When I discussed Santa with my kids as each of them grew to
an age where they started asking questions, I gently explained the real deal as
gingerly as I possibly could. I carefully pointed out that every year without
fail, an example of good will takes over, which I truly believe brings home the
spirit of St. Nick. This is one such story. This tale of a Christmas
miracle in which a blind man and a dog fall onto subway tracks just might
restore your faith in mankind (both human and furry!).
When 60 year old Cecil Williams was traveling on the subway
with his seeing eye dog, Orlando, he suddenly felt faint, passed out, and fell
onto the subway tracks in Harlem, NY. Orlando, also fell down with Williams and
being the loyal Lab he is, the dog stayed right by the mans side attempting to
help him. Before they both fell, Orlando did his best to bark and alert
Williams to get away from the platform edge but Williams felt too faint to do
anything about it. The train conductor saw the people on the platform who were frantically
waving at the conductor, and noticed the man and the dog on the tracks but
could not halt the immense train in time. At the same time, an MTA employee
called out to the man to stay down.
The train ran over both Williams and Orlando but luckily,
they were in a trench between the tracks which saved their lives.
“He was trying to pull me back. I guess I fell over and he
fell over with me. When we fell over, he stayed down there with me. He was
there for me.”
Williams suffered a laceration on the head and while he was
giving interviews to press recalling his ordeal, he mentioned how since Orlando
would soon turn 11 in January, he would have to retire. Normally the retired
dogs would go back to the family that trained them or wait to be adopted. Williams
said he would love to keep him but didn’t have the necessary money to do so
once Orlando retired and insurance would not pay for it. Horrible, yes, but
here is where the miracle sets in.
Once word got out of Williams having to give up Orlando, a
bunch of Internet campaigns quickly began. As of right now, over $77,000
has been donated from across the country to help Williams keep
his beloved dog. Williams spoke at a press conference at St. Luke’s Hospital
where he is recovering:
“I want to thank you to everybody for showing their
humanity, peace and goodwill.”
Now Williams and Orlando will never have to be apart again
and almost as if right on time, a true Christmas miracle makes its way to New
York City.