For a big brother or sister, there’s nothing more important than protecting their younger sibling. Whether it's from bullying or something else, the eldest is always there for the youngest. And recently a brave 6-year-old boy proved that in an incredible way.
He saved his little sister from a terrifying dog attack
The boy saved his sister from an attacking dog, and ended up with multiple dog bites while getting his younger sister out of harm’s way.
The boy’s aunt shared an Instagram post where she talked about how Bridger saved his sister’s life by standing in between her and a charging dog when he saw the animal charging towards her.
Bridger’s aunt, Nikki Walker (@nicolenoelwalker) on Instagram says that he was bit several times on the face and in the head.
The dog attack could have killed him--but he didn't care
Walker shared in her post that he had been bitten several times, before he grabbed his sister’s hand and ran with her to keep her safe. The dog attack could have been deadly, as Bridger suffered multiple bites on his face.
He later told his aunt “If someone had to die, I thought it should be me,” according to her Instagram post.
Bridger was treated by a "skilled plastic surgeon" and reportedly received more than 90 stitches. Now, he is back at home resting.
"His wounds are looking so much better! He’s in great spirits, and his awesome personality is intact," Nicoke said in an update to her post. "He can’t smile too widely yet but he was grinning as I read some of your comments to him."
They are on good terms with the dog's owners
"The dog's owners are really great people who have been nothing but kind to Bridger and his family. We feel no resentment toward them at all, and -- if anything -- there's only been an increase of love between our families as a result of this incident," Nicole continued.
That's the kind of instinct and selfless bravery a lot of us adults can learn from.
If you want to support Bridger:
People have asked Nicole to start a GoFundMe page for Bridger but she insisted that if people wanted to donate money, they should consider donating to Mission 22, which is a non-profit organization that aims to prevent suicide in veterans.
But if you want to support Bridger himself, she says you can do send him pictures of "cool rocks" because "a huge fan of science, especially geology."
"Let's go on a rock hunt! As you're out and about, be sure to take pictures of any cool rocks that you see. Be sure to tell him what state or country the rocks are in. Thank you again for all the love. #BridgerStrong," Nikki wrote in another post.
A Marvel superhero has responded to Bridger
She also wants us to share Bridger's story, hoping that one of his Marvel heroes would give him a shoutout. And one of them responded.
Mark Ruffalo, who plays Hulk in the Marvel movies, responded to the call, commenting: "People who put the well beings of others in front of themselves are the most heroic and thoughtful people I know. I truly respect and admire your courage and your heart."
Real courage isn't dominating people or fighting against people or walking around like a tough guy. Real courage is knowing what is right to do and doing it even when it might end up hurting you somehow.
Mark Ruffalo
Even the actress Anne Hathaway was so touched by Bridger's incredible heroism that she dedicated a whole post to him.
I'm not an Avenger, but I know a superhero when I see one. I can only hope I’m half as brave in my life as you are in yours, Bridger.
Anne Hathaway
The power of selflessness
The heroism 6-year-old Bridger showed is hard to fathom but that doesn't mean we can't take example from him. It takes a lot of courage to put ourselves in the way of danger to help someone else. However, we can still apply the power of selflessness in our day-to-day lives, by thinking of others who might need our help.
More inspiring heroes:
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