Firefighters take pride in serving their communities whether they’re on-duty or off.
No matter the circumstances, these heroic individuals are always ready to assist others in need. Take Thomas Harwell, for example. The Texas fireman never hesitates to offer others a helping hand, and things were no different when he and his family went out one Saturday.
On March 16, Thomas took his wife, Shayla, and their two-year-old daughter to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo featuring Brad Paisley. There at the stadium, an elderly woman with her daughter and two granddaughters caught their eyes. The grandmother was clearly struggling on the stairs, so Thomas went to help her out.
Thomas, who has been with the Hardin Volunteer Fire Department for 15 years, was more than happy to walk the grateful woman down the stairs. But his kindness didn’t end there. When the show ended, he found her again and asked if he could pick her up. She agreed. Shayla snapped a photo of Thomas’s kind gesture and shared it on Facebook, writing, “she did not have the strength to come back up the stairs. So, he carried her!”
“I’m almost shocked, I really honestly didn’t think it would go that far,” Shayla later said. “She was very appreciative. When he placed her down at the top of the stairs, she was grinning ear to ear. It really touched her to have him help her.”
The sweet moment touched others as well. Many who commented on the photo praised Thomas for doing such a nice thing for a stranger. Thomas responded by humbly stating, “If you’re alive and breathing, you shouldn’t need an excuse to help someone else. If they need help, help them.”
These are wise words we should all live by, but they don’t make Thomas any less of a hero. As one person mentioned above, the world needs more people like this total gentleman.
