UPS driver saves woman trapped in burning vehicle.

30-year-veteran UPS driver Lawrence Sanchez used quick thinking to save the life of a female passenger trapped in a burning truck.

The passenger in question was struck by a black Lexus when the pickup truck she was in stalled on the Freeway in the Mira Loma area of Los Angeles. The truck exploded on collision – the driver of the pickup was able to escape, but the fire made escape difficult for the female passenger.

Sanchez, who was driving his UPS delivery truck on the freeway at the time, saw the accident and used his truck to shield the injured driver from traffic. Once he realized that the female passenger was still trapped inside, Sanchez used his truck’s tiny fire extinguisher to fight the blaze back enough for the woman to escape. When she emerged from the wreckage, her head was on fire; Sanchez rushed to help extinguish the flames as best he could.

Both passengers were taken to the hospital with moderate to major injuries. People have hailed Sanchez as a hero for his actions, to which he has responded, “These CHP guys do it every day. They’re the heroes.”

Watch the NBC news video here.

High school choir director with dementia taken in by old student.

Thirty-five years after being in Marty Hayes’ high school choir class, ex-student Carolyn James decided to drop in on her old teacher for a visit.

James describes Hayes as having been a potent influencer in her classmates’ lives, always going out of her way to make pupils feel cared for, and motivating them each to discover their own potential.

Upon her visit, James sadly discovered that her once favorite teacher, now in her 70’s, wasn’t doing so well. Unknown to them, Hayes was suffering from the early stages of Lewy Body Dementia. She would often momentarily forget how to perform certain tasks, and frequently found herself disorientated.

James was devastated by her former teacher’s condition, so she and her husband began helping Hayes pay for medical consultations and bills. Within the next three years, Hayes’ health worsened – she began experiencing difficulty with her memory and motor functions. After the news of her LBD diagnosis, the Jameses decided to take her into their home and give her the full-time care she required.

Hayes, with no children of her own, treated her students like family. James sees her actions as paying back her old teacher for the years of inspiration she provided. She and her husband started a fund, “We Are Her Kids”, to raise money for Hayes’ care. Other former students have chipped in to help, and still visit Hayes, who, despite it all, still harbors a bond with her students, as well as a love of music.

Photos courtesy of Carolyn James.

Homeless Good Samaritan who returns backpack full of cash rewarded!

CBS Boston reports that Glen James, a homeless man, discovered a backpack full of $2,400 in cash, $39,500 in traveler’s checks, and a passport in his local mall. Despite the incredible sum of funds that had practically landed in James’ lap, he did not keep the backpack’s contents for himself; he found the nearest Boston police officers and turned it in. Later that night, the customer who originally lost the backpack was able to retrieve it (to his immense relief).

Good Samaritans are out there, but it’s rare to hear about them in the media. What makes James’ case especially touching is that, in addition to being honored by the Boston Police Department, an online fundraising site in James’ name was set up to reward him for his actions. Considering his living and financial situation, several thousand people were touched by his honesty and have donated to the fundraiser (which, as of this morning, was over $145,000.00!).

You can read more about the fundraiser or even donate a few dollars yourself by clicking here.

Photo courtesy of gofundme.com

Faith in Humanity: Utah pranksters tip Orem servers $200, just to be awesome.

Waiters and servers in the state of Utah make only $2.13 per hour.

Let that sink in.

YouTube prankster Andrew Hales of LAHWF (Losing All Hope Was Freedom) had been wanting to perform this touching act of human kindness for a while, and with Stuart Edge’s help, he managed to pull it off.



Watch as they travel around Orem, eating at diners and recording the reactions of their servers when they realize they’ve just been tipped $200 for their service. Especially touching is when one young girl (doing a very happy little dance around 1:20) rushes out of the store seconds later in tears to throw her arms around Andrew and Stuart. At 2:00, our pranksters-turned-paragons discover that one woman they tipped had been struck by a car on her bicycle only three weeks before; for her, their unexpected kindness was a blessing.

Lil Bub woos the world, opens eyes about adopting special needs animals.

Photo is © Mike Bridavsky, http://lilbub.com/#

Lil Bub is a perma-kitten who, in late 2011, captured the attention – and the hearts – of internet users all around the globe. Born in a tool shed as the runt of a feral litter, Bub had a number of genetic anomalies that could have made her survival and lifestyle extremely difficult; with a long, flexible torso, short stubby legs, and an extra toe on each paw, Bub has difficulty with her mobility. With a shortened lower jaw and no teeth, she has nothing to prevent her tongue from hanging out. When she meows, she makes a series of strange snorts and gurgles.

"How To Hold A Bub". 

Bub’s deformities meant she required a lot of special care, especially in her first few weeks. Special needs pets are often unwanted by those who see their care as a burden, even within shelters and humane societies where special needs might deem them “undesirable” and, therefore, unadoptable. But at just eight weeks old, Bub met her new owner, Mike Bridavsky, and he was immediately smitten with her.

Photo is © Mike Bridavsky, http://lilbub.com/#

The story could end quite nicely there; a sweet tale of a man who was willing to take on the challenges of caring for a special needs kitten. However, Bub’s story extends into far more exceptional territory.

Bridavsky was suffering a very rough point in his life when he adopted Bub. With no expectations, he posted a photograph of her online. Within a few days, the image appeared on the front page of Reddit – Bub had become almost an overnight sensation. With demand for her adorable squished face on products from thousands of fans, Bridavsky was able to pay his rent, as well as buy a new camera and laptop with the purpose of sharing more of Bub with the rest of the world. Further proceeds from sales went to animal-rescue charities.

In a very heartwarming way, Lil Bub and Mike Bridavsky saved each other.

But Bub’s cute face and adorable demeanor didn’t stop at photographs, tote bags and t-shirts; she managed to change the misconceptions and cynical views of owning a special needs pet. People began to look past the obstacles and hurdles of the unknown that frightened them when it came to animals with special needs, and began to see the bigger picture: how care for those pets could help someone discover depths of strength and perseverance within themselves that they never knew existed. People across the internet began discussing how everyday obstacles became less severe after hearing Bub’s story and seeing how happy she is despite her limitations.