4. A Red-Carpet Guest

On 10 December 2009, University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow attended the 2009 Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show at Walt Disney World. As he walked the red carpet, at his side and holding on to his arm was a fan: 20-year-old Kelly Faughnan of Clifton, Virginia. Ms. Faughnan had recently had surgery for a brain tumor, which left her body with a tremor. After her surgery, she asked her parents to take her to Walt Disney World, where she hoped to meet Mr. Tebow. There, she wore a button expressing admiration for Mr. Tebow. She also met him, he liked her, and he asked her to walk the red carpet with him.

5. Jeremy Shockey: Hero

In August 2011, NFL player Jeremy Shockey saved the life of his Carolina Panthers teammate and fellow tight end Ben Hartsock, who was choking on a piece of pork tenderloin. Mr. Hartsock tried drinking water, but that did not work. His Chicago-based agent, Mike McCartney, said that “he couldn’t breathe. Some new guy came and tried to give him the Heimlich. It didn’t work. Then, Shockey hit him in the back pretty hard and out came the meat. The Panthers told me it was really scary. Ben told me Shockey came over and gave me the Heimlich maneuver and saved my life. He was in good spirits and he’s real thankful for Shockey.” Mr. Hartsock was teased good-naturedly during practice, as his teammates occasionally told him, “Don’t choke, Hartsock.” Writer Brad Biggs pointed out, “The story serves as a good reminder that it’s important to know how to administer the Heimlich because you never know when a friend or teammate could be in need.”

6. Jack Meets a Soccer Hero

In March 2008 in Newcastle, England’s General Hospital, eight-year-old Jack Close underwent a bone marrow transplant to cure a blood condition with the scientific name chronic granulomatous disorder, which was rendering his immune system unable to fight off infections. A soccer [European football] fan, Jack was extremely happy when star footballer Steven Taylor of Newcastle United stopped by to visit him and give him a bag of goodies, including black-and-white clothing and a soccer-match program that Mr. Taylor had signed. Mr. Taylor said. “When I come here, I realize how fortunate I am. Footballers get little kicks and niggles and complain about them. When you meet Jack and hear what he has been through, you realize how brave he is. It puts things into perspective massively, what he has had to go through, and it really inspires me to see it. But he’s a Geordie [a native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England], he’llbe fine.” Jack’s mother, Laura, age 39, who works as a dinner lady, said, “His little face lit up when we told him Stephen Taylor was coming. He was in the football club at school, but obviously he had to stop that. He’s been really poorly for the last week, but today his temperature is normal and he’s not been sick. This has really perked him up. He has been getting cards and presents through the post from people who don’t even know him, saying how brave he has been and how handsome he is. He’s taken it all in his stride.” Jack’s father, Bryce, age 48, a taxi driver, said, “When he gets out [of the hospital], he will have to stay inside for three months. All his friends will be playing football outside, so that will be very hard for him. But this will be his claim to fame. He will tell all his mates he has met Steven Taylor. We’ve only ever been to one match, but when he’s better we will take him to more.” Earlier, the Evening Chronicle of Newcastle had organized a bone-marrow-donor drive in order to find a match for Jack.

7. “I Only Did What Everyone Would Have Done. It’s Hardly Worth Mentioning”

In 2011, Ernst Tanner, general manager of the German Hoffenheim soccer team, helped rescue a 58-year-old woman who was trapped under the rear tires of her Mercedes after she failed to set the handbrake and it rolled over her as she was shutting the garage door. Mr. Tanner was jogging at 6.45 a.m. when he heard screams. He said, “I looked around. I could not believe my eyes. My neighbor was trapped under the rear wheels of her Mercedes.” Mr. Tanner and two bin men lifted the Mercedes off the woman, who was taken to a hospital. Mr. Tanner is modest about his action: “I only did what everyone would have done. It’s hardly worth mentioning.”

8. Babe Ruth: Writer of Treasured Letters

Babe Ruth did such good deeds as write letters to ill children. On 15 January 1932 he wrote a letter to a boy named Freddy who had polio and was in the Children’s Hospital in Boston. For a couple of months after receiving the letter, Freddie spoke about it every day. This is Babe’s letter:

“BABE RUTH

“NEW YORK

“Hello Fred

“I have received some very nice reports about you and the nice way you are getting along. Now I want you to keep it up and it will not be long before you will be [up] and running around.

“You are only eight years now and who knows that some day the umpire will say Freddy Clark Jr. now batting for Babe Ruth — say Freddy? Will that be great or not. Now I want you to keep your fight and think of me.

Friday, April 15, 2022

David Bruce: The Kindest People: Heroes and Good Samaritans (Volume 3) (Free PDF)

4. A Red-Carpet Guest

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David Bruce: The Most Interesting People in Religion: 250 Anecdotes (FREE PDF)