Just the other day I read about a heroic thing that just occurred, and because Sunday is the day that I write about individuals who deserve our praise and respect because of something they did, what could be more appropriate than to write about Andre “Tre” Howard. What makes today’s story different from my usual Sunday hero stories, is that today’s hero is only ten years old.
From Aleteia:
On January 31, 2025, a medical evacuation plane carrying six people, including a child, crashed near a shopping center in Philadelphia. The accident killed seven people and injured more than 20 others. In the midst of this devastating chaos, Andre Howard, nicknamed Tre, showed remarkable heroism, risking his life to protect his sister’s.
That day, Andre and his brother and sister were with their father, Andre Howard Jr. The family usually had a Friday after-school snack at Dunkin’ Donuts. But the day, usually full of laughter and fun, took a tragic turn when a sudden explosion occurred. A medical plane crashed before their eyes, throwing debris and flames into the streets and onto the surrounding cars, including that of the Howard family. “We heard a boom, a really loud boom, and we saw a fireball that covered the whole entire sky,” the father told CNN.
In that moment of absolute panic, as a rain of debris fell on their vehicle, young Andre threw himself on top of his 4-year-old sister to protect her with his body. When the father turned to his children to make sure they were all right, he discovered that Andre was lying on top of his sister with a piece of metal stuck in his head. His other son, aged 7, was sitting next to them, unharmed.
Andre was quickly taken to the nearest hospital, and was going to be transferred to a pediatric center. However, his situation was too critical, so they operated immediately. The doctors alerted the family to the serious risks, including the possibility that he might never walk again. Fortunately, he made it through the surgery successfully, and is expected to make a full recovery.
As soon as he woke up, he didn’t think about his own suffering, but about his little sister. CNN reports that his first words were, “Did I save her from the crash?”
But more than the media attention, the little boy’s beautiful life-saving gesture, which embodies true brotherly love, will remain forever etched in the memory of his entire family.
A true hero and only ten years old!
3/2/25