Seventeen long years ago a firefighter called Mike Hughes responded to an emergency call that would change his life forever. When he arrived at the Davison household, the place was already burning up badly. Family members were pulled from the but a nine month-old baby called Dawnielle remained. At great personal risk, he saved her and became a local hero.

Mike thinks back to that fateful day and remembers it like this: “When we arrived, a large part of the house was already engulfed in flames. I found Dawnielle curled up in her crib in the bedroom.” He could never forget her and years later looked her up on Facebook. He sent her a message saying: “Hello. I think I once pulled you from a fire when you were still a very little girl.” She replied. The two met. Now? He’s like a second father to her…

Dawnielle recently attended her high school graduation. The firefighter went along and it proved to be an emotional day for them both. “Mike’s presence here is really important to me”, Dawnielle said on the day. “I always cry from happiness when I think about how everything could have been so different. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

What a story!