Nepal Principal Saves 1,643 Children from Flood

Rajendra Dawadi was in his office at Tribhuvan Trishuli Secondary School in Nepal’s Nuwakot district when his phone rang around 9:20 a.m. on Aug. 26. A friend was warning that a nearby village had been swept away and telling him to run.

Instead, the 47-year-old principal rang the school bell, evacuated the classrooms and told bus drivers to turn back. The children fled uphill and took shelter beneath a bodhi tree. Minutes later, floodwaters destroyed the school. All 1,643 students survived, though two school workers were swept away.

Rajendra lost his home too, but the destruction of the school hit harder. “I feel more pain about losing the school than losing my own house,” he said.

Rajendra is now appealing to India for help rebuilding the school so his students can return to class.

Principal Stands By Homeless Student

Rob Burnside spent 31 years in education and was principal of Lakota East High School near Cincinnati when he learned one of his students, Landerius “DeDe” Hayes, was homeless. DeDe’s mother had moved out of the district, and school officials told Burnside the student had to go. At times, DeDe slept in a car because his father’s mobile home was too cold.

Rob couldn’t accept it. He let DeDe keep attending classes. When he told his wife, Angel, about the situation, her first words were, “Well, he can come stay with us.” DeDe moved in. The district found out and told Rob he could step down or be terminated. DeDe offered to leave so Rob could keep his job. Rob refused. “DeDe, you’re part of this family,” he told him. “We’re not gonna turn our back on you.”

The Burnsides became DeDe’s legal guardians, and he later attended a different high school. This past May, he graduated with Rob and Angel cheering from the stands. He’s now working toward becoming an aviation mechanic.

Husband Takes Paralyzed Wife on Epic Journey

Liu Peijin and his wife were childhood classmates who dreamed of exploring China together in retirement. In 2010, complications from diabetes left her partially paralyzed, and repeated hospital stays failed to improve her condition. Rather than give up on their dream, Liu loaded up a car in 2014 and hit the road.

He later upgraded to a campervan outfitted with two beds, a sink and dining table, and a full stock of medical supplies. He describes himself as “the driver, cook, doctor, nurse, and carer, all in one.” Over the past decade, they have traveled through 31 of China’s provincial-level regions, sometimes spending three months on the road at a stretch.

The result has been remarkable. Under Liu’s care, his wife has avoided muscle and joint atrophy, maintained good coordination, and can still communicate largely as before. Liu says life on the road has made her “100 times” more spirited than she was during her years in and out of hospitals.

The couple recently completed their tour of China and are already planning to hit the road again.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Feel Good Flyover Podcast. Clicking the link will take you directly there:

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The King’s Guard performed Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 outside Buckingham Palace in tribute to the late country music legend.

video via The London Standard – YouTube

Parallel lines have so much in common.

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“When I think about it now, it’s like I don’t know how I’m here. At first, I was in a cold car, barely eating, barely in a school, just trying to be a good person. And now, I’m eating now. I’m in the house, being a kid.“

— Landerius “DeDe” Hayes on how his life changed after Rob and Angel Burnside took him in.