Teen sisters killed in a car crash – one sends a heartbreaking text before she died

By
Monica Pop
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No parent should ever suffer the loss of their children. Sadly for the Alexander family, they lost their both daughters in a devastating car crash that took place near their home in Port Hills, New Zealand. 

When Jason Alexander got the call that night, his heart tore apart. His 17-year-old daughter Tayla died right away, and 15-year-old Sunmara was critically injured and was fighting for her life. 

The car was driven by a 19-year-old man and just hours before the vehicle crashed and was set on fire, Tayla sent her friend a chilling text message saying she would die that night. 

“Bro, I’m gonna die tonight,” the text read, according to Stuff.co.uk.

Mournfully, Sunmara had severe burns and succumbed to the injuries on December 31, the day of her birthday. 

Stuff.co.uk wrote how Tayla sent a follow up text message to the same friend writing, “I’ve never been driven around the Port Hills so fast before.”

The family couldn’t believe what had happened. Two lives were lost, and Jason was both heartbroken and angry. 

“I can imagine obviously that my girls were scared, but anger’s not going to solve anything and [the driver] still a kid himself. He had two beautiful girls in the car and he was just showing off.

‘Everything just got taken away from me’

“I forgive him, he’s just young himself. Being angry or bringing hate into it isn’t going to change anything, it isn’t going to bring Tayla and Sunmara back.”

“My whole life just got ripped out from under me, everything just got taken away from me in one night,” this father added. 

“I had to watch my other daughter die in front of my eyes … I’m gutted.”

He now hopes the road where his girls died would be made safer so that it doesn’t happen to anyone else. 

“Sunmara suffered so much, but hopefully not in vain. I would love to see that road sorted and more barriers up.”

This is such a tragic incident. We are deeply saddened by the loss of the Alexander family.

Three-year-old gives her view on forgiveness and it’s blowing our minds

By
Monica Pop
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Saying ‘sorry’ and offering forgiveness is something only the bravest of us are ready to give. Many times, we tend to stay mad and feel angry because the words and the actions of others hurt us deeply. But feeling this way only makes things worse and doesn’t allow us to experience the relief of forgiving. I once read that the reason why young children don’t tend to stay mad at one another long after they fight is because their happiness is more important to them than being right. And when you think about it, they are completely right. A 3-year-old reminds us of this and her wise words should serve as a lesson we should all learn from. Mary Katherine Backstrom is a mother and a blogger who shared with us a tough bedtime hour with her sweet girl Holland. Well, I guess most parents can relate to the situation when they are exhausted and their little ones just won’t go to bed. When she finally got her daughter to settle and was hoping to go to bed herself, Mary was left in awe by her daughter’s words. “My daughter and I just had a knock-down, drag-out bedtime hour. Finally, about ten minutes ago, I put her to bed and through clinched teeth said ‘I love you, Holland, but not another word tonight. You are going to sleep now. I’m done fussing over stuffed animals,’” Mary wrote on Facebook.

But Holland had something else on her mind and wanted her mother to know that.

“I DO have one more thing to say,” Holland said. “Of course she did. She was standing on the bed with her hands on her hips, too. Her hair was wild and she was using her arm to wipe her tears and snot away from her face,” wrote Mary. “Mommy…I FORGIVE YOU!!! Then she laid down and cried and honest to goodness, for a hot minute, I didn’t know what to do. The way she said ‘I forgive you’, made it sound like cuss words.” Mary then approached to Holland’s bed and asked her whether she knew what forgiveness really meant, to what the girl replied: “It means you were wrong, and I’m tired of being mad, and now I’m going to sleep and my heart won’t have a tummy ache.”

This mother had no other option but to lay in her girl’s bed and shower her with love.

“I was reminded by my toddler to never go to bed in anger. Because when you do, your heart will have a tummy ache. And you know what? I’ve been alive for 35 years, and I’ve got to give it to her: She’s not wrong ❤️” Many fell in love with Holland’s action and more than 230,000 people commented on Mary’s post shared on her Facebook page, MomBabble. Who knew such a young lady could be so smart as to teach us adults a thing or two about forgiveness and the real values in life?

Charming 4-year-old model with Down syndrome gets featured in American Girl catalog

By
Monica Pop
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Diversity is what makes this world a lovely place to be part of. And as it turns out, the famous doll company American Girl knows just how to highlight the beauty of being different. 

Since they created their first doll back in 1986, the company has come a long way in offering little girls (and even adults) dolls that come with unique stories. 

The best thing about this company is that its line of dolls portrays different girls from different cultures and religions and that adds to the belief that no matter where one lives, or their background, we all have our own beauty. 

The October catalog featured lovely 4-year-old Ivy Kimble. She is wearing red dress and has her hair in ponytails while posing next to a Christmas tree with her doll in her hands. But what is special about Ivy is that she has Down Syndrome and is breaking barriers for other kids with the same condition. Beautiful and brave, what a combination. 

Speaking of her daughter’s modeling, Ivy’s mom, Kristen Kimble told WLS-TV how this was a big deal for the little girl. “There’s not a lot of print or media with a lot of kids with Down syndrome.”

The spokeswoman of American Girl told People how working with Ivy was a real pleasure. “She’s adorable and great to work with, and the shots we capture with her for our holiday catalogs are beautiful.”

Someone as special as Ivy to be part of printed ads and a catalog seen by millions of people is truly an amazing experience and every mother’s dream.

Ivy being the face of American Girl isn’t just a huge achievement for her personally, but for all the other girls with Down Syndrome too. “For us, we want to keep seeing kids of all abilities out there in print.”

It was about time for the societies and the huge companies to foster inclusivity and offer those people and children with special needs same treatment and equal opportunities. 

Kristen hopes other industries and corporations would follow American Girl’s example.

Ivy’s photos sparked up conversations about children with Down Syndrome and print modeling. Many people said how she is the cutest little girl out there and admired her confidence and passion for what she did. 

“Every child is beautiful in their own way. It is important to recognize childhood is a beautiful thing, and every child deserves to feel like the most precious gift,” wrote Bridget Molloy in the comment section of People.

People loved the idea of a model with Down Syndrome because that’s a step forward towards complete inclusion.

Throughout the years, American Girl helped raise awareness regarding certain conditions by offering dolls with diabetes care kit and wheelchairs. 

Having Ivy as part of their catalog made many young children become aware of their peers who have Down Syndrome. “My kids, people are asking them about Down syndrome now. ‘Oh, Ivy has Down syndrome, and she’s in the American Girl catalog?’” Kristen said. “Yeah, everyone can be an American Girl, and that’s the great thing about it.’“

Breast Cancer Vaccine Has Eliminated Cancer In Its First Human Patient

By
Monica Pop
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Scientists and researchers have been trying to create a vaccine that fights against cancer for so long, and finally, some great news have been published recently as the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida announced that they have been working on a vaccine that can prevent ovarian and breast cancer from occurring. They also stated how it would help prevent this type of cancer from affecting those who already had the disease. 

The vaccine was said to work by harnessing the body’s immune system to detect cancer cells and kill them. 

Success has been marked with the first human patient who received the vaccine but it will take at least several years for the study to be completely finished and the medicine be available for patients other than those included in the trial. 

“It is reasonable to say that we could have a vaccine within eight years that may be available to patients through their pharmacy or their doctor,” said Keith L. Knutson, Ph.D., who is part of the Mayo Clinic.

Vials with medication and syringe on white methacrylate table with window background. Horizontal composition. Front view.

When a woman named Lee Mercker was diagnosed with stage 0 breast cancer, she was offered to take part in the clinical trial and she was more than eager to accept the opportunity. In her case, the cancer was diagnosed very early and its cells were confined to her milk ducts. 

“They always took your blood, you had a physical, they’d make your shot right there on the spot for you,” Mercker said. “It was three shots, all in a row, alternating arms, four shots, two weeks apart.”

Mammogram radio imaging Both side for breast cancer diagnosis

Releasing more information regarding the clinical trial, one of the doctors involved in the study, Dr. Saranya Chumsri said:

“It’s supposed to stimulate a patient’s own immune response so that the immune cells like t-cells would go in and attack the cancer.” 

Patient Mercker had to undergo a mastectomy as it was part of the trial. Using her breast tissue, researchers further examined the effects of the vaccine. 

“That is the only way we know that everything was removed properly,” Chumsri said.

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Great news came as it was determined that the vaccine did its part of the job and triggered the immune system to fight against the affected cells. As a result, the tumor was completely eliminated. 

Mercker was happy she gave this trial a chance as it helped her get rid of the awful disease. 

“I feel like I walked on the moon,” she said. “I worked in an industry with tons of women and I saw all kinds of stories, and it’d just be really nice to stamp this [breast cancer] out.”

3d illustration of cancer cells and lymphocytes

Mayo Clinic is constantly working on finding cure for cancer and they are happy this vaccine may save many lives. Compared to other vaccines, this one is very easy to administer.

“It’s supposed to be just off the shelf, kind of similar to when you get the flu shot or pneumonia shot,” Chumsri said.

Currently, they are trying the vaccine they developed on two other patients. We hope it will work for them as it did for Mercker as it will give hope to many. 

“We have seen early signals that our vaccines have a very positive impact on disease. We are building on that foundation,” Knutson said.

Terminally ill boy who loved firefighters meets his NYFD heroes

By
Monica Pop
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When he was just one year old, a boy named Trucker Dukes was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer known as neuroblastoma.

This brave little boy fought against the horrible disease for two long years, but sadly, his fragile body gave up and he passed away.

Everyone who knew him personally or got to hear his story says how he was truly a special little boy who never lost the ability to smile and make everyone around happy even during the roughest of times. During his short life, Trucker’s biggest wish of becoming friends with the firefighters that he admired so much came true. The members of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) made sweet Trucker’s days fun and memorable. Trucker was receiving his chemo treatments in New York and that was when he fell in love with what these people did. One time, he and his mom Shauna even witnessed the firefighters responding to an incident, and Trucker got even more fascinated with them than before. When he saw the firefighters rushing to answer the call for help, Trucker couldn’t help it but approach and say hello. “I see this little boy excitedly walking towards me with his eyes aglow. I opened my arms and he basically climbed up and hugged me around the neck. It was as if we’ve been friends/brothers for years,” FDNY Captain Jim Grismer told the Huffington Post. Trucker’s dad, Joshua Dukes, is a firefighter himself and he was the one who taught Trucker about the work of firefighters in the first place. He works in Maui, Hawaii, which is where the family is from.

May 31, 2016 was the most special day in the life of the Dukes’ family, because it was then that Trucker was sworn in as a FDNY Junior Firefighter, according to ABC News.

“He actually thinks he’s a firefighter in New York. We’ve had unbelievable support from firefighters all across the world, actually,” Shauna told ABC News. The family started the social media campaign #TruckerToughChallenge where they would post of the boy’s condition, but they eventually decided to stop with the treatments and try to treat him nutritionally. They also believed it was important for them to spend all their time around Trucker and make as many memories as they could.

Trucker left this world on March 3, 2017 in his mom’s arms.

“Trucker’s passing has been the hardest experience you can imagine. Now we get to celebrate his extraordinary life,” his mother Shauna said in a statement to ABC News. The passing of Trucker broke the hearts of his fellow firefighters and his entire family who are now doing their best to raise awareness about paediatric cancer. “I don’t know what the future looks like for us, but I’ll never stop raising awareness. Hopefully, one day there’s something less toxic and not as harsh for someone else’s baby,” Shauna told The Maui News.

The headstone of the little fighter speaks of his love for firefighters and his courage and bravery.

“It’s so strange because I’m somehow comforted that your headstone is installed now and honors you and your legendary life, but heartbroken because no matter how many times I visit your grave I know you’re not here with us. “I miss you so much kiddo. It feels like I have a hole ripped in my heart,” the dad’s post read.

Please share Trucker’s story so that everyone knows how sweet and brave he was.

We pray for every child out there who is fighting against cancer and we wish they all end up winners.

Man Calls The Bank After They Keep Charging His Dead Aunt

By
Maryane
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Customer service of big corporations can be hard to deal with at times. This guy’s aunt died but the bank kept billing her so he decided to take matters into his own hands. How he dealt with the bank will leave you in stitches.

My Aunt died this past January. CitiBank billed her for February and March for their monthly service charge on her credit card, and then added late fees and interest on the monthly charge… (the balance had been $0.00… now was somewhere around $60.00)

I placed the following phone call to CitiBank:

Me: “I am calling to tell you that she died in January.”

CitiBank: “The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.”

Me: “Maybe, you should turn it over to collections…”

CitiBank: “Since it is 2 months past due, it already has been.”

Me: “So, what will they do when they find out she is dead?”

CitiBank: “Either report her account to the frauds division, or report her to the credit bureau… maybe both!”

Me: “Do you think God will be mad at her?”

CitiBank: “… excuse me …?”

Me: “Did you just get what I was telling you… the part about her being dead?”

CitiBank: “Sir, you’ll have to speak to my supervisor!”

(Supervisor gets on the phone)

Me: ”I’m calling to tell you, she died in January.”

CitiBank: “The account was never closed and the late fees and charges still apply.”

Me: “You mean you want to collect from her estate?”

CitiBank: “… (stammer)” … “Are you her lawyer?”

Me: “No, I’m her great nephew.” (Lawyer info given… )

CitiBank: “Could you fax us a certificate of death?”

Me: “Sure.” ( Fax number is given )

( After they get the fax. )

CitiBank: “Our system just isn’t setup for death… ”

Me: “Oh…”

CitiBank: “I don’t know what more I can do to help…”

Me: “Well… if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just keep billing her… I suppose… don’t really think she will care…”

CitiBank: “Well… the late fees and charges do still apply.”

Me: “Would you like her new billing address?”

CitiBank: “That might help.”

Me: ” (Odessa Memorial Cemetery #### Hwy 129 and plot number given.)

CitiBank: “Sir, that’s a cemetery!”

Me: “What do you do with dead people on your planet?!!”

Please share this post with your friends and family if you get laugh. 

Peace and Love

Bored Daddy

 

‘Parents Expert’ insists Grandparents should seek permission before hugging or kissing their grandchildren

By
Monica Pop
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Grandparents have been an important part of the lives of their grandchildren for as long as we remember. They teach the little ones responsibility and shower them with endless love and a bunch of gifts. They tell them stories and take care of them whenever the parents are not around.

But according to a parenting expert named Deborah Gilboa, the elderly must ask the grandchildren for consent whenever they want to hug them and kiss them. 

According to her, if children get kissed or hugged without being asked if they wanted that or not, they will feel like they have no control of their bodies.

Speaking to TODAY, she says how most kids are taught not to let be touched in any way unless they are fine with that, and their grandmas and grandpas kissing them whenever they please sends confusing messages. 

“It’s super confusing,” Gilboa insisted on TODAY, claiming that telling kids that their bodies are their own and then allowing older relatives to kiss them without asking permission sends “mixed messages.”

But as it turns out, Deborah isn’t the only person who believes this. Another expert, Jane Evans from Australia, shared a similar idea on This Morning. She says that if grandparents and parents don’t ask the kids for permission before they hug them or kiss them, they would assume it’s okay for other people to do it too. 

Most of the people who came across the ideas of Gilboa and Evans agreed how what they say is absolute nonsense. One Twitter user said how “contact is a huge part of forming relationship” and asking for consent to hug your own child or grandchild is the stupidest idea.  

Other people, however, believe that these experts’ thinking is the right one because that way children learn that their consent is important and they get to decide whether to be hugged or not. 

Do you agree with Gilbert and Evan’s idea? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. 

 

Mom needs prayers after boyfriend ‘shows his love’ by leaving her daughter in coma

By
Monica Pop
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Sadly, even in the year of 2020, many people fall victims to domestic violence. This time, one heartbroken mother is sharing her daughter’s story and asks people to keep her in their prayers. By speaking out loud about this issue many face, we may raise awareness and encourage everyone who is quietly suffering to fight for themselves, turn their abusers to the authorities, and seek shelter. 

Cindy Martin-Wolfe wants everyone to know of the dangers of violence within the family. Speaking to Love What Matters, she shared how her daughter Jessica was strangled by her abusive boyfriend and after doctor’s tried to get her heart beat again many times, she was revived but couldn’t breath on her own.

The poor woman ended up in coma and fighting for her life. 

“I am at the San Francisco Trauma Hospital with my middle daughter, Jessica,” Cindy explained. “She is in intensive care on life support as a result of Domestic Violence.”

She then continued: “They will slowly warm her up while monitoring her brain. When possible, they will slowly wake her to see how much damage has been done. This is how her ‘boyfriend’, shows her he loves her.

“He is on the run; her children are in CPS custody. I will go to court to get them on Friday. Our family is devastated, waiting to see if we will have our beautiful lady back.“

“We all must do more together.

“We must stop this horror.“

And yes, that is exactly what every society has to do. 

“Please keep Jessica, and our family in prayers. Thank you all from my heart to yours,” Cindy finished. 

“I am sharing pictures of her to be shared with any girls who may be dealing with this or headed in this direction. She would want to show them what they are facing.

“Thank you.”

We honestly hope Jessica will recover completely and that she will be able to start her life all over. As for her abuser, and any other person who gives themselves the right to beat another human being, we hope you’ll get exactly what you deserve. 

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