A Tough Childhood
For Klynn Scales, life was anything but easy for her family. Growing up with her mother and two brothers in Kansas City, MO in the 90s, the family was constantly struggling just to make ends meet.
Her mother worked hard to provide for the family, but it never seemed to be enough.
One Moment of Kindness
Thankfully, there was one moment in Klynn’s day that always brought her joy, the opportunity to wave at her favorite police officer who patrolled their street on a daily basis.
In that single moment, Klynn could forget her struggles and feel appreciated. However, one day, everything changed.
Where Is She?
One afternoon, the police officer waited for Klynn for their routine greeting, but she never arrived.
It was the first time she missed their daily appointment and he immediately knew something was terribly wrong. You won’t believe what happens…
A Family on the Brink
The Scales family was struggling. At only 9-years-old, Klynn watched as her mother did everything she could to provide for the family, but in the end, it simply wasn’t enough.
It always seemed like the world was against them and every time they took one step forward, they would be forced to take another three steps back.
A Tough Neighborhood
It didn’t help that they were also living in a very tough neighborhood in Kansas City. Violence was an everyday norm and drugs were sold regularly on the streets.
It was a tough place to live and not the best situation for a young girl to grow up in.
No Money for the Basics
Money was also a constant problem. Bills were piling up left and right, and keeping food on the table regularly was hit or miss.
There were many nights that Klynn had to go to bed hungry due to the lack of funds for a decent meal. It didn’t help that her mother soon turned down a dark path.
Giving into the Darkness
Tired of struggling, Klynn’s mother turned to drugs and the violence they had worked so hard to keep out of their home was suddenly infecting it.
Klynn found herself having to be the light for her brothers, transforming into a mother and caregiver.
Finding Solace
Thankfully, despite the despair and sadness, Klynn was able to find solace in one person.
It was someone she never expected to care, giving the area she lived in and her upbringing, but it was a welcome surprise that would make an impact on her life.
A Routine Patrol
For officer Jeff Colvin, patrolling the neighborhoods of Kansas City was a routine he had grown accustomed to.
The area he worked was known for its shady business dealings and high crime rate, which meant Colvin had to stay hyper-alert during his patrols. He never knew what unexpected situation he could find himself in.
An Officer with Heart
One day, Colvin noticed a young girl in the neighborhood he patrolled. He smiled at her and he noticed her eyes lit up and with a grin, she waved back.
It was a simple gesture, but Colvin knew the kids living in the area had it tough. However, he never imagined that one wave would turn into something so much greater.
The Same Spot
Over the course of the next few weeks, Colvin and Klynn would meet in the same spot and he would wave, while she smiled.
It became a daily routine for the girl and officer, one he had no idea brought her so much joy due to her troubled home life.
A Relationship Grows
As time continued to pass, Colvin and Klynn would begin to form a bond.
They would talk about the weather, her day as well as dreams, goals, and aspirations. However, there was a secret Klynn was keeping from him.
Sadness Behind the Smile
Despite giving off the appearance of a happy little girl, Klynn was struggling.
As her mother’s condition and absence from her life grew, the young girl was forced to step up to the plate and become the adult in the family. Colvin had no idea how hard her life was.
Trying to Get By
With her mother rarely home, Klynn had to make sure there was food to feed her two younger brothers. This led her to steal food from the local 7-11.
Klynn knew that stealing was wrong, but what other choice did she have? There had been too many times she and her brothers went days without food and she refused to let them go hungry.
A Source of Stability
Officer Colvin was the one person in Klynn’s life she could count on.
Every day he would show up at their spot and he became a role model and very important person in her life. However, one day, everything changed…
Missing
One sunny afternoon, Colvin arrived at the spot he met Klynn to find her missing. She had never missed their routine get-togethers, and he was surprised that she would suddenly vanish.
He had grown quite fond of the girl and was worried something might have happened to her.
Investigating the Situation
Colvin decided to check in Klynn and drove over to her house. He had followed her once to make sure she had gotten home safely, so he knew exactly where it was.
However, when he knocked on the door nobody answered. But then he heard a moan followed by movement…
Breaking In
While he wasn’t in the habit of breaking into someone’s home, Colvin had a terrible gut feeling that something was wrong.
After making his way inside, he found Klynn lying on the floor. Pale and shivering, he realized she was very sick and immediately called an ambulance.
Saving A Life
After being rushed to the hospital, Klynn was diagnosed with severe malnourishment.
According to the doctors, Colvin had saved her life by finding her because she wouldn’t have lasted another day without treatment. Talk about being a guardian angel!
A Light in the Storm
“Through all the bad situations, I would just picture him saying that he was here for us—and that if we ever needed him, he would be right there,” Klynn would recall later.
“He would always protect us. So those words would come to me during the worst times of my childhood life.”
Decades Pass
After Colvin saved Klynn she would end up moving out of the area.
As the years passed, she never forgot the incredible kindness he had bestowed upon her when she was nine-years-old. He had given her a second chance at life.
Trust
“He was that one person that I trusted in my life as a kid,” Klynn revealed.
And after 20 years thinking about him, she knew she had to seek him out. Despite all the time that had passed, Klynn wanted to thank him in person.
Reaching Out
Unfortunately, Klynn had forgotten his name after all that time. Therefore, she logged onto Facebook and began to search the Kansas City Police Department’s page, hoping she might catch a glimpse of him.
Thankfully, she was able to reach out to Sergeant Jennifer Jones, who said she would reach out to Officer Colvin on her behalf.
Shocked
Jones emailed Colvin and told him that a woman claimed to be a little girl he had helped years ago and that she was looking for the officer she had waved to daily.
Colvin remembered Klynn and was shocked, to say the least.
Vivid Memories
Colvin immediately knew who she was. Despite it being 20 years ago, he had thought of the girl often wondering what had happened to her.
“I always wondered what became of her,” Colvin told the local news. “It was surprising to connect so many years later.”
Making the Connection
After Colvin confirmed he knew the girl, Jones connected him directly with Klynn. The now grown woman was ecstatic to have found the man who had made such a direct impact on her life.
“I just never thought that this would happen, to find my hero,” she revealed.
A Reunion Years in the Making
After meeting with Klynn, Colvin was overwhelmed with emotion. “Most times we go through our career not realizing we truly helped anybody out,” he recalled. “That was the case with me, where I wondered if I was even in the right career path.”
Thankfully, his relationship with Klynn proved he had selected the right path.
Making An Impact
Klynn revealed that Colvin saving her life had a major impact on her next steps in life. She was able to turn her life around, get her brothers away from her drug-addicted mother and make a life for herself.
Now, she was planning to become a police officer, hoping to make the same impact on someone else like Colvin did for her.
Sharing on Social Media
After meeting with Colvin, Klynn shared her story on social media and it immediately went viral, garnering a ton of support for her and Colvin.
People were impressed by Colvin’s selflessness and kindness while praising Klynn for rising above her circumstances.
An Angel in Uniform
“Jeff Colvin is not just a hero to me, but my guardian angel also. He was there when I had no one. I want him and every police officer to know that what you do, no matter how small or big, you can make a positive impact in someone’s life, like he did mine.”
We imagine that Klynn is going to go on and do amazing things. It’s amazing how much of an impact a simple smile and a wave can make.