(Photo: KTIV)
Dennis Kucia of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin says that he doesn't have the strength to "open a pickle jar." That's because he's now fighting stage IV bone cancer only after recovering from throat cancer 10 years ago.
Nonetheless, when Kucia's duplex caught on fire, his work wasn't done after he successfully escaped. He saw that his neighbor hadn't made it out. So Kucia hobbled inside on his crutches. He found his neighbor on the floor, surrounded by flames. Kucia dropped his crutches, grabbed the man by his collar, and dragged him out of the house.
Kucia then went to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. KTIV talked to Kucia about what motivates him:
"Ten, fifteen more seconds he would have been done, because the flames were shooting across. He was laying down flat trying to get out," says Kucia. "He's got one leg, he couldn't do it."
Kucia was hesitant to share his story, but decided it was a way to acknowledge those who helped he and his family during the fire.
The officers, firefighters and Red Cross volunteers helped him and six others inside the home.
Kucia says they give him hope, to help him fight off the cancer long enough to see his new grandchild the family is expecting in four months.
"I want that baby. I want to hold that baby. That's what I want to do. That's why I'm trying to keep going."
-via Debby Witt