In 2005 Kevin Berthia went to the Golden Gate Bridge to end his life. He had an infant daughter who had been born premature, and the medical costs for her care climbed to nearly $250,000. He couldn't see a way out of debt.
He ended up talking about his life with Officer Kevin Briggs for 92 minutes while he was on the edge of the bridge.
"Somehow the compassion in his voice is what allowed me to kinda let my guard down enough for us to have a conversation,” Berthia would later say.
10 years later they met on the same bridge in much better circumstances.
"The greater picture is that I need to be here for my daughter. You know, she's 10 now and, had you not been there, I wouldn't get to see her grow up,” Berthia told the man who saved him.
Good words and good people can change everything.
”Last night, while waiting to board our plane, our daughter Carter was being her usual inquisitive self wanting to meet and say “hi” to everyone she could, until she walked up on this man.
He reached out and asked if she wanted to sit with him.
He pulled out his tablet and showed her how to draw with it, they watched cartoons together, and she offered him snacks.
This wasn’t a short little exchange, this was 45 minutes.
Watching them in that moment, I couldn’t help but think, different genders, different races, different generations, and the best of friends.
This is the world I want for her.
In a country that is so deeply divided by beliefs, I want her life to be filled with moments like this... not liberal or conservative republican or democrat, socialist or capitalist, just HUMAN.
Joseph from Samsungus in Oklahoma, if this should happen to find you.
Thank you for showing my daughter what kindness and compassion looks like.
Continue to shine your light in the world.”
Credit: Kevin Armentrout
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