The floods that ravaged Texas last week brought devastation, but they also revealed heroes—people who risked everything to save others.
Julian Ryan, a young father, fought to his last breath for his family. Trapped in rising waters, he smashed a window to free them, suffering a fatal injury in the process. His final words—”I love you all”—were a heartbreaking goodbye.
Meanwhile, at Camp Mystic, counselors like Emma Foltz and Silvana Garza Valdez became lifelines for terrified children. Foltz, still mourning her mother, guided 14 girls to safety. Valdez and her friend Zárate kept 20 more calm by writing names on their arms and leading them to higher ground.
Tragically, others weren’t as lucky. A father was seen holding his children as the current swept them away. Camp director Dick Eastland died shielding campers, his family calling his actions “his final gift to the girls he loved.”
As Texas mourns, these stories remind us that even in the darkest moments, courage never drowns.
