Conjoined twins separated after 7-hour surgery – This is them today

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Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth Richards, conjoined twins born on December 29, 2016, were separated during a seven-hour surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston. The little girls, who spent a year and a half in the hospital before they were finally allowed to go home, shared a liver, diaphragm, and part of their heart, which were carefully divided during the procedure.

“We’ve thought about and prayed for this day for almost two years,” the girls’ mom, Jill Richards, said on the day of the procedure.

“It’s an indescribable feeling to look at our girls in two separate beds,” Richards added. “We couldn’t be more thankful to the entire team at Texas Children’s for making this dream come true.”

Before the main surgery, Anna Grace and Hope Elizabeth underwent another surgery on November 6, 2017, during which tissue expanders were inserted to help their skin grow and stretch.

On January 13, 2018, the twin girls underwent their separation surgery, performed by a team of nearly 75 surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and nurses across eight specialties.

“The success of this incredibly complex surgery was the result of our dedicated team members’ hard work throughout the last year,” said Dr Larry Hollier, surgeon-in-chief and chief of plastic surgery at Texas Children’s, according to the Independent.

“Through simulations and countless planning meetings, we were able to prepare for situations that could arise during the separation.

“We are thrilled with the outcome and look forward to continuing to care for Anna and Hope as they recover.”

The family was aware of the fact that they will be welcoming conjoined twins after doctors discovered that during a routine ultrasound. The girls were born via Caesarean-section at 35 weeks.

Today, the girls are thriving. Their family is glad the surgeries and the long hospital stays are long behind them.

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Urgent warning issued as man loses his fully paid off $800,000 home over a $5,000 water bill

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Monica Pop

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Filmore Brown has lived in his Brooklyn home since 1996 and paid off his mortgage in 2019, but now, he lost his home due to an unpaid water bill of about $5,000 he says he wasn’t even aware about.

The city sold the unpaid bill to a group of investors, allowing them to pursue foreclosure on the property.

According to Brown, he never received any notice about the bill or the legal proceedings. The thing is, however, that he’s living on the top floor of a three-unit building and rents out the lower apartments to other people and the New York City’s Department of Finance claim notices were sent to his home and someone was even handed court documents stating the impending foreclosure in November 2020. Brown, however, never received them.

According to Newsweek, the unpaid water bill of $5,057.71 dated back to around 2019.

Brown only learned that his $800,000 property was put on sale after a group of contractors appeared in the middle of the night attempting to get into the house, for which they had legal right.

Despite the water bill being worth less than 1 percent of Brown’s home, the trust proceeded with the foreclosure on his property to settle the debt.

“He said he didn’t know anything about this and I believe him,” said Brown’s attorney, Alice Nicholson.

Since the debt went to the trust, Brown has paid thousands of dollars in current taxes and water bills. “He just paid a water bill this year in the thousands of dollars, so it’s just heart wrenching,” said attorney Yolande Nicholson.

She also explained that once his old bill was placed in the trust, it no longer appeared on his current bills because the two systems aren’t connected.

“There needs to be some type of notification that there’s another bill out there that needs to be paid.

“There needs to be more done to make sure that these hardworking older people who paid off their mortgage and have fixed incomes don’t get into that kind of rut.”

Brown feels like his home was stolen from him, saying that he doesn’t want “anybody to go through what I’m going through,” adding: “I cannot eat, I cannot drink, and I cannot sleep.”

A spokesperson of the Department of Finance said in response, “Our goal is never to see a homeowner lose their property. Last year, we implemented reforms to specifically prevent unfortunate situations like this from happening by giving property owners more time, information, and resources to resolve their debts.

“For this year’s lien sale, we strengthened our outreach efforts to make sure we reached as many owners as possible, working with non-profit groups and other City agencies to conduct door-to-door visits, direct phone calls, and other targeted communications.

“Homeowners have several options for resolving their debt with the City, whether it’s related to property taxes, water and sewer charges, or other municipal charges. This includes property tax exemptions for eligible residents, flexible payment plans, and other forms of assistance.

“Our priority is to connect property owners with these resources early, so they can protect their homes and avoid the lien sale altogether.”

Brown’s story highlights a broader problem affecting thousands of homeowners.

In July, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it wants mortgage lenders to work with homeowners rather than foreclose on their homes, according to Newsweek. The proposal, which has not yet been finalized, aims to simplify the process and ensure borrowers have better access to information about their debt.

“When struggling homeowners can get the help they need without unnecessary obstacles, it is better for borrowers, servicers, and the economy as a whole,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said in a statement.

“The CFPB’s proposal would reduce avoidable foreclosures and make the mortgage market more resilient during future crises.”

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I broke a stranger’s car window to rescue a dog — and then things took a wild turn

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Monica Pop

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The day was brutally hot. I barely walked down the street when I noticed a dog locked inside a silver car, obviously struggling to breathe. The poor dog, a German Shepherd, looked like it might collapse any second. There was no air inside, and the so-called “water” the owner left was just a sealed bottle lying on the floor.

I felt sorry for the dog and before I tried getting it out of the hot car, I called the number the owner left on the windshield, but what he only told me to stay out of it and mind my own business, believing that the sealed water bottle was enough for his pet to not overheat.

But you know what? Saving that dog was exactly what MY business was at that moment so I grabbed a huge rock and smashed the window.

The poor animal collapsed right into my arms.

Shortly after, the owner arrived, furious that I had broken the window and threatening to call the cops. He didn’t even check on the dog; all he cared about was his car.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he yelled as people started gathering around us.

“Your dog was suffocating,” I said. “You left her in a hot car.”

His fury boiled over. “You had no right! I’m calling the cops—you’ll pay for this!”

But then, everything changed. A woman stepped forward with the phone in her hand. “I’m calling animal control,” she said. A second woman offered me a bottle of water. “For the dog,” she said. The rest of the people stood with me.

And then, from the back of the crowd, a boy’s voice could be heard saying, “Daddy… you told me dogs are family. We don’t leave family in the car.”

It was then that the man realized he was in the wrong. All of a sudden, his anger turned into shame. The crowd’s judgment and his child’s innocence broke him. “I… I didn’t think it was that hot,” he whispered.

By the time animal control came, the parking lot had calmed. The most important thing was that the dog was okay, the man had learned his lesson, and the crowd walked away knowing that when people stand together, compassion wins.

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Woman’s kindness to single dad reveals heartbreaking connection: Bracelet from her child’s burial on his daughter

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Monica Pop

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On what seemed to be an ordinary Thursday, one woman’s entire world turned upside down.

While shopping one day, Linette noticed a man at the store who had a hard time calming his young daughter down. The little one was throwing a tantrum and her dad was completely helpless.

As the screaming wouldn’t stop for another minute or two, Linette decided to approach and offer to help. She was good with children, because she had a daughter herself, but she passed away five years prior. The father, exhausted and visibly weighed down by more than just parenting stress, explained that it had been a tough year for him and his daughter after his wife had left them.

Linette told him not to worry, handed the little girl a box of cereal, and soon her sobs started to slow down as she clutched the box tightly. At that moment, Linette’s heart started pounding. The girl was wearing a custom silver bracelet with a little cross in the middle. It was exactly the same as the one Linette buried with her daughter who died of leukemia.

The similarity was too striking to be just a coincidence.

But how could a stranger’s daughter have that bracelet, Linette couldn’t stop wondering. She was confused and wanted answers, but the store wasn’t the place where she could find them so she said “goodbye” and continued shopping. However, she was unable to get rid of the feeling that there was more to uncover.

Over the following days, Linette kept thinking of the bracelet so she decided to do some research. As she was going through the internet, she stumbled upon an article about the funeral director who had handled her daughter’s service. He was involved in a scandal when he was caught stealing and selling personal items of the deceased to unsuspecting buyers. Learning this, Linette was positive the bracelet the girl wore belonged to her Emily.

It took some time, but Linette was able to reach the girl’s father, Bob. She explained everything to him and told him how much that piece of jewelry meant to her. Bob was very understanding and sympathetic. He agreed to return the bracelet to her and offered to help her build a case against the funeral home. It turned out he was a lawyer and was happy to represent her case in court.

Linette and Bob met many times, gathering evidence for their case. Bob’s daughter was present at some of the meetings and Linette loved her presence. She reminded her of Emily.

When the day of the trial finally arrived, they entered the courtroom determined to win the case. The judge ruled in their favor, ordering a formal apology and a significant settlement from the funeral home. As the verdict was read, Linette felt relieved. She knew justice was served for her sweet girl.

Over time, Linette and Bob formed a strong bond. What started as a strange coincidence blossomed into a start of a new family.

The silver bracelet that once served as a symbol of loss, became a representation of a new chapter for Linette.

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Frank Caprio owed everything to his wife of 60 years – his message to her before dying will make you cry

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Monica Pop

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Despite his battle with cancer and his advanced age, the death of Frank Caprio, who was known as “the nicest judge in the world,” shocked many of his fans.

Many of his wholesome and heartwarming courtroom moments went viral, and all for the right reasons, helping him gain the admiration from people not only in the States but worldwide.

Frank Caprio was a Providence, Rhode Island, judge and the son of Italian immigrants who grew up in the Italian-American neighborhood of Federal Hill in Providence. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Providence College in 1958 and started teaching American government at Hope High School in Providence, all the while pursuing night courses at Suffolk University School of Law in Boston.

Caprio became an international sensation thanks to his traffic court cases, which captured the attention of social media users worldwide, racking up over 1.7 billion views.

What not many knew, however, is that Judge Caprio’s wife of over 60 years, Joyce, played part in her husband become a celebrated public figure.

In fact, it was her who suggested he showcased the footage of his court cases that his brother filmed.

“I didn’t like the idea actually, but of course, when my wife makes a suggestion, I usually don’t win that battle,” Caprio told Rhode Island Monthly.

“I agreed we would try it and see if it was something that worked. And there was an overwhelmingly positive response.”

First, his cases aired on WLNE-TV, with a run on ABC 6 at the turn of the century, which helped him gain local popularity. He, however, only gained global recognition once John Methia of Sociable, also the senior producer for Citylife Production, posted the videos to Facebook and YouTube.

In 2017, Caprio received what he called “the magic phone call” from Debmar-Mercury, which led to national attention for Caught in Providence. The series launched with 130 episodes airing twice daily on Fox, reaching 90 percent of the U.S., including major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

“It’s surreal,” executive producer Joe Caprio said. “I am not a kid, so for this to happen at this stage of my life, God is good… I kept it real all these years. What is there is what we saw. It’s all about a good person helping people.”

While he become a public figure later in life, it was his marriage that was the foundation of his life.

Judge Caprio and wife Joyce raised five children together and built a quiet life out of the spotlight. She was his support throughout his life, especially during his battle with pancreatic cancer.

In one of his home videos that he shared, Judge Caprio paid tribute to his wife’s unwavering support, calling her “the incredible woman who gave me the greatest gift of all: our five amazing children!”

He continued, “Your strength, love, and endless devotion shape our family every single day.”

Months prior to his passing, he once again shared his devotion and love for his wife with a heartfelt photo and a message.

Rest in peace, Judge Frank Caprio, the world will miss your kindness.

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Elderly woman’s dog acts overly cheerful, police find shocking truth

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Monica Pop

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The police station felt unusually quiet that morning until an elderly woman, probably in her late seventies, entered the place together with her reddish dog that was on a leash.

However, instead of launching into the usual lost-and-found story or filing a complaint, she insisted that she needed to talk to whoever was in charge because something was seriously wrong with her dog. The officers were confused at first, telling the lady that the vet clinic was just across the street, but she was convinced her dog didn’t need a vet but another sort of help. Living alone, she knew her pet better than anyone else, and she had noticed that the dog turned into an overly cheerful one all of a sudden. To her, it didn’t just seem like the regular zoomies—she genuinely felt something strange was at play, and she was there to find answers.

Once they realized the woman won’t leave the station unless someone takes her concerns seriously, one of the senior officers took her into an interview room to hear her out.

She explained that her dog was laid-back and sleepy until a week ago, and now his behavior changed completely although everything else remained the same, and that included the food he ate, the walks he took. Well, except for a single beg of food she ordered for him online. Thinking about her dog’s behavior, she realized it started to change after that bag arrived.

To give the woman a peace of mind, the officer sent off the food and the dog’s bowl for testing, and had a vet run some checks as well. No one really expected anything wild to come back but just two days later, the lab results told a different story. The food was laced with synthetic stimulants. Basically, whoever made it snuck drugs into the dog food, making any pet that ate it way more energetic, and hoping to hook owners so they’d keep buying the same brand.

That’s when things turned even wilder. They tracked the fake food to a warehouse nearby, and as they dug deeper, it turned out other local families had been dealing with weirdly hyperactive pets, too. The authorities checked shops and online listings, uncovered the whole scam, and managed to shut down a pretty shady operation.

In the end, the officers thanked the woman for her persistence. Her concern had saved a bunch of families and their pets from the same trouble. After some detox and some rest, her dog finally turned to his lazy self and the woman couldn’t wait for that to happen.

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My mother-in-law took back the bicycle she gifted my daughter

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Monica Pop

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I still can’t wrap my head around what my mother-in-law did recently. Last weekend, she actually took back the bike she gave my daughter Emily—right in front of her and my son Max. Honestly, I can still picture the look on their faces.

So, a couple of weeks ago, Janet (my MIL) brought over this adorable pink bike for Emily. Streamers, basket, tiny bell—the works. You should’ve seen Emily’s face; she was completely in love, and she rode up and down the block for hours. For a minute there I thought Janet was gunning for Grandma of the Year.

Fast forward to last Saturday, Janet popped by unannounced as usual. I offered her coffee, thinking she stopped by to see the kids, but no. She was there for another reason, one that shocked me.

After a couple of minutes, my mother-in-law dropped the bomb: “I need to take that bike back.”

I actually laughed at first because, come on, what? Emily and Max were playing in the living room, but didn’t hear their grandma’s shocking words. Janet’s face was dead serious, and that’s when I knew she meant what she demanded.

Her explanation? Apparently, she promised that exact same bike to her neighbor’s granddaughter but somehow “forgot,” so she just gave it to Emily instead. And now, she wanted to “fix” that mistake by taking the gifted bike back while my kids were right there, watching.

When Emily saw her grandma taking the bike, she rushed towards it and grabbed it by the handlers, looking at me, totally lost. “But Grandma, you gave me this bike,” she said. Max was just standing there all puzzled. Janet, meanwhile, already untangled the handlebars from Emily’s fingers, saying, “You’ll get another one soon. This one needs to go back.”

I tried to quietly signal Janet to please, for the love of all that is holy, not do that right there and then. However, her answer was, “She’ll outgrow it in a year. I’ll make it up to her.”

Yeah, she actually took it. Walked out the door while Emily sobbed and Max hugged her, not really understanding why his big sister was so upset.

A few days later, my husband and I bought Emily a new bike, and although she like it, she said it wasn’t as pretty as her old one.

Honestly, I still can’t believe Janet did what she did. I haven’t spoken to her ever since and I refuse to let the kids speak to her as well. And although my husband knows his mom is definitely on the wrong here, he insists I am being too harsh so I’m not really sure which one of us is right.

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Mother-in-law tried to ruin our family dinner with a lie

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Monica Pop

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The moment I first laid eyes on Alex Rodriguez was the moment I knew my soulmate entered into my life. he was the most charming man I’ve ever met. What’s most, he was loving, caring, and felt the same way about me. The only thing that stood in the way of our happiness was his mother—my mother-in-law, Evelyn—who tried to ruin everything we hoped to build by spreading one lie after another.

The truth was that she was so infatuated with her son that she felt like I was stealing him from her. What’s more, she couldn’t get over the fact that Alex fell for an Asian woman.

When Evelyn and I met for the first time, she was quick to mention Alex’s ex girlfriend, who was Mexican-American.

“You know, Eva understood our Mexican culture,” she said after I failed to show interest in her tamales recipe.

At the beginning, Alex didn’t think his mom’s behavior was out of line. He tried to assure me that she did what she did because she loved him. After all, he was her only son and tradition was an important part of her life.

One day, when we met for coffee, she looked at me and said,” You don’t look that bad, but you should put some makeup on every once in a while. It will make you look prettier.”

Evelyn showed her true self once again during our wedding day, but Alex was still unable to realize what kind of woman she was.

When we were about to have our first dance, she stole the moment from me and danced with her son in the middle of the dance floor while I just stood there, watching in confusion. The guests were as shocked as I was.

Finally, when I fell pregnant, I believed Evelyn will finally accept me.

Alex and I decided to share the news with both our families, and while my mom and dad cried tears of joy, Evelyn turned to me and said, “Know what, Jessica? My cousin Maria’s son married a black woman. Their children are beautiful, of course, but it’s been hard for them to fit in anywhere. They are not really accepted by either community.”

The comment was so hurtful that I started crying and it was for the first time in a long time that Alex defended me.

“Mom, you will be a grandmother soon, and Jessica will be the mother of your grandchild. How can you say something like that?”

But Evelyn didn’t care. “Honey, I’m just telling the truth,” she said and took a sip from the glass fully filled with wine.

Baby Isabella Rodriguez-Chen arrived on a perfect spring morning after a labor that was difficult but mercifully brief.

When Evelyn saw her granddaughter for the first time, she said, “Well, she definitely has Alex’s nose, but her eyes look… a bit different.”

The word “different” stirred my anger. My daughter’s beautiful, almond-shaped eyes reflected her Asian heritage—but Evelyn saw them as a flaw.

The next two years were a real struggle when it came to my mother-in-law — her offensive comments became unbearable, and the final straw was on Father’s Day, when she came up with the worst lie possible, trying to break my family apart.

During dinner, Evelyn said she had an announcement to make.

She stood, took her glass, and yelled, “Jessica you are a liar. You cheated on my son. This girl isn’t my granddaughter and I have a DNA test to prove it.”

She then threw some papers on the table, feeling proud of what she did. “Zero percent match,” she said with a huge smile on her face.

Everyone was surprised, except for my mom, who smiled quietly. And then, in a split second, my mother-in-law turned pale as a ghost when my mom exposed her lie.

“Evelyn, Jessica and Alex had already done a DNA test when they wanted to be sure their daughter won’t be affected by a condition that runs in your family.”

“What!?” Evelyn asked, confused.

“Mom, we know this test of yours is fake. How could you even think of something like that?” Alex asked, totally disappointed in his mother.

My mother-in-law was caught up in her lie—but she didn’t even blink.

The worst thing of all was that she confessed she faked the test in order to have me and Alex separated. She said I wasn’t worthy of him and didn’t deserve to be the mother of his child.

I knew Evelyn wasn’t fond of me, but I always thought it was just a way to prove her love for her son. That day, I understood what she felt for me was hatred.

That was the last time I ever saw her. Alex sort of forgave her and visits her every now and then, but I don’t think I will ever be able to get over what that woman did.

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On January 13, 2018, the twin girls underwent their separation surgery, performed by a team of nearly 75 surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, and nurses across eight specialties.

Brown only learned that his $800,000 property was put on sale after a group of contractors appeared in the middle of the night attempting to get into the house, for which they had legal right.

Brown feels like his home was stolen from him, saying that he doesn’t want “anybody to go through what I’m going through,” adding: “I cannot eat, I cannot drink, and I cannot sleep.”

Brown’s story highlights a broader problem affecting thousands of homeowners.

The similarity was too striking to be just a coincidence.

Over time, Linette and Bob formed a strong bond. What started as a strange coincidence blossomed into a start of a new family.

What not many knew, however, is that Judge Caprio’s wife of over 60 years, Joyce, played part in her husband become a celebrated public figure.

While he become a public figure later in life, it was his marriage that was the foundation of his life.

Once they realized the woman won’t leave the station unless someone takes her concerns seriously, one of the senior officers took her into an interview room to hear her out.

After a couple of minutes, my mother-in-law dropped the bomb: “I need to take that bike back.”

When Evelyn and I met for the first time, she was quick to mention Alex’s ex girlfriend, who was Mexican-American.

Finally, when I fell pregnant, I believed Evelyn will finally accept me.

The comment was so hurtful that I started crying and it was for the first time in a long time that Alex defended me.

My mother-in-law was caught up in her lie—but she didn’t even blink.

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