02/02/2026
This morning on my way back to Gainesville from Daytona Beach, I noticed what looked like a pile of trash on the side of the road. Something didn’t sit right with me, so I slowed down. As I passed it, I realized it wasn’t trash at all—it was a wheelchair, some clothes, and a woman lying on the ground.
My first thought was that she had been hit by a car. I turned around, flagged down a police officer, and told them there was someone on the ground back there. They didn’t go look, so I turned my truck around and went back myself.
When I got there, I walked up to her. She was alive. Cold—but alive. I asked her why she was there, and she told me she was just waiting for the sun to come up.
Let that sink in.
It was 23 degrees outside. Freezing. The kind of cold where you turn your heat up, grab a blanket, and feel safe in your bed. And here was a 42-year-old woman sitting on the side of a highway, in the dark, with a wheelchair, waiting for daylight just to survive the night.
Another kind woman had seen her earlier and went home to bring her coffee and something warm. I gave her a blanket and what little I had. I called 911 to try to get her some help. But still… it broke me.
We take so much for granted—warm beds, heaters, roofs over our heads, somewhere safe to lay down at night. Seeing someone in that situation makes you realize how blessed we truly are.
Please, count your blessings. Be grateful when you pull your covers over your head at night. Be grateful when you have a home to go to. Life is precious, and moments like this remind us how fragile it really is.
Stay safe. Hug your people. And if you can help someone—please do.
God bless. ❤️
