Last Saturday, during a neighborhood gathering in Cedar Falls, my 12-year-old son, Ethan, became a hero. When a shed behind a neighbor’s house suddenly caught fire, everyone froze in shock — until Ethan heard a toddler crying inside.
Without hesitation, he ran through the smoke and flames to rescue her. Moments later, he emerged coughing and covered in soot, but holding the terrified little girl safely in his arms. The crowd cheered, and the fire department praised Ethan for his incredible bravery. I thought that was the end of the story, but the very next day, everything changed.