Woman's World

How Cop Wade Milyard’s Laundry Bus Helps the Homeless

mdillard — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 18:00:43 +0000

As a police officer, Wade Milyard had responded to plenty of calls, but on one spring afternoon he felt a divine calling. Now, he’s changing lives one laundry load at a time! Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

“What’s going on here?” Frederick, Maryland, police officer Wade Milyard asked, hoping to diffuse the heated situation with a smile.

Wade had been called to the homeless camp where a couple was loudly arguing.

Wade was able to calm them down, and he felt confident it was safe to move on.

But as Wade walked away, an unfamiliar voice, clear as day, filled his thoughts.

Ask them about laundry!

Wade spun around. The message was unmistakable, as if it were straight from God.

Wade returned to the couple and said, “Where do you do your laundry?”

The woman shrugged. “Mostly in the creek. Why?”

“I was just wondering,” Wade replied, and the thought stayed with him.

Over the next few weeks, when he’d meet other unhoused people, he would ask them the same question.

“A laundromat would cost $20, and that’s money I need for food,” one man told him.

“I don’t even bother anymore,” said another. “No one’s going to hire me anyway.”

Wade felt a tug on his heart. He was nearing retirement — maybe he could use his free time to find a way to help.

That’s when Wade remembered the old shuttle bus behind the stationhouse.

“I have a plan,” he told his captain, and the department decided to donate the bus to help.

Soon, Wade enlisted friends to give the bus a makeover by removing seats. He bought three washers and dryers and installed them inside, along with a tank to hold the greywater. Wade connected with shelters to use their hoses and began spreading the word.

“Bring your laundry and we’ll wash, dry and fold it for you!”

Washing machines in the bus have changed folks lives
Wade Milyard

The first day, Wade and his volunteers did 10 laundry loads. But word quickly spread, and soon they were doing up to 20 loads every Tuesday and Thursday.

The thank-yous poured in.

“If you’re clean, you just feel better,” one woman said.

Wade set up a nonprofit and named it Fresh Step Laundry because that’s what he hoped it would provide.

Recently, laundry regular Tom began including uniforms in his laundry.

“I wore my clean clothes to an interview and got a job as a security guard,” he said.

Wade is now hoping to fund a second bus so he can do laundry for unhoused school kids.

“I feel like I was called to do this,” he says. “It’s a small thing, but giving someone a ‘fresh step’ makes me feel like I’m truly making a difference.”

Partner’s Club Prom Unites Students in Inclusive Celebration

mdillard — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:30:17 +0000

The Partner’s Club began with the goal of bringing students of all ages and abilities together. Now, its annual prom helps everyone feel seen, included and appreciated. Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.

The Houston County, Georgia, high school cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter, but one table stood out. Laughter spilled from a group of varsity football and softball players and other students.

“The cool table,” many students called it, but everyone knew its true name: the Partner’s Club!

Every school from kindergarten to 12th grade in Houston County hosts a Partner’s Club — a program where special needs students can find friends, support and belonging. But they’re not alone. Each club also includes Partner Buddies, non-special needs students who volunteer their time to build friendships.

A place for everyone

Alli Williams, who oversees the Partner’s Club, along with Ashley Lowell and other special-ed teachers, encourages school athletes, AP students and other kids to join in.

“You are role models for all students,” she tells them. “Why not use your influence to do good?”

Alli’s own relationship with Partner’s Club goes way back to when she was in elementary school and volunteered to be a partner.

I want to help these kids forever, she remembers thinking, and her volunteer work was the catalyst for her becoming a special-ed teacher.

In addition to weekly lunchtime meetups, Alli hosts special gatherings where students work together on homework, play board games and hang out. They also hold Butterfly Project special needs performing arts events, and three times a year, the athletes cheer for their buddies at the Special Olympics.

But the most anticipated event of every year arrives in the spring, when the five county high schools gather to enjoy the Partner’s Prom — an alternative celebration for students who might not otherwise get to attend or fully enjoy a traditional senior prom.

Over 100 Partner’s Club members and their dates have a night of fun
Partner's Club

The most memorable evening

Planning begins in January, when a prom theme is selected. This past April, the theme was “Wicked.” Special-ed teachers spend several months crafting decorations with elaborate backdrops and sparkling table displays. DJs audition and menus are planned with a donation from the local Civitan Club.

Partner’s Club member Jaden Screen, who has cerebral palsy and cochlear implants, was one of the first to arrive with his date, Jayce Grimes.

“We’ve known each other forever, and I really wanted her to be there for my senior year,” he says through a translator.

Jayce didn’t hesitate.

Jayce and Jaden are ready for prom
Partner's Club

“Yes!” she signed, using the sign language she’s learning just for him.

“We had the best time,” says Jaden. “I loved dancing with Jayce and going out for food after with friends who know I’m more than my disability.”

It’s a sentiment shared by more than 100 Partner’s Club members, including Branden Montford, who has Down syndrome. His brother, Xavier, is co-captain of the football team.

“I joined because of my brother, but I love helping all the members,” says Xavier.

Partner’s Club leaders agree that the program helps all the students involved, and the prom is a wonderful way to celebrate those connections.

“We want all our students to feel included and appreciated for who they are inside,” says Dana Wiggins, Houston County assistant superintendent of student services.

And on that magical night, they truly did.

Boy Raises Funds for Patriotic Flags in Pennsylvania

mdillard — Sun, 31 May 2026 18:00:37 +0000

After learning how a nearby town was spotlighting military heroes, 11-year-old Ethan Nesbit decided to find a way to show his support and pride as well. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

“Mom and Dad, why doesn’t our town have these?” 11-year-old Ethan Nesbit asked as he observed the display of flags attached to lampposts.

In the Murrysville suburb of Pittsburgh — not far from Ethan’s hometown of Plum — the town officials hung flags during patriotic seasons. The flags decorated a 2.5-mile stretch of highway, and Ethan always admired them as his parents drove by.

Ethan’s grandfather served in the United States Navy during Vietnam, and Ethan developed a strong sense of patriotism from his “Pappap.”

“After all they’ve done, they deserve to be honored!” Ethan thought as he realized Plum needed to honor veterans too.

Ethan asked his parents, Jim and Anna Nesbit, how he could put up flags in Plum.

“Try writing a letter to the city council!” Anna suggested.

Ethan sat down and wrote a proposal, which he later read aloud in front of the council.

“I want to show support for the military, past and present, and our nation,” Ethan read to the city leaders in 2024.

The borough soon approved his idea. That started the project Ethan named Patriotic in Plum. He raised $3,000 from supporters in veteran groups, community members and businesses to purchase American-made flags.

Along Mike Thomas Way, a major thoroughfare, officials installed 14 flags — 3 feet by 5 feet in size — along with the existing purple Hometown Hero banners showing Plum natives who served in the military throughout history.

Ethan watches as the flags are installed
Ethan Nesbit

This year, the flags will be displayed from Memorial Day in May to Veterans Day in November.

All members of the Nesbit family—including Ethan’s little sister, Evelyn — are involved with promoting Patriotic in Plum, and they love visiting Washington, D.C. to learn about the country’s history.

“We feel like we are in the greatest country in the world, and it’s easy to get behind,” Anna says. “As young kids, they are walking through Arlington and talking about the importance of sacrifices. I think we instilled the idea that freedom isn’t free. Whenever you have the ability to give back, you should.”

Roger, Ethan’s grandfather, says Ethan makes him proud.

“He has a drive that just amazes us,” Roger says.

As for Ethan, who is now 13, he wants Plum to serve as a patriotic example to other communities.

“We could never put up too many flags,” says Ethan. “There is really no such thing as being too patriotic!”

Adaptive Scuba Diving Gives Veterans New Hope

mdillard — Sat, 30 May 2026 20:00:07 +0000

For VA recreational therapist Charley Wright, healing doesn’t always take place in the clinic. Sometimes it happens on a boat, where Charley and a growing network of volunteer divers help countless veterans and wounded warriors rediscover peace, joy and healing underwater. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

“Would you like to go scuba diving?” Charley Wright asked Phil, a quadriplegic in the spinal cord unit of the Arizona hospital where Charley worked.

“Are you kidding me?” asked Phil.

“No, I’m not,” Charley said, and then he explained exactly how it could work.

Charley had recently graduated as a recreational therapist. But he also had another passion — scuba diving — and he’d followed that passion all the way to becoming a fully-certified dive instructor. It wasn’t long before the two worlds began to merge.

It began when a friend of a friend told Charley about his son, Nello Tanner, who has Down syndrome.

“He’s always been fascinated by sharks,” Nello’s dad explained. “It’s always been his dream to do a shark dive.”

“Let’s make that happen,” Charley offered without hesitation.

A Phoenix dive shop opened their facilities to Charley, and he began training Nello and his parents to receive a dive certification, so they could visit the undersea world anytime.

“This is a dream come true,” Nello said, after spending a few days diving with gentle nurse sharks on a dive trip he took with his parents.

Nello’s excitement lit a fire under Charley. He couldn’t wait to offer underwater freedoms to others who never imagined it to be possible for them.

Charley (above) helping quadriplegic Steve Miller
LifeWaters

A new dream

Now, for Phil, Charley knew he would need a team of dive buddies with medical expertise. He recruited therapists, doctors and nurses — and certified all of them to dive.

Then, the entire group headed to Mexico, where Charley and the others gently lowered Phil into the water for several sessions amid a group of playful harbor seals.

When they hoisted Phil back onto the boat his face was radiant. “I felt more relaxed than I have in years,” he said. “The whole dive was incredible!”

Soon after, Charley moved to St. Louis to work as a VA recreational therapist. He also brought along his dive equipment, and soon, he was setting up a nonprofit, LifeWaters, and used his credit card to buy enough equipment to get his foundation off the ground.

The VA allowed Charley to use their therapeutic pool to offer lessons to veterans with injuries and PTSD. He also trained their family members so they could continue adaptive diving together using borrowed LifeWaters gear.

“No words can describe how much freedom there is below the waves,” says USMC paraplegic Hack Albertson. And many others echo his sentiment.

Divers train to go scuba diving in open waters
LifeWaters

Hope restored underwater

Today, LifeWaters has grown into a coast-to-coast network of volunteer instructors and dive buddies, along with an entire building full of equipment that divers and their families can borrow.

Charley even created the Hero Dive Project for persons with ALS. “Getting back in the water keeps me going,” says Air Force veteran Bill Chase. “I feel like my old self again under the water.”

According to Charley, the weightless underwater world offers a fun escape from daily struggles and a chance to feel whole again.

“It helps reduce anxiety, depression and pain while boosting self-confidence and social connection,” he says. “We focus on abilities and work around the limitations. It’s a real joy using something I love as much as scuba diving to help so many others.”

She Donated a Kidney to Her High School Prom Date—Here's Why

Carissa Mosness — Sun, 24 May 2026 22:00:49 +0000

More than 35 years had passed since prom night, but Elena Hershey still fondly recalled the harbor boat cruise, the beautiful gowns and dancing under the stars with her date, Shawn Moyer.

Elena was a junior, Shawn a senior—they were only friends, but Shawn’s date had canceled at the last minute.

“I was his backup,” Elena remembered as she typed in his email address to let him know that now, in his hour of need, she’d happily be his backup again.

In high school, Shawn was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” He also received a kidney transplant after an autoimmune disorder destroyed his own kidneys.

A donor’s determination

Weeks later, an old school friend told Elena that Shawn needed another kidney. To Elena it seemed to be fate.

“I have this extra kidney—would you like it?” she wrote to Shawn in an email.

That very evening, Shawn and Elena were on the phone catching up.

“A few days of discomfort to save a life? It’s really kind of a no-brainer.”

Elena Hershey and Shawn Moyer at prom

“I really want to do this,” Elena insisted when the subject of Shawn’s health came up. “I’ve been studying it for months,” she explained, and told Shawn about her research and her original attempt to be a donor.

But almost immediately, Elena was ruled out as Shawn’s donor—their blood types were incompatible. But Elena knew what to do. “We’ll enroll in the paired donor program,” she said.

Elena’s kidney could still help Shawn, but indirectly. Her kidney would be directed to someone else in the program, and their living donor’s organ would be passed along to another patient.

Sometimes the swaps were direct—other times three or more donor and recipient pairs were in the transplant chain.

Saving a life

So last July while on summer break, Elena donated a kidney that saved a life in St. Louis.

“I only have to stay overnight,” she texted Shawn after her surgery, a lush tower of flowers from him and his wife on the table beside her.

“I rode a mile on my stationary bike today,” she texted Shawn a few weeks later, and by the first day of school, it was like the surgery had never happened.

Shawn’s own donor kidney was a near perfect match, and he also recovered quickly from his surgery.

“Thanks to you, I feel great!” he wrote back to Elena.

Today, Shawn is back at the hospital—seeing patients instead of being one.

Elena Hershey and Shawn Moyer in March 2025

A few weeks after Shawn’s transplant, Elena spent her spring break in Pennsylvania, visiting family and friends—including Shawn and his wife.

Shawn had to wear a mask to avoid infection, but nothing could stop him from giving Elena a long, hearty hug.

“How can I ever thank you enough,” he kept saying, but Elena insists she’d do it again in a heartbeat.

“People think it’s such a huge commitment but it’s really not,” she says. “A few weeks of rest and a few days of discomfort to save someone’s life? It’s really kind of a no-brainer.”

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This article originally appeared in the May 18, 2026 print issue of Woman’s World.

The Big E Fair Legacy Lives On Through One Woman Now

mdillard — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:35:10 +0000

After a lifetime of attending New England’s Eastern States Exposition — better known as The Big E — and learning about the first woman to serve on a board, Anne-Alise Pietruska was inspired to transform her childhood love of the fair into a meaningful mission. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s“Fair’est of Them All” special series with Sandra Lee.

“Wow, this is amazing,” Anne-Alise Pietruska remembers thinking as she learned about the life and mission of Helen Storrow at a summer camp on The Big E fairgrounds. Having been a patron every year of her entire life, the fair already held a special place in her heart. But after hearing about Helen, Anne-Alise was even more inspired.

In 1916, when the Eastern States Exposition — The Big E — began in West Springfield, Massachusetts, it was originally geared toward livestock and agriculture. But soon, the founders realized more could be added to make the fair an experience for the entire family.

Helen Storrow, a women’s advocate and an early Girl Scout leader, was elected head of the trustees’ new home department — the first woman to ever be appointed to a fair board.

Helen went on to impact the fair industry in countless ways and endowed more than $1 million toward the beautification and growth of The Big E.

Anne-Alise (right) in 2000 at the Storrowton Camp with her best friends, Shelby and Courtney
Anne-Alise Pietruska

A taste of fair life

At seven months old, Anne-Alise went to The Big E for the first time, and as soon as she grew of age, her parents enrolled her in summer camp at the fair. As a member of 4-H in her youth, Anne-Alise volunteered at the Milk and Apple booths at the fair and aided in the Agriculture Department’s native produce competitive exhibits. She played flute in her high school marching band during The Big E’s daily parade, rode on Mardi Gras floats and spent countless hours playing on the grounds.

But even as the years went by, Anne-Alise’s favorite fair exhibits stayed the same: Farm-A-Rama — where fairgoers learn about modern agriculture, sustainability and food systems — and Storrowton Village — the section of the fair inspired by Helen Storrow, whose story remained a pillar in Anne-Alise’s life.

Her love for the fair was passed down from her father, here together on the fair’s Giant Slide in 1994
Anne-Alise Pietruska

I wonder if there are more ways I can get involved here, Anne-Alise thought as she grew older, remembering all the memories she’d made at The Big E and Helen’s powerful legacy. I know there’s a bigger place for me here.

Before long, Anne-Alise began interning in the fair’s marketing department and later joined the organization as director of marketing, where she has worked for the past 13 years.

Continuing the mission

Today, The Big E — visited by 1.6 million people each year — is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that supports a mission centered on agriculture, education, historic preservation and regional economic development.

Almost 80 years after its creation, Storrowton Village Museum on the grounds of The Big E continues the mission put forth by Helen Storrow. Its immersive, recreated village of 18th- and 19th-century New England buildings, complete with period crafts, trades and interpretation, brings regional history to life — just as Helen always hoped.

Helen Storrow (center) made fairs what they are today, and inspires millions to keep traditions alive
Girl Scouts

Preserving a legacy

As for Anne-Alise, this year will mark her 35th fair as an attendee and The Big E’s 110th anniversary (running September 18 to October 4), and she is proud to carry on Helen’s legacy and contribute to the fair’s impact on the community each year.

“The Big E and Eastern States Exposition are central to my professional life and to the work I care most deeply about. Revenue generated during the fair is reinvested back into the grounds, programming and community initiatives that allow us to operate year-round and serve the region in meaningful ways,” says Anne-Alise.

“Being part of the showman profession is incredibly fulfilling, and the fair represents the culmination of a year’s worth of planning, collaboration and anticipation,” she continues.

“It is our moment to bring ideas to life, carry forward the fair’s legacy and create meaningful experiences for new generations of fairgoers.”

Keep an eye out for our “Fair’est of Them All” series! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Sandra Lee—chef, creator of Semi-Homemade Cooking and host of Blue Ribbon Bakeoff—is hitting the road with Woman’s World for a special cross-country journey honoring the remarkable women who bring America’s beloved state and county fairs to life. From longtime family traditions to unforgettable fairground innovations, these inspiring stories celebrate the heart, resilience and community spirit woven into fairs across the country. Catch the series in issues on sale May 15, June 26, July 17, August 4 and August 28, with stories appearing online the following week.

Sandra Lee Honors Women Who Shaped State Fairs

mdillard — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:30:43 +0000

Over the next few months, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, Woman’s World and beloved television host and chef Sandra Lee will spotlight iconic fairs across the country and the trailblazing women shaping them. Here, the Semi-Homemade creator shares her heartwarming story of how the San Diego County Fair launched her career and honors the women who paved the way.

“Well, I have an idea for you,” my boss told me after I told him I’d no longer be able to work for him because I needed to make more money. I was 22 and desperate to pay off my student loans, so his proposition piqued my interest.

“What’s that?” I asked him.

“Apply for a booth at the fair to sell a home security product,” he said.

“A fair? Cotton candy and elephant ears?” I had loved fairs since I was 8 years old, but I didn’t see how it could help me financially.

“Yes, a fair. I’ll front the product, and you pay for your booth space,” he said.

How am I going to do that? I wondered.

But that summer, I took his offer, sold my car and used the money to apply for a booth at the Del Mar Fair—now called the San Diego County Fair.

I was only able to afford a 10×10 booth, but I proudly stood there for 14 hours a day for three weeks, lived in a Motel 6 and reinvested my earnings into the next fair, paying off the products—and my student loans.

It was a turning point for me that proved if I was diligent about securing what I needed to get to the next level of my life, I would succeed. Eventually, I made enough money to buy a cargo van.

Back then, it wasn’t about agriculture or ribbons — it was about learning, building a business and seeing what was possible.

Everything changed in 1992 when I won a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles County Fair for booth display and design. There weren’t entry forms back then, so I was completely surprised. As I became captivated by fair life, I learned what goes into the planning and preparation, and I discovered many fairs had been run by amazing women across generations.

Sandra Lee’s life was changed when she won a blue ribbon in 1992 at the Los Angeles County Fair
Sandra Lee

Women of the fair

Last year, when I started my Best in Fair tour, which is leading up to America’s 250th anniversary, I went to The Big E Fair in Massachusetts, where Eastern States Exposition President Gene Cassidy told me the story of Boston philanthropist Helen Storrow.

I couldn’t believe that a woman in the early 1900s had such power within a male-dominated world. Women couldn’t even vote yet, but Helen walked in and established the home department for the entire fair circuit we have today, beginning with The Big E.

Helen didn’t stop there. She spent her own money moving buildings to create the community of Storrowton Village. Now, fairgoers get to see the original schoolhouse, church, blacksmith shop and houses of that era. Today, Storrowton Village is what separates The Big E from other fairs — it is truly special.

I’m in awe of Helen. She also lifted up the Girl Scouts organization and helped catapult fairs from just livestock and farming into the home space and then to concessions. What she accomplished remains and continues to grow today.

Sandra loves the Big E
Sandra Lee

Fair’est of Them All

Over the next few months, Woman’s World will highlight incredible women across the country who make the fair industry what it is today in our new “Fair’est of Them All” column.

We’re going from The Big E with Helen Storrow to the Wisconsin State Fair and the Washington State Fair, the fair of my childhood. For me, the stories were inspired by the women at the Del Mar Fair all those years ago, who were so open-armed, brave and made all the difference in my life.

Sandra visiting Storrowton Village with Gene Cassidy
Sandra Lee

Chief Operating Officer Katie Mueller of the San Diego County Fair (which runs June 10 to July 5 this year) says, “Today, you see visionary women leading fairs and driving innovation in communities across California and the nation.”

And that couldn’t be more true.

I’m so grateful to feature the women who make this American pastime so special and to acknowledge Helen Storrow, who was instrumental in creating the events we all look forward to every year. Fairs are entertainment, community, philanthropy and the anchors of the most beloved parts of America.

Now, Sandra enjoys all aspects of the fair—from food to agriculture
Sandra Lee

Gardening Helped One Woman Heal Her Grief

mdillard — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:00:57 +0000

Suffering from grief, Barbara Lawson planted a garden that brought her comfort. She soon began teaching about the healing powers of gardening! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

Barbara Lawson drove back to her Los Angeles home from another counseling session, still hearing her therapist’s words running through her mind.

“Try activities that have brought you joy in the past, such as gardening,” she suggested.

Nothing else had worked to release the pain Barbara had trapped inside since her mother’s passing.

Losing her brother when she was 16, then her father at 18, her mother’s death when Barbara was 24 hit hard.

To cope, she began to block out the memories and spent every moment caring for her husband and four kids. It got her by, but now, two decades later, she realized she missed thinking of her mom and hearing her voice.

Could it be as easy as going back to planting to heal these wounds I’ve carried for so long? her aching spirit wondered.

Now, Barbara’s gardening helps others heal their grief
Barbara Lawson

Gardening Helped Her Process Years of Grief

Every Saturday after her therapy session, Barbara began working in her backyard.

Spending hours in the dirt, she began to feel at peace, and she had thriving plants.

Excited about how gardening was transforming her grief, she began to share about her journey on Facebook. She also held live lessons online teaching people how to plant for bettering themselves, while also going back to school to get her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a specialization in grief.

Barbara soon launched her own business called Meet Me In The Dirt, a mental health and wellness organization that blends psychology, mindfulness and horticulture to promote healing and growth.

In 2021, she renovated an old bus to create a mobile garden oasis to travel about the community, holding pop-up events. Using a garden wellness retreat space, she has also gone on to host birthday parties, celebrations of life ceremonies and weddings.

Meet Me in the Dirt gives people a chance to connect and reignite their joy
Barbara Lawson

Gardening Brings Hope to Others

Clients beam with joy as they share their experiences.

“I’ve learned to stand authentically in the new version of myself, growing in confidence,” shares one widow.

Another participant, a daughter who also lost her mother, stated, “Grief tended to in the garden provides tender rest from the pain.”

Knowing she has found a life-changing path, 53-year-old Barbara has no plans to slow down.

“Whether it be my mobile garden bus, garden retreat center or online garden, I will continue the hope-filled work of gardening and making room for what wants to live. By tending the soil and trusting in what you dig up, something honest and beautiful will rise.”

Traumatized K9 Dakota Inspired a Mission of Healing

mdillard — Sat, 09 May 2026 18:00:21 +0000

When Jim LaMonte saw a German shepherd named Dakota pacing in panic, he decided to help the traumatized dog. But simply opening the door to his kennel also opened Jim’s heart to healing. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

After meeting Dakota, Jim LaMonte knew he needed to help K9s with PTSD.

The German shepherd named Dakota paced frantically in the back of the squad car. He was barking so loudly that his whole body shook.

He growled when anyone stepped near him, and his legs trembled in utter fear.

“Either you take him or he’s going to have to be put down,” the deputy told Jim LaMonte, a Wheaton College researcher studying positive reinforcement training for military and law enforcement dogs.

Jim’s heart broke as he watched the struggle happening inside the traumatized shepherd. The minute he looked into Dakota’s frightened eyes, he knew he couldn’t turn him away.

I have to do whatever I can to help this poor dog, Jim thought as he realized he wouldn’t be able to get Dakota out of his mind if he chose to leave him.

“Bring him in,” he said, already opening the kennel door.

Dakota had served for two years in the Czech Republic, where he was exposed to flash grenades and the relentless stress of combat. Later, as a K9 officer, he’d been thrown through a window — his leg was slashed and it had taken months to heal. He was no longer able to work because he was terrified of everything and everyone.

Dakota circled inside his kennel constantly. He soiled himself regularly, and rarely slept or laid down.

Most people saw a dangerous dog. Jim saw a wounded warrior.

“Is it possible for a dog to suffer from PTSD?” he asked a faculty advisor.

“I don’t know,” she replied, but Jim was determined to find out.

Jim and Dakota formed a special bond while helping each other heal
Jim LaMonte

A journey to love

Jim knew Dakota’s healing wouldn’t come from force or training — it would only come from patience and love. So the first thing he did was remove Dakota’s work collar and harness and change his diet—outward symbols that it was time for a bigger change.

“You ready, boy?” he asked gently every two hours when he and Dakota prepared for a walk through nearby woods. Jim didn’t direct the walk — he let Dakota investigate and explore.

He didn’t demand obedience. He knew Dakota’s behavior was a symptom of prolonged stress. Instead, Jim offered Dakota something he hadn’t had in years — the chance to just be a dog.

Slowly, something shifted. Their walks grew longer and they started jogging. Dakota stood calmly waiting whenever Jim approached with his walking leash. Then, one morning, Jim’s heart did a happy somersault when Dakota didn’t have any accidents in his kennel overnight.

We’re both healing, Jim thought, because Jim, too, carried invisible wounds—severe anxiety and agoraphobia. But with Dakota depending on him, Jim had to step outside, breathe the fresh air and face the world.

How can I expect him to face his demons if I can’t face mine? he understood.

After meeting Dakota, Jim LaMonte knew he needed to help K9s with PTSD
Jim LaMonte

Forever friends

It took nearly eight months, but one morning, it happened…

Jim opened Dakota’s kennel door, and he trotted right out, stretched, then lay down and rolled onto his back for a belly rub. Jim’s eyes filled with tears.

We’re going to make it…both of us, he marveled.

Dakota’s transformation didn’t just save his life. It also gave Jim a new sense of purpose. Instead of just working on training military and police dogs, Jim quickly shifted his research.

I’m going to start studying how to recognize PTSD in K9s, and develop treatment protocols to help our wounded four-legged veterans, he thought as he defined his new mission.

Soon, another traumatized dog, K9 Dex, arrived after spending most of his life serving in both the military and the Indiana police. Jim used the same gentle, patient methods to help this dog understand that he could relax, and show him that his days of fighting were over.

Jim decided to start an official center, where he now cares for 16 traumatized pup veterans at the K9 PTSD Research Center. He also teaches trainers and handlers across the country to recognize the signs of PTSD in police and military dogs.

Dakota spent his remaining years exuberantly chasing balls and riding shotgun with Jim around their Massachusetts town, running errands and living the carefree life he’d been denied for so long.

“If a dog ends his service with an injured hip, we spare no expense to treat the injury. We need to show the same compassion and dedication to treating their emotional injuries as well,” says Jim.

Thanks to Jim and Dakota, countless other K9 warriors will get the chance to rest, recover and rediscover the simple joys of being a dog.

Hero 12-Year-Old Boy Saves Siblings From Oklahoma ATV Fire Explosion

mdillard — Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:54 +0000

A routine ride to the bus stop turned terrifying when flames erupted beneath a family’s ATV. But 12-year-old Roman didn’t hesitate as he leapt into action! Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.

“Seatbelts!” Andi Goodnight reminded her children as they climbed into the ATV.

Roman, 12, often drove the ranch’s Polaris RZR. On school mornings, he took his siblings Lindel, 6, Aspen, 9, and 6-year-old friend Moeshan across pastures to the bus stop outside their 300-acre ranch in Coweta, Oklahoma. The trip usually took 10 minutes, but one morning last October, the ride turned into a brush with danger.

Explosion Turns Routine into Danger

Roman and Lindel chatted in the front seat while Aspen and Moeshan sat in the back. Roman pulled up near the ranch hand’s bungalow and turned off the engine — and the first explosion blasted. Aspen glanced behind her and saw the cargo bed was ablaze!

“Everyone out — now!” Roman shouted, and Lindel and Aspen scrambled out. But not Moeshan.

“I’m stuck!” she cried as flames circled. Her backpack strap twisted into her seat belt, trapping her in thick smoke.

Without hesitation, Roman climbed back into the burning ATV. Heat blasted his face as he unclicked the belt and yanked the strap free. The back door was blocked by flames, so he pulled her into the front and out the passenger side.

As their feet hit the ground, a second explosion went off.

“Run—go with Lindel to the porch!” he told them.

Then he realized someone was missing. “Aspen? Where are you?”

Aspen stood behind the ATV, next to the flames.

“Get away!” he shouted, but she was frozen with fear.

A Split-Second Decision Saves Lives

Roman dashed over, grabbed her and ran. They had taken a few steps when another explosion boomed, shooting flames where Aspen had just been.

The ranch hand’s wife opened the door.

“Inside! Quick!” she urged, calling the fire department and then their mom, Andi.

Soon she and her husband, Gary, were racing across the ranch as black smoke filled the air.

“It’s okay—you’re safe now!” Andi comforted the shaken children.

Firefighters doused the ATV, and investigators never found the cause of the fire. What they did agree on was that Roman’s quick thinking saved three lives that morning.

Soon, Roman was back driving to the bus stop. Aspen was nervous, but Andi reassured her, “You have your big brother to keep you safe!”

“I only did what I needed to,” Roman insists. “I couldn’t let anything bad happen to my family!”