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 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: these weekly short stories will brighten your day. 6 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: When an eight month old stroller blew into a lake, 7 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 2: one man didn't hesitate and went into save her. Written 8 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: by haw the Rigaman, read by Jolly Provost. When an 9 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:36,839 Speaker 2: eight month old stroller blew into a lake, one man 10 00:00:36,880 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: didn't hesitate and went into save her. It was an 11 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: ordinary winter afternoon along Chicago's Belmont Harbor, cold air, rolling 12 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 2: across Lake Michigan, waves brushing the shoreline, and families enjoying 13 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 2: the view. Then, in a terrifying incident, everything changed. Powerful 14 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: Gusta Wynn caught an a month old baby stroller and 15 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:55,440 Speaker 2: pushed it straight into the water. Panic ripped through the 16 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: crowd as the mother cried out, watching her child drift 17 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 2: farther into the icy lake. Before fear could take hold, 18 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,720 Speaker 2: strangers stepped forward, and one man ran towards danger without hesitation. 19 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 2: Leo Cutoff had been nearby, simply enjoying a phone call 20 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: with family when he heard the scream. Within seconds, he 21 00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 2: realized what was happening and made a choice that would 22 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 2: change someone else's life forever. Without waiting, he plunged into 23 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 2: the freezing water, determined to keep the baby above the surface. 24 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,440 Speaker 2: The lake was bitterly cold, and the waves made every 25 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 2: movement harder. Yet as the child struggled in the water, 26 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 2: Leo kept her lifted, refusing to give up. Around him, 27 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 2: other bystanders sprang into action, tossing a life ring, calling 28 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 2: for help, and even extending a Chicago Cubs jacket so 29 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: he would have something to hold onto while fighting the current. 30 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 2: What could have been a tragedy became a powerful moment 31 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: of unity. Strangers worked together, hands reaching out, arts focused 32 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: on one tiny life. Emergency responders soon arrived and the 33 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: baby was brushed to the hospital. Everyone was relieved she 34 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 2: didn't have any injuries. Really spread through the crowd as 35 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 2: people realized that braverying compassion had changed the story's ending. 36 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 2: Those who witnessed the rescue discred. But it is a 37 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: very definition of heroism, a man willing to risk his 38 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: own safety for someone who he had never met. But 39 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: for Leo, the moment wasn't about recognition. It was about 40 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:10,960 Speaker 2: doing what needed to be done when someone else needed help. 41 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 2: In a world that often feels heavy with hard news, 42 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,320 Speaker 2: this moment stands as a reminder that everyday heroes still exist, 43 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: people who move toward crisis instead of away from it. 44 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:22,640 Speaker 2: I choose courage over comfort, and who prove that love 45 00:02:22,960 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 2: brothers can rise in the most unexpected places. Sometimes the 46 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 2: greatest act of kindness happens in seconds, a decision to 47 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,680 Speaker 2: step forward, a hand stretched out, a hard that refuses 48 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 2: to look away. Because one man chose to jump into 49 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 2: icy waters, an entire community witnessed the beauty of selfless 50 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:41,040 Speaker 2: bravery and the miracle of a life saved. These strong 51 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: and courageous do not be afraid, for the Lord, your 52 00:02:43,360 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: God goes with you. To Deuteronomy thirty one six. These 53 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 2: first graders designed their own winter hats, and now they're 54 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: wearing them. Written by Mikhaela Go'doni, read by Julie Probost. 55 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 2: He need a shot acuteness to brighten up your day, 56 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 2: then look no further. Some students had a little school 57 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:15,440 Speaker 2: in Kelso, Washington recently got a special surprise. The schools 58 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 2: first graders designed their own hats and a couple of 59 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:19,880 Speaker 2: months later opened their desks to see that their creations 60 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: had been brought to life. Their teacher, Ashley Lowery, gave 61 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: the designs to her aunt, Amy Lafar, who made the kids' 62 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 2: hats by hand. What if we created our own hats, 63 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:32,799 Speaker 2: actually asked her students when she gave them the signment 64 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: before winter break. You can use the colors you want, 65 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 2: but each row has to be that color. We can't 66 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 2: have shapes or anything like that, because she would have 67 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: had to do a lot of minecraft, for sure, an octopus. 68 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: Amy sewed twenty two hats in all on her sewing machine. 69 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 2: Each hat took a couple hours. Her daughter helped her 70 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: sew puffballs onto the hats. I didn't realize twenty two 71 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: hats was going to take as long as it did, 72 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: but we managed. Amy said some of them were very 73 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 2: creative in their colors that they chose. Some match and 74 00:03:58,120 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 2: some I thought I don't really like that color of 75 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 2: a against that color, but they all turned out very unique. 76 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,480 Speaker 2: I definitely saw kids who were really excited about patterns, 77 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: so you'll see kids that had a nice repeat pattern. 78 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 2: Ashley noted acshally surprise the kids with the hats one 79 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 2: day after reading the extra yarn. Go to your desk 80 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: and sit down. I might do a bit of magic 81 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,520 Speaker 2: in here, she told her students. She instructed them to 82 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 2: do a little drum roll on their desks and they 83 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 2: looked inside. When the kids open their desk, they were 84 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: surprised to see the hats they designed inside. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, 85 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 2: and purple. One student describe their hat because those are 86 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,880 Speaker 2: my favorite colors in the world. Now, the students said 87 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: that theirs was white because I like white and it's 88 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: my favorite color. Ashley said. She loves being these kids teacher. 89 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,560 Speaker 2: They just love school and they love you. Ashley said, 90 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 2: they love accessories. I'm really excited to see these hats 91 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,800 Speaker 2: bouncing around. I think they'll just love it, and just 92 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: that pride is something that they made. 93 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:48,240 Speaker 1: She said. 94 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: I was just thrilled that everybody was so excited and 95 00:04:50,520 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 2: it looked like they were really going to enjoy the efforts. 96 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 2: Those kids went home happy that day. I'm sure they 97 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 2: will always remember their first grade teacher, Missus Lowry, and 98 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 2: her special gift to them. 99 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for listening to Story Behind podcast. 100 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: We're really glad you joined us for this week's story 101 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,480 Speaker 1: To see photos, and videos that may have been referenced 102 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: in this episode. Check out the links and the show notes, 103 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: and if you enjoyed what you heard today, subscribe to 104 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: our podcast and please tell a friend about us. We'd 105 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: also love it if you'd rate us and leave us 106 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: a review. 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