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: 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 bike. A stranger stopped to help and made her an origami crane. Years later, she discovered a message hidden inside.

At 16, Reed 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.