Seeing Three Drowning Women, This Quick-Thinking Waiter Dove Into the Icy River
Despite having no lifesaving training, Paul Blachut knew he had to everything he could to rescue them.
Doctors Thought This Three-Year-Old Had Appendicitis—Until the Surgery Started
To their surprise, little Daniel's appendix looked perfectly healthy. It was when they started moving the camera through his intestines...
I Adopted My First Dog at 65, and Everything Changed
At first I didn’t think of Casey and me as “us.” But before long I found myself speaking of the...
Life Lessons I Learned From My Daughter
My daughter’s cancer diagnosis was devastating, but it was also the start of a journey that was a privilege to...
As the Lion Bit Down, the Man Felt Sure He Was About to Die
A classic Drama in Real Life from the Reader's Digest archives, originally published in 1977.
This 38-Year-Old’s Deteriorating Vision Stumped Doctors. What Tests Revealed is the Stuff of N...
For weeks, an eye parasite had been tunnelling, undetected, through the Ontario woman’s macula. Read the true story of how...
This is What it Was Like Living in Saskatchewan in the 1930s
Despite the hardships, the memories of farm life in the small town of Balcarres during the Great Depression will never...
A Beloved Rust Bucket: Memories of My 1963 Volkswagen Beetle
Over the years, I’ve owned various cars, and each one has been my favourite, until it wasn’t. But, like a...
Drama in Real Life: Rogue Bear on the Rampage
A tragic true story of heroism in the face of horror from the Reader's Digest archives, originally published in 1999.
By Donating Their Children’s Organs, These Parents Gave Other Families Hope
“Instead of five families mourning the loss of their child, it’s only ours. That’s why organ donation is worth it.”
A Truckload of Memories: The Story of Our 1950 Dodge Truck
Bought new more than 70 years ago, this 1950 Dodge is still trucking for the family that purchased it—with a...
My Dad Was Diagnosed With MS at 43—And It Changed Our Family Forever
For my mother, caregiving was filled with challenges—and triumphs.
My Late Mother’s Fur Coat is Horrifying—But I Can’t Bring Myself to Throw It Out
As I opened a garbage bag and got ready to stuff it inside, I noticed something...
Eternally Yours: Reflections on a Lifelong Romance
"Our years together were spent sharing our dreams and happiness, our worries and sorrows. We were blessed indeed. This wonderful...
In the Winter of ’81, Something Strange Washed Up on the Bay of Fundy’s Shores
How one town rallied around an amazing, unexpected visitor.
What Was Causing Little Kelly’s Uncontrollable Muscle Spasms?
The child's debilitating symptoms were a medical mystery, until a doctor discovered a genetic mutation so rare as to be...
Those Three Little Words
Remembering to say “I love you” can make all the difference in the world.
I Never Knew How to Communicate With My Dad—Until I Wrote Him an Email
It’s hard to talk to dads sometimes. The roles we often expect our fathers to play—protector, provider—can make them seem...
This Young Woman Was Haunted By the Sounds of Elevator Music and Seagulls Squawking—But Nothing Was ...
The auditory hallucinations were only the beginning of her terrifying medical mystery.
My Funny Valentine: Hilarious Valentine’s Day Stories That Are Guaranteed to Make You Grin
Want to make your sweetheart smile? Check out the funniest Valentine's Day stories in Reader's Digest history.
Doctors Thought This Ontario Teen Had E. Coli—Until Her Organs Started Failing
But if it wasn't the raw cookie dough Claire had eaten, what could possibly be causing her body to shut...
This Was the Coldest Day in Canadian History
On February 3, 1947, the temperature in the Yukon plunged to a bone-chilling (and record-breaking) -63°C.
An Inseparable Pair
The heartwarming story of how a mutual love of classic cars helped forge a special bond between friends.
I Was Diagnosed with ADHD as an Adult—My Difficult Life Finally Made Sense
For 30 years, Tracey Mellis struggled with a miserable, messy life. Then she found out why.
What My Mother-in-Law’s Dementia Diagnosis Taught Me About Caregiving
We weren’t prepared for my mother-in-law’s dementia—or the care that she truly needed.
Why Newfoundland is the Kindest Province
When this vacationing family found themselves in need of a car in Newfoundland, a local's random act of kindness left...
I Worked at a Logging Camp in the ’40s—Here’s What It Was Like
Before the age of chainsaws and transport trucks, farmers from Ontario—my father and I included—would travel to a logging camp...
The Harsh Truth About Santa
’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through my head, were the haunting three words my friend Julia said: “Santa’s...
