If you have been following this blog lately, you know that I was in San Diego last week at my National Speakers Association convention. It was an interesting week. While the some of the content wasn’t what I needed, the hall talk and side conversations gave me what I wanted and needed. It started with my luggage not arriving with me and interestingly, ended that way too (what are the chances?). If late flights and lost luggage worry you, check out this story about inspirational speaker Larry Colbert and his seeing eye dog:

Yesterday, Friday the 13th came with more than one miracle for Larry and his
guide dog Banner. Larry and Banner were on their way to a speaking
engagement in Nevada. Larry took a cab from his house to Sky Harbor.

Somehow, and that looms as the huge unanswered question, Banner received a
gash in his leg while riding in the back seat of the cab. Larry said that
Banner yelped and jumped from the floor boards onto the seat shortly before
arriving at the airport. This was highly unusual because Banner is
extremely well trained, but since Larry cannot see, he didn’t realize that
Banner was injured, so he got his bag and holding Banner’s harness,
proceeded to the airport.

Larry said that Banner just led him along as if nothing was wrong. Then a
Phoenix airport security employee stopped Larry to ask if he could help. That is when Larry realized the urgency of the situation.

Later, Troy, a South West customer service agent, who saved Banner’s
life, told me that Banner would most certainly have gotten Larry to the
airplane and bled to death in the process if someone had not intervened. But
the ground crew employees of South West Airlines took it upon themselves to
help.

Larry telephoned me and said… “I need your help, Banner is hurt.” I knew
by the sound of his voice that this was a real emergency. I blasted out of
the house and across town to the airport. On the way I telephoned the vet’s
office to alert them that we would be coming in…. and carried an on going
conversation with Larry and one of the South West Airline employees. When I
finally arrived a police car with emergency lights on had cleared a place
for me to park…. a walkway had been cleared through the throng of
onlookers…. Banner was on the floor with Larry beside him, and eight or
ten uniformed people some kneeling some crouching were gathered around
Banner, who was in great distress.

Larry was splattered in blood from his waist down, there was blood
everywhere and on everyone. Troy lifted Banner and carried him to the car. I
didn’t realize it at the time, but Troy’s hand was clenched around Banner’s
leg to stop the flow of blood. Banner, Troy and Larry got in the back seat
of my car and away we went. When we arrived at the vet’s three young women
emerged with a stretcher and rolls of tape. They wrapped the leg right
there, so that Troy could release his grip, but Troy, who by then was like a
family member, carried Banner inside, sans stretcher.

Banner underwent surgery almost immediately. He had sliced the major vein to
his leg and nicked an artery, and those employees of South West Airlines who
left their posts to render aid quite simply kept Banner alive until Dr.
Bastek could work her magic. Troy told me many hours later that he was still
in shock from the whole experience.... and that he felt a bond with Banner
and Larry that he wanted to keep.

Larry took a later flight to Las Vegas for his speaking engagement. He said
that the legend of Banner preceded him and that every South West employee he
met along the way asked about Banner (who is recovering nicely).

All in all, it was a Friday the Thirteenth to remember… and a time to
realize that there are everyday people out there just waiting to be heroes.
I saw dozens of heroes yesterday.

I had the honor of having Banner stay with me here in Mesa after being
released from the hospital. Larry managed just fine with his “white stick”
on his engagement in Nevada. He said he missed the freedom that Banner
allows him, and of course was worried about Banner too. The South West
Airline employees sent Banner the flowers and balloon in the photo as a get
well gift. I think he really liked it! What a weekend! Those employees were
more than heroes….. they were angels in disguise.
Yes. And the story gets better. Turns out the Southwest employees who left
their stations and helped Larry and Banner didn’t know that Larry was flying
with them that day. They just did the right thing.

Thanks Beth Terry for forwarding me this story. Thanks to Larry’s girl friend for documenting and thanks to seeing eye dogs everywhere. If we could be so loyal.

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go to www.TimRichardson.com