Parenting is one of the most challenging roles anyone can take on. This evening, as the sun began to set, Grace called in a panic to tell me she was stranded on the side of the Turner Turnpike. To make matters even worse, her phone was almost out of battery. My heart raced as I realized how helpless I felt, knowing that she was alone and in trouble.
Thankfully, Jennifer White was able to reach out to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The dispatcher assured her that a trooper would be on their way as soon as possible. As I sped to her location, my mind was filled with every parent’s worst fear—what if something happened before I could get there?
The weight of that worry seemed unbearable until, just as I was nearing the spot, I saw a car in the distance, with flashing red and blue lights behind it. The sight was a relief I can’t fully describe. It was the moment I knew she was safe.
When I turned around and pulled up, I saw Trooper Zach Hargus, badge number 331, finishing up the job of changing Grace’s flat tire. He had arrived and taken care of everything without hesitation. In a moment when I couldn’t be there for her, he had stepped in to protect and help her.
Trooper Hargus didn’t have to stop. He didn’t have to lend a hand when no one asked him to. Yet, he did, and it made all the difference in the world. As someone who calls Oklahoma home, I am forever grateful to live in a state where neighbors look out for one another. People like Trooper Hargus remind me that kindness and responsibility still exist in the world.
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