When Paul Cotter's father began to show signs of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, he lost job after job. Then, a small local company offered him a role that helped rebuild his sense of purpose.
When Cara Beth Rogers was studying abroad in college, her brother died in an accident. On the plane ride home, a stranger made her overwhelming grief a bit easier to bear.
When Claire Burnside Och was a server at a high-end restaurant, she made a mistake opening a bottle of wine. But instead of acting annoyed, the customer handled it with grace.
Emma Carlson Berne was at a restaurant, feeling overwhelmed with her three young children. Then a stranger came over with words she's never forgotten: "What a beautiful family."
A transit worker watched Donald Kabara and his son hug goodbye. Later, he was pleasantly surprised to see his son return with another hug — prompted by the worker.
Nora Durkin called a hotline to report abuse she says she experienced as a child. The woman who answered gave her the validation she had needed for years.
In 2014, Wil Davenport was being treated for depression at an inpatient mental health program. One day, his therapist issued a challenge that renewed his sense of purpose.
In 2014, Susan Kahn was in the hospital with terminal cancer, unable to attend her daughter's high school graduation. So the hospital staff brought the celebration to her.
Rasha Kowalewski was struck by the extra care a nurse gave her mom, which allowed Kowalewski to experience a moment of comfort during one of the hardest times of her life.