, Pam. So when Karen missed the bus to her choir performance, an hour away, she was surprised — and moved — when Pam came to her rescue.

Eric and his husband, Dennis Hopkins, lived a life full of music, gardening, and dance. But in 2022, Dennis was diagnosed with lung cancer. A few days before he died, they met a nurse named Sherry, who offered a compassionate roadmap of what was to come.

Happy Father’s Day, dads! In honor of dads everywhere, we bring you a bonus episode about a transit worker who gave Donald Kabara an unexpected gift: a hug from his son.

The last place Brad saw his mom before she died was at a diner in New York. A few years later, when he went back to that diner, the bartender asked if he remembered their table, and invited him to go sit there.

In 2019, Darren was about to become a first-time father, and he was terrified. Then a doctor came into the delivery room and said something that completely changed his perspective on parenthood.

In early 2003, Amy went into labor a full ten weeks before her due date. When her twins were born, both were struggling. But one of the boys was in a particularly dire situation, and needed a blood transfusion as soon as possible. The hospital didn't have any blood that matched the baby's blood type — until Amy's unsung hero stepped up to help.

In 2016, Tulika was at the grocery store with her seven-year-old son, Vedant, who is non-verbal and autistic. When Vedant began to cry and pull her hair, a stranger helped Tulika in just the right way.

Jon told his high school principal, Mr. Barnett, that he planned to drop out of school. But Mr. Barnett implored him to earn his diploma —which set Jon on a path to success.

One morning, A woke up and began believing he was an undercover government agent. He quit his job, and soon after was arrested for reckless driving. But he wasn't in jail for long, because his boss got A the psychiatric help he needed. That act of kindness was life-changing.

When Vivian's son was young, he often got into situations where he hurt himself or others. One day, while at the park, he threw sand in another child's face. Vivian did her best to handle the situation, but worried that the child's mother would be angry. Instead, the mother said something that gave Vivian solace — and a bit of hope.

After receiving irregular test results, Alexis left her doctor's appointment in tears. On her way out of the office, a receptionist stopped Alexis and held her while she cried. It is a moment Alexis will never forget.

In the late 1980s, Stephanie was driving to an appointment when she was hit by a large pickup truck. As she stood on the sidewalk crying, a woman came up to her and handed her a cup of tea.

The driver who took Ashley Blas to a cemetery noticed grass covering part of her mother’s gravestone. So he dropped to his knees – in a full suit – and cleared the grass from the grave.

About 30 years ago, Nancy ran the New York City Marathon. When she finished, she headed to the reunion area to greet her family — only to discover that her 8-year-old son was missing. After a frantic search, a woman appeared, holding her son's hand.

In 1968, when Terry was four, she and her two young siblings were left briefly in the car by themselves. Her one-year-old brother accidentally hit the gearshift, and the car began to roll downhill, toward a two-lane highway. Then a young man rushed over.

On New Year's Eve 2022, Eleanor's car broke down at the post office. Over the next 40 minutes, five different people came over to lend a hand. One woman followed Eleanor home for tea, and they remain friends today.

Glenna's father was a firefighter for years. Early in his career, he almost died in a house fire. The man who saved his life turned into a forever friend.

One evening after class, Ellen took public transportation home. It was a quiet night, and when she got off at her stop, there weren't many people around. Then, she heard something that alerted her to potential danger.

More than 40 years ago, Paul's father began to show signs of cognitive decline. As a result, he lost job after job. When his father was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a small local firm made him an offer that helped restore his dignity.

Years ago, on a flight home, Caitlin and the man next to her started chatting. She told him that ever since the 9/11 attacks, she had been nervous to fly. Then the man leaned over and told her something she still tells her children today.

When David's wife fell ill, a friend went above and beyond to help the family cope.

When Melissa’s seven-year-old son was hit by a pickup truck, a stranger ran across the street to help.

When Cara Beth was studying abroad in college, her brother, Luke, died in an accident. On the plane ride home, a stranger made her overwhelming grief a bit easier to bear.

When Claire was a server at a high-end restaurant, she fumbled opening an expensive bottle of wine. But instead of acting annoyed, the customer handled it with grace.

After Virginia's young daughter accidentally boarded a subway train without her, someone unexpected stepped in to help.

When Kimberly was training to become a nurse practitioner, one of her mentors changed how she viewed her role in patients' lives. That lesson went on to affect her personal life as well.

When Charlie arrived at the scene of his wife’s bike accident, he found four women protecting her from oncoming traffic.

Many years ago, Karleen was physically attacked by her then-boyfriend, and fled her home to sit on the curb. As she sat there, cold and wondering what to do, a car pulled over.

When Mark was a medical student, he struggled to care for a manipulative patient. Then one day, he saw the patient do something that surprised him.