In January 2002, my two children were involved in a bad car accident. My son had a broken neck but my daughter had only minor injuries. Since my son was the one critically injured, no one realized how my daughter was traumatized by the events of the wreck. My son was taken to an area hospital and then air lifted to another one. He is doing fine now and everything turned out good for him.
There was a school friend, Heather, in front of them at the time of the accident. She had seen it and stopped to help. Even though she never realized the impact she was making, just by being there for my daughter Brittany to hold on to, she made a world of difference. My daughter needed someone and Heather was there. For that we are forever grateful. She will always be Brittany's real life hero.
A few months after the accident, Brittany wrote the following essay for a school assignment depicting someone that she looked up to.
What does the word "hero" mean to you? Well to me the word "hero" has far more meaning than just a make believe cartoon with super powers or a sports star. I don't even know how to begin to tell you how much the small, four letter word "hero" really means to me.
Sports stars and political leaders are more of a role model, not a hero. A hero should be somebody that you feel has changed your life in some way to make it better or easier. For example, in my life I believe I have a real true "hero".
Her name is Heather Boyer. She doesn't play sports and she isn't even old enough to be in government, but she is still my hero because she was there for me during one of the hardest times in my life. She helped me deal with a tragic event that happened.
I will never forget the day that my brother and I were involved in a bad car accident. We rolled his car and then the car slid on its top for about 100 feet. When the car stopped sliding my brother helped me out through the shattered, back window. After he made sure I was all right and not physically hurt he began trying to deal with his own pain. Therefore I was mentally all alone standing there, scared to death and nearly in complete shock. I bet you can't guess who was there to help me with my pain and fear. It was Heather.
If Heather hadn't been there I would have been lost. I wouldn't have had any idea on how to push my fears away and just be glad that my brother and I were both alive and walking.
It means so much to me that Heather stood there freezing to death with her arms around me, not caring that I was bleeding on her and not caring that I was screaming in her ear, only caring that my brother and I were alright. Only caring that she was helping me. But I don't think she knows how much she really did help me.
I don't even know how to begin to thank her enough and tell her what a great change she has made in me. I can only say thank you and hope she understands that she is my hero and I will never forget her for that.
Copyright © 2002 Brittany Nicole Weeks (Age 13)
--- Submitted by Sharon Thayer 
