May 18, 1986, was the kind of beautiful, sunny day that regularly brought the Rodriguez family to Santa Catalina Island for some fishing on their nine-metre pleasure boat, the DC Too. They spent the day fishing in the Pacific Ocean, then left the island in the early evening.

Soon thick fog rolled in. Louise fell into a light sleep beside her five-year-old sister, Trisha, at a table on the boat’s lower deck. Their father’s sharp orders frightened her awake: “Get out of the boat. It’s sinking!” Louise pushed her sister into the cold, dark water. The girls were followed by their mother, Petra Rodriguez. Both girls wore life jackets,but the adults did not. Within seconds, the boat capsized, leaving just the tip of its bow in the air.

After some time, her father told them he would swim for help. Louise watched him disappear into the darkness. A while later, her mother went still. Then her sister died, too.

Pisano and Strasser, both 25, were going on a fishing expedition. The fog was so thick that they couldn’t even see the stern(船尾) of the boat. They decided to try one more spot before going home. Late that afternoon, the fog cleared and the sun started shining. On their return voyage, about 11 kilometres away from Catalina Island, Pisano noticed something yellow floating in the water.

Strasser steered(驾驶) the boat closer and Pisano jumped into the water. He swam toward the figure and grabbed the life jacket. Fortunately, Louise was saved and quickly sent to hospital. The little girl soon recovered, but the search for Louise’s father, sister and mother was in vain.

Louise was adopted by her aunt and uncle. She attended college, got married in 2013 and gave birth to a son. In her late 20s, Louise began to wonder about her rescuers. She even tried to find them but no luck. One day, Louise came across a magazine article featuring Pisano talking about the 1986 rescue.

Realizing Pisano was the very person she was looking for, Louise decided to find him.

Louise recognized her rescuer the moment she saw Pisano.

It was the hottest time of the year in southern California. Steve, a star basketball player at the University of California, with his cousin Zach, had planned a camping trip in the Great National Forest for their summer vacation.

The boys gathered clothes and supplies, and began their great adventure with Brady the dog early in the morning. Upon arrival, Steve pulled over to the side of the road along the bank of the river. "A wonderful place for fishing," Steve exclaimed in delight. Zach nodded in agreement.

At high noon, the sun was scorching hot. With a good harvest of fish, the boys marched into the forest with Brady following them. After a long walk, they found a clearing that was ideal for a campsite. The camp was set up immediately as Steve knew all the tricks of an experienced wilderness camper.

An afternoon nap was absolutely a special treat in mid-summer. However, the boys were waken up by the fierce barks of Brady. Outside, heavy smoke filled the air and wind-blown flame was skipping from the top of one tree to another. The long dry summer turned the forest into a tinderbox. In a little while, Steve and Zach were inside their tent packing their belongings.

“Let's go! We can make it back to the river!" They headed down against the fire-wind in the direction of the river. But Brady barked a sharp warming. Ahead of them lay a thick curtain of smoke across the track. They would never make it through that. Steve was uneasy for it was hard to find a safe way to escape in the heavy smoke.

Brady lifted his head and snuffed（嗅）the smoke-laden wind. Next moment, the dog bounded away and disappeared down a sharp slope（坡）. The boys shouted for him, but he didn't come back. Steve couldn't blame Brady for panicking. He himself wanted to run even though he didn't have a clue which way.

Steve and Zach hadn`t gone far when there was a familiar bark.

Brady pulled again, in spite of the boy's disbelief, urgently.

I lay on the floor angrily kicking my legs and shouting — all because my foster (寄养的) mother had asked me to put my toys away.

“I hate you,” I shouted. I was six years old and didn’t understand why I felt so angry all the time.

I’d been living in foster care since I was two, because my real mom couldn’t give me the care I needed. I didn’t know how to tell people that I hurt inside. Throwing a tantrum (发脾气) was the only way I knew to express my feelings.

Because I acted up finally my current foster mom sent me back to the adoption agency (收养机构), just as the mom before had. I thought I was the most unlovable girl in the world.

Then I met Kate McCann. I was seven by that time and living with my third foster family when she came to visit. When my foster mother told me that Kate was single and wanted to adopt a child, I didn’t think she’d choose me. I couldn’t imagine anyone would want me to live with them forever. That day, Kate took me to a farm. We had fun, but I didn’t think I’d see her again.

Kate visited a few days later and said I could move in with her soon. I was excited but afraid, too. I wondered if she’d change her mind once she got to know me. Kate sensed my fear. “I know you’ve been hurt,” she said, hugging (拥抱) me. “I know you’re afraid. But I promise I’ll never send you away. We’re a family now.”

So I moved in with Kate. She let me have pets and gave me piano lessons. Every day, she told me she loved me. But love wasn’t enough to heal (治愈) the hurt inside me. I kept waiting for her to change her mind. I tried to hurt her before she could hurt me. I picked fights over little things and threw tantrums when I didn’t get my way. But she never lost patience. She’d hug me and say she loved me anyway.

Because I was failing in school when I came to live with Kate, she was very strict about my homework.

I waited for her to tell me to start packing and send me away.