Thomas Y

Our son, Thomas, turned 10 on February 12, 2005. He was born pre-mature at 27 weeks and weighed only 2 lbs, 10 ounces. Within 24 hours after his birth, he was dying. We had signed consent for the doctors to try a new treatment, nitrous oxide. When all seemed lost, Thomas's vitals starting creeping back to healthier levels. He was hospitalized in the neo-natal ward for four months. He had double laser eye surgery on Easter Sunday, as he was going blind from retinopathy. He has a hearing deficit. It was necessary for Thomas to receive a Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. His doctor calls him a miracle.

Thomas now is in the 3rd grade and works very hard in school. We have explained to him the reason he can not run as fast is the cerebral palsy. But he runs, and he runs with enthusiasm. Last summer in Basketball camp, Thomas got the Camp Hustle Award. He plays Little League, and Youth Basketball. He loves sports, and plays not because we encourage him, but because we can not keep him off the fields or courts. Thomas has a big heart, and really has empathy for the less fortunate. He has no idea how special he is.

Submitted by Anonymous

Character
Pass It On®
Pass It On®

  email

Your Comments
Robert L from New Jersety U.S.A. APRIL 13, 2010
Please don't judge unless your ready to be judged.
Isabella K. from Queen Creek, AZ JUNE 18, 2009
I am a teenager who has been taught in my home that people are different and no matter what makes them different or why they are they are always worthy of a chance. I am glad you now realize that just because of someones race doesn't mean they are not a kind and very courteous person. Thank you for your story.
Pat C. from Prairie Rose, ND JANUARY 17, 2009
What a great story, never assume anything.
Miguel M. from Arizona MAY 13, 2008
Awesome. Just don't judge someone on how they look, try to always listen!!
Kayode A. from Lagos, Nigeria FEBRUARY 13, 2008
Congratulations on seeing the light! Believe me when I say that not many people admit that they are wrong, many will just try and justify themselves. Well done!
Kirthishri M.V. from Bangalore, India FEBRUARY 12, 2008
No words to express...simply superb...
Aparna A. from Patna, India NOVEMBER 16, 2007
Help others and you will be helped! A lesson worth learning...
Sudhamshu R. NOVEMBER 9, 2007
You should be patient to listen to others before you give your answer.
Asil from Thailand NOVEMBER 2, 2007
Read this and it will change your life!!
Madhuri from Mumbai, India OCTOBER 18, 2007
Really this inspires one to change from a wrong attitude. Thank you.
Preethi from Thiruvalla, India SEPTEMBER 7, 2007
Bravo!! It's not easy to narrate ones own mistakes but you did and taught a lesson to all of us...To Respect others irrespective of their color, caste, creed Keep it up!!
Andrew R from Denver, North Carolina USA SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
RESPECT....is the only thing I can think at the moment
Raymonda J. from Lakeland, Florida USA SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
Observe before you react. In other words, don't judge a book by it's cover.
Nikolas L. from Florida, USA SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
The story taught me not to judge people by the color of their skin.
Michael R. from British Columbia, Canada JULY 16, 2007
As is often the case, reality dispells prejudice. A wonderful example!
shaquille from UK JULY 14, 2007
RESPECT....is the only thing i can think at the moment...
Ken D from Jamaica JULY 14, 2007
A friend of mine was driving along a lonely Jamaican road in the heat of summer. A lone man waved at him for a ride, but since he was unknown, my friend passed on. Half a mile farther on, my friend's car had a punctured tyre. While he struggled to change the tyre, the same man he passed earlier came to his assistance. After completing the job, my friends offered him a ride. His response was, "It,s OK; I wasn't fit to be helped earlier, so I'll just keep on walking." Needless to say how humiliated my friend was!
Gill from Kenya JUNE 5, 2007
This story has taught us not to look down on other people
JoJo from New Jersey MAY 12, 2007
This is a beautiful story

Here are some other inspiring stories you might like.
COMPASSION
CHARLIE SCHULZ My son, Charlie, was an inspiration to many during his 19 years on this earth. When Charlie was in 5th grade, despite what we learned later was severe social anxiety, their strong sense of what was right led them to circulate petitions among their 5th grade schoolmates and write and present a statement (through...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
STRENGTH
ANDRE D On May 2, 2014 Andre' MY HUSBAND at the age of 42 suffered a massive heart attack, he was without oxygen to his brain for several minutes. It caused an Anoxic Brain Injury and other problems such as cortical blindness, seizures and he is bedridden for the rest of his life and resides in a nursing home. The...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
BRAVERY
HARRIET TUBMAN Harriet Tubman freed 300 slaves she was so brave that is why she is my hero
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COMPASSION
ALWAYS STRIVE TO SHOW AND GIVE COMPASSION. ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN SHOWN NONE. My entire life, I had to work, and work hard to avoid being the brunt of rude and Difficult bullying. Even from home, even from my Own Mother. Even at 63, I'm still spurned by my blood Family. It's Sad to Hurt a Child so badly that they have a hard time forgetting the Same Family, and School bullying. Especially...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
HELPING OTHERS
SAWYER A. After learning about children and families in the poverty-stricken villages of Zambia; a country in south-central Africa, Sawyer Anderson wanted to help bring clean, safe water to the villagers. At age 9, Sawyer wrote and illustrated the book, Water Works, which is published in America, Vietnam (in Vietnamese)...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
PEACE
DANA W Grieving (Fly High Dana Wilson Jr.) On March 7, 2022 my only little brother passed away at home in his bed. This has been one of the hardest things to deal with. I dont think a day goes by that i dont find myself breaking down crying. I think my eyes are puffy did alot of crying yesterday..omg this is really...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
FAMILY
PAT C Next to his faith in God, the most important thing in my Dad’s life was his family; my Mom who was the love of his life, his kids, grandkids, great grandkids, brothers, and sisters. One of the ways he made life better for all of us and left his fingerprint on our lives was through the use of what I like to call...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
MENTORING
MISTY WELLS 5 Years ago Misty saw a need in children in Foster Care and she took action. For the past 5 years going strong Misty started a non profit called " A Reel Future" where she takes children in Group Foster Care fishing. She has single handed taken over 3,000 foster children fishing. She is showing them...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
WISDOM
JAHSEH O There are many heros I look up to, but Jahseh Onfroy helped me through the darkest times in my life. His music did not only help me but it helped countless people. When he spoke to us, it was always about growing and becoming better than what we are. I have learned many valuable lessons from him, and I constantly...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
KINDNESS
MOTHER TERESA Mother Teresa was born in Albania and left her home country very early in life. She lived in Ireland to learn English, and ultimately went to India where she resided until her death. She was a beacon of hope for many. She did not look to caste, class, religion, skin color, or any other identity to separate...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
KINDNESS
WENDY T Wendy was my wife of 4 years. We dated in high school, over 30 years ago. Eight years ago, we reconnected, and fell in love all over again. I quickly became attuned to why she was so special: Her kindness. I had never met anyone before, who showed as much kindness to everybody, as Wendy had. It wasn't one...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
CARING
TISH R My former wife is an amazing individual. She works as a behavior analyst, and has been helping injured others achieve a much greater quality of life. In one of my proudest specific memories, she facilitated a transition for a man who was in an ALF, brain-injured, from wearing diapers in a wheelchair to...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
LORI R. In 2012 Lori, along with her then high school age daughter Shira, began to keep their vehicle filled with pet supplies to hand out to the pets living on the streets of Riverside, CA with their homeless companions. They would give out pet food, leashes, collars and water so the pets would be fed well and kept...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
BEING THERE
BK SAINI SAINI My husband helped me since he knew me since 1975. He is there for me every single day. He is so kind all the time. He took care of me during any need except not when he is at the job. He comes at home if any emergency arrives. For God’s grace he was never called till today. I still remember when our second baby...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
LOVE
AMARA OKEKE My hero is my late mother Since 2000, she fells sick. She was diabetic, all my life I have taken care of her , I abandoned my school, my Visa and career to taken care of her , after 19 years of my sufferings she died last two Saturdays..I was actually 6 years when I started cooking, doing house chores for my...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
CARING
BETTY DRUCK I want to tell you about my grandmother,she is in her late 50's,she has spent everyday of her life caring for everyone she meets.She has had multiple surgeries and other problems of her own and yet she has given everything for her family,she has spent every christmas with my dad,even when she was in other...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
Where did your values come from?

We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.

Tell Us Your Story All Everyday Hero Stories