By Lauren Ready, Humankind, USA Today
Officer Tommy Norman says he was destined to drive down that specific road in North Little Rock on June 13th. Because what he encountered was something only he could turn into a story of hope and kindness.
On the side of the road, laying on the sidewalk, was a pregnant woman. She was sleeping on the concrete and her toddler daughter was asleep on her chest.
North Little Rock Police Officer Tommy Norman didn’t know what he was looking at. When he approached the pair and soon learned their story, he knew he was meant to be the person to find them.
Officer Norman is known in North Little Rock for his playfulness, kindness, and especially compassion for the people in his community. Meeting Jessica and her toddler Kayla was meant to be.
They were homeless after fleeing a domestic abuse situation in March. Jessica was pregnant with a little boy, and due any day. She and her daughter had already stayed the maximum amount of time at a local women’s shelter. But when they ended up with nowhere to go, Jessica figured a public place would be the safest place to sleep.