In a moment that can only be described as a miracle, a quick-acting Ohio man prevented a potential tragedy during a Cleveland Monsters hockey game last Thursday.
Asia Davis, the mother of four-year-old Nasir, watched in horror as a hockey puck, described as “more dense than a baseball,” flew towards her son. “This puck comes out of heaven, straight toward my son’s head,” she recounted.
Andrew Podolak, witnessing the danger, instinctively used his arm to deflect the puck, averting serious injury or worse for little Nasir.
“It was coming up over the glass and I just saw it was wobbling and whatnot, and, O God! The first thing I gotta do is protect the kid, jump in front of it,” Podolak explained.
This selfless act was a profound example of God’s presence in our lives, guiding us to act justly and courageously in moments of crisis. We often find God’s protection not in the absence of danger but through the loving actions of those He guides in times of need.
After the game, Asia took to TikTok seeking to thank the stranger who had saved her son. The viral plea successfully reconnected her with Podolak. “Next thing you know, my phone is blowing up,” Podolak said, recalling the moment he realized he was the subject of the viral search.
Their reunion was nothing short of heartwarming, culminating in a special moment before another Monsters game where they dropped the puck together, a symbol of their new bond.
After the nerve-wracking incident at the hockey game, it was revealed that Andrew Podolak had chosen to sit next to Asia Davis and her son Nasir deliberately, despite having an extra seat. “He was like, ‘I was meant to be here’,” Davis shared, amazed by the divine intervention at play. “You cannot tell me God is not real.”
Both Davis and Podolak believe the sequence of events was not mere chance. Podolak’s seating details added to this belief: “My section was 107, row 7, seat 7,” he noted. Davis connected this to her own life, saying, “Seven is my lucky number. I was born on the seventh…I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe everything happens for a reason. I’m just so grateful.”
Asia continuously expressed her gratitude towards Podolak, telling him, “You’re a really special person and I just hope that you never go a day in your life without knowing that.”
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