1 00:00:04,160 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Hello, friends, Welcome to Story Behind podcast. This is the 2 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: show for people who love hearing a good story and 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: who believe the world could use more positivity. We're the 4 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,919 Speaker 1: team behind God Updates and God Too, and we hope 5 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: Teen Scouts spend two hours carrying injured hiker to safety 7 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 2: after finding her on mountain. Written by how the Wriggleman, 8 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,320 Speaker 2: read by Julie Provost. Teen Scouts spend two hours carrying 9 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 2: an injured hiker to safety after finding her on the mountain. 10 00:00:40,320 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: Sometimes the sweetest miracles happen in the most ordinary moments. 11 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 2: On a trail on a quiet descent, whencouraging compassion shows up. 12 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: Wearing hiking boots in a Scout uniform, two teens, Jack 13 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,839 Speaker 2: Brosky and Brody Perry came across the young woman who 14 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: simply could not make it down the mountain on our own. 15 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 2: Jack and Brody, both seniors at mash By High School 16 00:00:59,320 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 2: in Massachuset and longtime scouts with Scouting America, were making 17 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 2: their way down the trail when they noticed something wasn't right. 18 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 2: The woman's legs were trembling, and Brodie said that they 19 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 2: were visibly spousing. Jack added that her legs were giving 20 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:13,640 Speaker 2: out underneath her. At first, she hesitated when they offered 21 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,759 Speaker 2: to help. Maybe she didn't want to be a burden. 22 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 2: Maybe she hoped she could push through. But Jack and 23 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: Brody saw the truth. Her family was trying, but they 24 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 2: couldn't get her down safely on their own. So the 25 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 2: boys asked again gently, and this time she agreed, and 26 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 2: those two young men did what heroes do. They put 27 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 2: compassion into motion. For nearly two miles, almost two hours, 28 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,440 Speaker 2: as daylight faded into mountain dusk, the boys carried the 29 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 2: woman under her shoulders while the entire troop stayed close, 30 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 2: making sure the family wasn't alone for a single step. 31 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,640 Speaker 2: It was getting dark out, Jack remembered, but the entire 32 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 2: troops stacked together with this family and we helped bring 33 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: her down to the bottom. It was slow, was hard, 34 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 2: it was selfless, and it was exactly what scouting is 35 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: all about. The acting scout Master Pat Flane wasn't surprised. 36 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 2: This is what these boys are trying to do. To notice, 37 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: to leed to serve. Jack is already an equal scout, 38 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:03,120 Speaker 2: the highest ranking in scouting. Brody is expected to achieve 39 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 2: the same status in January. Both young men brushed off 40 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 2: any talk of heroism. Jack said he and Brody simply 41 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 2: took the situation as a very scout like thing to do. 42 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: He added it was fitting that a boy scout troope 43 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 2: found this family in need and was able to help them. 44 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 2: Brody later learned that multiple hikers had passed the struggling 45 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: woman without stopping to help, but Jack offered a gentle reminder, 46 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: the world desperately needs take the time to stop, because 47 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: just one person can really make a difference. Do not 48 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 2: ever underestimate your ability to help other people? And isn't 49 00:02:32,880 --> 00:02:36,320 Speaker 2: that true? Sometimes God's goodness shows up quietly through two 50 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 2: teenagers on a mountain side who refused to walk past 51 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: someone hurting in a world that often rushes by. Maybe 52 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 2: remember to slow down, to notice, and to help carry 53 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:47,239 Speaker 2: someone when their legs or their heart just can't hold 54 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: them anymore. Philippin's two four let each of you look 55 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 2: not to his own interests, but also to the interests 56 00:02:53,800 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: of others. Students learn sign language to sing Happy Birthday 57 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 2: to their death. Therapy Dog written by MICHAELA. Gordoni, read 58 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 2: by Jully promos your elementary school in New Jersey loves 59 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 2: their death therapy dog so much that the whole school 60 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: through whom a birthday party, no puppy party, would be 61 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 2: complete without a song, So the students learned slanguage to 62 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 2: sing Happy Birthday to the pit bull Cole. The students 63 00:03:24,680 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: and Cole's owner, music teacher, Christopher Hannah, gave Cole a crown, 64 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 2: a birthday boy bandana, and a balloonfield wagon right to 65 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: the auditorium, where the children signed the Happy Birthday song 66 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: to him in sign language and sang him a song 67 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 2: about heroes of our six and her staff and students 68 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 2: were there to wish him happy birthday if they all 69 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: wore birthday hats for the celebration. Cole may not have 70 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: understood the birthday song completely, but the smart boy does 71 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: understand some sign language commands. Cole, a pitbull makes those 72 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: born deaf, has been working alongside me as the school 73 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 2: therapy dog for the last seven years. Christopher said he 74 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 2: continued being the music teacher. I have the pre of 75 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 2: teaching the entire student population, so Cole interacts with everyone 76 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:06,119 Speaker 2: every day. He greets the buses every morning, and he's 77 00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 2: there to see them off every afternoon. Cole is truly 78 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: a huge inspiration to the kids. He teaches everyone about 79 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 2: accepting one another's differences and that a disability is not 80 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:18,320 Speaker 2: an inability, and in Cole's case, is superpower. The relationship 81 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: between Coal and the students is truly remarkable to witness, 82 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,840 Speaker 2: but even more powerful is the way they rally around 83 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 2: the lessons learned from his journey. He added. The pup 84 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: even has the stage decorated in his honor. After the 85 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 2: songs were done, Cole enjoyed a big birthday burger and 86 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 2: chicken nuggets. Elementary School principal Carlie O'Donoghue said his birthday 87 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: party wasn't just a fun moment or another school assembly. 88 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: It really showed how much he means to our students 89 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: and staff. Is a beautiful way for our students to 90 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 2: show communication, empathy and respect three the portrait of graduate 91 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: skills we talk about all year. She continued, I feel 92 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 2: very lucky to see Cole in action every day. He 93 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,240 Speaker 2: stops by the office each morning for his street and 94 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 2: is becoming something we all look forward to. Starting our 95 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: day with him. Brings a real sense of calm and 96 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 2: joy to the building. Cole has a way of connecting 97 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 2: with kids that you can't teach. His presence makes a difference, 98 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 2: and we're grateful for the chance to celebrate him and 99 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,360 Speaker 2: share the impact he has on our school community, she said. 100 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 2: Pitbull was named in the American Society for the Prevention 101 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 2: of Cruelty to Animals ASPCA Dog of the Year in 102 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: twenty twenty three. There was a husband and wife and 103 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 2: they said, why would you want to adopt broken dog? 104 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 2: He's never going to be a good dog because he 105 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: can't hear. Christopher recalled of when he adopted Cole, who 106 00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: was a rescued pup, and when they said this about 107 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 2: this little puppy, then what would they say about a 108 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 2: kid like my nephew. My nephew was also born deaf, 109 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: and it became a mission for me to change the 110 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,480 Speaker 2: way the world thinks about difference and disabilities, he explained. 111 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: Inspired by Cole, Christopher found at the Team Coal project, 112 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: which promotes an accepting world for those who have differences. 113 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:51,120 Speaker 2: Cole is a true local hero. He is a hospice 114 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: therapy volunteer and the official mascot of the New Jersey 115 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 2: Veterans Memorial Home. During weekly visits, Cole helps aging veterans 116 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 2: find new strength and enthusiasm life. A SPCA said, no 117 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: one in the whole school loves him, and the King 118 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 2: will answer them. Truly, I say to you, as you 119 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 2: did it to one of the least of my brothers, 120 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 2: you did to me. Matthew twenty five. 121 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:25,280 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 122 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 123 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 124 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,159 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 125 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 126 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 127 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 128 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: a review. It really does help more people find us. 129 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,520 Speaker 1: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production.