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My Unsung Hero The My Unsung Hero series, from the Hidden Brain team, shares the stories about people whose kindness left a lasting impression on someone else.
Special Series

My Unsung Hero

Stories of people whose kindness left a lasting impression
Patricia Nieshoff and her son Edward, circa 2006.

Patricia Nieshoff and her son Edward, circa 2006. Patricia Nieshoff hide caption

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Patricia Nieshoff

This single mom was alone at the hospital with her son. Then a familiar face appeared

In 2006, Patricia Nieshoff's three-year-old son had a seizure. She was a single mother, with no one to accompany her to the hospital. But an hour into her hospital stay, a familiar face appeared.

This single mom was alone at the hospital with her son. Then a familiar face appeared

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A simple smile saved this man's life

Ken Wilcox felt hopeless. Then a simple act from a stranger changed his life. Ken Wilcox hide caption

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Ken Wilcox

A simple smile saved this man's life

Ken Wilcox's life felt hopeless, like there was nowhere left to turn. Then a simple act from a stranger on the street changed his perspective and his life.

A simple smile saved this man's life

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He was stranded after a serious car accident. Then an old white pickup pulled over

Rick Mangnall remembers the time he was helped after a serious car accident by two Hispanic men in an old white pickup track. Rick Mangnall hide caption

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Rick Mangnall

He was stranded after a serious car accident. Then an old white pickup pulled over

After being stranded by a serious car accident, Rick Mangnall was helped by two men in an old white pickup.

He was stranded after a serious car accident. Then an old white pickup pulled over

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They had 3 suitcases and faced 5 flights of stairs. That's when a stranger appeared

Emily Rauschert (left) and Alice Claus. Alice Claus hide caption

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Alice Claus

They had 3 suitcases and faced 5 flights of stairs. That's when a stranger appeared

Alice Claus and her sister were exhausted after a long flight to Budapest. Then a young man on the street offered help right when they needed it.

They had 3 suitcases and faced 5 flights of stairs. That's when a stranger appeared

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'I was broken and needed help': After her father died, a stranger stepped in

Roxanne Olson and her dad Richard. Roxanne Olson hide caption

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Roxanne Olson

'I was broken and needed help': After her father died, a stranger stepped in

When Roxanne Olson found herself in the middle of a security scare at Chicago's O'Hare airport, a woman walked up to her and said: "I'm here to help people like you."

'I was broken and needed help': After her father died, a stranger stepped in

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An egg exploded in her face. The ride to the hospital made her feel safe

Kathryn Fumie. Kathryn Fumie hide caption

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Kathryn Fumie

An egg exploded in her face. The ride to the hospital made her feel safe

After Kathryn Fumie burned her face in a kitchen accident, the EMT on the ride to the hospital helped her feel like everything was going to be OK.

An egg exploded in her face. The ride to the hospital made her feel safe

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A refugee family was going hungry — until a fast food manager risked his job to help

Siblings Alex Yurgenson (left) and River Adams. River Adams hide caption

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River Adams

A refugee family was going hungry — until a fast food manager risked his job to help

After fleeing to the U.S. from the Soviet Union, River Adams was struggling to survive. Then a kind gesture changed everything.

A refugee family was going hungry — until a fast food manager risked his job to help

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A funeral home worker tracked down a family — and uncovered a decades-old secret

Mas Masumoto (left) and Shizuko Sugimoto in 2013. Mas Masumoto hide caption

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Mas Masumoto

A funeral home worker tracked down a family — and uncovered a decades-old secret

A worker at a funeral home managed to locate the family members of an ailing woman. She didn't realize she was uncovering a family secret that went back to the 1940s.

A funeral home worker tracked down a family — and uncovered a decades-old secret

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'You will make it': An anonymous neighbor stepped in when a single mom felt hopeless

Bethany Renfree and her daughters. Bethany Renfree hide caption

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Bethany Renfree

'You will make it': An anonymous neighbor stepped in when a single mom felt hopeless

As a single mom with three small children, Bethany Renfree was feeling overwhelmed. But one small act of kindness by a neighbor let her know she'd be OK.

'You will make it': An anonymous neighbor stepped in when a single mom felt hopeless

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A stranger jumped into action when a 92-year-old started to get dragged by a car

Ben Gomes and his mom, Thomasinha. Ben Gomes hide caption

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Ben Gomes

A stranger jumped into action when a 92-year-old started to get dragged by a car

When Ben Gomes got a call saying his mother was badly injured, he feared the worst. But when he arrived at the hospital, he learned how a stranger's quick thinking had saved her.

A stranger jumped into action when a 92-year-old started to get dragged by a car

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No one could figure out the cause of her cough. Then a nurse practitioner had an idea

Julie Silverman had a very rare condition that went undiagnosed for years. Julie Silverman hide caption

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Julie Silverman

No one could figure out the cause of her cough. Then a nurse practitioner had an idea

After Julie developed a persistent cough, no one seemed to be able to identify the cause. Then, her unsung hero stepped in and changed her life.

No one could figure out the cause of her cough. Then a nurse practitioner had an idea

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The way a dying baby girl was cared for in 1980 helped shape her approach to nursing

JoAnne Foley (middle) as a young nurse. JoAnne Foley hide caption

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JoAnne Foley

The way a dying baby girl was cared for in 1980 helped shape her approach to nursing

More than 40 years ago, when JoAnne Foley was a neonatal nurse, a baby was born with a severe congenital disorder. Foley recalls the way her supervisor made the baby feel loved.

The way a dying baby girl was cared for in 1980 helped shape her approach to nursing

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Her fiancé started to struggle while swimming. Then she saw a surfer approaching

Lauryn Valladarez and Pedro. Lauryn Valladarez hide caption

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Lauryn Valladarez

Her fiancé started to struggle while swimming. Then she saw a surfer approaching

Lauryn Valladarez was five months pregnant and watching her fiancé start to struggle in the ocean. That's when she started to panic.

Her fiancé started to struggle while swimming. Then she saw a surfer approaching

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A stranger in Nairobi 'sowed a seed of kindness' that he carries with him today

Biar Kon hopes to one day start a non-profit to provide housing and social support for people living on the streets. Biar Kon hide caption

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Biar Kon

A stranger in Nairobi 'sowed a seed of kindness' that he carries with him today

Biar Kon tells the story of a woman's act of generosity when he was 17, which inspired him to help someone else in the U.S. five years later.

A stranger in Nairobi 'sowed a seed of kindness' that he carries with him today

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