Stranger Grabbing Elderly Women Makes Headlines When He Realizes He Isn't Ready To Stop Just There
By JamieFlower
When Thomas and Shayla Harwell went to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo at the NRG Park in Houston this month, all they expected to do was to watch Brad Paisley live in concert as a family (they had their two-year-old daughter with them). Little did they know that one act of kindness would catapult them into worldwide attention the next day.
Thomas, Shayla, and their daughter were waiting in their seats for the concert to start when they noticed an older woman struggling to walk down the stairs to their seats. "She was having a rough time," Shayla Harwell told CNN Sunday night. "I nudged my husband and told him that they may need help." Thomas quickly got up to help the woman, who was with her daughter and two granddaughters. He helped her get to her seat so she can enjoy the concert with her family.
For most folks, that would have been it and they would have focused on enjoying the concert and nothing else. But this couple was different. Thomas and Shayla continued to keep an eye on the family throughout the concert. And when the concert was over, they knew the woman would need help again to exit the venue. "I helped her downstairs, and I wasn't going to leave until I helped her upstairs," Thomas Harwell told CNN.
When the show was over, Thomas went back to the family to help the older lady up the stairs. He asked the woman if he could pick her up and carry her up the stairs. She was hesitant at first but eventually agreed. That's when Shayla took a photo of Thomas and the woman.
Y'all I have to brag on my husband big time tonight! He made me Soo proud. As we were sitting in our seats waiting for the rodeo to start I noticed an elderly lady ( pictured below) her grown daughter and 2 young granddaughters trying to come down the stairs. The elderly lady was having a rough time. I pointed them out to Thomas Harwell and said they may need help. Not only did he help get her to her seat, but she did not have the strength to come back up the stairs. So, he carried her!
When they arrived at the top of the stairs and Thomas put the woman down, she had the biggest smile on her face and couldn't stop thanking Thomas. Thomas is a firefighter for the past 15 years with the Hardin Volunteer Fire Department and a senior captain in his department. He said his job is to help people. He added that he and his wife didn't help the woman for attention. "If you're alive and breathing, you shouldn't need an excuse to help someone else," Thomas Harwell said. "If they need help, help them."
Shayla posted the photo on her Facebook page the next morning and blew up the internet! It has received more than 40,000 likes, more than 6,000 comments, and shared more than 7,500 times. People have been lauding Thomas for his kindness. Some of the comments include "What a cowboy you have there. Bless him!", "One word. MAN!!", "Thank you for sharing this wonderful picture. Your husband is a real gentleman and a great, caring person. You are blessed!!!! My husband would have done the same if possible. Our men are rare and far between for those looking.", and "My hero! They don’t make them like this anymore!! Thank you for your help! Xoxoxo", among others.
God bless, Thomas and Shayla, for showing the world what it's like to sincerely help others!
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