Readers share stories about inspiring strangers

I was 15 and my family had recently moved to Fair Oaks, Calif. My sister and I were the only ones home and had just woken up when there was a knock on the door. He said our house was on fire!! I wasn't sure until I looked out and saw flames licking up the outside wall of the garage. He said we should get out quickly, pajamas and all! We went out to the front yard where all the neighbors were standing around watching! The man (angel) went into our house and by himself hauled out as much of our stuff as he could. When it was all over, he'd left as quickly as he came and we never got to say thank you. Everything we had left was in the backyard, not much else was left!! Thank you to the stranger who stopped off the freeway while the neighbors stood in the yard and watched!! Thank you to the unknown hero!!

—Becci Bogart, Eugene, Ore. (submitted on Sept. 18, 2007)

I had been married to my husband for three years and working as a nail technician. We were at a crossroads about whether to get pregnant or not. It was around Thanksgiving when an elderly woman came in to have her nails done. This was her first visit to the salon. We started to chat, and I found out that she was a widow with no children. She was celebrating the holiday with a friend, because she had no family around. She said it was a lonely time for her, now that her husband had passed, and I truly felt for this woman. Before she left, she made an appointment for Christmas time. I felt so sad for her and spoke to my husband about it, but we were still on the fence. When she came in at Christmas, it was again the same conversation. She made it clear about the importance of having a family around this time of the year. She seemed so alone and my heart went out to her. She was a lovely lady. Before she left, she made an appointment for New Year's Eve.

I went home that night and spoke with my husband, and we decided to try to get pregnant. The woman never showed up for her appointment that New Year's Eve, and I never saw her in the salon after that. I truly believe that she was sent to me for a reason. I don't know why, but I believe a higher power. In February I found out I was pregnant with our daughter.

—Lori Fornicola, Oakhurst, N.J. (submitted on Sept. 18, 2007)

One evening in April, we had to make the heart-wrenching decision to put our golden retriever, Caesar, to sleep. After leaving the vet, we (my father, brother and I) went to a local chain restaurant for a late dinner and to raise a glass in memory of our sweet old boy. The server asked how we were doing, and we explained what the purpose of our visit was. Shortly after bringing our drinks, he told us he had to leave to go let his own dog out and would be turning us over to another server for the duration of our meal. No problem. About 30 minutes later, however, he returned — bearing silk flowers and a Scooby-Doo balloon for us, because he said he understood our loss and wanted us to know that he cared. We of course were in tears, and asked to speak to the manager. He told us that this young man — all of 19 years old — had approached him with the idea, took up a collection among the staff, and had done this of his own accord, even being willing to give up the tip from our table to do it. This is something we will never forget, and has touched us so deeply. We did thank him — verbally and with a big tip — but to have his kindness acknowledged publicly would be such an honor.

—Anonymous , St. Louis, Mo. (submitted on Sept. 17, 2007)

I was pregnant with my third child and problems occurred in the seventh month. We had to go to a specialist 90 miles away for the last two months of the pregnancy. We knew that our baby would be staying in the NICU unit after delivery, but we did not know how long the stay would be. I couldn't stay at the Ronald McDonald House because I could not help with the work because I was going to have a C-section. A motel stay would have cost us way more than we could afford. A friend of ours said that her parents lived in the same city that I needed to find a place to stay. My husband and I went down the week before we were going into the hospital. They opened their house to a pair of strangers. I stayed with them for three weeks while my husband went back home to take care of our other two children.

Every morning they had breakfast ready for me, so I would have something for my long days staying at the hospital. They would also make sure that I had something for supper when I got back to their house. They would stop in at the NICU unit to see if I was taking care of myself while I sat and waited. These two wonderful people never asked anything from me and my husband. We stopped by their house with our beautiful baby girl before the three of us went back home after 22 days in the hospital. My mother quilted them a quilt for their hospitality. We have sent Christmas cards to each other for the past eight years. I can never thank them enough for all the hospitality that they showed me and my family.

—Kristi Kiley, Manitowoc, Wis. (submitted on Sept. 18, 2007)

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