Dec 11, 2008 9:28 pm US/Mountain
Hero Grandfather Gets Pay It Forward Gift
Written by CBS4 special projects producer Libby Smith
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Carol Lewin with Suzanne McCarroll
CBS
The idea behind CBS4's Pay it Forward Colorado project is to give $1,000 to a Coloradan (or group of Coloradans) who will use the money to change someone else's life. Below lies CBS4's Dec. 11 report.
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4) - The downtown lights of Littleton sparkle. It's what drew the Lewin family out on a cold, frosty night.
As the family was walking back to their car, Jim Lewin looked up just in time to see a truck barreling toward them. In that instant instinct took over; Lewin shoved the stroller carrying his 12-day-old daughter out of the way and he took the brunt of the accident.
"He's breathing on his own, so he's assisting the ventilator," said Carol Lewin, Jim's wife of 41-years.
Lewin has been in the hospital since the night of the accident. He's in critical condition. Carol watches and waits for the small signs that her husband is making progress. She looks to her newborn granddaughter Sara for inspiration.
"If we can help others it takes the focus off our pain," said Nancy Derosier.
From across town, Derosier, a CBS4 viewer, saw Lewin's story and was touched by his act of heroism. Derosier is still grieving the loss of her own son. Brett was 28 when he was killed in a plane crash 3 years ago.
"I believe there are two ways of grieving -- holding it in or seeing situations that people need more help than you do," Derosier said.
Derosier's Lakewood home is filled with angels. She believes there is one angel named Brett that is guiding her to reach out to the Lewins.
"I'd like to do this in Brett's honor and in memory of him," Derosier told CBS4.
She's asked to pay it forward to the Lewins, who see her as an angel, too. Two families who are struggling this holiday season are finding strength in one another.
And now the Lewin family is anxious to Pay It Forward to someone else once they get through this crisis.
(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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