“The two men who saved your life are waiting outside,” the nurse said. I was too sick and exhausted to process much—dehydration, the flu, and burnout had landed me in the hospital. But when she added, “Your babies are safe,” something inside me let go. To understand how I got there, you have to go back to Monday. Since they were toddlers, my twins, Jesse and Lila, had adored the garbage truck. Every week, like clockwork, they’d watch from the window and then race outside to see Theo and Rashad—the friendly sanitation workers who became part of our lives. Theo was soft-spoken and kind. Rashad was animated and always waving. They brought toy trucks and stickers. My kids adored them.
When I collapsed one Monday, they noticed. They acted quickly, got help, and saved my life. The next week, I stood outside with the twins to thank them. Rashad hugged me and said, “We protect our people.” From then on, we started offering coffee, muffins, and drawings. They brought stickers. It became a sweet, unexpected friendship. Theo once asked if I’d ever tell the story. “It’s surprising how many people still need to hear about good people doing good things,” he said.
So I posted it online. It went viral. People donated. The mayor gave them awards. My twins got little hard hats. But what I remember most is the small stuff. Like when Jesse had a meltdown over taking turns, and Theo calmly knelt beside him and gave him a vest and a front seat. His whole face lit up. It was never really about the truck—it was about two men who kept showing up, week after week, in the chaos and mess of everyday life. Quiet heroes in orange vests.
Now, life is steadier. The twins are in kindergarten. I’m back at work part-time. But Mondays? Mondays are sacred. Jesse and Lila wait on the porch. I sit on the steps with coffee, thankful—for Theo and Rashad, and for the goodness that’s still out there. Tell someone who shows up like that. We need more of them.