Looters prevent 2-year-old boy battling stage 4 cancer to celebrate his birthday at home

By
Monica Pop
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Owen Buell is a sweet toddler who suffers from neuroblastoma, a type of cancer that forms in certain types of nerve tissue. Sadly, that forced him to spend an extensive part of his life at the hospital.

A couple of days ago, Owen turned two, but he wasn’t able to celebrate his birthday in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family and the people who love him. The reason why were the looters who made it too dangerous for him to travel back home. Namely, he and his parents were staying at the local Ronald McDonald House, which provides comforting environment for sick children and their families.

The day prior to Owen’s big day, his mom Valerie Mitchell got a call from the nurse who told her the devastating news.

“Her exact words were, ‘I don’t know if you’ve seen the news yet, but they’re protesting or rioting outside Lurie Children’s, and we’re going to cancel all of the appointments today. I was crying. I was mad, extremely mad,” Valerie told CBSN Chicago.

Ronald McDonald House, Chicago/CBSN Chicago

Luckily, Owen and his parents got home a day after his birthday and he still got to have a birthday party. The Chicago police department offered to escort the family home, making sure they are safe and sound.

The Ronald McDonald House is near the Lurie Children’s Hospital and a temporary home to around 30 families with sick children. On the night of the protests, all the people staying there were terribly frightened. The looters caused a mess, smashed windows, and gunfire shots could be heard.

“[They were] very concerned there was a lot of activity right in front of the house, people making choices that could put them at risk and put our families at risk, so the staff was frightened,” Ronald McDonald House Charities’ Lisa Mitchell told ABC7.

Owen’s relatives set up a GoFundMe page that would help the family financially because no one is certain how much more time the sweet boy would have to spend at the hospital.

There is also a Facebook page where the family keeps everyone updated about Owen’s condition. “Thank you everyone. We knew this journey would be long and difficult, we just didn’t know how difficult it could be when the world decides to throw in a few monkey wrenches,” the site says.

CBSN Chicago

We wish Owen a very happy birthday and many more to come. We hope he will end up winner in the battle with cancer and will have an amazing life. Stay strong Owen, you are a little hero.

People were kayaking in the ocean when a turtle in distress swam towards them asking for help

By
Monica Pop
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As much as humans destroy the Earth and harm the animals living both on land and in the water, there are still people out there who fight for the rights of those who can’t speak for themselves.

The fact that the seas and oceans are full of debris and plastic is sad all by itself. Turtles, fish, whales, and a huge number of creatures die because they eat the plastic and all the garbage that ends in their homes.

A group of people were kayaking off the coast of Gran Canaria, Spain, when they spotted a creature swimming towards them. At first, they couldn’t say what it was, but soon, they realized it was a turtle in distress and in need of help. The poor soul was trapped in a fishing net which was tied around its neck and one of its front legs.

Screenshot YouTube

One of the people rushed to take the turtle in his arms. After a couple of minutes, the sweet animal was free and the people who saved it were glad they could help.

Before returning it back into the water, its rescuer gave the turtle a gentle kiss on the head.

The video of the sweet rescue has been seen by nearly 2 million people who praise the kind humans for helping the turtle. “Lovely to see. Love the kiss on the head and the gentle care he takes. Beautiful. Thank you kind stranger!” one person wrote.

You can take a look at it in the video below. I’m sure you’ll want to share it with your friends.

Great Dane puppy refuses to get out of bed in the morning and tells the owner why in a hilarious way

By
Monica Pop
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Getting up at 3:30 am? It’s a big no, no for me. Well, for most people as well. But some people have to wake up at that time, like this family from Birmingham MI that owns a bagel factory.

Although they are used to starting the day that early, their dog Thor, who obviously isn’t an early riser, wants to sleep longer. When his dad wakes him up, he says no in the most adorable way possible. It’s not a surprise more than 21.5 million people have seen his grumpy, yet cute reaction.

Many people relate to his unwillingness to leave the comfy bed. One person wrote, “That kinda looks like me when I had to get up for school.” Another said, “To be fair, I’d make the same noises if you tried to get me up and out at three thirty in the morning.”

You will definitely want to see this and share it with your friends.

Father of 3 and former marine who served 13 years gets killed while helping driver in distress

By
Monica Pop
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Some people would go above and beyond for the well-being of others, even if that means risking their own life along the way.

Tim Ebert was a father of three and a former marine considered by everyone who has ever met him a person with the biggest heart. Sadly, he lost his life on August 9th after he stepped in for a driver in distress while on the way to the Savannah Hilton Head International Airport where he worked as a air traffic controller.

The moment Tim noticed the stranded driver, he got out of his vehicle and headed to offer help, not knowing his life would end on that highway. Namely, as Tim was getting back to his car, he got hit by a truck.

Credit: Wikimedia (Stock photo)

The news of his passing was received with shock by his family and friends.

Jack Doyle, Tim’s friend of many years, couldn’t believe what he was hearing when he got the call that morning.

“It’s such a tragic event, this guy was on his way into work, just doing the normal day routine, and happens to encounter somebody on the side of the road that needed help. And Tim got killed for doing that,” Doyle said.“We utilized him a lot in conflict resolution at work because he was such a nice, likeable guy.”

GoFundMe / Tim Ebert

This incredible man served in the U.S Marine Corps for 13 years and served as a Gunnery Sergeant at Air Station Beaufort.

Speaking of his friend, Doyle said, “He was a highly successful individual that we knew was going to keep the flying public safe, that we knew he was going to be looking out for the hardball characteristics on landing. It’s absolutely shattering, like we’re all devastated.”

Relatives of the family set up a GoFundMe page to cover the costs of the funeral and help his wife Lindsay and the kids.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 15, at Savannah Airport Recreation Center.

Tim was an amazing father and husband who will be deeply missed. He died a hero and will be remembered as someone who was always willing to step in for anyone in need of help. Our hearts go out to the grieving family. Please share this story in Tim’s honor.

5-year-old boy shot to death at point blank range by father’s neighbor while riding his bike with his sisters

By
Monica Pop
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5-year-old Cannon Hinnant from North Carolina died tragically after he was shot to death at point blank range while riding his bike around the neighborhood. The alleged killer is one of Cannon’s father’s neighbors, 25-year-old Darius Sessoms. At the time of the shooting, Cannon was together with his two sisters, aged 7 and 8, and his cousin, who witnessed the whole thing.

The reason behind this gruesome act is still unknown. Authorities arrested the killer and are trying to discover what made Sessoms kill an innocent boy. They, however, believe this wasn’t a random act, but there is a motive behind it.

Another witness, Doris Lybrand, said how she saw Sessoms approaching Cannon, and then placing the gun against his head and pulling the trigger. “My first reaction was he’s playing with the kids,” she said. “For a second, I thought, ‘That couldn’t happen.’ People don’t run across the street and kill kids.”

Lybrand rushed back into her house and called 911, but it was way too late for something to be done for the sweet boy.

Reports say how neighbors saw Cannon’s father, Austin, having dinner with the killer on Friday, one day before the shooting took place. Questioned about that, the father said how he invited Sessoms over after he saw him sitting all by himself in his car, looking like “he had a lot on his mind.” He further claimed he had no idea why the neighbor would kill his son. “There wasn’t anything between me and him, any bad blood whatsoever, for him to have a reason to do this,” Austin said, according to reports.

In the meantime, a family member named Christina Prezioso who set up a GoFundMe page wrote how the reason for the killing was that Cannon rode his bide in the killer’s yard.

“[A] sweet soul named Cannon Hinnant was taken from this world over a senseless act. A beautiful 5 year old baby boy riding his bicycle was shot by his neighbor point blank in Wilson NC.”

“One minute he is enjoying his life, the next it all ends because he rode into his neighbors yard. 5 years old guys!! Nothing prepares a parent for the loss of their child. No child should ever have their future stolen from them.”

Connan’s grieving mother, Bonny Waddell, said of her child that he had the biggest heart. “It’s devastating. No one should ever have to bury their child. No mother should have to go through this,” she told Wilson Times.

We pray for Cannon’s family to stay strong during these hard times and we hope justice would be served.

Woman in the 35th week of pregnancy killed by a suspected drunk driver – doctors struggle to save the baby’s life

By
Monica Pop
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The tragic news of the death of a 23-year-old mother-to-be shook the whole country.

Yesenia Lisette Aguilar was in the 35th week of pregnancy when she lost her life after a 40-year-old woman who was believed to be under influence of alcohol lost control over her SUV and hit Aguilar who was walking on the sidewalk with her husband. Reports say that the vehicle mounted the curb and hit the expecting woman.

Her husband performed CPR while he was waiting for help to arrive, but sadly, Aguilar died after she was admitted to the hospital.

Sgt. Shane Carringer of the Anaheim Police Department reported that the incident took place on 13th of August just after 7:30 p.m. on Katella Avenue, near Bayless Street. Further, the department said that the wrongdoer, identified as Courtney Pandolfi who has had two prior DUI arrests, could face murder charges.

Aguilar’s baby girl was delivered through a C-section and is currently at the neonatal care unit where doctors are doing all in their power to save her life. Her condition has been listed critical.

The friends and the relatives of the family have started a GoFoundMe page that will help with the funeral. “We ask you keep Adalyn Rose ( Yesenias daughter) and her family in your prayers,” the page says.

We are deeply saddened by this tragic event. A young life was lost. We pray for the baby girl to pull through.

Dog who saves handler’s life in Iraq many times reunites with him after retirement and saves him all over again

By
Monica Pop
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Nothing speaks friendship and loyalty like the bond between deployed military members and their dogs. These animals not only help during important missions and operations, but they keep the soldiers company too.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Harvey Holt served in Iraq for a long time. There, he met the Belgian Malinois Jackson and the two became best friends right away. Holt couldn’t even imagine that this dog would save his life many times, not only during deployment, but later as well.

During their second day in Iraq, Holt and Jackson were on a mission to do a quick sweep of a school outside Baqubah, some 30 miles north of Baghdad. “We went in and we started searching for weapons caches, explosives, anything that military working dog Jackson would find or any insurgents it might be hiding in the building,” Holt told the Fox series “Hero Dogs.”

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Jackson sniffed out a cache of machine guns and bomb-making materials, and as the two headed to the parked trailers, Jackson prevented Holt from making a move. It was then that the Sergeant noticed a tripwire.

“Jackson came up to a trailer and then stopped. I almost tripped over him for a second, but he stopped me from going forward,” Holt said. “At the end of that tripwire were three mortar rounds. The IED would have went off and probably killed me and the three other members of the Army that was with me that day.”

Source: Wikimedia Commons

This was just the first time that Jackson stepped in for his handler in the right time to save his life.

Years passed by, and Jackson and Holt were each other’s support during each day. But then the time came for Holt to retire. As for Jackson, he still had a lot to offer to the military and stayed in Iraq for seven more years.

Source: No Kill Revolution/Facebook

Holt said how he has never cried in his life, except when he had to leave his furry pal behind. He was so sad that he and Jackson would separate that he took his leash and his collar to keep them close.

Once he returned home to the United States, Holt started experiencing panic attacks, but this time, his friend wasn’t by his side to keep him company and be there for him during his hard times.

Seven years after they said goodbye to one another, Holt got a call that would change his life. As it turned out, Jackson was about to retire and the forces were putting him up for adoption. This was enough for Holt to know that Jackson’s place was next to his side.

Thanks to Holt’s friends and members of the Bloomfield, Indiana community where Holt lives, Jackson could get to the States and into his new home. The reunion took place in Washington D.C. and it was one of the most emotional things most people ever witnessed. The story of Holt and Jackson spread around the country and many were thrilled for the happy ending.

Source: Screenshot via Fox Nation/YouTube

Sadly, on November of 2014, just 8 months after the reunion, Jackson got ill and passed away. That broke Holt’s heart, but at least he knew his friend spent his last days knowing he was loved and cared for just like back in the old days when the two undertook many missions together.

After the sad news of Jackson’s passing spread, Holt received over 14,000 condolences from people from all over the country.

“The first time they gave me the leash I looked down and said what am I going to do with him. But the first time he turned around and looked up at me and I saw into his copper eyes, I fell in love with him.”

Jackson played a very important role in Holt’s life. He wasn’t only his friend, but an important part of the family.

Holt, who is currently battling lung cancer, speaks of his relationship with Jackson in a touching interview. Take a look at it below.

Mom wants to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination by sharing photos of her baby who caught chickenpox

By
Monica Pop
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The question of whether or not vaccines are good or bad is causing a stir among the public in the recent years. Those who believe in the benefits of the vaccines on one side, and the anti vaxxers on the other, both having their reasons to believe in what they chose to be best for them and their families.

A mother from Queensland, Australia, named Kayley Burke is sharing the story of how bad her son’s condition was after he got chickenpox but was way too young to get the shot.

Facebook

It wasn’t just 11-month-old Elijah who caught the chickenpox, but Burke and her older son Kaliah who was already vaccinated too. And although these two suffered pain and itching, their situation wasn’t at all as severe as that of Elijah who became very ill.

Burke blamed parents who refuse to vaccinate their children for what happened to her son.

Facebook

She took to Facebook to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination and wrote, “Vaccinate your kids people. The pictures below show you exactly why. Our poor baby boy who is too young to be immunised has caught the chickenpox. It has almost been a week since they showed up.”

Facebook

“Kaliah and myself also have the chickenpox. Fortunately since Kaliah hasn’t long been immunised she has a few spots and blisters but is well in herself. Think about the risk you are putting on other helpless kids that are too young or who actually can’t be vaccinated,” the worried mom added.

Speaking to Sunshine Coast Dail, Burke said that she felt awful and helpless looking at her son struggling with the chickenpox and urged parents to think about the importance of getting their kids vaccinated.

Facebook

Eventually, sweet Elijah got better, but he went though something that could be easily avoided according to his mother.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Are you for or against vaccination? Tell us in the comments section below.

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