Overview of Lavonne Schaafsma's Story
This episode of Hidden Brain’s My Unsung Hero—hosted by Shankar Vedantam—features Lavonne Schaafsma (visiting from Grand Rapids, Michigan) telling how two strangers in Chicago rescued her purse after it was being tampered with in Millennium Park. The story is a short, personal account about noticing suspicious behavior, intervening on behalf of a stranger, and the profound emotional relief and gratitude that followed.
The story (concise)
- Lavonne was visiting downtown Chicago, stopped for breakfast, and sat on a bench in Millennium Park.
- Later she realized her purse was missing; it contained ID, credit cards, medications, car keys, and cash.
- After retracing her steps without success, she walked into the Millennium Park gift shop to ask if anyone had turned in a black purse.
- The cashier pointed out two women who had earlier seen a man rifling through a purse on a park bench. They confronted him, retrieved the purse by pretending it was theirs, and brought it to the gift shop while waiting to see if the owner returned.
- The women left before Lavonne arrived; when Lavonne asked, the cashier recognized the purse and returned it to her.
- Lavonne reflects that their action saved her hours of hassle and massive anxiety; she never got the chance to thank them and often wonders whether she would have intervened in the same way.
Key takeaways
- Small acts of vigilance and courage by strangers can have large, tangible impacts on someone’s life.
- Intervening on behalf of a stranger can be simple (calling attention, involving security) and can prevent theft or worse outcomes.
- The emotional value of being saved from anxiety and logistical headaches (canceling cards, replacing IDs, securing medications) is as important as the material value.
- Lavonne’s story prompts reflection on our willingness to help strangers and how to safely do so.
Notable quotes
- “I can't even express to you how much you've changed my life.”
- “What act of kindness am I willing to do on behalf of someone I don't know?”
Themes and insights
- Bystander intervention: The two women moved from noticing to acting, showing how decisive action matters.
- Courage and risk assessment: They intervened in a risky situation but did so strategically (confrontation + bringing it to visible security area).
- Gratitude and unresolved thanks: Lavonne’s lingering desire to directly thank the women highlights how meaningful recognition is to both giver and receiver.
- Everyday heroism: Heroic acts don’t need to be dramatic—being observant and stepping in can be heroic.
Practical suggestions (implied)
- If you see suspicious behavior around someone’s belongings, consider safe, low-risk interventions: call security, alert staff, or draw attention to the situation rather than confronting a potentially dangerous person alone.
- Keep emergency contacts and steps (cancel cards, retrieve meds) handy when traveling, but also recognize that timely intervention by others can save a lot of trouble.
How the show invites listeners to participate
- Hidden Brain asks listeners to submit their own unsung-hero stories: record a three-minute (or shorter) account on your phone and email the file to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.
Host: Shankar Vedantam. Location/context: Millennium Park, downtown Chicago; storyteller from Grand Rapids, Michigan.