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 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: Quick thinking good Samaritans rescue three teens from flipcar after 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 2: they were run off the road. Written by MICHAELA. Gordoni, 8 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: read by Julie Provost. Three siblings were driving in Harrison County, Mississippi, 9 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 2: when another car forced them off the road and into 10 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 2: a reservoir. Stranded and stuck upside down, they screamed for help. Fortunately, 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 2: many saw the wreck, and at least twelve strangers saved 12 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: the teens from the flip car. When the car started 13 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:52,919 Speaker 2: flipping like it did, I was afraid we were in 14 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: for some hard times, said one good Samaritan, JD. Durrant. 15 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,160 Speaker 2: We pull over and I see the children are crying 16 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 2: and saying, help me, help me is Missy Pearson said. 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 2: I could hear my brother's screaming water is coming and 18 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 2: trying to kick something open, said the oldest team Mariah gill. 19 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 2: Jad's son James, jumped in the culvert and yanked open 20 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: a door. It was ten or fifteen cars that pulled off, 21 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 2: and everybody was in the water. Jad said. I hollered 22 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 2: for help, and there were five men right there helping 23 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: us get the young lady out of the water. Missy 24 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 2: took Gill's brothers to her car while they waited for 25 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 2: an ambulance. Then she called the teen's mom, Marie Garside. 26 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,320 Speaker 2: Marie said, the lady told me the car is one 27 00:01:31,360 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: hundred percent gone and that it is in the canal. 28 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: I said, are they alive? She said, yes, they are alive, 29 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,399 Speaker 2: but you need to get here. It seemed like the 30 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 2: longest drive of my life. When the mother comes up there, 31 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 2: I won't forget that took a long time. Jady said. 32 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 2: She was just shocked, pale as she could be. Then 33 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: when the dad got there, he was the same way. 34 00:01:50,960 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 2: Jad hopes the driver who ran the teens off the 35 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: road is found and held accountable. Some witnesses even tried 36 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 2: to chase after the driver, but it was going too fast. 37 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: You got good people in life and you got bad 38 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: people in life, he said. And this guy or ladier, 39 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 2: whoever done this, these kids are going to be scarred 40 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:08,600 Speaker 2: the rest of our life. Missy said when we left, 41 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 2: I felt like my faith in humanity was restored because 42 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 2: it was all kinds of people out there. Everybody came 43 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 2: together as one for those kids. These children are fortunate 44 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 2: to be in a community that has so many quick 45 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 2: and willing helpers. Thanks to those good Samaritans, these children 46 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:38,919 Speaker 2: are safe and sound. Courthouse relies on four legged staff 47 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:42,360 Speaker 2: member for support, and it's the biggest blessing. Written by 48 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: Heather Rickermann read by Jully Provost. A courthouse relies on 49 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:48,760 Speaker 2: a four legged staff member for support, and it's the 50 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 2: biggest blessing. I'm blessed that I get to work from 51 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 2: home in most days. My furry, four legged big whiskered 52 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: cat criticizes my work. There's something about the quiet comfort 53 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: of a four legged companion. It feels like grace wrapped 54 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,400 Speaker 2: up for which is why the story out of the 55 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 2: Saint Louis County Courthouse felt so tender, so reminder that 56 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 2: sometimes the help we need doesn't come with words, but 57 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: with presents. Inside the courthouse in Clayton, Missouri, there's a 58 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: labbador named Levi who has one of the most important 59 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: jobs in the building. While judges where black robes and 60 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 2: attorneys carry heavy cases, Levi carries something different piece As 61 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,440 Speaker 2: a trained facility dog plays through Duo Dogs, a nonprofit 62 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: that equips service and support dogs. Leevi has spent the 63 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 2: last eight years working alongside the Prosecuting Attorney's office, helping victims, 64 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: children and even staff navigate some of the hardest moments 65 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: of their lives. He knows when people need him and 66 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 2: he is always ready to help. Saint Louis County Prosecuting 67 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: Attorney Melissa Price Myth shares for children who have experienced trauma. 68 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 2: Walking into a courtroom can feel overwhelming and frightening, but 69 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,440 Speaker 2: Levi changes that. He gives them something steady to hold onto. 70 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: Sometimes they sit on the floor beside him, petting his 71 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:58,960 Speaker 2: soft fur as they find the courage to share their story. 72 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: Sometimes they hold his leash as they walk into court, 73 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: gaining a sense of control in this situation where one 74 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 2: felt powerless. It's such a simple thing, and yet it's everything, 75 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: because when someone feels safe, they can finally speak and 76 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 2: it doesn't stop with the children. Having this dog available 77 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: has broken down barriers in ways that I've never even expected. 78 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,640 Speaker 2: Lisa Jones, program manager for the Offices Victim service unit, 79 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:26,600 Speaker 2: and Levi's handler shares. The attorney's investigators and staff who 80 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: carry these heavy stories every day also find comfort in 81 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,799 Speaker 2: Levi after long, emotionally draining hours. It is not uncommon 82 00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: to see someone sitting quietly beside him, taking a moment 83 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 2: to breathe, to reset, to let the weight just lift 84 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 2: a little. And if you're balancing deadlines, family responsibilities, and 85 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: the visible load of being everything to everyone, you know 86 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 2: how sacred those small moments of relief can be. One 87 00:04:47,160 --> 00:04:49,400 Speaker 2: of the most beautiful parts of Levi's story is how 88 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 2: far his impact reaches. And Ayir, old boy who met him, 89 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,240 Speaker 2: was so moved that he wrote children's book about Levi 90 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 2: as a superhero, imagining him as a protector sent to 91 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 2: help children in their hardest moments. And honestly, that doesn't 92 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 2: feel far from the truth, because sometimes God sends comfort 93 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,839 Speaker 2: in unexpected ways. Sometimes it walks in quietly on four pause. 94 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: What I love the most about this is the reminder 95 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: that not all healing is loud, not all help looks 96 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:16,359 Speaker 2: big or dramatic. Sometimes it's quiet, steady, faithful, just like you. 97 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,640 Speaker 2: Because if you're showing up every day, loving your family, 98 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,600 Speaker 2: doing your work, holding space for others, caring more than 99 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: anyone realizes. You are offering the same kind of comfort 100 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 2: to the world around you. You may not see it, 101 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 2: you may not feel it, but your presence matters more 102 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 2: than you know. Leve may not say a word, but 103 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 2: lives are changed because he shows up and you you're 104 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:38,360 Speaker 2: doing the same. Sometimes the greatest blessings don't come in 105 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: grand gestures. Sometimes they simply sit besides us, reminding us 106 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 2: we're not alone. The Lord is close to the broken 107 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 2: hearted and saves those who are quest in spirit. 108 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 109 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story. 110 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: To see photos and videos that may have been referenced 111 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: in this episode, check out the links and the show notes, 112 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 113 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:13,280 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 114 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 115 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: a review. It really does help more people find us. 116 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: Story Behind is a Salem Web Network production.