now as i saw her, i realized what an uncommon sacrifice it had been. and, after all those years, i told her so! "what you did was way beyond the call of duty," i said. "thank you." i was rewarded with a surprised smile and a sparkle in her eyes.
    each human being is yearning for kind words of appreciation. in december 1991, 17-year-old candi brown`s car overturned; the roof collapsed and crushed her skull. the crews of engine company 8 and med 15 in grayson, ga., rushed her to gwinnett medical center. doctors told her parents to prepare for the worst. but candi survived. a year later the family served a holiday dinner to the gwinnett county firefighters and emergency medical technicians. during dinner candi, whose goal is to walk naturally again, rose painfully and said, "thank you for helping god save my life and giving me a second chance. i love you."