She was grateful to the man who jump-started her car in 112-degree heat — but what another woman offered to do moved her to tears
Getting stranded in the middle of the road when your car breaks down and people are honking at you is the worst nightmare ever. But for Instagram creator Tamaya Denae, the nightmare came true when her car suddenly died while she was on her way to a workout. Her car first died at a busy red light, leaving her dealing with honking drivers. It started again but died a second time just before she reached a nearby Whole Foods parking lot. She shared the experience on Instagram under the handle @tamayadenae on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, saying that one stranger who stopped to help turned a frustrating day into a reminder that there are still genuinely good people in the world.
As Denae tried to figure out what to do, she noticed a woman who had been behind her and apologized, but the woman stopped to ask, "What’s wrong?" She initially told Denae she hoped everything worked out, but she didn't just drive away. Instead, she and another man spent around 10 minutes looking for someone who could help jump-start Denae's car. Soon, the man showed up with jumper cables, while the woman came back to check on her. She also noticed that Denae was sitting outside in the Arizona heat, which had reached 112 degrees, and invited her into her car to cool down while they waited.
Once the man got the car started, the woman still made sure Denae was okay. She asked if she had enough money for a new battery, explaining that she had a young daughter and knew how quickly unexpected expenses could add up. When Denae assured her she was fine, the woman asked her to follow her about six miles to AutoZone and made sure she got there safely.
For Denae, the kindness hit especially hard because so many other drivers had simply passed her by. She said it wasn't anyone's responsibility to help, but the woman's effort turned a terrible day around. "That just really reminded me that there genuinely are good people in the world," she said. Denae also mentioned that she was already emotional that day, and the woman's kindness was enough to bring her to tears. The comments showed that plenty of people appreciated the stranger's kindness, too. @bri_tingz_ called her "the sweetest woman ever," while @jennyhert wrote, "I’m so glad she found you." Another viewer, @snakebbite, summed up the moment simply: "Women are the protectors, girl."
Getting stranded with a broken-down car can feel even worse when you're stuck in the heat and don't know who to turn to. In another story, a mother whose car broke down while she was alone with her baby had a stranger stop to check on them. Even after she declined his offer to sit in his car, he stayed nearby until help arrived because he didn't want to leave them alone. His simple decision to stick around gave the mother some much-needed reassurance during a stressful situation.
For more of her stories, follow @tamayadenae on Instagram.