After Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, many were left stranded in their homes and – as was the case for LeShay Brown and her family – on their roofs. Pararescue specialist Sergeant Mike Maroney spotted them waving for help and rescued them in his helicopter.
What had been a phenomenally bad day for Maroney became unexpectedly lighter. He suffered from PTSD and the post-hurricane devastation was weighing heavily on him, but 3-year-old LeShay took a shine to him and wanted to chat. While they were in the air she pointed out places she knew – her home, her school – and when they landed she excitedly gave him a big hug. A press photographer happened to catch a photo of the embrace.
“The embrace she gave me was enough to refill my tank, and we went back out and began picking up more people. On that day, it was exactly what I needed (…) the resiliency that she had has been a strength for me.” Maroney said in an interview with Airman.
That fleeting, tender moment of gratitude offered by a girl who’d witnessed an immense tragedy stuck with Maroney for the next decade. He brought the photo with him on his tours to Afghanistan and Iraq as a reminder that lightness and levity can always be found.
Thanks to the magic of social media, the two were reunited after 10 years. On first seeing her, Maroney said, “Your hug, it helped me through hard days and rough days. You rescued me more than I rescued you.”
LeShay’s family quickly adopted Maroney as an honorary family member and he now frequents the drive from his Texas home to theirs in Mississippi.
