A South African grandmother’s bravery in trying to rescue her grandson inspired entire nation

By
Monica Pop
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According to statistics, approximately eight million children are reported missing worldwide every year.

Just imagine the fear and the devastation of parents whose children end up in the hands of complete strangers. That has to be the worst thing a mom and dad could ever experience.

Sadly, the UK government reports that public understanding of parental child abduction is alarmingly low.

A story which comes from South Africa and involves attempted abduction made one grandmother a hero. Her bravery and quick-thinking helped save her grandson from ending up in the hands of the wrong people.

Grandma Zelinda was asked to watch over her 3-year-old grandson Lucas while his parents were away from home.

She started her story by saying that she put the little one to sleep.

“I overheard some noises coming from the front door in the middle of the night. The power went off across the entire home when I attempted to turn on the light in my room. I knew right away that something wasn’t right. I walked straight to Lucas’ room and gently cuddled him without waking him up and I immediately heard footsteps coming from the ground floor of the home, indicating that someone was inside.

“It was absolutely dark inside the house, and I was going on the roof with Lucas in my arms, my heart racing fast, and I began to quiver with panic. I made a little drop off the stairs in an effort to locate the home intruders then I walked to the kitchen and opened the entrance to the garage because I heard footsteps in the house’s living room. I was unable to go since the garage door was locked and I didn’t have the key,” the grandma explained.

“Without waking Lucas, I popped the trunk of the car and put Lucas there gently. I wanted to shout but refrained because I felt like I was choking on terror. When I returned to the kitchen, a powerful hand grabbed me and whispered, ‘Don’t move, don’t make noise, where is the child?’ in a deep voice.

“There were two men with masks. They questioned me ‘WHERE IS THE CHILD?’ once more. When I informed them that he wasn’t at home, one of them became angry, grabbed me by the back of my head, slammed me on the floor of the living room, and yelled, ‘Don’t MOVE.’ Using handheld flashlights, the men started looking through the home.

“I could have gone out the door and fled, but I knew Lucas was there, so I stayed still on the floor as they instructed me. I grabbed a chair and tossed it in the living room’s huge window as soon as the men entered the kitchen. The sound was really loud, and the glass broke. The men fled in terror, oblivious of what was taking place.”

“I sprinted over to Lucas, who was still asleep, embraced him, and gave him a kiss. I broke down in uncontrollable tears. After hearing the noise, neighbors arrived. They called the cops. Thank goodness nothing happened and nobody was injured. I used to see reports about kidnappings of children, but I never imagined it would happen to me.”

“The grandma received praise from the police and her neighbors for her composure and tenacity. And Lucas asked his grandma, “Grandma, what happened to the window?” as he noticed the shattered window in the living room.”

After everything was over, Lucas woke up, looked at the window and asked his grandma what happened to it. She replied, “I broke it.”

“Will Mom and Dad be unhappy because you shattered the window?” Lucas asked.

With a smile of relief on her face, the grandma replied, “I’m sure they’ll understand.”

Needless to say, the grandma was dubbed a hero.

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Bored Daddy

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Kate Middleton reveals what farm chore Prince George does on school breaks

By
Monica Pop
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Most of the habits children acquire during their younger days are there to stay for a lifetime, and that is why it is important to teach them how to be responsible and understand the importance of being punctual and hard-working.

Now if you think this isn’t true for the children of celebs or even royals, you are far from the truth.

Prince George, who is second in line of succession to the British throne is said to be well aware of the future that awaits him. His parents, William and Kate, make sure he knows he would become a king one day and expect from him to act accordingly when the time comes for such a huge role.

In the meantime, he and his siblings lead a normal life, as much as something like that is possible.

Shutterstock/Bart Lenoir

During an episode of Apple’s Time to Walk, Prince William spoke of the family’s estate Norfolk home of Anmer Hall and said that they spend plenty of days of the summer there. The children have lots of fun and enjoy the surrounding and everything it offers.

“We spend as much time as we can here, it’s very peaceful,” William said.

According to him, the couple’s eldest child, Prince George, loves helping around.

During a visit of a local farm in Wales in March, George got interested in a robot silage sweeper, which the owner, Gary, kept in a barn and used it for moving feed with it.

“That was George’s job at half term – moving feed,” Kate revealed.

Shutterstock/Isaaack

As it turns out, the royal children have been doing farming in the past as well. Back in 2020, while speaking to elementary teacher Rhian Roberts, who is also a farm owner, William shared that the children helped deliver lambs during their time off from school.

“We’ve been lambing with the children this week,” William told Rhian. “Charlotte wasn’t sure at first, but George was straight in there. Louis loves the tractors.”

The family also loves visiting Scotland and enjoying the nature there. “George, Charlotte and Louis already know how dear Scotland is to both of us and they are starting to build their own happy memories here too,” William said last year.

Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

William and Kate have rules that their children follow, including going to bed at a given time. They usually use a trick to get them to sleep.

“We started watching one of [David Attenborough’s] newest documentaries. It’s amazing at bedtime when I can crowd the children, just shouting ‘we’re going to watch one of David’s documentaries’ and they come herding in,” William told BBC Radio 4.

“It’s the easiest way to catch my children and get them ready for bedtime.”

Watching these episodes is a true enjoyment for the family.

“The most recent one — the extinction one — actually George and I had to turn it off,” he explained.

“We got so sad about halfway through. He said to me, ‘You know I don’t want to watch this anymore.’”

“You know, he’s seven years old and he’s asking me these questions already, he really feels it. And I think every seven-year-old out there can relate to that,” William added.

Youtube/TheRoyalFamilyChannel

William and Kate also make sure to limit the time their children spend in front of a screen, whether that’s mobile phones or TV.

George, Charlotte, and Louis all have inherited their father’s love for music.

“Most mornings, there’s a massive fight between Charlotte and George as to what song is played in the morning. And I have to, now, basically prioritize that one day someone does this one, and another day it’s someone else’s turn. So George gets his go, then Charlotte gets her go. Such is the clamor for the music.”

Youtube/TheRoyalFamilyChannel

One of the songs they all love is Shakira’s Waka Waka.

“There’s a lot of hip movements going along. There’s a lot of dressing up. Charlotte, particularly, is running around the kitchen in her dresses and ballet stuff and everything,” William explained.

“She goes completely crazy with Louis following her around trying to do the same thing. It’s a really happy moment where the children just enjoy dancing, messing around, and, and singing.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales are wonderful parents.

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Bored Daddy

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NFL star Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition – update

By
Monica Pop
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Daman Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills safety, suffered a cardiac arrest during the game on Monday after tackling Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. According to reports, Higgins’ helmet hit Hamlin right in the chest after which he managed to stand on his feet but fell on his back seconds later.

According to a statement released by the Bills, Hamlin’s heartbeat was restored on the field before he was transported in an ambulance to the UCMC for further testing and treatment. Up until this point, he remains in critical condition.

“His heart had went out so they had to resuscitate him twice. They resuscitated him on the field before they brought him to the hospital and then they resuscitated him a second time when they got him to the hospital,” Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn told CNN.

“Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far,” the Bills stated on Twitter on Tuesday. He remains there “as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”

Damar Hamlin warms up prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. Getty Images)

Jordon Rooney, Hamlin’s representative, wrote on Twitter: “His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them.”

Hamlin’s family took to the social media to share their gratitude to everyone who reached out to them writing they are “deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from all over the country.”

24-year-old Hamlin joined the Bills in 2021 and was a sixth-round pick of the Bills in that year’s NFL Draft.

He has drawn the attention of many with his annual Christmas Toy Drive. He has done this even before he started playing football professionally. Hamlin had started a GoFundMe page in order to raise money and buy toys for the children in his hometown of McKees Rock, Pennsylvania. His initial goal was $2,500 but following the incident he suffered, donations came pouring in and rose to over $6 million.

According to Jordon Rooney, a spokesperson for Hamlin’s family, Damar is a ”fighter” and his family is in ”good spirits.”

“We’re obviously just taking it minute by minute, hour by hour,” Rooney shared in an interview with Good Morning America.

Our thoughts are with Hamlin as we pray for his full recovery.

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Bored Daddy

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Jeremy Renner shares update from the hospital

By
Monica Pop
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Actor Jeremy Renner spoke out for the first time after a snow plow accident which left him in a “stable but critical” condition.

The incident, during which Renner sustaining “blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries,” took place at his home in Nevada on New Year’s Day. The Avengers star was helping family and neighbors access their vehicles after heavy snowfall due to a storm on New Year’s Eve.

“He was being a great neighbor and he was plowing those roads for his neighbor,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam shared at a press conference.

Renner underwent two surgeries after which he remained in the intensive care unit.

He was the only party involved in the accident, according to local authorities and, currently, “his family is with him and he is receiving excellent care.”

“Jeremy’s family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses looking after him, Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue, Washoe County Sheriff, Reno City Mayor Hillary Schieve and the Carano and Murdock families. They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans,” a representative of the actor said through a statement.

“They are also tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans.”

Prior to the accident, the American Hustle, and Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol star posted a video of himself driving a 4×4 vehicle in the snow.

Some hours ago, the actor posted on his Instagram account for the first time after the accident.

“Thank you all for your kind words. Im (sic) too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all,” he wrote.

On Tuesday, his sister, Kym, gave another update about her brother’s recovery. CBS 13 reporter Steve Large reported Kim to have said, “We are so thrilled with his progress. If anyone knows Jeremy, he is a fighter and doesn’t mess around. He is crushing all the progress goals. We couldn’t feel more positive about the road ahead.”

Renner, 51, is known for his heart of gold and the help he provides for his community.

Many of his fellow actors showed their support and wished him a speedy recovery. Among them was Mark Ruffalo, who post on his Instagram Story, “Prayers up for our brother on a full and speedy recovery.”

Guardians of the Galaxy franchise head James Gunn tweeted, “My heart is with @JeremyRenner.”

Jeremy Renner / Instagram

Authorities are looking into the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s incident.

We wish Jeremy Renner a full recovery.

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Bored Daddy

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Oprah Winfrey’s tears of grief

By
Monica Pop
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BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 4: Producer Oprah Winfrey at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on December 4th, 2007. (PHOTO BY MUNAWAR HOSAIN / FOTOS INTERNATIONAL / GETTY IMAGES) Reproduction by American tabloids is absolutely forbidden by our contracts with all agencies.

On December 30, 2022, the world lost an incredible journalist and a woman. Barbara Walters passed away at the age of 93.

Her spokesperson Cindi Berger told CNN in a statement, “Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones. She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists but for all women.”

During her successful career of over half a century, Walters interviewed the most famous people of her time, including celebrities, politicians, leaders like Fidel Castro and Saddam Hussein, and each president from Richard Nixon through Barack Obama. 

Her interviews were never dull, on the contrary, millions of Americans were eagerly waiting for each new guest to pour out their heart to her because she possessed that superpower to have people trust her.

For her impressive career, Walters earned numerous awards, including three Daytime Emmy Awards and a Prime Time Emmy. Her face became the most famous face on TV.

Among those who paid their tribute to Walters was host Oprah Winfrey. In an Instagram post, the media mogul thanked Walters for being “such a powerful and giving role model,” referring to her as to a “hero.”

Robert Iger, former Walt Disney Company CEO, shared his condolences and spoke of Walter’s unique legacy. “Barbara was a pioneer not only for women in journalism but for journalism itself,” he tweeted.

“She was a one-of-a-kind journalist who was able to secure interviews with many of our time’s most powerful persons, including heads of state and regime leaders, as well as the most recognized artists and sports personalities.”

“Over three decades, I had the honor of referring to Barbara as a coworker, but more significantly, as a good friend. We will all miss her terribly at The Walt Disney Company, and we want Jacqueline, her daughter, to know that we send our heartfelt condolences.”

During the years, Walters hosted most notable shows like The View and 20/20. She excelled wherever she worked and her courage and boldness to ask the right questions at the right time is something many journalists dream of.

Youtube/JusticeAndrew

In 2014, she felt it was the time for her to say goodbye to her career. ”With Barbara’s retirement, so goes TV news,”  longtime news anchor Connie Chung told the New York Times.

Rest in peace, Barbara Walter, you will always be considered a legendary TV icon who marked an era.

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Bored Daddy

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Celine Dion’s exclusion from prestigious list sparks outrage at her fans

By
Monica Pop
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Celine Dion is a diva in every sense of the word. Charles Alexander of Time once described her as “the power behind songs” who can easily manipulate her voice shifting from ballads into pop music. Her performances are effortless and elegant, and she remains one of the best female vocals the world has ever seen.

The Canadian-born singer rose to fame after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in 1988. She represented Switzerland with the song Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi’ (‘Don’t Leave Without Me in Dublin’). The finals was one of the most thrilling in Eurovision history, with presenter Pat Kenny joking, “I have to tell you that we employed Agatha Christie to write the script for tonight!”

Wikipedia Commons / John Mathew Smith 2001

However, Dion isn’t only a singer, but a performer who cemented her place in Las Vegas, the place she feels like home. Her story with the “Sin City” dates back to 2003, when she began a four-year Las Vegas residency which turned to be a huge success, grossing over $385 million.

Some years later, Dion returned to the Las Vegas stage for a residency at Ceasar’s Palace and broke the world record with her 1,141 performances, according to Billboard.

Marc Piasecki/GC Images

During the past couple of years, however, Dion experienced some hard time, both because of the pandemic, which affected the lives of many in one way or another, but also because of health issues which resulted in canceled tours and performances.

In the past, she was heavily criticized because of her skinny looks, but the singer answered back saying that she feels good in her skin.

Speaking to The Sun, she said, “If I like it, I don’t want to talk about it. Don’t bother. Don’t take a picture. If you like it, I’ll be there. If you don’t, leave me alone.”

Celine Dion attends the premiere of Disney’s “Beauty And The Beast” at El Capitan Theatre on March 2, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)

Recently, it was revealed that Dion has been suffering from persistent muscle spasm.

The singer took to the social media to inform her fans that her progress with treating her condition is taking longer than expected. “The good news is that I am doing a little bit better…but it’s going very slow. And it’s very frustrating for me. You know I’m getting treatment from my doctors, taking medication, but I’m still experiencing some spasms, and it’s taking a lot longer for me to recover than I had hoped,” she wrote.

Some experts believe that with everything going on in her life, Dion won’t be returning to the world stage, probably ever.

Speaking to Page Six, journalist Scott Roeben said, “People had been telling me for some time that Celine would not be returning to live performing — maybe ever at all.”

Shutterstock/Tom Rose

A few days ago, the singer, or at least most of her fans, experienced yet another blow when Rolling Stone published their list of 200 greatest singers of all time on New Year’s Day, and Dion’s name was nowhere to be seen.

“Respectfully, not including Celine Dion, arguably the best vocal technician of all time, in this list is borderline treasonous,” producer, promoter and recording artist Jamie Lambert tweeted.

Dion not making the cut was described as a ”crime against humanity” by her fans, who were left outraged.

The first place on the list belonged to Aretha Franklin, while Whitney Houston and Sam Cook were second and third respectively. Other singers who found themselves on the list which excluded Dion were Kelly Clarkson and Tina Turner.

In an attempt to fight against the possible backlash, the magazine wrote in the introduction, “Before you start scrolling (and commenting), keep in mind that this is the Greatest Singers list, not the Greatest Voices List. Talent is impressive; genius is transcendent.”

What are your thoughts on Celine Dion not getting a place on the list of 200 greatest singers?

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Woman adopts a boy no one wanted to adopt: see what he looks like now

By
Monica Pop
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This world has become a cruel place, especially for people with disabilities who struggle to fit in the norms imposed by the society. These people long for a place under the sky and hope to be accepted, but unfortunately, there are always stares and mean comments.

Rustam is a young boy with deformities left behind by his parents. He was given up for adoption, but as we all know, not many people are willing to open the doors to their hearts and homes for children like him.

Luckily, Rustam was spotted by a woman named Nika Zlobina who was preparing adoption documents when she stumbled upon his photo and his life story. She then made it her mission to find Rustam a loving home, but she ended up adopting him along the way.

Source: Instagram

“I was preparing paperwork for an adoption and there was a database with photos of children, and I happened to see images of Rustam,” Nika explained.

The first thing this woman did for this special boy was create an Instagram account to showcase all children looking for a family, including him.

She included a video of Rustam dancing and it attracted the attention of many. However, as many people had sweet words to share about Rustam, there were also those who posted mean comments. “Some said this ‘freak’ won’t ever be adopted. I was terrified how many people wrote negative comments, and among them were young mothers with kids,” Nika said.

Source: Instagram

Nika’s biggest wish was to fight the misconception that disabled children are not the best choice when it comes to adoption. By sharing Rustam’s daily routines, his many smiles, and the way he showed happiness when around the right people, Nika hoped people would understand that these children deserve the chance to be taken care of.

“Everyone mostly wants blond beautiful babies to adopt, and there’s a long line for such kids; meanwhile, others suffer without parents,” Nika wrote.

That is when Nika made the decision to adopt Rustam herself. She and her husband were more than happy to become parents of this sweet boy who radiated joy whenever he went.

Nika wrote that this adoption served as inspiration to other people who were planning to welcome a child into their lives in this manner. “One woman wrote that she was afraid to go out with her daughter who has Down’s Syndrome, adding that my posts give her courage; and now she does not hesitate to go for walks with her daughter,” Nika posted.

Source: Instagram

Of course, there are always stares and comments by complete strangers, but Nika and her husband do all in their power to protect their son and teach the world that there is nothing bad about being different. In fact, it is the differences that make this world go round.

Today, Rustam is nine years old and is living the best life possible.

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Bored Daddy

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Damar Hamlin Collapses on the Field During Monday Night Football Game

By
Monica Pop
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Less than 6 minutes until the end of the first quarter of the Monday Night Football Game between Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, which was broadcast on national TV, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed on the field.

Hamlin fell on the ground after making a tackle on the opposing team receiver Tee Higgins.

Withing seconds, Bills’ team trainers treated him and ambulance arrived less than 5 minutes after Hamlin collapsed. He was administered CPR and was transferred to the (University of Cincinnati) Medical Center for further testing and treatment.

During the terrifying moment, players cried and prayed on their knees as the game was first suspended and then postponed.

The Bills said in a statement that Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest. The reason why remains unknown.

“His heartbeat was restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,” the statement read. “He is currently sedated and listed in critical condition.”

Prayers and well-wishes came pouring in.

“I’ve never seen anything like it since I’ve been playing,” NFL Executive Vice President of Operations Troy Vincent said. “So, immediately, my player hat went on. How do you resume play after you’ve seen such a traumatic event occur in front of you in real time?”

This incident comes at a time when the NFL remains under intense scrutiny over the amount of protection it offers to the participants in an inherently violent game. 

A statement from the NFL Players Association said, “The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin.

“We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well-being.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with Hamlin, his family, and the Buffalo Bills.

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