Friday, April 5, 2013

Our Heros



On the evening of Tues., April 2, a group of NPCC students came to my aid, to help locate my elderly husband, who was unfamiliar with the campus.

We'd been attending a class that released about 8:45 p.m. He uses a walker, and often left ahead of me, and would wait at the north Handicap doorway. That night, he was nowhere to be seen. After checking the car, I returned to the building, and the teacher of our class helped search the Men's restrooms, classrooms, and all the hallways.

I realized he may have exited from another door, but feeling helpless, I approached a group of male students in the concession area. They immediately offered their help, and spread out to all the exits to help look for him. The teacher and I returned to the north doors. The car was within sight, and I saw my husband and a "Guardian Angel" - a student by the name of Ariel Easton. My husband must have exited from the South handicap door, and got disoriented. He'd followed the sidewalk around, but stepped off the curb with his walker, and fell into a sitting position (no injuries). As Ariel slowly drove past him, she first thought he was waiting for someone........but she backed up and went to check on him. Thank God for Ariel !! The temperature was dropping and he only had a light sweater on.

As they walked back west, he recognized the car, and that's when we were reunited. I couldn't be more thankful for Ariel, and for the willingness of the young men to offer their help. Ariel's compassion, and the quick response of the other students, speaks volumes about the inherent goodness of the young people attending our great Mid-Plains Community College. 

With sincerest gratitude,

Cynthia McGuire