Welcome to the third edition of the David Begnaud newsletter! It’s been a meaningful week reading all the stories that people have been sending us. People want their stories featured here and it's a thrill.
Oh, and by the way, I've just wrapped the very first episode of my podcast, and I can't wait to share more with you soon. You'll be the first to hear more about it!
This week… I’m inspired by an employee who saved her boss’ life, a woman who donated a pacemaker to save a pet, and a hiker who led a lost pup in the woods to safety.
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Stories Sent To Me By Readers Like You
Courtesy: Dana Dussing Berry
A Hire Became His Lifeline
When first-generation American Juan Medrano opened his first Sport Clips Haircuts in Laredo, Texas, he took a chance on a shy beauty school graduate named Celina Cuevas. She became one of his very first hires.
Over the next 13 years, Juan mentored her, encouraged her, and gave her space to grow into a leader. She rose to become the store’s manager, raised two kids, and found her confidence.
Juan gave Celina an opportunity.
Then, the roles reversed.
In 2020, Juan’s long battle with kidney disease reached a breaking point. And by late 2022, he was in stage 5 renal failure — it was now a fight for his life.
Ten family members and friends stepped up to be tested to see if they could be a living donor. Heartbreakingly, none were a match.
Tethered to dialysis three times a week for hours on end just to keep his body going, Juan knew he was running out of time, so he kept obsessively “planning, preparing, and retouching” his will… but couldn’t shake the feeling that he felt he had let his family down.
In “the state of mind that you have an expiration date,” he told his Sport Clips team what was happening. Celina listened. Quiet. Thoughtful. But inside, she already knew what she was going to do.
Staying “very private about it,” she applied to be a donor… and, against all odds, she turned out to be a perfect match. In her heart, she always knew she would be.
Courtesy: Dana Dussing Berry
Courtesy: Dana Dussing Berry
So, Juan’s and Celina’s lives became forever linked in an operating room — Celina donated one of her kidneys to Juan.
Having just celebrated 15 years of working together, the surgery bound them together forever as more than boss and employee… but as family.
Their journey is more than a medical miracle. It’s a story of shared heritage and mutual faith — two Hispanic immigrants in America who built something together, and when crisis came, stood for each other in the most profound way.
Juan gave Celina her start. Celina gave Juan a new start. In doing so, they remind us all that community, courage, and love can create blessings that last far beyond a workplace.
And sometimes, the biggest gift we can give is a little piece of ourselves. That’s why I wanted to honor Celina today.
“Donating my kidney is one of the best things I’ve ever done. I’m incredibly proud that it changed Juan’s life. People often ask if I have any regrets, and I tell them I’d do it again in a heartbeat. It’s changed my life too.” — Celina
Do you have a story that lifts hearts and brings people together? We’d love to hear it. Click the link below to share yours.
Your Feedback
Here’s some reactions to two of my stories from last week
“Mr. Perry” and “Humans of New York.”
“The political news every day of the week is so depressing, but your stories about the simple acts of kindness and generosity of communities gives us all so much hope.”
“Thank you, David Begnaud. I needed to see this to keep going. I’ve been wanting to give up. I’m in school to be a reading specialist and I’ve been up against a lot. Thank you for this story that will help us teachers go on another day. ❤️”
Send us your feedback for a chance to be featured here. All you have to do is reply to this email or click the button below. We can’t wait to hear from you!
My Weekly Picks
☀️ Here’s the headline that grabbed me this week: Woman donates husband’s pacemaker to a veterinary clinic for a dog or cat in need. I didn’t even know that was possible!
Courtesy: Dawn Wolff
Courtesy: Jason Hawkins
☀️ I can’t describe how much I love the selflessness and ingenuity of backpacker Jason Hawkins finding this dog that was lost in the woods and crafting a makeshift leash to reunite him with his family. Shoutout to my cousin Anjanette for sending this my way!
Transforming Lives On The Field
This week, we had two homerun stories.
The first is of Cheshire High School Rams pitcher Jenica Matos, who, after discovering her eyesight was failing due to a rare genetic disorder, turned disability into determination… ultimately leading the Rams to become Connecticut-state champions with a strikeout that clinched the victory.
The second is the love story of Sam and Pat Perroni, who transformed an empty lot by their home in Fayetteville, Arkansas into a baseball field for their grandchildren. The regulation Little League field soon became a landmark of the community… and the site of an annual tournament to raise money for Alzheimer’s research after Pat’s diagnosis.
Next Monday: the story of a woman who made kindness her calling… and how, in her passing, strangers showed up to give it back.
SHARE THE GOOD
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A big thank you to:
Maddie Fennell, the executive director of The National Teachers Hall of Fame.
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Goodie Bag
🏃 New Yorker Stephen Greet is gearing up to break the Central Park single-day running record by covering 122 miles on October 11. The best part is that he’s doing it to raise money to put more lifesaving AEDs in parks. Check out his fundraiser here. I'll let you know next week if Stephen breaks the record. Cheering you on, Stephen!
📱 My friend Steve Gleason —ALS survivor, advocate, leader, and all around badass dude — has launched a TikTok, with the help of his son and his son’s friends to share more of his story, his personality, and his life. It uses an available voice on social media to speak, but the words are his words. It’s funny. It’s emotional. It’s heartbreaking. It’ll make you smile and at the end of the day, it’s so damn real.
🏈 A tackle at a Michigan high school football game put one 15-year-old in a wheelchair and turned the other into a pariah. Wanting to change the narrative, the parents organized a meet-up between the two teenagers… and they gave us a lesson in what forgiveness looks like.
On A Personal Note…
The boo (Jeremy) and I celebrated 14 years (WOW!) I never imagined being in a relationship this long, but I also never imagined finding a partner this good. He’s definitely the better half.
Made with love by David Begnaud and the team
Stories that set your soul on fire
