Since time is equated with money, the road is full of people with little time to spare. Thus, it is not surprising to see the road full of people who are busy to hustle and bustle.
This may have been the case on a Wednesday afternoon in the Eager Road of Oceola Township, Michigan. When a car showed no sign of movement at a stop sign, majority of the motorists honked in annoyance.
Irritated by the inconvenience the car was causing, the motorists simply maneuvered around the car, and drove away.
Unbeknownst to the preoccupied motorists, the driver of the car blocking their way desperately needed help. Fortunately, a 16-year-old motorist, Max Greenwood of Howell High had the heart to hop off his truck and find out what’s really going on.
“He didn’t move when (the intersection) was clear of traffic, so I knew something was up. At first, I thought he was broken down,” Max recalled the incident.
“A few people were honking and a couple of people passed him because they were frustrated he was stopped. I didn’t want to just honk and be a dirt bag like that.”
Because of his bold action, Max was able to inspire two other women to rush over the stopped car and help out the driver.
As it turned out, the driver of the stopped car was disoriented and distressed. Initially, the three good samaritans did not have a clue about the driver’s alarming situation. When the driver gathered enough strength to share what happened, Max and the two women quickly assisted him.
“He told the women he thought his blood sugar was low. He got progressively worse. One of the women gave him a Coke to help his sugar levels, but I could tell it wasn’t helping, so I called 911.” Max added, detailing how they helped the distressed driver.
Thanks to the quick thinking and actions of Max and the two women, help arrived within a few minutes and the driver was transported to a hospital. According to the first medical responders, the man was suffering from a type of medical episode that must be aided immediately.
It is horrible to think what could have happened if Max did not concern himself with the reason why the car was not moving and simply minded his own business.
When asked about the reason behind his compassionate gesture, Max shared a simple but very enlightening explanation.
“It’s a person. If I was in his situation, I would want someone to help me…. I stopped because I always try and make an effort to help people on the side of the road.” Max stated firmly.
Because the 16-year-old Max know how to put himself in the shoes of others, a precious life has been saved. His selflessness and strong sense of social responsibility made his mom, Mary Pudelko, all the more proud of him.
“You preach to your kids that you need to do the right thing, and when he did I was really proud.” Mary said with proudness in an interview.
“In this day and age, when a lot of kids don’t think about anyone but themselves, he stepped up and it made a difference.”
Max may just be a 16-year-old student in the eyes of some people. But for this mom and the man he has saved, he surely is a modern hero with a golden heart.
May his story inspire us to share a bit of our time to help the people we cross paths with!