Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Spring is in the air, which usually helps to lift people’s spirits (or maybe that’s just me.)
However, if you are still needing a little boost on this Tuesday, the following stories should do the trick.
The KSL.com “Make Your Week” column features uplifting stories sent in from people outside the newsroom. To send in the stories that have made your day better, email them in 100 words or less to fjolley@ksl.com. Photos and videos are encouraged.
A reminder for kindness
Rachel C.
“The traffic around the Capitol slowed due to one car at the front of the line. Impatiently, cars passed, shouting and making gestures at the driver. I also felt impatient – until I noticed the woman’s face as I passed. She looked pale and burdened, shielding tears on her face. I had a change of heart.
“I didn’t know if she was having car problems, or just a bad day; perhaps she’d been given heartbreaking news today. Like the famous quote, ‘Let us be kind, one to another, for most of us are fighting a hard battle.’ When you’re upset at someone, remember, you don’t know what they’ve been through today. So, give people a break and just be kind!”
Generous strangers
Stacey G.
“This past 12 months has been a very difficult one for our family. My husband had shoulder surgery in March 2017 and developed a severe blood infection and ended up in ICU only 36 hours after surgery. He spent almost a week in ICU with an excellent health care team that worked diligently to save his life. With an already compromised immune system from an autoimmune disease, the blood infection caused systemic damage to his entire body.
“Affecting his joints, teeth and ultimately causing severe congestive heart failure, our family pooled every penny we had to get him the medical treatments to save his life. After doing all we could, we started a GoFundMe page to help with the dental costs for implants due to the severity of the damage the blood infection caused. The blood infection caused his teeth to break, fall out and (develop) infection — all in less than nine months.
“Working to save his life, the cardiology team could not implant his ICD/pacemaker until his dental damage was treated immediately. So many people assisted, helped, donated and contributed to see these medical costs covered so he could receive the necessary dental treatment so he could receive an ICD/pacemaker for his heart — a procedure he just had three weeks ago.
“Now as we celebrate two years of marriage on Sunday, April 22 (a blended family with six kids), I sought to get him an anniversary gift that he was desperately in need of (a new suit). With only a little money to contribute each month as payment for the suit, I visited (a local store) and selected a suit on clearance (that) I felt sure my husband would appreciate that I could make payments on.
“The next day after I bought the suit, my salesman called me to tell me that a customer in the store had overheard me discussing the situation with my husband, and immediately after I left, paid the entire balance in full on my behalf.
“My husband is still recovering, but the medical and dental procedures have saved his life, and it was because of the many generous and compassionate friends, neighbors and strangers that stepped in to give. There are angels among us and I hope this kind customer knows how much his/her act of service meant to me!”
