The Homeless---Someone's Son, Daughter, or Parent
@theBlock (2657)
United States
July 10, 2016 5:58pm CST
Several years ago while walking on the streets of San Francisco, I eyed a seemingly homeless man in the short distance, on his knees, holding up another young man who was lying face up on the older man's lap. As I was eyeing the two men, a young couple who were ahead of me, glanced at the men and just kept on walking.
When I came upon the two men, I'd notice the younger man was really pale, nearly a shade of blue.
"Is he breathing?" I asked the older man.
"No," he said.
"How long has he been this way?"
"Just a minute or two," said the man.
"Okay, lay him down, flat on his back," I said. I then started to give the young man CPR, mouth-to-mouth, then pressing down hard on his chest.
Within a long moment, the young man opened his eyes and took in a long and heaving breath. He was alive! The older man and I gave each other the widest possible grins. And, the young man even started to smile!
Then a lady stopped her car and said to us that she just called 911. A few minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the scene. As the EMT(s) took over, I smiled at the young man again and then went on my way, with a smiling heart.
My best day ever....
It's just too bad that the young couple who were ahead of me, didn't even try to help. That young homeless man was someone's son or brother. Some of us just need a little help every once in awhile.
52 people like this
44 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
10 Jul 16
That must be an amazing feeling to have saved a stranger's life that needed it. =)
8 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
11 Jul 16
@theBlock Yes it does feel good, your right about that. =) And it also helps us to remember things could be a whole lot worse in our lives.
5 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
11 Jul 16
@LovingMyBabies Yep, we all could be that young homeless man at any time.
3 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
10 Jul 16
@LovingMyBabies
I felt great the whole day. Helping people in need always feels good.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (157546)
• United States
10 Jul 16
This is a touchng post, and should be motivating to us all. At any time we could become homeless, or victims, or lonely, who knows.
5 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
10 Jul 16
@GardenGerty
Yes, being homeless can happen to any of us. It is a sad reality.
4 people like this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
11 Jul 16
You were the guardian angel of that young man that day.
Bless you!
4 people like this
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
11 Jul 16
@theBlock look for a kind person in this world. If you can't find one, be one.
4 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
12 Jul 16
@allen0187 That was a very nice and true comment.
2 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
11 Jul 16
@allen0187
That act helped me also, made me realize that life is too short---we should live life and help others.
4 people like this
@Plethos (13560)
• United States
11 Jul 16
with all the pranks you see played on tv, youtube and such- it has made people think that there is probably a hidden camera somewhere watching them getting pranked. i for one would have that thought in the back of my head while on the phone with 911.
4 people like this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
11 Jul 16
I have a friend who would've been homeless except for the kindness of friends and sometimes strangers. She didn't want to be homeless, but she didn't have a lot of support structures either. I'm glad you helped that young man, if not you, then who?
3 people like this
@psanasangma (5884)
• India
11 Jul 16
You are the life saver for them they will never forget you in their life.
3 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
13 Jul 16
@psanasangma
And I will never forget them
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
11 Jul 16
even if you dont know how to help, calling 911 is not that hard! some people, I swear
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Jul 16
@theBlock exactly! I have done that a few times I wasn't comfortable stopping, but couldnt just walk past and do nothing
2 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
13 Jul 16
@Jessicalynnt
Yes, calling 911 is so simple. To this day, it still bothers me that the couple didn't even do that.
2 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
14 Jul 16
@Jessicalynnt Good for you---any degree of help is important to the one who needs it.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
11 Jul 16
yer story warmed my heart 'n gives me hope :) i'm so glad that'cha took the time to do what'cha could fer this fella. so many turn a blind eye 'n not jest towards the homeless. our society's a whole seems so fractured...
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
12 Jul 16
@theBlock me neither, hon. they jest don't seem to've the desire to get involved?? yet so many 're more'n happy to take a video with their cameras 'n slap'em'n the net :( i'm tellin' ya, we've gone seriously wrong somewhere 'long the line!
3 people like this
@theBlock (2657)
• United States
11 Jul 16
@crazyhorseladycx
I just don't understand why some people turn a blind eye to others in need---fortunately, there are only a few
2 people like this
@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
11 Jul 16
It's not only lucky for him you know CPR but that you were in the right place at the right time. When seconds count. I was inspired by your post. It should help to motivate us to learn CPR.
3 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
21 Jul 16
I always wanted to learn how to do it. When I worked at Home Depot for 20 years we had many of guest speakers come in to our monthly meetings and I remember a rescue squad teaching us how to do it.
The good thing, or sad thing, here, is I only remember things that I keep doing over and over and luckily, I didn't get any chances to use what I learned.
Like I said, that was a good thing.
Now they have a better way of teaching it, (with better equipment) which I should really learn just in case.
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
11 Jul 16
It is a fact that people just don't want to get involved. If thy were in that situration, they would certainly want help too. That is what we are all supposed to do if the need ever arises. We need to help those that are less fortunate than we are, as we wukk gab a treendiys bkessubg frin doing so.
2 people like this
@rosekiss (30380)
• Eugene, Oregon
17 Jul 16
@theBlock You are right about that. It is our duty to help them if at all possible, as if we would ever get in that situration, we would want help also. I do try to help them as much as I can, as it has to be a very bad situaation for them not to have a place to live.
1 person likes this
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
11 Jul 16
It is good to see that there are good minded people in this world - all too many would simply have ignored him, some would have given him a swift kick, saying something like "get up you lazy bum". You are right they are someone's child or someone's parent.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (457915)
• Switzerland
11 Jul 16
They are humans, just like us and may be many times better of many of us. Their only sin is to have been unlucky and to live difficult times. You did a noble gesture, I hope that the day you will need help, someone as kind as you will be around to help.
2 people like this
@ramapo17 (30441)
• Melbourne, Florida
11 Jul 16
You did a great thing. I think some of the younger people are afraid to talk to strangers as that is how they are brought up. It is sad that they couldn't realize that the person was in need of help. You must have felt very good that day for what you did.
2 people like this
