In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake killed over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. A father rushed to his son's school, only to discover the building was as flat as a pancake.

    But he remembered that promise he had made to his son, "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!" Tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of debris(瓦砾)that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his words. He rushed there and started digging.

    Other parents tried to pull him off what was left of the school. They tried saying many different things: "It's too late!" "They're all dead!" "Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can do!"

    A firefighter also tried to pull him away, saying, "Fires are breaking out, explosions(爆炸) are happening everywhere. You're in danger."

    The police came and said, "You're endangering(危及)others. Go home."

    To which he replied, "Are you going to help me?" And then he went back to his digging, stone by stone.

    He went on because he needed to know, "Is my boy alive or is he dead?"

    He dug for eight hours ...12 hours…then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" He heard back, "Dad? It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You did it, Dad!"

    "What's going on there?" the father asked.

    "There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad," his son replied. "We're afraid, hungry, thirsty, but thankful you're here."

    "Come on out, boy!"

    "Let the other kids out first, because I know you'll get me! No matter what, I know you'll always be there for me!"