There is no greater loss than that of losing a child. That sort of pain never fades away, no matter how much time passes.
Sadly, we witness parents saying their goodbyes to their children and every time we hear of such loses, our hearts shatter into a million pieces.
Harmoney Harper was just like any other girl her age. She loved being around friends and was looking forward to the start of the new school year. On her first day of school, she had a blast, but heartbreakingly, she never made it to her second day because her young life was cut short following a tragic accident.
It was on Wednesday, August 16th, when the eight-year-old Harmony was waiting for the school bus in front of her home together with her brother when another school bus hit her.
First responders arrived at the scene in no time and tried to resuscitate her, but she remained unresponsive.
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Authorities haven’t revealed the number of children who were aboard the bus during the accident but said that no other child sustained any inuuries.
Harmoney’s father, Jasper Harper, recalled the day of the tragedy that claimed his daughter’s life.
“My wife said she heard my son screaming for his sister, and she came outside. I got woke up to ‘I need you now.’ I got dressed. Before I made it to the front door, I had heard, ‘Call 911, my daughter’s dead.’ She was playing outside her home, where she felt safe.”
Neighbors heard the screams of the girl’s mother. “Oh my God, oh my God, my baby,” she kept screaming.
One of the neighbors said, “I just wish I could hug the mother right now. I wish that she knew that there are tons of people out here praying for her tonight.”
“I can only imagine what the bus driver is feeling. To hear the mother screaming ‘oh my god, oh my god,’ it just broke my heart,” another resident said.
The family started a GoFundMe page to help them with the funeral expenses. “If you are unable to make a donation, please leave prayers and encouraging words for this family,” the description read.
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Those who knew Harmony only have words of praise for her.
Oaklawn Elementary Principal Donna Osborn described her as “full of compliments for everyone around her.”
She then went on to say, “Any time you would see her, she had a smile on her face and was always the first to give everyone a hug each day. Her passing is a tremendous loss, and Harmoney will be missed greatly at Oaklawn.”
Superintendent Heather Bohaty was among those who expressed their sorrow over Harmony’s tragic passing.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of one of our students,” she remarked, adding that “students and staff will be supported by additional social workers from schools across our district” as they grieve.
Rest in peace, Harmony.
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Many people wonder what the secret behind a long and happy marriage might be? Is it only the love two people feel for one another, or is it the mutual respect and always finding the time for that one person we decided to spend our eternity with?
Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher, who broke the world record for the longest marriage, had the secret.
These lovebirds were married for 84 years and stayed together till death did them apart.
And what they went through together? It was the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, and even witnessing the first ever black person becoming President of the United States of America.
Herbert passed away in 2011 at the age of 105, and Zelmyra said her final goodbye in 2013, also aged 105.
However, before they left the world, these two people in love taught us valuable lessons about love.
1. What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure. Divorce was NEVER EVER an option, or even a thought.
2. How did you know your spouse was the one for you?
We grew up together and were best friends before we got married. A friend is for life; but our marriage lasted a lifetime.
3. Is there anything you would do differently after 80+ years of marriage?
We wouldn’t change a single thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other and our family. (I guess there lies the secret…)
4. What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there for them?
Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know for sure.
5. What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
Respect, support, and communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest, and true. Love each other with ALL of your heart.
6. What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
Zelmyra: A hard worker and a good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted and provided the best for us. I married a good man!
7. What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?
Zelmyra: I cook dinner every day. Herbert left work early and surprised me; he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook! Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her and [that] she could relax. The look on her face and clean plate made my day! (This just made my day!)
8. You got married very young – how did you both manage to grow as individuals and not grow apart as a couple?
Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together. We are individuals, but accomplish more together.
9. What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?
10. Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.
11. How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.
12. At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
Remember marriage is not a contest, never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.
13. Is fighting important?
Never physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, and fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break!
14. What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
We are both Christians and believe in God. Marriage is a commitment to the Lord. We pray with and for each other every day.
Zelmyra and Herbert love story is truly inspiring.
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The last meeting between King Charles and Prince Harry took place on May 6, on the day Charles was crowned king of England.
Harry’s visit, however, was a brief one. He did attended the ceremony, but wasn’t present at the lunch, and according to reports, many of the members of the royalty were relieved when they learned Harry won’t stay long in Britain.
The reason why the Prince left his homeland in such a hurry was that he wanted to attend his son’s birthday party, which was on the same day as the coronation.
In fact, if Harry stayed, it would probably be an awkward situation since he’s relationship with most of his closest relatives, including his father and brother, is still a rocky one.
Shutterstock/Shaun Jeffers
Over the course of the last year, Harry accused his family for a lot of things.
Reports suggest that there is no chance for “Harry to meet with William over ‘peace talks,’ as the Prince of Wales refuses to meet his younger brother.
“He feels utterly betrayed by what Harry wrote about him in the book and said about him on Netflix,” a friend of William’s told the Daily Beast.
“They were very close growing up, so it has been very painful for William. But ultimately, what can he do? Just look at Spare. It’s literally William’s worst nightmare. I think it is completely understandable that right now, William is still absolutely disgusted by what his brother has done.”
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Whether Charles and Harry met in private during the Duke’s brief visit of Britain isn’t known, but many believe that the two will meet in November of this year when Charles will be celebrating his 75th birthday. The King will likely invite both Harry and Meghan, as well as their children, to the celebration, despite the fact that he’s still outraged at his son for the things he has said, especially for referring to Charles’ wife as to a “wicked stepmother” and accusing her of leaking stories to the press years ago.
As per the Daily Mail, Charles’ birthday celebration would be a low-key affair, a “minimal” and “family-oriented” one.
“His Majesty is not given to fuss over such things as it is, but he is [also] acutely conscious there have been many set-piece royal events of late, and his firm thinking is that events to mark his birthday will be minimal,” a source told the Daily Mail.
Another Palace insider added: “There’s been enough fly-pasts and marches.”
Royal experts believe that Charles would offer an olive branch to his son and daughter-n-law and the main reason for it would be to be able to see his grandchildren.
Samir Hussein – Pool/WireImage
However, royal author Angela Levin says Harry shouldn’t expect an apology.
“Charles would want Harry and Meghan’s children there. If Harry and Meghan want to make an excuse, that’s their decision,” Levin told The Sun. “If Harry wants to go to get an apology, then he can get lost.”
She added that if a trip to Britain takes place, it would likely be an all-boys meeting as Meghan could opt to stay in the States with Lilibet who is now two years old.
“He could go on his own and bring Archie with him. He’s a big boy now, five, and he could see his cousins,” Angela Levin added.
Harry, however, is not expected to attend the private “royal gathering at Balmoral” for the family that will mark one-year of Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis would be in attendance. Moreover, Princess Anne; Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh; and his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, are also set to attend.
Tessa Dunlop says Harry and Meghan “haven’t actively been invited” and “aren’t around.”
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
“It’s the idea of an open invitation for Harry and Meghan to Balmoral, which, obviously for them, it’s not a natural home for them, “she told OK!. “But they haven’t been actively invited to the commemoration. They’re not going to be in the country anyway, as Harry will probably be at the Invictus Games in Germany at the same time.”
“It’s a low-key family gathering in Balmoral for the family to remember the parting of the queen. So they haven’t actively been invited to the gathering.”
The royal expert added: “But what’s the point if they’re not going to come? You invite people if you think they’re going to come and they’re going to be around, but it’s clear they’re not around, therefore they won’t be coming.”
Reports are that Harry will be in attendance for this year’s Invictus Games in Germany next month, on September 17, and that peace talks will reportedly be held there.
“King Charles is due to return to London from Balmoral in the middle of September, which ties with the end of Harry’s Invictus Games trip to Dusseldorf,” a royal source told OK!
“The King has a rescheduled official visit to France on September 20 so has a few days to spare in London to meet with his son. Staff are trying to fine-tune the details as we speak,” the source adds.
John Phillips/Getty Images
The meeting will be first since the coronation.
“The King loves his son very much, but he has been mortally wounded by what he has done. He will always be there for him but draws the line at public slanging matches,” the source continued. “If the talks take place, the King will make it very clear that there will be absolutely no private family business discussed in public moving forward,” the source said.
“The King loves his son very much, but he has been mortally wounded by what he has done. He will always be there for him but draws the line at public slanging matches,” the insider said.
“If the talks take place, the King will make it very clear that there will be absolutely no private family business discussed in public moving forward.”
While Meghan Markle is reported to be joining Harry at the Invictus Games, OK! it is “highly unlikely” that she will be present with Harry for the peace talks.
We truly hope Harry would be able to mend things with his father and brother.
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Musician Kenny Rogers and wife Marianne Gordon attend the NBC Fall TCA Press Tour on July 29, 1991 at Universal Hilton Hotel in Universal City, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Kenny Rogers, the king of country music, had an awesome life. When he passed away in 2020, he left millions of heartbroken fans mourning, as he gave them so much during his incredible career of 65 years.
The musician and actor was born on August 21, 1938, in Houston, Texas. His childhood wasn’t an easy one as his family struggled to make ends meet. His father, who worked as a carpenter, did all in his power to provide for the family, but doing that wasn’t easy during those times so he turned to the alcohol. Kenny spoke of his childhood and said, “I think that one of the real tragedies in my life is that I never really got to know why my dad drank. He couldn’t really support his family and I think it just broke him down. It breaks my heart that I didn’t know that before he passed away.”
Kenny Rogers, Jefferson Davis High School in Houston, Texas (1955)
Seeing what his addiction did to his dad, Kenny made a decision to never drink alcohol himself.
In his book, “Luck or Something Like It,” the musician wrote how his childhood shaped him in the man he became. “I think it made me more determined. One of the things I talk about in the book is the fine line between being driven and being selfish. I think there were times in my life I was so driven I became very selfish, and I’m not proud of that. I think it’s a realization I came to when I was writing this book.”
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When he started high-school, Kenny already knew he wanted to be a singer. Soon after, he joined the band The Scholars. They had concerts and performed life in Houston, and everyone who knew Kenny somehow knew his place belonged on stage.
Speaking of one of Kenny’s first solo performances in his hometown, his older brother Lelan said, “All the little girls started screaming and carrying on. It was just like Elvis. And my wife leaned over and said to me, ‘There’s your star.’ I said ‘That’s no star, it’s just my kid brother.’” Kenny did turn into an icon and one of the most legendary musicians who helped shape country music forever.
At the beginning of his career, Kenny wasn’t sure which music style suited him best so he tried himself in many. However, it turned out that country was what he loved best at the end.
In 1977, one of the most famous ballads up until this day, Lucille, was born. It was so great and so loved by many that it brought Kenny his first out of the three Grammy Awards he earned for his everlasting music.
The song’s producer, Larry Butler, said how Kenny hesitated whether to take that song or not as it sounded too country to him, but that’s not how Kenny remembers the story behind the huge hit. “We remember the story differently. He remembers me not liking it, and I don’t … but whatever’s real is real. But I remember both of us looking at each other – and I think we both really, truly felt this was gonna be a major country record. I don’t think either one of us ever dreamed it would be what it ended up being,” he told author Bill DeYoung.
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition
Next was another Grammy worth song, The Gambler, which somehow cemented Kenny’s spot in the music industry.
Throughout his career and his captivating solo performances, there was a collaboration that captured the hearts of many. That of Kenny and Dolly Parton. The two performed together and made many famous songs, including the 1983 hit Islands in the Stream. Kenny and Dolly remained very close friends their whole lives. When Kenny died, she wrote a heartfelt tribute that touched many. “You never know how much you love somebody until they’re gone. I’ve had so many wonderful years and wonderful times with my friend Kenny, but above all the music and the success I loved him as a wonderful man and a true friend.”
It wasn’t just Dolly who described Kenny as a wonderful person, but pretty much everyone who had ever met him. He was considered a genuine and a very generous man.
Kenny was married five times, although he didn’t consider himself a womanizer. In fact, he once said, “And this may seem like an absurd statement, but every woman I married, I really loved when I married her. And I do not blame them for the marriage falling apart. I blame myself and my chosen field of music. That’s why I say that music is a mistress, because you can not wait to get out there to it, and usually the mistress wins in a situation like that.”
He had five children and stayed together with his last wife, with whom he had two twins, until the rest of his life.
“They say that twins at my age will either make you or break you. Right now I’m leaning towards break. I would kill for the energy they’ve got,” Kenny, who was 66 when Jordan and Justin were born in 2004, told People magazine. He met Wanda Miller, who was 28 years his junior, while he was on a blind date with another woman. Her parents, who were two years younger than Kenny, weren’t happy with their daughter dating an older man, but he promised to them that he would never lie to her or hurt her, and he kept his word.
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Kenny Rogers, who retired in 2015, said at the time, “I’ve been so lucky to have enjoyed such a long career and to have such amazing support from my fans and all who have helped me along the way, but there comes a time when I need to focus on spending time with my family.”
“My life is about my wife and my 11-year-old twin boys right now. There are a lot of things I want to do together with them to create some special memories.”
The following year he came out of retirement and took both boys on his final tour ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’.
“My goal is to spend some time with them and take them to some places they might not have gone to without me. So, they can look back someday and say, ‘My dad took me there.’ That, to me, is my legacy to them,” the star told Rare Country.
Kenny Rogers / Instagram
When Rogers decided to stop touring so he could spend more time with his sons he told CMT: “I hope my fans understand that I’m a father first and a singer second… I’m missing some very great parts of my boys’ lives. I know as well as anybody else how that time gets away from you. And I don’t want to miss it. I just worry about how much longer I’m going to be here, and I want to have time to spend with them. It’s pretty simple.”
At the time of his death, March 20, 2020, the singer songwriter, producer, and actor, who always said he wasn’t good with managing money, left his wife and his five kids $250 million. He released 65 albums and sold over 165 million records.
Kenny also owned a 973-acre ranch in Georgia. The “Beaver Dam Farm” which includes an enormous mansion, a golf course, fishing lakes, tennis courts, two swimming pools, five guests houses, and an equestrian center was built by Kenny himself and is as legendary as the musician himself. Kenny was very proud of it and welcomed many guests there.
After his death, the Wilbert Group said the property had been auctioned and sold.
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A number of outlets reported that Kenny had cancer. However, this was never confirmed. The only thing the family shared was that he was preparing for his passing. In Touch Weekly reported his wife to have said: “He just wants to stay alive long enough to see his 14-year-old twin boys, Justin and Jordan, graduate from high school.”
According to Radar Online, “Dolly begged him to join her to try to write some songs. But even a short drive was too much for him. He literally could no longer stand for more than a few minutes at a time.” Instead of joining his life long friend in making music, he said his final goodbye.
Rest in peace Kenny. We miss you!
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President Elect Senator Barack Obama, daughter Sasha Obama, daughter Malia Obama, wife Michelle Obama, at the Presidential Election Victory Speech, Grant Park, Chicago, IL, November 04, 2008
Barack Obama served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017 and although it’s been years since he and his family left the White House, they are still very active in the sphere of politics.
Barak and Michelle’s daughters, Sasha and Malia, are part of the public life and under the limelight. Recently, the two were spotted pictured arriving at Drake’s after-party following his sold-out show with 21 Savage and it’s very obvious that the sisters are very close.
It has recently been reported that Sasha, 22, replaced Washington D.C. for the glamorous hills of Los Angeles as she charts her new career.
In May of this year, Sasha completed her undergraduate program at the University of Southern California (USC) and now the sisters made a home in Brentwood, close to the university.
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As of their parents, they can’t be more proud of their daughters, which is something they mention whenever given the chance.
During an appearance on the The Late Late Show with James Corden, the former President opened up of the fears that growing up in the White House would lead his daughters to become “odd kids.” But that didn’t happen, and his girls turned into “fantastic young women.”
Michelle is as proud of her daughters. In the past, she said how she and her husband wanted to raise “authentic people” who would be able to navigate their way in the world beyond living in the White House.
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During an interview, Michelle joked about Sasha and Malia’s cocktail-making skills. “Not only did they drink it, they made one. Now it was a bad martini. It was very weak in a tumbling glass,” the former First Lady said.
“You know they stumbled through. It was mostly vermouth and ice. Well, maybe it wasn’t even vermouth because I don’t even think they knew that vermouth goes in a martini,” she added.
Sasha and Malia enjoy doing a lot of things together and that includes hiking, partying, and a lot more.
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Izabele Lomax, a mom from Maryland, was left in a complete shock when a friend of her sent her a screenshot from a video of a woman breastfeeding her baby in public who looked just like her.
Upon watching the video, Izabele realized someone took a video of her nursing her baby at the beach without covering herself. At the time she learned about it, the video was all over social media.
After tracking down the person who took the video, Izabele was in a further shock to learn it was a woman who was also a mom. The woman claimed she posted the video because she believed Izabele nursing her baby in front of other people was wrong and that her four year old son and other children saw it as inappropriate and ‘sexual’ and started asking questions.
Angry and frustrated, Izabele explained how she in fact noticed the woman and her son passing by her but she had no idea they were taking a video.
Instead of violating her privacy, the woman could easily stop and tell Izabele that she wasn’t comfortable with her feeding the little one in public.
“Not only did this woman walk past me multiple times with her son, you had every opportunity in the world to say something to me,” Izabele wrote. “If you have the time to take a video of me and make this joke of a Facebook post, you have the time to educate your son about the fact that babies are fed this way.”
Many social media users stood by Izabele’s side.
“Who does this woman think needs protection?” Kids? Simple explanation: ‘That woman is feeding her baby,’” one person commented.
It’s truly sad that the “issue” of whether or not it is appropriate or acceptable to breastfeed your baby in public sparks debate whenever it’s brought up.
We should all understand the simple fact that when the baby is hungry, it doesn’t know and doesn’t care whether the mom is outside or at home. They only want their food, and that’s it. I guess the real shame here are not the moms who choose to breastfeed their babies in public, but the fact that there aren’t enough accommodations for them to be able to do so.
Despite all this, there are still people out there who are outraged by the scene of a mother and her baby bonding through breastfeeding and ask them to cover themselves while doing so.
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Wanda Ritter lived on the streets for 16 years and each day during that period of time she hoped that someone would take their time to listen to her life story and help her justice to be served.
As she stood on the street, she carried a suitcase filled with a bunch of documents and checks she never cashed. This woman claimed that the government owed her a huge sum of money, $100,000 to be exact, but no one believed her. What’s most, people considered her a lunatic and no one believed her story.
One day, a woman named Julie Turner, a 56-year-old social worker, heard Wanda’s plea and decided to take a closer look at all those papers she carried with her every single day. To her surprise, Wanda was telling the truth. She wasn’t mentally ill as most passersby believed.
It turned out that Wanda was receiving checks raging from $300 to $900 each months but she never cashed them because she suspected something was amiss. Instead, she returned them, fearing that cashing them would only lead to more complications.
Julie was determined to make things right for Wanda and help her stand on her feet again. Armed with determination, the two managed to navigate the complexities of bureaucracy and correct the oversight.
Eventually, Wanda received her first paycheck for $1,644 from Social Security and it was the first step towards correction of the injustice she suffered over the years.
This story serves as a reminder that we should never lose faith in humanity because among all those people who don’t care, there always be someone as Julie who would take their time to listen and lend a helping hand and make our world better.
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Omaha Police Department arrested daycare employee after a 1-year-old child died Monday after being left in a van which belonged to the daycare.
No details of the exact circumstances that led to the child’s death have been revealed. What is known is that the child was left inside the hot van, but not exactly for how long.
According to the National Weather Service, the high temperature in Omaha Monday was 98 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 9 degrees higher than normal. The temperature inside a vehicle reaches even higher. In just a matter of an hour, car temperatures can rise more than 40 degrees even if the weather outside isn’t extremely hot.
The arrested employee is the 62-year-old owner and driver Ryan Williams. He is scheduled to be in court on Wednesday morning to face charges of child abuse by neglect resulting in death.
On the day she passed away, 1-year-old Ra’Miyah Worthington was picked up – along with two of her siblings – by Williams. The children were supposed to be transported to the Kidz of the Future Child Development Center II, where they were expected to spend the day.
Two Omaha parents are heartbroken after their 1-year-old was left in a hot car at daycare and died today. They tell @WOWT6News they want justice for their baby, Ra’miyah. pic.twitter.com/LeYPgw4juG
When they arrived to the center, Williams took two of the kids out of the van but was allegedly distracted by a crying child and failed to return back to get Ra’miyah out. When he realized she was missing, he went to her, but it was already too late.
The little one was taken to Nebraska Medical Center but was declared dead shortly after.
The daycare was immediately shut down while Omaha police continued the investigation.
BREAKING — a 1-year-old who was left in a hot van today has passed. @WOWT6News confirmed the van in question is registered to the daycare owner. #Omahapic.twitter.com/xaX6NdTCUs
“The protection and well-being of children is of the highest priority by the Department of Health and Human Services, and we are working with law enforcement as they investigate this tragic death. In addition, an emergency order has been put in place temporarily closing the facility until further investigations can take place,” a DHHS spokesperson informed 6 News.
“The daycare picks them up in the morning, early in the morning,” the girl’s father, Rianna Worthington, said. “My thing is how can you forget a kid that you yourself put into the vehicle, but you took the other two off? How do you forget one when you take two off the van? How did you forget my baby?”
“The daycare has an app,” Worthington continued in an interview with 6 News WWOT. “They’ll tell you stuff with their kids throughout the day. She was never checked in. Only one of the three we sent was checked in, so put two and two together. You had to have my baby left in this car since this morning.”
Omaha Police Department
Friends of the family of the child started a GoFundMe page to help the parents with the funeral expenses.
In three days, the page has received more than 1,100 donations totaling nearly $35,000.
“Due to the negligence of her daycare provider, her family is forever scarred. To help out with funeral arrangements, household expenses & the care of Ra’Miyah’s 5 other siblings, I am asking anyone who has the means to donate to please do so, even if it’s just $1,” the page says.
The child’s mother protested in front of the daycare facility and was joined by a dozen of people. “My baby did not come home. Her siblings did. She didn’t. How did y’all forget her? Y’all picked all of ’em up, took ’em off the van. How did y’all forget my baby?” she said during the protest.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the grieving family.
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