At the end of a very long and difficult shift, two firefighters were sitting down in the restaurant, waiting for their order. Liz Woodward was there, ready to serve them. Before they left, she gave them a very strange bill. The message was unforgettable, and Liz had no idea she would see them again. Actually, they’d somehow pop back into her life and her life would completely change!
Working at the 130 Diner
It was a late July night when the 24-year-old waitress was working her night-shift at the 130 Diner in Delran, New Jersey. Two firefighters entered the diner at 5:00 a.m. and ordered a couple of huge cups of coffee. That day, the massive warehouse fire close to North Brunswick was all over the news. Liz assumed these were two of the firefighters that helped put out the fire…
Fighting for 12 Hours
Paul Hullings was one of the firefighters that worked for 12 hours to put out the fire. The other one at the table was Tim Young, who was pumping water off location. They were not done yet, so the coffee was more than welcomed. But as they received the bill, Liz caught them off guard with her message.
An Ordinary Woman
What the firefighters didn’t know was that Liz wasn’t just an ordinary woman. She was part of a family of six, and her father’s favorite. Her father Steve had many passions, including music, riding his motorcycle, loved the Philadelphia Phillies, and a lot more things that made him loved in his community. But their family changed in 2010.
Nightmare Soon Ensues
Steve was a firefighter himself until 2008 when the recession left him jobless and desperate to care for his family. Then, after all the stress and problems, in 2010, Steve suddenly had a brain aneurysm rupture and two strokes, leaving him a quadriplegic. For nearly two years, Steve was in hospital and nursing homes to recuperate. Recently, things seemed to get better…
Steve Improved
Nobody knew whether Steve would have been able to improve after the first tough year. He couldn’t do anything on his own. But with the help of doctors, nurses and his family, he relearned how to be a normal person, to think, to swallow and to speak. One of the most important people that helped him go through this difficult time was his wife, Beth.
The Support of an Entire Family
Steve had been the patriarch of the family and now in dire times, he was repaid by his entire family. His kids helped their dad when they could. They went to school and worked to help the family as well. Meanwhile, Beth, his wife of 25 years, was by his side 24/7. They all tried their best to give Steve the best care, but Beth knew she could have done a lot more for him…
Liz Was In Charge of Making Their Dream Come True
The family didn’t think Steve would ever be able to walk on his own. He had a wheelchair, but they could only take him around the house. What they really needed was a van that could let them take him further away from home. He loved traveling and now this dream was impossible. But Liz took charge of making this dream come true!
An Expensive Car
A van that is handicapped-accessible costs between $60,000 and $80,000. Liz took her story to GoFundMe and hoped she could get the funds. She shared photos of her dad and the entire story, pouring her heart in every word. Liz recalled that one time when they rented such a van in 2012…
Great Improvement
It was 2012 when the family chipped in to rent such a van and take Steve to his young daughter Catherine’s graduation. Catherine’s family and relatives came to the event and as he saw them all, he began remembering their names and recalled childhood stories. The second time they rented a van was at a tragic event. Steve was taken to attend his father’s funeral.
Overshadowed By Tragedies
After Steve’s improvement, his father’s death overshadowed the good things that were happening to the family. Then in 2014, the family was going to lose their home to foreclosure. They had to find a smaller home. Steve was now finding himself in a strange, tight place, where it was difficult to move with the wheelchair. However, they didn’t lose hope. That’s when Liz runs into some good luck!
At The Diner
Back to that shift, Liz thought back at her family and wrote a note for the two exhausted firefighters that would warm their hearts and make that morning a lot more bearable. It was this note that was actually going to change her life!
Kind Words
After setting down the note and taking her leave, the firefighters read it and their faces lit up. It was the highlight of a very long and difficult day and they thanked Liz for her kind words. She had no idea that this wasn’t going to be the last time she would see them. Here’s what her note said…
Thank You
“Your breakfast is on me today — Thank you for all that you do; for serving others & for running into the places everyone else runs away from. No matter your role, you are courageous, brave, and strong… Thank you for being bold and badass everyday! Fueled by fire and driven by courage — what an example you are. Get some rest,” wrote Liz on the note. She had no clue that her kind deed would soon be repaid!
Spreading Her Message
Tim Young and Paul Hullings couldn’t stop but think about Liz’ note. Each of the firefighters was now home, trying to fall asleep after that long shift. However, they decided to share this note with Facebook and let others know how kind the waitress from the 130 Diner was. Her gesture made their day and they encouraged other friends to go eat there.
Paul Decided to Help Her Out
Paul wanted to help the waitress and repay her for her kindness. He started looking for her on Facebook and saw her profile. Scrolling through her photos and posts, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he realized Liz had a lot more in common with him than he thought!
He Read About Steve
After learning about the former firefighter’s story, Paul told Tim about it. That’s when he took to social media and this is why the story gets viral. He wrote: “Turns out, the young lady who gave us a free meal is really the one that could use the help…” In the post, he also linked her GoFundMe campaign. Little did Liz know that her goal of getting a van for her dad was so close to becoming a reality!
Making a Difference
The goal was to get $80,000 to buy the specialized van, but as she often checked the page, she saw how far away her dream was. Steve’s campaign had around $25,000, a sum gathered in nearly six months. But after Tim and Paul wrote about her deeds, Liz opened the page that week and she took a double take!
A Lot of Money
The $25,000 that she gathered was a significant amount, but still far from allowing them to buy the van. But three days after Tim and Paul shared the link to Steve’s GoFundMe campaign, the amount jumped to $56,000. Liz couldn’t believe her eyes! Some anonymous person donated $5,000, and there were far more donations than she expected. Then, her story got viral and Liz heard her name and her father’s name on the news…
They Were Making Headlines
Liz’s situation impressed so many people that news and media outlets like People, ABC News, Today and Buzzfeed talked about her deeds and about her story. Liz and the two firefighters were invited to an ABC News show. The diner was also filled with cameras as the interviews continued. Then, one day, Liz would remain speechless as she checked the GoFundMe page.
Hope Returns
Liz had been hopeless up until that week when the two firefighters walked in the diner. Until then, she looked at the GoFundMe page and saw her goal was so far from becoming a truth. But in less than a couple of weeks, her hope returned. As he opened the page, she couldn’t believe that she was looking at a total of $86,500!
The Little Things
Years of struggles have finally repaid the Woodward family. Reaching out to Facebook, Liz wrote: “Look for those opportunities because they are everywhere. You can make a difference — it doesn’t always have to be an elaborate production or effort- it’s always the little things that have the greatest impact.” But her story is far from being over…
A Huge Surprise
Liz thought the surprises were over now that she had reached her goal. She began looking for a van that would be fit for her dad. But right when she was getting ready to make the purchase, she received a phone from Mobility Ventures, a specialty car company. They had some great news!
They Were Impressed With Her Story
When Mobility Ventures heard about Steve’s story and Liz’ kind act, the company decided to donate a new MV-1 - the latest wheelchair-accessible vehicle they made - to the family! Liz was overcome with emotion when she heard the news. Soon after that, she found herself talk with a huge public personality in front of the cameras…
Watching TV
Since 2010 when Steve became a quadriplegic, he had nothing else to do than watch TV shows. Steve’s main entertainment was these shows. They made him laugh, and one of his and Liz’s favorite shows was The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Flying to LA
The two firefighters and Liz were invited to go to Los Angeles and appear on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. They were shocked to hear they’d be featured on the show. Liz was already a fan and was so happy she would talk to Ellen. The show featured a video from the diner and some interviews. But at the end of the show, Ellen had a surprise for them.
The Favorite 130 Diner Food
Right before the segment was getting to a close, Ellen asked the two firemen what their favorite food at the 130 Diner was. After they gave their answers, Ellen told them that a company that is specialized in specialty products - Shutterfly, would pay for all their meals at 130 Diner for the next five years! They were stunned, but wait until you hear what Ellen had in store for Liz!
She Was Happy
Liz was so happy for the two firefighters that she was already crying. Ellen told her she had done a great deed and she deserved to be repaid. Then, Ellen took out a giant $20,000 check and Liz burst into tears again. She was happy, but the Woodward family was still going to face a hardship…
Happy Years
After the strokes, Steve spent five years in bed, missing out on all the events he was used to attending. However, as he got the specialized vehicle, he began feeling himself again. He was once again able to go to carnivals, to restaurant and to see the Phillies. But in 2019, things changed.
Final Good Years
In 2019, Steve departed this world, but he had made great memories until taking his last breath. But with his passing and his mourning, good things followed. Liz’s life changed, as she began working at a real estate agency as a director of agent services. She also met the love of her life…
Falling in Love
Liz and Tommy fell in love and they tied the knot after dating for a couple of years. Together, they now have a child. Steve was able to meet his grandson and see his daughter happy before saying goodbye to his family.