A Second Chance: Patrick Mahomes and the Heart of a Community
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Whole Foods parking lot in downtown Los Angeles. Patrick Mahomes, the legendary NFL star known for his brilliance both on and off the field, pulled his custom electric SUV into a parking spot. At 6’3″, he had to duck slightly as he stepped out of his car, drawing the usual mix of awed stares and excited whispers from nearby shoppers.
As he adjusted his athletic-inspired blazer—a necessity after attending a charity board meeting earlier—he checked his phone one last time. Three missed calls from his financial adviser and a text about a new philanthropic opportunity stared back at him. At 28, Patrick’s empire had expanded far beyond football, encompassing everything from media production to educational initiatives. Yet, a nagging thought lingered in his mind: Was he doing enough to leave a deeper legacy?
Just as he was about to head into the store, movement near the entrance caught his eye. An elderly woman in a wheelchair was struggling with several grocery bags, trying to maneuver herself while preventing the bags from spilling onto the pavement. Despite his celebrity status and the many onlookers, Patrick didn’t hesitate. It reminded him of his late father, who had always emphasized the importance of helping others, no matter how small the act.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Patrick said, his warm smile lighting up the chilly afternoon. “Let me help you with those bags.”
The woman looked up, her eyes widening in recognition. “Oh my goodness, you’re Patrick Mahomes! My late husband, Derek, and I never missed one of your games. He was the biggest Chiefs fan!” Her voice trembled with emotion, but she quickly added, “But please, I don’t want to trouble you.”
“Trouble? Not at all,” Patrick assured her, already gathering the bags in his powerful hands. “Where’s your car?”
“I live in the senior apartments just down the block,” she replied, gesturing down the street. “My daughter, Velma, usually helps me, but she’s busy today, and we needed groceries. I thought I could manage on my own.”
There was a note of frustration in her voice that Patrick immediately recognized—the determination to maintain independence even when physical limitations made it challenging. “Well, today you’ve got the Patrick Express,” he said with a grin, carefully arranging the bags so he could push her wheelchair while holding everything securely.
As they strolled toward the senior apartments, the woman introduced herself as Helen Johnson. She explained that she had been wheelchair-bound for six years following a car accident but was determined to remain as independent as possible. “My doctor said I might never leave my bed,” she said with quiet pride, “but I refused to let that happen. My late husband always reminded me that Johnson women don’t back down from a challenge.”
Helen spoke with a resilience that resonated with Patrick, who admired her resolve. She shared more about her life, recounting her 30 years as a physical education teacher, inspiring children to love sports and stay active. “I used to tell my students about you,” she said with a warm laugh, “not just about your football career but how you stayed dedicated to education and leadership. You inspired a lot of them.”
As they talked, Patrick kept Helen laughing with his well-known sense of humor, sharing stories about his family, philanthropic projects, and media ventures. Unbeknownst to him, a small group of bystanders had begun to follow them at a respectful distance, their phones out capturing the heartwarming moment. A young boy on a bike stopped to watch, his wide eyes reflecting admiration as he saw the NFL star helping someone in such a simple yet profound way.
The short walk gave Patrick time to reflect on his day and his life. At 28, he had achieved more than most could dream of—NFL championships, business ventures, and philanthropic milestones. But moments like these reminded him of his true purpose. He thought about his father, who had taught him that greatness wasn’t just about winning on the field or succeeding in business but about the positive impact you could have on the lives of others. “Be a giant in your heart, not just in your height,” his father would say.
Earlier that morning, Patrick had been in a high-rise conference room meeting with his team of advisers to discuss potential business ventures. The discussions revolved around investment opportunities and community impact initiatives. Among the proposals was a pitch to invest in a chain of medical supply stores, a venture promising significant profits with projected returns of 20% in the first year alone.
Despite the compelling numbers, something about the deal didn’t sit right with Patrick. Over the years, he had developed a knack for identifying meaningful investments—ones that aligned with his core values. While his team focused on profit margins and glossy reports, Patrick’s thoughts drifted to his father’s legacy and his own goal of leaving a lasting impact on underserved communities.
As Patrick helped Helen
We rescued an old stray dog that looked like a bum – after grooming him we found the shocking truth
A MATTED stray dog had fur that was in rough condition making it look years older but after a haircut, everyone was left surprised.
Animal shelter Annenberg Pet Space discovered the stray male Shih Tzu and decided to take him in and help get him back into good shape.
Animal shelter Annenberg Pet Space took in Panda the Shih Tzu after discovering his fur in a rough situationCredit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
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A woman from the shelter explained his matted fur as ‘completely a ball of who knows what’Credit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
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The dog groomer had to tunnel inch by inch through his fur and said getting through small pieces was like seeing the lightCredit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
The Shih Tzu was named Panda by the animal shelter due to his black and white color.
“We knew we could give Panda the immediate help that he definitely needed,” a shelter employee told The Dodo.
A woman from Annenberg Pet Space began the video explaining Panda’s situation and said: “He’s completely a ball of who knows what.”
“Look at the ears, they’re like plastered.”
“He came in as a stray, obviously in quite a state, and probably felt pretty terrible.”
Annenberg Pet Space workers started to dive into getting him fixed up and were met were tons of clumped-up fur in solid pieces.
“Aww, that’s like one solid piece,” a woman said describing a section of the pup’s fur.
“The dog must have been going on almost a year without being groomed.
“He very much smelled like a barnyard.”
Panda seemed to know he was in a safe place and was said to be very cooperative and comfortable with the animal shelter workers.
“I think we instantly knew where he was at. I put him on the table, and he was like alright let’s do it,” the dog groomer said.
“He was so cooperative. I think he really leaned into it.”
The dog groomer was “tunneling and tunneling millimeter by millimeter. He would get through small pieces and it was as if you saw the light.”
After several layers of matted fur were removed, the animal shelter workers were stunned by what they discovered.
“You couldn’t tell where his tiny ears ended and where the fur continued to go.”
“It was pretty miraculous as soon as those top layers came off.”
Everyone was surprised to realize that Panda is actually a puppy once the makeover was complete.
“We were like ‘Oh my God, this is a puppy.’”
Following the makeover, Annenberg Pet Space even found Panda a loving new family where he gets to tag along to Target in a stroller and take Starbucks trips.
You can follow along with Panda’s new life on his Instagram page (@panda_the_pupper)
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The aftermath of Panda’s intense grooming at the animal shelter led everyone to realize he is actually a puppyCredit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
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Panda now has a loving family and gets to spend time cuddling in fuzzy blankets and going on errand trips with his momCredit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
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Panda is a whole new pup after his fur transformation and being adoptedCredit: Instagram/panda_the_pupper
