My Unsung Hero

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. The boy’s 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 lifelong memory.

On her first Christmas rush shift, teenage Stephanie froze at the register — until a customer helped her breathe again. The woman’s insistence that she “take your time” has stayed with her for decades.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Gillian realized she has one day left to choose a new health insurance plan. Her HR representative helped her navigate the decision — and modeled extraordinary kindness.