I Found a Boy in My Backyard—His Shocking Secret Will Leave You Speechless

I Found a Boy in My Backyard—His Shocking Secret Will Leave You Speechless

I felt so sorry for him—a seven-year-old boy. I gave him a glass of water and a seat as I led him inside.

I saw the tiredness in his eyes and the dirt on his face as he drank. “Tommy, where do you live? Do you know your address?” I asked gently. He shook his head. “I was with my uncle, but he said he couldn’t take care of me anymore. He left me on the street.”

It was worse than I had imagined. Even though I had so many questions, my main concern was keeping Tommy safe. I didn’t call the police right away because I didn’t want to scare him. I told him, “We’ll figure this out. Let’s get you some food and cleaned up first.”

After a good meal and a bath, Tommy seemed more relaxed. He even managed a small smile. I called a friend who works in social services, and they promised to come over to help.

While I waited, I gently asked Tommy more questions. He shared some details about his life before being left on the streets, mentioning his mother, Lisa, and a sad story of abuse and being abandoned.

Soon, my friend arrived and spoke kindly with Tommy. After what felt like hours, she came back, her face full of determination. “Tommy needs to go somewhere safe tonight,” she said. “I’ll set him up in temporary foster care and start searching for his family.” She added, “But we need to handle this carefully.”

I nodded, feeling both relieved and sad. Tommy had already found a place in my heart, but I knew he had to leave. Over the next few days, I stayed in touch with my friend and got updates. They found Lisa, his mother, who had been searching for him for a long time. She had overcome her own struggles and was ready to bring him home.

The reunion was emotional. I cried as I watched Tommy and his mother hug each other tightly. Lisa thanked me, and we exchanged contact information to stay in touch. In the following months, Lisa kept me updated. She was rebuilding her life, and Tommy was thriving.

One sunny afternoon, Lisa called and invited me to Tommy’s birthday party. When I arrived, Tommy greeted me with a huge smile. Lisa hugged me again, expressing her gratitude. The day was filled with laughter and celebration. As I watched Tommy playing with his friends, I felt a deep sense of peace and happiness. What began as a chance encounter had turned into a life-changing experience for Tommy, Lisa, and me.

Uncle left with third-degree burns after running into burning building to save 8-year-old girl

A Washington man is rightfully being hailed a hero after charging into a burning home to save his eight-year-old niece.

Reports detail how 20-year-old Derrick Byrd suffered second and third-degree burns on his face, back, and arms, having rushed into the building when he became aware his niece was trapped.

Speaking to KOMO-TV, he said: “Even though I got burnt, I really didn’t care, though. I’d rather get burnt than her. She’s young. She’s still got a lot of stuff going for her. She’s a good kid.”

The fire, at a home in Aberdeen, Washington is believed to have started while Byrd and six other family members were inside, including his sister, Kayla, and her three children.

Byrd caught his nephews, Junior and Royce, when they jumped from a window on the second floor. His eight-year-old niece Mercedes, however, was too afraid to jump after having watched Kayla fall from the roof.

Without thinking, Byrd dashed back into the house to rescue her. Within moments, he could feel the flames on him.

“I could feel it burning me,” he explained.

“I got her and took my shirt off and put it around her face so she wouldn’t breathe in any smoke and I just carried her out as fast as I could.”

True hero

What’s more, despite suffering injuries, Byrd said he would do it again if he had to.

“I’d run back in there and do it again even if I got burnt worse or died.”

Commenting on all those dubbing him a hero, he simply replied: “I can’t say a hero. I’d just say for my niece and nephews, I wasn’t going to let them die.”

What a genuine hero Derrick Byrd truly is. In moments like that, people’s true colours are shown, and Derrick can certainly be proud of his.