The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Paying it forward: Stranger picks up $93 tab for Maumee woman's groceries

Jessica Wagner had her young children with her in line at register nine at Kroger when she realized her wallet was at home.

"I sort of panicked," Wagner said. "I've never done that before."

She turned to the cashier, Emily Gratcl, embarrassed.

"[I said,] ‘I'm sorry. I live about 10 minutes down the road. I'm going to have to run home,'" Wagner recalled.

The store was ready to hold her groceries, but another customer decided to "Pay it Forward."

"The lady behind her just inched forward and swiped her card," Gratcl said. "And she was like, ‘It's OK. It's on me. I got this.'"

"And I'm like, ‘No, no. I can't let you do that,'" Wagner said.

The kind stranger not only saved Wagner the trouble of running home, she also saved her a significant amount of money. Her total for groceries was $93.

"I got tears in my eyes. I started crying," Wagner said. "I was so overwhelmed that somebody would just do something like that, without asking anything back."

"It was an emotional fest after that, and we were just all in tears," Gratcl said. "Thank God for people like that!"

Even the Kroger employee bagging the groceries was crying, according to Wagner and Gratcl.

Wagner says she tried to get the stranger's name and address to pay her back, but the woman would only accept a hug as thanks. She just wanted Wagner to take her groceries home and enjoy time with her children.

"That's a lot!" Wagner said. "I mean, imagine someone, like I said, like a stranger, just handing you $100. Like, what? That doesn't happen!"

Wagner says she plans to pay it forward to someone else in need, and so does Gratcl. They hope others are inspired to do the same.

[kuhio98]

Family kicked out of Racine homeless shelter receives a new home

RACINE-- A father and daughter were kicked out of a Racine homeless shelter left with no place to go, but thanks to the kindness of many strangers-- tonight, they have a place to call home.

"It's going to be filled with so much warmth and love," said Derreck Gray, inside his new home.

Candles light the way through Derreck and his daughter's new home. Their family is still waiting for power, but Derreck says they're just lucky to have a roof over their head.

"I was kind of speechless, overjoyed," said Derreck.

A generous stranger gave them the house after they were told to leave the Halo homeless shelter Monday.

"I had no idea where I was going to go, I have no family out here," said Derreck.

Derreck says they were kicked out of the shelter after a dispute over lunch. We asked Halo for comment, but officials declined our request.

"It wouldn't have been a bad idea if they put me out," said Derreck, "but putting my daughter out on the streets, that's what really upset me."

The single father and his ten year old daughter, Alexis, soon met a woman who would put a roof over their head.

"I'm just so glad she opened her heart," said Derreck, "and welcomed us into this nice, beautiful house."

Together, Derreck and Alexis walked into a two bedroom house to call their own.

Not long after opening the door, Alexis picked out her bedroom upstairs.

When she saw the pink sticker on the wall that said "Girly," she knew the room was hers.

The sticker was pink-- Alexis' favorite color.

"When I get it all situated, I want to paint my room pink," said Alexis.

The woman who gave Derreck and Alexis their home, only would be the first of many generous strangers.

There was the person who gave Derreck a new bed, the people who filled their kitchen cupboards with food, and the ones who gave their family some of the things-- many of us take for granted, like hygiene products.

For The Grays, the community's generosity has been overwhelming, and once they settle in-- they plan to pay it forward.

"I can share the opportunity by helping other people out," said Derreck.

Derreck says he will open his home to friends from Halo who need a place to go during the day. He says he also plans to donate some of his daughter's old clothes to help other children in need.

[cassiesmom]

Doctor uses social media to help her patients

Krupali Tejura, MD, a radiation oncologist, treats patients at the Corona Cancer Clinic in Corona, Calif. And via the internet, she channels another powerful form of energy on behalf of patients with advanced-stage cancer — the goodwill and kindness of other people.

Krupali uses the tools of social media to fulfill the wishes of patients, many of them with terminal conditions. Tweeting and posting on her blog, which reads like an open letter to the world, Krupali has fulfilled patients’ dreams as varied as—attending a taping of the Ellen DeGeneres show and meeting a famous violinist—to seeing a Pittsburgh Steelers football game at Heinz Field.

“My wife is a big Steelers fan, and Dr. Tejura arranged an all-expenses-paid trip and even got NFL Hall of Famer Lynn Swan to meet my wife and sign her jersey,” writes Chuck Chavez, whose wife has late-stage breast cancer. “It was the best medicine for my wife.”

On her blog, Krupali writes, “I honestly don’t do anything but put out a call to the world and at times the world responds.”

Krupali describes how it all started: “I have a patient support group called Ruby Red Slippers, and at one of our meetings, I heard a young patient with Stage IV cancer say she wanted to go to the Ellen show (Ellen Degeneres’ talk show). I went on the Ellen’s website but I could not get any tickets.

“So I put it out on Twitter, and a follower of mine who is a breast cancer survivor who works in the industry—she’s a makeup artist—got two VIP tickets so I could take my patient. When I first met this girl, she was metastatic and couldn’t walk because her knee was riddled with cancer. But by the time we went to the show, she was walking on her own, which was amazing.”

Through her unique care of terminally ill patients, Dr Tejura is showing us how to transform a seemingly hopeless situation into one filled with joy and caring.

For Dr Tejura social media has been an incredible tool to change the lives of her patients.

[kuhio98]

Devils Lake runner carries injured Fargo South runner during championship race

Glyndon, MN (WDAY TV) - Every once in a while in athletics, the scoreboard; who wins and who loses just doesn't matter.

Saturday, more than 20 teams and hundreds of competitors competed in the EDC Cross Country Championship.

The real winner? A show of compassion; a young woman from Devils Lake, who finished 8-and-a-half minutes behind the first place finisher.

This picture says it all. Devils Lake Senior Melanie Bailey carrying a distraught and injured Fargo South runner Danielle LeNoue…

Danielle LeNoue- Fargo South Runner: “I was past the two-mile mark; close to the finish line.”

…at the EDC Cross Country Meet held at the Ponderosa Golf Course near Glyndon.

LeNoue: “It happened instantly and felt like a pop in my knee… Down I went.”

“My left leg.”

Danielle, just back from the doctor Thursday, hurt her knee. Her left leg buckled during the run… That fast… An injury to her patella tendon.

LeNoue: “Just sobbing and so I started walking and I could not go any farther and she said, ‘here, hop on my back,’ half my size.”

The good Samaritan was Devils Lake High School runner Melanie Bailey…

Melanie Bailey: Devils Lake Runner: “All I could think about was she was in a lot of pain. And I wanted to help her.”

…A competitor, who says she was doing the right thing.

LeNoue: Honestly, I loved the way I ended it. It was a great way to end my cross country season.”

Now this is what winning is all about: Two runners finishing the race together, one carrying the other… Because that's what you do.

LeNoue: “So nice, she didn't have to do that. How many people ran past me? And she stopped.”

The two girls have been Facebooking each other. Strangers now friends. It's good to give someone the shirt off your back; even better to carry them on it when they're down.

LeNoue: “Pretty cool, touching moment for me.”

And the Devils Lake Senior plans a career in physical therapy.


http://www.wday.com/content/devils-l...ce?hpt=us_bn10

[kuhio98]

6th grader raises money for teacher battling Lymphoma

CULLMAN COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - Eleven-year-old Coleman Callan has always had a creative mind and now he's using his skills to help a teacher at his school.

"I like using my hands to make stuff and craft stuff," said Callan.

Add that to his passion for helping others and it was no surprise to his parents that he wanted to help Tamika Powell, a teacher at his school battling Diffused Large B Cell Lymphoma.

"He said, 'I just need to do something to help them.' Whatever it is to raise money or what," said Coleman's mom, Amanda.

Amanda Callan said her son learned how to make key chains out of paracord at camp.

Now, in a matter of ten minutes he's making them by the dozens and selling them to raise money for Powell.

"It's just very inspiring. You know, to see a little child that can make such a difference," said Powell.

Since her diagnosis in June, Powell and her family have been through a rollercoaster of emotions and the financial strain of battling cancer.

But it's the actions of Callan that help keep their positive attitude and faith.

"He took time out of his weekend, out of his life and did nothing really but make key chains for Tamika and our family. That's the inspiring part. He could have been doing anything. Playing on the iPad or anything. He chose to support us and help us," said Powell's husband, Cliff.

Since June Coleman has raised close to $400 for the Powell family.

For the Powells, the gesture means just as much as the financial support.

"He literally didn't just give us $300. He gave us a weekend to a week of his time. And is willing to do it again," said Cliff Powell.

Callan still has orders coming in and said he plans to continue making the bracelets as long as there's a demand.

If you would like to buy a keychain or help the Powell family contact Amanda Callan at [email protected].

[kuhio98]

Teens Save Dog Trapped in Mud

DES MOINES, Iowa — Students with an 8th grade class from Bergman Academy are being hailed as heroes. They were jogging around the drained Greenwood Pond as part of a gym class Thursday when they spotted two dogs, one stuck in the mud and the other by its side.

“It was a pretty short dog. It didn’t have very long legs so it was stuck in there pretty good and it couldn’t get out because its legs were too short,” says student Maev Cleary.

“The dog was right here,” adds student George Holtz, pointing to a hole in the mud, “The black dog was right here and looking at the dog with concern. And then we put this stick down so then we wouldn’t sink in the mud when we tried to rescue them.”

It took some work but the kids finally freed the dog.

“The dogs were really scared at that time. They were like shivering and whimpering and all that stuff,” said student Nate Stenberg. “It was an awesome feeling after they got finished because they saved their lives, so,” adds teacher Cristy Reeves.

And, like any real heroes they’re humble — sort of.

“I wouldn’t say heroes. I guess,” Stenberg says, “If you want to call us heroes I guess you can.”

The ARL tells us the dogs were micro-chipped so they were quickly returned to their owner.

[kuhio98]

Texas Woman Helps Women Battling Cancer Get Their Homes Cleaned – for Free!

It started with a phone call.

Years ago, Debbie Sardone, owner of Buckets & Bows Maid Service, got a call from a woman inquiring about a price quote for Sardone's cleaning service.

"I gave her our rates," she tells PEOPLE, "and she went, 'Oh I can't afford that, I'm undergoing cancer treatment' and hung up."

It was a literal wake-up call for Sardone.

"I sat there and realized I could have given her the cleaning for free, and I was disappointed it didn't occur to me until too late," she recalls.

"There's no way for me to call that first woman back," says Sardone, 55, of Flower Mound, Texas, explaining that it was in the days before caller ID.

"But she inspired me to change, inspired a policy that eventually became a nationwide nonprofit," she says.

That nationwide nonprofit is Cleaning for a Reason, an organization that provides housecleaning services free of charge to women battling cancer. www.cleaningforareason.org

Since the organization was founded in 2006, more than 1,100 maid services across the nation and in Canada have signed up to dedicate their time to women in need.

"Maid-service owners have told us it's the most rewarding thing they've ever done in business," says Sardone.

Her own mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, so she knows how difficult it can be to keep up with day-to-day tasks when undergoing treatment.

"If she couldn't have afforded a cleaning service," she says, "she wouldn't have been able to keep up with her home."

Adds Sardone: "Women have said it's the most normal they've felt in months, walking into a clean home.

"One woman told me she felt like her whole life had spiraled out of control, but when she came home to a clean house, she felt just a little bit more like herself."

Tanya Dodd-Hise, 44 of The Colony, Texas, was diagnosed with cancer in early 2013. Her friend signed her up for Cleaning for a Reason's services, and despite some initial reluctance on Dodd-Hise's part, she's grateful for Sardone's help.

"For me it was great, because I am typically the one who stayed home with our little one and got the big one off to school and did the cooking and did the cleaning and did the dishes and then suddenly, I wasn't able to do any of that," Dodd-Hise says.

"My wife is an attorney," she adds. "She was going to work all day long and then taking care of our little ones, but I didn't want her to have to come home and clean, too. Cleaning for a Reason was so helpful. More than most people would ever realize."

And now Sardone has teamed up with Swiffer and Walmart to help raise awareness of the nonprofit service.

This month, Walmart will carry pink-branded Swiffer products directing shoppers to Cleaning for a Reason.

"We're the best-kept secret in North America," jokes Sardone. "Swiffer and Walmart have helped us get the word out to women and other cleaning services alike."

But one woman she hasn't heard back from? That initial caller who changed her life.

"If I could talk to her again," says Sardone, "I would tell her that because of her phone call, she inspired me to give away free cleaning to women who need my help."