The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Helping Mark Move
Mark lives in my apartment building. Unfortunately Mark suffered from a brain tumor at a young age and it had a big impact on his balance. It's difficult for him to walk, talk, and overall fend for himself. We are hallway buddies and I always say hi when I see him around. I heard he was moving out and he soon came over to ask me to help him with his packing. I walked into his apartment and his clothing and things were poorly packed. I took some time and refolded everything, putting things nicely into his suitcases. I helped bring his stuff down to the street and he wanted to hail a cab to his new apartment. I let him borrow money and rode with him in the cab to his new place and brought his suitcases up to the new apartment. I am glad that I could use my strength to help someone who isn't as fortunate. Hooray for random acts of kindness!

[kuhio98]

Friendly Flowers
While I was waiting at the bus stop, an elderly man walked past me, and then a minute or so later he came back, said, “Your outfit is too great not to have one,” and gave me a gorgeous pink flower, and walked away. It was the first time I’ve ever received a flower from anyone outside my family and it was wonderful, just wonderful. Such beautiful kindness that I cried in the middle of the street!

[kuhio98]

I was in Toronto a few weeks ago. As I was standing outside of a Starbucks, I noticed a white BMW stop at the side of the road. The driver stepped out, and at that moment noticed a homeless man sleeping on the sidewalk. It was extremely cold that day- I was freezing, and I had a sweater and a winter jacket on. The driver of the BMW walked up to the homeless man who was sleeping, took his jacket off, laid it on top of the man, and left. It definitely was unexpected and so encouraging to see such kindness in action. The driver didn't even know I was watching.

[kuhio98]

Just Because

Yesterday night, one of my friends was talking to me about how her hockey pads were giving her back problems and causing knots in her back. She said she had been unable to sleep because of the pain she was dealing with. Today, when I went over to hang out for a bit, I gave her a proper back massage and worked out the knots as best I could. After I left, she took a nap for an hour. She said it was the best she'd slept in more than a week. The smile on her face made my week.

[kuhio98]

Garden Bounty

I grow vegetables which I enjoy doing immensely. But I also enjoy sharing them with family and friends. And once I have overwhelmed them with my bounty, I then share anonymously with passersby. I put buckets of zucchini, tomatoes, onions, butternut squash, etc. on my curb with a sign that they are free for the taking. I have had a few people ring my bell and ask to pay which I refuse. And also have had people see me out in the front of my house and thank me for the wonderful veggies. It warms my heart and soul that people have enjoyed them.

[kuhio98]

Woman Who Lost Her Legs in Tornado Starts Foundation Helps Others


When a storm of deadly twisters ravaged Indiana in March 2012, Stephanie Decker saved her two kids – but lost both her legs.

Now, less than a year after the tragedy, Decker, 38 – who describes the sacrifice as a "small price to pay" for her kids' safety – is already up on prosthetic legs thanks to countless hours of grueling physical therapy. She has barely let the traumatic experience slow her down – and instead created the Stephanie Decker Foundation that aims to help kids with disabilities.
"I'm a better person now," says Decker. "Life goes on."

The tornado that ripped through Henryville leveled the Deckers' house on top of Stephanie as she covered son Dominic, 9, and daughter Reese, 6. A steel beam crashed down on top of the three of them, but her children escaped the disaster without a scratch.

"As parents, we sacrifice for our kids," says Decker.

These days, her routine at home is pretty similar to what it used to be. "The only difference is I wake up in the morning and I put legs on," she says. "There are days that I go 'This is hard, it hurts.' But all I have to do is take one look at my kids and it's enough. I wasn't going to let this stop me."

That determination is clear in Decker, who went as high up as President Obama to help her access a military grade water resistant prosthetic leg so she can swim with her children.
"Stephanie's never been one to take no for an answer," says her husband Joe, a high school math teacher. "I'm so thankful I didn't get to the house and find my wife and kids dead. Stephanie's so strong, she's the core of our family."

Though the kids still have nightmares, the Decker family is getting better every day, and are grateful to be together.

The Deckers' son, Dominic, says getting past the tragedy took a bit of time. "My mom and dad made us take baby steps," he says. "We'd sleep in their bed, and then sleep right by their bed, and then sleep on the couch and then sleep in the front room and then sleep upstairs."

Asked if his mom is a hero, he says, "Yeah, because she saved me."

And Decker aims to help others, too.

In December, her fledging foundation received a $10,000 donation from Shutterfly during an appearance on Ellen DeGeneres's show. She's also recently partnered with NubAbility Athletics – which helps kids with congenital and traumatic amputations compete in sports – to set up scholarships for kids to attend their sports camps.
"I should have been dead in 15 minutes," says Decker. "But I told my kids I was going to be here and that everything was going to be okay."

[kuhio98]

High School Senior Austin Mobley Cares for Mom Who Has Dementia


Austin Mobley was just 6 when his mom, Tracy, asked if he knew the owner of a black-and-white dog running around their yard. "Mom," he said, laughing, "that's Daisy," their longtime family pet.

Twelve years later, Austin cooks, balances the checkbook, drives Tracy on errands from their two-bedroom apartment in Buffalo, Mo., and manages his 48-year-old mother's medication for the dementia diagnosed when she was 36.

"The hardest thing for me," says Austin, 18, "is not knowing what an actual mom is."

Every morning the high school senior rises at 6:30 a.m., makes sure his mom takes her meds – Namenda for dementia, Valium for paranoia, Prozac for depression – and then gets a ride to school.

After school, he heads home, does his homework and gets to his other job – paying bills, picking up around the house and helping Tracy cook a dinner of spaghetti, steak or pork chops
.
At night, he makes sure Tracy settles under a blanket in a recliner and gives her a bedtime hug; she keeps the TV on all night because it soothes her.
That's on a good day.