Meet the first student with Down syndrome to graduate from university in Oregon

By
Monica Pop
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Nowadays, compared to the past, people with Down syndrome are provided with more opportunities. According to DoSomething.org, “since the 1970s, public schools are required by law to provide a free and appropriate education to children with Down syndrome.” Most of these people are capable of leading completely normal lives, of excelling at school, and of working a huge number of jobs, just like everyone else.

Cody Sullivan is a student with Down syndrome who proves that what we have said so far is completely true. This young man is the first person with the syndrome to graduate from college in Oregon. Cody got a degree from Concordia University and completed four years of studies.

Spurce: Ann Donaca-Sullivan

He had shown immense success when he was in elementary school as well. He was part of the West Coast Think College coalition program which helps students with Down syndrome attend regular classes.

His friends describe Cody as a hard-working student. One of them, who attended college together with him said: “So Cody would have his notes in class, that he’d taken before, that aligned to what we were working on, and then when we had a project, he’d be up there with a modified project that fit the requirements of what we were doing in class.”

Source: KATU

The best thing of all is that Cody got a job as a teacher’s aide at a local charter school. This young man is such an inspiration. We wish him even more success in the years to come. Way to go, Cody.

Take a look at the video below showing Cody’s story along with other stories of inspiring students.

A group of teens shovel neighbor’s driveway at 4:30 am so she could make it to her dialysis treatment

By
Nicole
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The harsh winter that has frozen the country this year did not bring just bad news. The snow and the extreme cold did not stop people from doing all they could just to help their families and friends.

Last winter, the Internet community’s attention was channelled to two very brave and humane brothers, Brian and Patrick Lanigan from New Jersey. These brothers, together with their friends, did something that amazed everyone who learnt about it.

The story is really fascinating. Natalie Blair, a neighbour of these two brothers, has problems with her kidneys and she has to do dialysis on a regular basis. However, the winter snowstorm set some problems in the schedule. She wasn’t able to get out of the house. Luckily, she had those two great young neighbours. They jumped into action.

Brian is the older brother in the family. He is part of the EMT and so far in many cases he has been more than helpful to Natalie. This winter, when he was not working, he also helped her with her driveway and shovelled the snow that blocked the access of the house.

After he had cleared out the show from the driveway, Brian thought he is done with neighbour for a while. He was wrong. The night when he was doing the night shift, a terrible snowstorm was coming to the town. The driveway again was blocked and Natalie wasn’t able to go to hospital. Fortunately, Brian’s brother stepped up.

Even though Patrick and his friends were supposed to go to school the next morning, they did not think twice and immediately started planning the shovelling action. Since Natalie is doing the dialysis in the mornings, their plan was to clean the driveway early in the morning, before school. That early time was 4:30 am!

Patrick and his friends gathered up in front of the house and started shovelling. By the time the sun was up, Natalie’s driveway was accessible and she was able to do her dialysis. The boys were pleased to help the lady, even though that left them without sleep. Luckily they had 2 more hours before school and they all got some rest.

These acts of compassion, help and good-doing are what we need. The terrible winter that we had had was very difficult for all of us. Imagine how people with long-term illness felt. They were scared that they will be stuck in their houses without the help they need on a regular basis. Luckily, there are people like these New Jersey boys that will do no matter what just to help the people. Bravo boys!

Their father posted some photos of the boys that night. The comments and reactions of the people are wonderful. This ‘heroic action’ was the thing that people needed in that difficult winter period.

Mom rings bell after baby daughter’s cancer recovery in heartwarming video

By
Monica Pop
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Leann and Patrick Borden were eagerly waiting to meet their bundle of joy. They couldn’t wait to hold their baby and become a mam and a dad. When sweet Lillian Grace was born, she brought joy and happiness into her parents’ lives. During the first couple of months, everything seemed to be just fine with the little one, but then, doctors noticed strange and rather limited movements shown by Lillian Grace.

As they wanted to make sure there was nothing wrong, they ran some tests and sadly, discovered a huge tumor in the baby’s brain stem. The growth of the tumor was affecting Lillian Grace’s body mechanism and left her with swellings.

Source: YouTube/ Good Morning America

The only thing that seemed reasonable, despite the baby’s age, was to start chemotherapy treatments.

Fortunately, the body reacted pretty well and just after three weeks, the tumor was gone and the MRI came clean. Just in case, more test were done in the month that followed, and they all showed that Lillian Grace was ready to go home.

It was a moment to remember when the girl and her parents rang the cancer-free bell.

We are so happy it all turned for the best for this brave and adorable family. Check out the whole story in the video below and make sure you share Lillian Grace’s heartwarming journey with you friends.

Son is furious and horrified as webcam catches home worker raping his Alzheimer disease stricken 83-year-old mother

By
Monica Pop
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An 83-year-old woman with Alzheimer’s was sexually assaulted by a care worker at the facility home where she resided. The horrific incident was witnessed by the woman’s son who had installed a camera in his mom’s room in order to remotely monitor her health. One night, he decided to check on her and saw 52-year-old Olabamidele Olumide Bewaji assaulting her.

The son was in complete shock. He started yelling and telling Bewaji to get his hands off of his mother.

The incident took place on March 8, 2021, at the Pillars of Mankato Senior Living home, some 80 miles away from Minneapolis, The Sun reports.

The police were informed of the incident and arrived at the scene soon after. There, they found the elderly woman partially dressed and having no pants and underwear. According to New York Daily News, the woman was unaware of what had happened to her. She was “confused and did not remember” the assault.

(GSN) The son of an 83-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s reportedly witnessed her being sexually assaulted by a…

Posted by The Real Gospel Spotlight on Thursday, 11 March 2021

According to Fox News, the care worker denied assaulting the elderly lady he was supposed to care for, but after he was told by the authorities that a search would be conducted, he confessed to what he did. He also confessed raping the woman in February, a month before he was caught in the act. However, he tried portraying himself as a victim, and claimed it was the woman who initiated the sexual acts.

Bewaji was charged with two felony counts of criminal sexual conduct for allegedly having sexual contact with a “mentally impaired, mentally incapacitated or physically helpless,” as per The Smoking Gun.

He was aware his victim was vulnerable and took advantage of her illness. We hope he will get the punishment he deserves.

Cover image source: (L) Representational Image (Source: Getty Images | Photo by Justin Paget) and (R) Facebook

Cute owls like you have never seen them before

By
Monica Pop
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Owls are often portrayed in films and books as wise creatures who are at the same time very affectionate and friendly. These nocturnal birds, who usually hunt by night, are among the best-camouflaged birds in nature.

I guess people got fascinated with them even more after J.K Rowling’s books and movies about Harry Potter who had an owl as a pet.

YouTube

Although some say that owls tend to avoid humans, the truth is that they are in fact sociable and only get aggressive if they feel threatened or if someone gets too close to their nest and their babies.

The video below, which is a compilation of cute owls, lets us see their gentle side. Some of them enjoy being kissed by humans, others have fun while taking a nice bath in the kitchen sink, and some even dance to the rhythm. All in all, owls are magnificent creatures, especially when they stare directly at you with their wide and shining eyes.

Who knew these birds could be so fun to be around? Check them out below, they will definitely make your day.

96-year-old WWII veteran weaves 400 hats for the Salvation Army

By
Monica Pop
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Not everyone can be part of the military, because it takes not only physical strength and devotion to be a soldier, but readiness to risk it all for the sake of your country and its people, too.

Tom Cornish is a 96-year-old veteran who is used to helping others. He served in the World War II, and even today, years after his service in the military is over, Tom still found a way to be of use to the people who put their life on the line on a daily basis.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic and the imposed lockdowns, Tom has plenty of free time. Although he has five children and many grandchildren, he is not able to see them often because of the risk of contracting the virus. He knows, however, that they are always there for him.

Source: YouTube/ KARE 11

What Tom does is weaving warm hats for the Salvation Army. “If someone needs something, give it to them,” he says. “Volunteering does something to a person. You’re working for others.”

This veteran, who lives in an apartment in Champlin Shores, weaves one hat a day, but there are days, however, when he finishes two or even three hats.

“There’s people here that want me to sell them, but I won’t,” Tom says. “I give them to the Salvation Army.”

Source: YouTube/ KARE 11

The communications director for the Salvation Army Northern Division, Dan Furry, says Tom is an inspiration and adds, “It goes to show people there’s something that everyone can do.”

So far, Tom weaved around 400 hats, and he even gives weaving lessons to other people at his senior living complex. One of his neighbors has already created 35 hats himself.

Speaking of his father, Tom’s son Jerry told Kare11 News, “This is how he got to be 96 years old, because he’s helping everybody else. Everybody’s more important than he is, in his mind.”

Source: YouTube/ KARE 11

Awesome job Mr. Tom, and thank you for your service.

Check out the video below to learn more about the work of this caring man.

10-year-old boy accidentally shoots himself dead while playing with a gun

By
Monica Pop
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A 10-year-old boy lost his life after he accidentally shot himself while playing with a gun. Teon Burwell found the weapon in the house and got curious, thus took it in his arms. Unfortunately, the gun fired and shot Teon in the arm. The bullet went through to his other arm and hit an artery, according to the boy’s grandma, Louise Shelton, who spoke to WTVR.com about the tragedy.

Teon, whom his family and friends called Tootie, was pronounced dead at the hospital.

At the time of the accident, he was with his 12-year-old brother. Richmond Police released a statement saying they are yet to discover how the boy ended up with the gun and added they are not searching for suspects and are treating the case as an accident.

This is 10-year-old Teon Burwell. His family says he was playing at his home when he found a gun Tuesday evening. They…

Posted by Brendan King – WTVR CBS 6 on Wednesday, 17 March 2021

His aunt, Maria Shelton, described Teon as a fun and great kid who always laughed. She also urged people to keep their weapons out of the reach of kids in hopes of tragedies like this one from happening in the future. “He should’ve never had a way to get access to a firearm at the age of 10, period,” Shelton said. “It was an accident, but he’s gone. If you have guns lock them up and keep them far away.”

Family members have identified the 10-year-old boy who was shot and killed on Richmond’s Southside Tuesday evening as…

Posted by WTVR CBS 6 News on Wednesday, 17 March 2021

Rest in peace, Tootie. Our hearts go out to the grieving family.

Couple charged with torture and murder of 4-year-old daughter sentenced to 32 years in prison almost ten years later

By
Monica Pop
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The justice for 4-year-old Samiah Christine Cornell Downing who was severely abused by her father Ronald Dean Greer and his girlfriend Bianca Annie Mae Stanch and died as a result of the cruel treatment has finally been served.

After almost 10 years, the monsters have been sentenced to 32 years in prison but many believe the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.

The couple was charged back in 2012 for first-degree murder but the trial was delayed over and over again until Oct. 6, 2020 when they were found guilty and then sentenced in March of this year.

According to the San Bernardino County District Attorney Justin Crocker, Stanch hated her boyfriend’s daughter and did all in her power to make the little girl’s life a living hell. The father didn’t intervene and even took part in the abuse.

“Witnesses also testified that Stanch and Greer duct-taped Samiah’s wrists and ankles together on multiple occasions and left her overnight so that she could not get out to get water,” Crocker shared in a Facebook post.

In one occasion, little Samiah managed to get to the kitchen and drank the only liquid she could reach, which unfortunately was a cleaning solution. A day before she died, Samiah was beaten and forced to stay in the corner for eight hours. The abuse continued the following day when “Stanch poured a pot of boiling water on Samiah’s back and chest. Samiah was also denied water to drink during these final days of her life.”

Source: Twitter

On the night of her death, Samiah was left in the apartment with Stanch’s cousin Rayshawn Stanch while Stanch and Greer went to a restaurant.

When they got back home, the girl was already dead. It was determined she died of dehydration. She was also starved.

The three took the girl’s body, put it in the car, and buried it in a shallow grave in the desert.

“Friends, family members, and teachers testified about the sweet and happy little girl they knew and loved.”

The father claimed he wasn’t aware of the abuse his daughter suffered from the hands of his girlfriend, but evidence said otherwise.

Source: Twitter

“Unfortunately, because of the actions of her father and his girlfriend, Samiah wasn’t here to tell her own story to the jurors. Thankfully, the evidence at trial told the tragic story for her. Samiah was betrayed by the people closest to her and they have now been held accountable for that betrayal,” the deputy said.

“Torturing a child in San Bernardino County will be met with the most vigorous of prosecutions, and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions. When Samiah was murdered, our community was also greatly affected by the actions of her killers. From Samiah’s extended family, friends, and teachers, to the law enforcement officers investigating this crime, to everyone in the district attorney’s office that had a part in this case, we will always hold Samiah in our memory and our hearts,” the deputy added.

Rest in peace, Samiah.

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