Heroes

In a heartwarming tale of bravery, a young man’s quick actions save his classmate’s life. You won’t believe what 8-year-old Trey Lewis knew what to do. He emerged as a hero alongside his teacher for assisting him. God works in mysterious ways, often using ordinary people, including children, as vessels for His extraordinary miracles. Throughout history, we see countless examples of everyday individuals, young and old, guided by faith and empowered by God's divine grace, accomplishing the seemingly impossible. From a child’s simple act of kindness that ripples into profound moments of healing and transformation to instances of extraordinary bravery and selflessness in the face of adversity, God's handiwork is evident in the lives of His faithful servants.

The miracle moment of today’s story unfolded during lunchtime at the second-grade corridor, where Trey, with remarkable alertness, noticed a fellow student choking on a granola bar containing cashews. 

Rushing to Assistant Principal David Ravida, Trey's urgent plea for help set a chain of life-saving actions into motion. Ravida swiftly intervened, clearing the obstruction from the choking student's throat, yet sensed something more was amiss.

 With lightning speed, staff recognized telltale signs of a severe allergic reaction and administered life-saving treatment with an EpiPen. David, acknowledging Trey's heroic act, emphasized that heroes come in all forms, whether students, nurses, teachers, or principals. 

The collective efforts of these unsung heroes ensured that the stricken student received timely care, with Trey's selfless actions at the forefront of the rescue. With a modest grin, Trey reflected on the life he helped save, a testament to the profound impact of his bravery and the importance of being vigilant about allergies.

When he was asked about the harrowing moment, Trey said, “If feels that I saved his life.”

This heartwarming story serves as a poignant reminder of the invaluable contributions of healthcare professionals and the everyday heroes who embody the spirit of compassion and heroism in our communities. As we navigate life's journey, may we remain open to God's call to be instruments of His miracles, trusting in His plan and embracing the opportunity to be His hands and feet in a world in need of His love and redemption. Through the eyes and actions of children, we are reminded of the purity and boundless potential of faith, making each miraculous moment even more heartwarming and inspiring.

Matthew 18:3-4 "And he said: 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"

A heroic man tackled an armed attacker and saved a pastor’s life during the middle of a church service.

Sin is prevalent and pervasive in the world. One doesn’t have to look far to see and understand this to be true. Turn on the nightly news or visit your favorite news site, and you’ll see story after story of people inflicting harm on one another. 

Everything sin has touched since entering the world back in the Garden of Eden has become much worse. Sin has ruined and ruptured relationships and brought about disease and death. Sin has invaded the workplace, the school system and even the church, as one video shows.

A video posted on YouTube shows a man walking up to the front of the Pennsylvania church, pulling out a gun and pointing it at the pastor who stands behind the pulpit. The armed individual then pulls the gun’s trigger, intending to harm and perhaps even kill the pastor. Luckily, God was at work and the criminal’s gun jammed. 

That miraculous misfire gave one heroic man enough time to run, jump up and tackle the would-be shooter to the ground. Once on the ground, the hero, identified as a church deacon, holds the assailant on the ground while the pastor wrestles the gun out of the attacker’s possession.

The hero, Clarence McCallister, said that even though he rushed in heroically to save the day, he still couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I was shocked,” Clarence said. “I’ve never seen nothing like that in my life.”

The church’s pastor, Rev. Glenn Germany, is understandably eternally grateful for Clarence’s actions, which saved his life. 

Praise God that the gun temporarily jammed and for Clarence’s brave actions that helped to prevent a potentially deadly incident. 

Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and take heart, and have no fear of them: for it is the Lord your God who is going with you; he will not take away his help from you.”

A heroic 9-year-old boy saved his parents during a terrifying encounter with a tornado.

When people are struggling for something to talk about, they generally default to the present weather conditions. However, as some people in some regions of the country, mainly the Midwest, know, weather conditions can change dramatically without notice. 

Sadly, those rapid weather changes can result in storms and other damaging and deadly natural disasters, like tornadoes. Powerful tornadoes can uproot trees, rip through houses, businesses and destroy lives within a matter of seconds. Having an emergency plan is always a good idea in case of a tornado. One can never be too prepared if tragedy were to strike.

However, having an emergency preparedness plan and actually carrying it out and executing it are two entirely different things. People may have all the knowledge in the world about what to do during a tornado but freeze up when a tornado strikes. All that information and preparation would have been for nothing.

One young man, 9-year-old Branson Baker, did not free but instead quickly acted and saved his parents’ lives when their truck crashed during a tornado. The storm uprooted a tree, which hit their vehicle. Branson’s parents were injured and stuck in the truck.

Thankfully, Branson was able to get out of the damaged truck. Instead of remaining frozen in fear, the little guy started a mile-long trek to get help. Eventually, Branson returned to the scene with help for his mother and father.

Branson’s father, Wayne, understands that his son acted when other children his age or adults would have been as brave and heroic. 

“Branson sprung into action really quick,” Wayne said. “He’s a very courageous son. For a 9-year-old boy, not many adults would have done what he did.”

Wayne added that he could not be “more proud of a son that could accept a challenge in that way.”

Branson is undoubtedly a hero, putting aside his fears and trepidations to save the lives of others. 

John 15:13 “Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends.”

A group of heroic motorists put their lives at risk to help rescue a man from a burning car on the side of the road.

Most people lead hectic lives. Everyone has family and work obligations, which they have to complete in a limited amount of time. That’s why so many individuals have resorted to multitasking. That activity supposedly helps them get more things marked off their to-do list, making the most of their limited time. 

When most people are in a time crunch and focused on quickly getting one thing after another done, they tend to forget about others. They get so wrapped up in their world that they forget about other people's needs. It’s not great to admit, but it most certainly happens. 

However, luckily, a clip posted on YouTube shows a group of individuals who showed enough concern and care for a stranger to put their own lives at risk. They weren’t too focused on their world and their problems to help someone whose life was in danger.

In the short, one-minute-long clip, a car is on the side of an interstate in Minnesota with flames all around it. Smoke wafts into the air while the vehicle’s driver remains in the car. This is no doubt a life-or-death situation.

Seconds into the video, several people stop their cars and run toward the scary, fiery scene. Soon, more and more people are near the car, working desperately to open the car’s door. But their initial efforts weren't successful.

Then, they are able to pry the driver’s door open slightly. Another man uses an object to bash the window. Someone else, a Department of Transportation employee, comes along and is able to break the window. Through the window, the concerned and heroic group of motorists pull the man out of the vehicle.

As they pull the man out of the car, the flames shoot up even higher, basically engulfing the vehicle.

According to the clip, a follow-up report stated that, amazingly, there were no injuries. 

Praise God for those motorists’ heroic efforts and the fact that the driver was not even injured. 

John 15:13 “Greater love has no man than this, that a man gives up his life for his friends.”

Two heroic barbers immediately emerged when they saw a youngster walking toward a busy intersection and saved the child.

Hero is a word that is used way too much today. It has been so watered down that the qualifications to become a hero are nonexistent. It’s an essentially meaningless term, mainly due to how excessively the word is used today.

For most of society, one must do only a few things to become a hero. First, getting elected to public office while promising that you’re the only one who can bring about good or change and then underdelivering is, surprisingly, a hero to some people. Other people believe those who catch a game-winning touchdown or score a certain number of points in a basketball game are heroes. Still, some individuals think someone on television who memorizes words written by someone else is a hero.

Of course, none of those types of people are heroes at all. They aren’t doing anything for the good of anyone else. They are acting out of selfish ambition and conceit. 

However, a video posted on social media displays two men who are genuine, actual heroes. Two men in Connecticut were cutting hair in their barbershop when they looked outside and saw a girl running down the sidewalk by herself, headed right for a busy intersection.  

Without thinking twice, they dropped their scissors and rushed out the doors. One of the men is able to reach the toddler seconds before she enters the busy intersection. 

One of the men admitted that after seeing the little girl headed right for traffic, his first thought was about her welfare.

“My initial reaction, it was just, ‘I gotta get there,” he said.

They didn’t tell others how great they were or add points to a scoreboard. Instead, they saw a need and immediately acted without concern for their safety, thinking only about the child.

Jude 1:23 “And to some give salvation, pulling them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the clothing which is made unclean by the flesh.”

A fast food worker’s quick-thinking and swift actions saved the life of a child who had become unresponsive while in the drive-thru lane.

In America, time is money. People are constantly trying to do whatever they can to maximize their time. The more we can accomplish, the better, right? We’ve even come up with a term defining how individuals do this: multi-tasking.

Fast food consumption is another method of maximizing and making the most of our time. Most Americans visit fast food establishments for a quick bite to eat. However, as a clip posted on social media displays, one woman got much more than that when she visited a Taco Bell.

Natasha Long was in a drive-thru at a Taco Bell in Pennsylvania when she experienced a parent’s worst nightmare. Her 11-month-old child stopped breathing and started turning blue. Natasha described her child as “lifeless” in that moment.

However, one Taco Bell employee was placed in the right place at the right time. The location’s manager, Becky Arbaugh, said she threw off her headset and ran out to Natasha and the unresponsive child. 

Becky immediately started doing chest compressions on the infant. Moments later, Becky was able to get the child breathing again. 

The child was rushed to the hospital and is said to be doing well. Natasha is, of course, eternally grateful for Becky’s heroic actions. But Becky said she was just trying to do what she could to help someone who badly needed it.

“I just thought of myself as a mom with another mom that needed help,” Becky said.

Bad things happen in life, and some of them are entirely unavoidable. However, God often places the right people in the correct position at the right time to help us through those trials and hardships.

James 2:8 “But if you keep the greatest law of all, as it is given in the holy Writings, ‘Have love for your neighbor as for yourself,’ you do well.”

In a world where sisterhood is often celebrated for its bonds of friendship and camaraderie, a group of five heroic college students rescue mom and two children from a sinking car!

A group of five sorority sisters from the University of Georgia prove that sisterhood can also mean selflessness, courage, and heroism. Dubbed ‘The Fearless Five,’ Molly McCollum, Jane McArdle, Eleanor Cart, Clarke Jones, and Kaitlyn Iannace became beacons of hope and inspiration after their extraordinary act of bravery rescued mother Cori Craft and her two young sons from a sinking vehicle in a creek.

It was a fateful day as the sisters embarked on a journey to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and decided to take a detour to satisfy their craving for cheesy biscuits. Little did they know that their detour through a rural area would lead them to a moment that would define their lives forever. 

As they drove, they witnessed a terrifying light and a cloud of dust, prompting them to investigate. What they discovered was a car sinking rapidly into the water, with Cori and her children trapped inside.

In a moment of instinct and compassion, the sisters sprang into action. Without hesitation, they called for help and plunged into the cold water to rescue the family. Despite the danger and uncertainty, they remained steadfast in their mission to save lives. As they quickly brought Cori’s older son to safety, the youngest remained trapped underwater, buckled in his car seat, his life hanging in the balance.

"Time is ticking. It had been like 4 to 5 minutes … it was just, like, every second mattered," Molly recalled of the scary moment. 

With every second crucial, the sisters refused to give up. Drawing upon their collective strength and training, they worked tirelessly to free the young boy from his car seat. Clarke then began performing CPR on the little boy. And when all seemed lost, their prayers were answered as the boy started breathing again, a moment of sheer relief and joy for all involved.

Through the seemingly ordinary cravings of these extraordinary young women, God intervened to turn them into instruments of His grace and mercy. Their swift and selfless actions saved a family from tragedy and also served as a powerful testament to the strength of sisterhood and the guiding hand of God. 

In a world often fraught with uncertainty, their story stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in our most unexpected moments, God can use us to bring light and salvation to those in need. As we reflect on their heroic deeds, let us be inspired to embrace the call to compassion and kindness. We know that with God by our side, we, too, can become vessels of His love and instruments of His peace.

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

Let me introduces myself ~ My Name is Bronwyn Clinton, I have been a follower of Jesus since as long as I can remember ... I was raised in a strong Christian home on a dairy farm in NSW Australia. I am married with 4 adult children, 6 almost 7 grandchildren and a foster mum as well. I have been daily tips on my Facebook wall since the craziness of the evil one sent the world into lock downs ... I strongly believe, that was not of God and most defiantly part of the anitchrist's plan. Like I mentioned, each day on my Facebook wall I add a daily tip live video. Due to my love of the 3 in one, God, Our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Sunday's I bring a short reflection, of something God has laid on my heart that day or that week ~ although I didn't start the first one with a reading from the Psalms, I did however, decide to do a walk through the Psalms this year ... only break from the Psalms thus far, was Palm Sunday and Easter ... these are my refections from an Australian country girls prospective .... I do not claim to be a Bible scholar ... I am a Certified Wholistic Health Coach and in being so, we concentrate on the 8 areas of the Wholistic Wheel .... Spirituality being one area of Wholistic Health. Today I talked about the Tracks of Life and Proverbs ~ in everything I do, it is always for the Glory of God You can also follow me on my YouTube channel, which is @BronwynClinton5366 , I would love your support on both YouTube and Facebook God bless you all, much love in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour ~ your sister Bronwyn Clinton

College basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s incredible friendship with a young cancer survivor transcends the basketball court.

Cancer is a horrible disease. It does nothing but cause hurt and pain. It destroys and steals individuals from their families and friends. There is nothing good about the disease. 

As bad as cancer is already, it’s exponentially worse whenever it’s a childhood who receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. Those youngsters are supposed to be outside getting dirty while running around and playing with friends. They aren’t supposed to be undergoing chemotherapy and being prepped for surgery. Kids should have their childhood to be kids, not be in a fight for their life.

Sam Cunningham, as a 12-year-old, was diagnosed with leukemia. But during his cancer fight, Auburn University basketball coach Bruce Pearl recorded a video for the young man.

In the clip, Bruce gave the young man an upbeat, uplifting motivational message. Bruce informed Sam, “you’re going to be this, son,” and “cancer picked the wrong hombre.” 

 

Sam found both humor and strength in Bruce’s kind and encouraging words. The young man admits that he would continually draw strength from Bruce’s words during the darkest days of his battle. They kept him going and fighting.

As the clip posted on YouTube points out, Bruce and Sam eventually met and struck up a friendship. At one point, Bruce told young Sam that after he beat cancer, he would attend Auburn University and become a staff member. Flash forward a couple of years, and that is precisely what has happened.

Sam is now a freshman at Auburn, where he is the team’s manager, working alongside Bruce as promised. 

Bruce added that when he prays to God, he asks Him for Sam’s continued health and safety.

“In my prayers, it’s ‘God, don’t let this thing relapse. Take me. Let Sam live.’” Bruce said. 

What an incredible story about love, friendship, and keeping one’s word. 

Proverbs 18:24: “A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Hundreds of people have come together to help a man who is legally blind with his commute to work.

There will never be too much kindness and love in the world. Given the state and condition of our fallen world and the many hurting and broken people around us, it’s impossible to be too loving, caring and kind. Anyone and everyone can benefit from an unexpected act of kindness and love.

Those acts of kindness and love can and do come in many different shapes, sizes and forms. Kindness and love can be shown in a million different ways. To be kind and show someone the love of Christ, all anyone has to do is spot a need and then act accordingly. However, as Jesus mentioned in Matthew, “The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few.”

As a video posted on YouTube explains, people in one Arkansas town saw a need and acted. They have shown one man unbelievable kindness and love. 

Bill Moczulewski is a janitor and is dedicated to his job. Bill is also legally blind and unable to drive a car. However, this does not stop Bill from going to work. He would walk five miles every day in all kinds of weather. 

One day, Christy Conrad spotted Bill on his commute to work and offered him a ride. During this ride, Christy learned that her passenger is legally blind and does this same five-mile walk in all types of weather. 

So, to help Bill out, Christ started a Facebook group, hoping to find people to give him a ride to work. The response to the Facebook group was overwhelming. The group has expanded to 1,500 people. 

Bill says now he never has a problem getting a ride. He adds that the person behind the wheel is never the same. It’s always someone different stopping to help Bill.

“There’s a lot of good people in this world, all over the place, you know?” Bill said. 

This all started because one woman was kind enough to pull over and offer a man walking down the street a ride to work. She saw a need and took action. 

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, full of pity, having forgiveness for one another, even as God in Christ had forgiveness for you.”

Everybody Ignores And Walks Pass this Crazy Street Preacher

Check out this story about a Florida deputy’s heroic act that turned him into an honorary family member.

Deputy Sergeant Dave Musgrove is an officer in Charlotte County, Florida, where he recently rescued a baby’s life after a serious car accident that left her not breathing.

“I saw a flash. I heard a loud bang. And then I saw a cloud of smoke,” Sergeant Musgrove describes the scene that night. “I saw Kayleigh, the mother, just frantically screaming, crying for help. She’s yelling, ‘My babies, my babies.’”

He continues to share the details of the wreck. “As I approached, I saw a motorcycle on the ground. I looked in the vehicle and I encountered a 3-year-old little girl in a car seat. I thought all was well, removed the girl, and she kept yelling, ‘No, my baby.’ And I looked down and I saw underneath the motorcyclist, there was a baby’s head and a car seat.”

Right away, Sergeant Musgrove was able to pull baby Lola from the wreck and start performing CPR on her. “Shortly after I started CPR, I heard the baby gasp,” he shares.

The 6-month-old baby was then airlifted to a nearby hospital, and Deputy Sergeant Musgrove visited her often while she was recovering.

“He’s our angel, that’s for sure,” shares the baby’s grandmother. “You know, what he did for our family was life-changing.” 

“I’m now Uncle Dave according to the grandmother,” says Sergeant Musgrove. “Yes, I am in contact with the family multiple times a day. I get text messages every morning with the morning report.”

Sergeant Musgrove was definitely in the right place at the right time to help this family! And baby Lola and her family members are incredibly grateful for him and how he showed up for them in their time of need.

Former professional basketball player Shaquille O’Neal’s touching and loving gesture helped provide a teenager struggling to find shoes with a bit of relief.

The world is full of hurting and struggling individuals. People in need are all around us. They may be a friend, neighbor or even a family member. You don’t have to go to another country to find someone who needs help. Go across the street, the hallway or to the next desk, and you’re likely to find a need, someone hurting in one way or another.

Shaq, the basketball Hall of Famer and NBA champion, is well known for his kind and generous deeds. He has been blessed and has found ways to bless others. 

Yet another way Shaq has helped his fellow man involves 16-year-old Jor’el Bolden. Jor’el has massive feet, and he wears size 23 shoes, according to the video posted on YouTube.

The problem with needing shoes that big is that stores do not typically carry that size. Because they are so rare, they are also expensive. So, as the video shows, Jor’el would walk around his house in his bare feet. 

When Shaq heard about Jor’el’s story, he sent boxes. Those boxes contained shoes and clothes from his wardrobe. Shaq literally gave the young man the shirt off his back. 

As the video points out, Shaq sent the young 20 pairs of size 22 shoes. 

In addition to Shaq, the community has also stepped up and has shown Jor’el and his family God’s love. Jor’el’s mother started a GoFundMe campaign to help with the price of shoes. Donations have been pouring in. It currently stands at more than $12,000. 

What a beautiful and unique way to show Jor’el and his family the love of God! This goes to show that when you find someone struggling, take action and work to meet that need. 

Colossians 3:12 “As saints of God, then, holy and dearly loved, let your behavior be marked by pity and mercy, kind feeling, a low opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, and a power of undergoing all things;”

This is a story of genuine heroism. An 8-year-old girl’s quick actions keep her and her little sister safe during a carjacking.

In this report, we see a picture of a precious family of four. There is an 8-year-old with a 2-year-old younger sister seen in the photo. Everyone, thankfully, is safe and ok. 

However, the heartwrenching voicemail comes to the mother that the girls need her help because they lost their dad. They were simply in a car wash when someone came in and hijacked their car. You hear the father’s call to the police, explaining that someone stole his car with his two kids in the car. This is a moment that no parent ever wants to encounter. 

Adam Jorgenson was just getting out of his car to dry it, and a man came up to ask for directions. Suddenly, he heard the car take off with his children in it. The young girl says that the thief noticed that she was in the car and told her to get out, but she innocently asked, “What about my sister?” The hijacker had not noticed that there were two girls in the car. He ended up leaving the girls in the car and fled the scene a mile away. Charlie saw her dad’s phone and called her mother. The mom was so emotional in the interview and was very thankful they were okay. Everyone celebrates the girl’s bravery in the situation.

This is a moment that reminds us that evil exists and sin is, unfortunately, in the world. We always need to be prayerful and be on our guard.

Praise God that none of those children were injured during the frightening ordeal. 

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

Watch this incredible video of heroics. Adorable puppies rescued after seeking shelter under crawl space from wintry weather.

In this powerful rescue video, we see precious pups covered in snow all under an abandoned home. The puppies are not easily reachable. The girl proceeds to go far into the crawlspace. This kind-hearted young woman fights effortlessly to save these animals from freezing to death on a cold winter’s day. 

It takes her four hours to get each puppy out. In the video footage, the girl is beaming in the midst of saving these cute dogs. She knows that her sacrifice, energy, and time are worth helping these creatures have a chance at life and a safe home. The final puppy is carried out of the crawl space, and a celebration occurs. You see clips of the girl army crawling while holding on tightly to the little pup. They exit into the brightness of the snow. The girl holds the puppy, cuddling him in her arms and smiling over their rescue. 

One precious baby dog is curled up in a jacket while the young woman holds him in the car. Six puppies are now safe because of the decision of this girl. This woman is a hero for her actions. She battled the elements to rescue those animals.

It is inspiring for us to think through what sacrifices we can make in order to help in the situations around us. It is a comfort as a believer in Jesus to know that just like this girl was relentless in her pursuit of every puppy, our Savior has not forgotten us. He loves us and pursues us to get us out of the darkness. 

“I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:26

Street Evangelism

Victor Pauca is 18 and living with an incredibly rare condition. Francesca Pauca, 21, is his sister and is one of his caregivers. In this YouTube video, we get to hear their story. 

Victor’s parents started to notice that he wasn’t reaching his developmental milestones when he was about six months old. He was then diagnosed with Pitt-Hopkins Syndrome at 2.5 years old. 

Pitt-Hopkins is an autism spectrum disorder that causes developmental delays and he was one of the first people in the world to be diagnosed with it. Pitt-Hopkins is caused by a mutation of the gene, TCF4 on the 18th chromosome. 

Francesca talks about how the day-to-day with Victor is a team effort by her family. “Different people take on different tasks,” she says. “One by one we pick it all up and we do it together.”

Although Victor used to eat by mouth. Now, however, he requires four feedings with a feeding tube per day. His health can also be unstable and he has ended up in the hospital, but Francesca is right there with him through it all. 

Victor is nonverbal but he can communicate either nonverbally or through using different sounds that his family can understand. He does sometimes use a touch-chat. The family talks to Victor like he is any other 18-year-old boy. 

The family also includes him in household chores. You can see a clip of him doing laundry. 

Francesca goes to Princeton as a psychology major. She plans to return home after graduating college to care for Victor. She says she has been planning to do so for a long time. “It’s the only life I know,” she says when talking about taking care of him.

“I am 21 years old and I’ll be my brother’s caregiver in the future.”

While her parents still plan to be his caregiver for a few more decades, both she and her sister are committed to being his caregivers in the future. What an amazing thing for a sibling to do. 

The family has also started the Pitt-Hopkins Research Foundation to help others. 

Francesca took to social media to educate others about how fulfilling caregiving can be. She says, “I would want them to know that the work that they're doing, especially caregiving, is important and it’s beautiful and it’s appreciated.” 

Francesca and her family are not only showing love to their brother, but connecting with their community, and others to help them in their own caregiving journeys. She is quite the inspiration! 

“And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me.” - Matthew 25:4

A Florida sheriff’s deputy and a high school track coach’s heroic and quick-thinking actions helped to save a student’s life who unexpectedly collapsed.

Life can dramatically change in an instant and without any notice. A loved one here one minute could be gone the next. Life is a precious gift from God that must be cherished, honored and protected in any and every way imaginable. We never know when we or someone close to us has breathed their last breath. 

That was almost the case for a high school student in Florida who almost took his last breaths. Footage from the deputy’s body camera shows the law enforcement official sprinting on a track to a young man who had collapsed.

Immediately after getting to the scene, the deputy gives a woman, track coach Lauren Palek, kneeling next to the student, directions on what actions to take. 

“You get the breaths,” Deputy Deena Biland says. “I’ll get the chest, OK?”

Deputy Biland and Lauren start performing the life-saving maneuver, working furiously on the young man who has stopped breathing. 

Eventually, all their work paid off as the young man regained a pulse and started breathing once again. 

As the video shows, Deputy Biland and Lauren were both able to stay calm despite the intense, life-or-death situation. In an interview following their heroic actions, both pointed to their training in allowing them to remain calm and know what to do. 

The video posted on YouTube states that even before the deputy was on the scene, Lauren had started chest compressions.

 

“I just focused on counting and relying on what I learned in the training, which I think, obviously, was very valuable,” Lauren said.

Amazingly, less than 24 hours after collapsing and having to be revived, the 17-year-old was back up on his feet.

Thank God for the quick-thinking and heroic actions of Deputy Biland and Lauren. They saved a young man’s life!

Proverbs 24:11 “Be the savior of those who are given up to death, and do not keep back help from those who are slipping to destruction.”

One woman, a school bus driver, quickly stepped up and acted when she saw a young man, a third grader, choking, saving his life. 

Heroes come from all walks of life. Unfortunately, those so often referred to as heroes aren’t the least bit heroic. Instead, Hollywood actors, greedy Washington politicians and athletes are more concerned about themselves than the well-being of others. But there are still actual heroes today, such as Mayrelyn Lopez.

Mayrelyn is a bus driver in Florida. She transports the children to and from school. She makes sure they get to their destination safely. But on one trip home after school, Mayrelyn found herself in a scary situation.

The clip posted on YouTube states that during the first stop on the way home from school, Mayrelyn got up from her driver’s to address a situation on the bus. It was resolved quickly, but on the way back to her seat Mayrelyn spotted something unusual and frightening.

One of the children, 8-year-old Levi Holder, had turned purple. He was choking on a piece of candy, unable to breathe. That’s when Mayrelyn, without thinking, sprang into action, according to Fox 35. 

The school bus driver states that she grabbed the young man and began performing the Heimlich Maneuver. Moments later, Mayrelyn recalls that she successfully dislodged the candy, and young Levi was able to start breathing once again. 

“It’s nothing to think in at the moment,” Mayrelyn said. “Just do it, what, what I have to do.”

Mayrelyn is the definition of a hero. She paid attention to her surroundings, stepped in, acted quickly and saved a life.  

Praise God for Mayrelyn and people like her who do not get the attention they deserve. They aren’t seeking attention or trying to bring glory to themselves. Instead, they do what is right. 

Psalm 34:17 “The cry of the upright comes before the Lord, and he takes them out of all their troubles.”

One policeman stepped up in a big way, going above and beyond the call of duty when he saved the life of a young woman who had stopped breathing.

Heroes can and do come from all walks of life. But the individuals most people refer to and think of as heroes are not at all. Big-name star athletes, Hollywood actors or Washington politicians are not the slightest bit heroic. Instead of giving of themselves to others, they are typically acting out of and motivated by selfish ambition. 

However, real heroes usually fly under the radar, choosing not to receive any recognition for their good and selfless deeds. They don’t make the big screen, the Sportscenter highlights reel or the Sunday morning political talk shows. 

But one young man is rightfully getting some recognition for saving the life of a 3-year-old child. In a clip posted on YouTube, body camera footage shows Ohio police officer Soren Osicka rushing to the scene. The video states that the young woman had fallen, hit her head and stopped breathing.   

As the 23-year-old officer reaches the scene and the little girl, the child’s mother is understandably distraught. She wants what every parent would want in that situation: someone to help her little girl. 

Moments after getting to the scene, Officer Osicka frantically starts performing life-saving maneuvers, desperately trying to get the child to start breathing once again. While working on the young woman, the officer tries to coax her into breathing. 

“Come on, sweetie,” Officer Osicka says. “Hang with me, OK?”

The young officer’s efforts are successful, as the video shows. She starts breathing once again. Praise God!

Following his heroic actions, Officer Osicka carries the young woman to an ambulance, giving medical first responders an update on her condition.

“It’s cool, you know, to have less than 6 months on and be able to experience something that’s going to stick with me the rest of my life,” Officer Osicka said in an interview.

Proverbs 20:11 “Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.”