“The two men who saved your life are waiting to greet you right outside,” the nurse said. I was weak—dehydrated, sick, and exhausted—but relief flooded me when she added, “Your babies are safe.”

My body had finally given up. The flu and pushing too hard had landed me in the hospital. But the story really begins with Jesse and Lila’s love for the garbage truck. Every Monday, they’d watch for Theo and Rashad—two sanitation workers who became weekly highlights, honking, waving, and sharing laughs.

The kids adored them. Jesse cherished toy trucks Rashad gave, and Lila made a shoebox bed for one. So when I collapsed that Monday, it wasn’t surprising that Theo and Rashad noticed something was wrong and stepped in.

Afterward, we’d greet them with coffee and muffins. The kids decorated the truck. Theo said he kept their art in his locker. Rashad told me, “We protect our people.” And they did.