Tommy Rhomberg was a twelve-year-old young boy in Iowa. Last summer, his home state was destroyed by Great Derecho. He soon came up with a creative idea to raise money for his community by making and selling baseball bats out of wood brought down by the storm.

The idea for the bats originally began as Tommy prepared a birthday gift for his friend. Then many others expressed interest in owning Great Derecho bats of their own. At first, Tommy didn’t take it seriously, but since so many people in the area needed help after the storm, he determined to make a difference to them.

The first bat took Tommy 10 hours to carve and sand (用砂纸打磨) out of a tree branch that had fallen in his yard. With blisters (水泡) on his hands, Tommy had to refuse his brother’s request for making another bat. But as he began receiving more orders, he streamlined the process with a machine with the help of his grandfather. Tommy promised $20 from each order would go to the local disaster relief fund to rebuild the community.

When asked why he started the “bat business”, Tommy replied, “We got kind of lucky with the storm. We didn’t have much damage, but just driving around town there were people with houses destroyed, and I just wanted to raise money so we could help them rebuild. I feel like it’s really helping people.”

Tommy has made more than 100 bats, raising more than $2,500 to help out his community, and orders have come in from as far as Arizona and Connecticut. Tommy is not taking additional orders at the moment, but it’s possible that he’ll make more bats in the future, according to his website.

In January, 2021, the life of the 17-year-old high school student Mason Branstator took an unexpected turn. Skiing down a hill he had been on countless times, he hit a jump too fast. When waking up in the intensive care unit, he learned from the doctor he was left with a severely broken back, which would significantly impact his lower body functions.

Despite being told that he might never walk again, Mason’s unbending optimism and determination have fueled his extraordinary journey of recovery and self-discovery. Following his accident, Mason entered a health recovery center at Craig Hospital, Colorado. There he was surrounded by others on similar paths, which, coupled with his positive outlook, played a crucial role in his recovery. Mason’s journey was not just about regaining physical strength but also about overcoming mental barriers. Through willpower, he began to walk again, proving that the impossible could be made possible.

Mason’s newfound viewpoint on life led him to try activities that he once thought were beyond his reach. From surfing and rock climbing to competing in triathlons, he rediscovered parts of himself. He documented his adventures online, which ended up as a source of inspiration for millions worldwide.

“It all started with me just wanting to find more people like me I could connect with and talk through all the hard things I was going through,” said Mason. “And it turned into what inspired millions of people around the world, an incredible thing—I didn’t even intend for it to.”

Mason’s story strikes the heartstrings of people, not merely for the physical goals he has achieved but for the message of hope and determination he represents. He challenges what it means to live with a disability and redefines the boundaries of what is possible, inspiring millions to do the same. Alongside the communities he has built online, and the one he already has—his supportive family, he has no intention of slowing down.

One night, Pilar was in a deep sleep when she was woken by her cat Inti. Inti was meowing wildly outside Pilar’s bedroom and throwing himself against the closed bedroom door. When Pilar opened her eyes, she saw that her bedroom was filled with smoke. As she escaped her house with Inti in her arms, she saw that a fire was burning in her kitchen. Pilar could easily have lost her life, but Inti would not let that happen. Even though Inti could have escaped the house through a cat door, he wouldn’t leave Pilar.

As amazing as this story is, it is not as uncommon as you may think. Take the example of Charlotte Lee and her horse, Thunder. One summer night, the whole family was asleep with the windows open. It was normally very quiet where they lived. Suddenly, there was a loud noise. Charlotte woke up from her sweet dream, and the noise continued. Then she heard a horse running fast towards the house. The next thing she saw was Thunder standing outside her window, neighing and shaking his head. She knew something was wrong. Charlotte quickly got everyone out of the house before the earthquake hit. Thunder has saved her life.

There are also stories of animals coming to the rescue of humans. One animal known to be a friend of humans is the dolphin. Once, Todd Endris was surfing with his friends when he was attacked by a 13-foot (4-meter) shark. In the middle of the attack, a group of dolphins came to his rescue by forming a protective ring around Todd until he could get safely to the shore. Without the help of the dolphins, there is little chance that Todd could have escaped.

No one is sure why animals have so often come to our rescue. However, it is clear that humans and animals enjoy a close relationship. It is important that we care for them as much as we can.