Some couple’s wish to have a baby is so strong that they would do all in their power, no matter the obstacles that stand on their way, to have someone call them mommy and daddy.
Tammy Koz suffered from lupus, which is a chronic autoimmune disease, so doctors warned her that she was at a higher risk of experiencing a miscarriage. But neither she nor her husband Eric ever doubted that they will become parents one day. So when Tammy got pregnant, the couple was over the moon and couldn’t wait to finally meet their sweet bundle of joy.
Unfortunately, when she was in the 19th week of pregnancy doctors informed them how the baby wasn’t developing at the proper rate. Tammy was put on bed rest and had to visit the hospital every other day in order to make sure the tiny heart of the baby growing inside of her was still ticking.
The family was told the baby’s chances of survival were something under five percent and that she had to deliver the baby at 27 weeks, otherwise, it would likely die.
Oprah has documented the case of the Koz family over the years, and that is how the world learned of the brave baby girl Zoe who was born weighting only 10 ounces.
Today, she is all grown up, and incredibly happy, healthy, and beautiful.
You can check the whole story in the video below which is part of the series, “Where are they now” and features the life of miracle babies like Zoe.
This family never lost hope that things would turn for the best for their little angel. They now have another daughter and Zoe has a little sister.
If you believe this story is fascinating, share it with your friends.
Doing your best to give your child the childhood they deserve is something every parent strives for. But for some, no matter how they try, it’s beyond their power and control to allow their little ones to live care-free.
A video of a Syrian father trying to distract his young daughter from the devastating sounds of bombs and explosions is breaking hearts all around the world.
This reminds us of the terror people of Syria are forced to go through every single day. Young children are raised without ever experiencing what it feels like to be playing outside without fearing for their life.
Abdullah Mohammad and his family fled their home in the eastern countryside of Idlib after the government attempted to recapture the opposition-held province and found shelter at a friend’s house in Sarmada.
Since the beginning of the war on the territory of Syria, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, and nearly half of the country’s population has been displaced. Civilians die every single day and many describe this war as the biggest humanitarian catastrophe.
The psychological effects this war has on little children may never be overcome, so Mohammad came up with a game in order to protect 4-year-old Salwa from experiencing fear at such young age.
So, whenever a bombs explodes, the two laugh as loud as they can. He convinced her how those sounds are just part of their game.
“I decided to teach Salwa this game to prevent her psychological state from collapsing. So as to not be affected by diseases relating to fear. She is a child who does not understand war,” this caring and loving father explained.
what a sad world,
To distract 4-year old Selva, her father Abdullah has made up a game.
Each time a bomb drops in Idlib #Syria, they laugh, so she doesn’t get scared.
Many journalist, among which local Ali Mustafa, shared the heartbreaking video of Mohammad and Salwa on Twitter. Many couldn’t help by share it too, expressing their anger and sadness over what Syria and its people has come to.
Selar Otman says that no matter how happy this father looks while laughing along his daughter, his eyes reveal the pain and the helplessness he is trapped in. Maggie Diamond added how this father is trying to protect his innocent girl “to the best of his ability” and sent her prayers to the people of Idlib. She asked the “governments of the world” to step up for the Syrian people and pt an end to their suffering.
Beyond tragic. A Syrian father and a daughter traumatized by war. Helping her overcome her fear, he asks her to Laugh each time a fighter jet or rocket flies over the area. Look at the innocence but at the same think about what may happen next. #Syria#Idlibpic.twitter.com/zjzlnNAP9n
Many of the Syrian children have never known peace. They were born in the midst of the war that killed their families and destroyed their hometowns and houses.
“It’s the country’s children who have suffered the most and have the most to lose,” said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore.
As always, the ONLY casualties of the #Syrianconflict are innocent mothers, fathers, children, babies & elderly. The trauma & mental wounds of this brutal war will ache millions of innocent people for the many years to come.#Syria#Idlib#withrefugeeshttps://t.co/Md21l9NzGW
The destruction they witness unfolding before their tiny eyes every single day, leaves children traumatized and it affects their brain development, learning abilities, their immune system and a lot more. “The body systems that are most rapidly developing when the experiences happen are the ones that are going to be most impacted. For little kids, all of their systems are coming online and developing, so there is a much greater risk of impact across all of their systems,” said Stacy Dury, neuroscientist and child psychologist.
Mark Lowcock, the UN head of humanitarian affairs and emergency relief says, “The crisis in northwest Syria has reached a horrifying new level.”
Most of the civilians who were forced to leave their homes are women and children “who are traumatized and forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures because camps are full. Mothers burn plastic to keep children warm. Babies and small children are dying because of the cold,” he adds.
“The trajectory we’re on is of the world’s biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st century.”@UNReliefChief tells @BeckyCNN the world is going to regret turning a ‘blind eye’ to the humanitarian crisis unfolding *right now* in #Idlib. pic.twitter.com/Qo3G5j9A6W
“Health facilities, schools, residential areas, mosques, and markets have been hit. Schools are suspended, many health facilities have closed. There is a serious risk of disease outbreaks. Basic infrastructure is falling apart. We are now receiving reports that settlements for displaced people are being hit, resulting in deaths, injuries and further displacement. The equipment and facilities being used by aid workers are being damaged. Humanitarian workers themselves are being displaced and killed,” he said in his statement.
“People are burning rubbish to keep themselves warm.” | A few days ago, a 5-month-old baby, Areej Majid al-Hmeidi, froze to death in Kalbeet camp near the Syrian-Turkish border.
We often speak of the negative impact bullying has on children, but this time, we get to witness its heartbreaking consequences first hand after one mom shared a video of her son who is being mocked every single day.
Yarraka Bayles is the mother of 9-year-old Quaden who was born with Achondroplasia, a form of Dwarfism. The boy is constantly bullied by his peers because of his looks and that results in him wanting to end his own life. Listening to him crying in hysterics and saying how he wants to kill himself left the whole world in tears.
Feeling helpless, Bayles hopes hers and her child’s voice would be heard and that people would finally learn to accept those that are different. She pleads the school system to pay closer attention to the issue of bullying that is present in the educational institutions more often than we can assume. Bayles also wants parents to educate their children more and teach them to know better than bullying others.
“I’ve just picked up my son from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people [to] know, parents, educators teachers, this is the effects that bullying has, this is what bullying does,” Bayles says in the video.
Speaking to SBS, Bayles shared how she was left raged when she went to pick her son from school and saw some of his female classmates patting him on the head like a puppy while laughing about his height.
“She was patting him on the head like a little puppy. My daughter and I looked at each other and we made signals to him to ask if you are right, and he was like ‘no’ and he was looking at me horrified, like ‘don’t make a scene mum,'” she continued.
“You could tell he was very uncomfortable but he was so good at trying to shrug things off, he doesn’t want people to know how much it’s affecting him, he’s so strong and confident but it’s times like these when you just see him crumble. It was just heartbreaking to watch, it made me feel helpless.”
Sadly, this isn’t the first time for Quaden to want to end his life. According to his mom, he attempted suicide when he was six years old, after his granddad passed away. The pressure he feels and the bullying he faces on a daily basis trigger his suicidal tendencies.
“It’s the constant bullying, the name-calling, obviously pointing out his difference so now we have a … severely suicidal child who’s sick of the bullying that is [happening] every single day that he attends school or is in public.”
“I feel like I’m failing as a parent. I feel like the education system’s failing.”
Bayles doesn’t say that what happens to her son is solely the school’s fault, but she is certain that if bullying is taken more seriously and students are educated about different disabilities it would help decrease it.
“That would solve so many of the problems … it would protect the other kids with disabilities and help make them feel safe.”
Because of the severity of the situation, Bayles is considering home-schooling Quaden. At least until the whole society decides to do something regarding bullying and raise its voice for those with disabilities.
The video is so profound that it touched us to the core and made us cry. More than 8 million people who have seen it so far feel the same.
The family received thousands of comments expressing compassion and support.
One person wrote, “My heart breaks for you hun you are beautiful just the way you are.”
There were also those who judged Bayles for posting her son who was in complete distress on the social media, but she says that’s the only way she believes would help raise awareness. She said how she would keep posting videos whenever Quaden experiences bullying.
“I have copped a lot of backlash for it, I thought twice about deleting it… but I wanted people to see the effect bullying is having on my child. If I don’t stand up and speak out for him, who will,” she said.
Indigenous Australian Latrell Mitchell, a professional rugby league footballer, met with Quaden and offered his support.
Actress Teula Blakely saluted his act and shared a photo of the meeting on her Instagram saying:
“Well done to the Indigenous NRL All Stars Team for standing up to bullying and giving such a special honour to a very special young Indigenous son Quaden Bayles – Y’all know how I feel about bullying of any kind, people big or small, who are unkind can straight get in the rubbish where they belong. Life is for the loving.”
“Just want to wish you all the best brother. We know you’re going through a hard time right now but the boys are here, we’ve got your back. We’re here to support you, bud.
“We just want to make sure you’re doing alright and make sure that your mum’s on your side, we’re on your side.
“Just make sure you’re thinking the right things, bud, because we want you around – we want you to lead us out on the weekend.
“It’s going to mean more to us than it will to you, bud. Just make sure you’re looking after us and hopefully, we’ll get to see you in the next couple of days.”
Quaden now knows that despite being treated badly at school, there are millions of other people who love him and believe he’s handsome the way he is. We honestly hope his peers will start looking beyond his Dwarfism and realize how special Quaden really is.
Most parents of young children who have a full-time job turn to nannies and babysitters to look after their kids. When choosing such person under whose care they leave their most precious treasures, many moms and dads make sure its someone who they trust completely.
Babysitters basically take the role of a parent for a great part of the day and are expected to approach the child in a manner that will allow them to gain their trust and love. On top of that, they should not only make sure the little ones are well fed, but also teach them things and make their time enjoyable as much as they can.
One family from Lexington, KY, is sharing their harrowing experience and is asking from parents to be very careful when choosing a nanny.
Namely, their nonverbal son started acting strangely, so they decided to set up cameras and see what is going on behind closed door while they are not in the house. What they saw after going through the videos, left them raged.
The Fields also reported how their son Luke isn’t only autistic, but has epilepsy and a heart condition too, so they are convinced that treating him in such cruel manner as caught on tape is definitely worth prison time for the nanny named Lilian D. White.
Among the rest, it can be seen how White is dragging Luke across the floor and then sits on his chest.
The worst of all is that the poor boy was not able to tell his parents of the ordeal he had to go through while under the care of this woman.
Speaking of the case, the family’s attorney, Dale Golden, said: “It was very troubling. As you can imagine, the parents are in shock.”
“The real tragedy about this case is that Luke was unable to communicate with his parents,” he added.
Once they went through the footage, the Fields reported the abuse upon which White was arrested and charged with criminal abuse. During her hearing, she pleaded not guilty and the judge ordered her not to get close to Luke or his family ever again.
If you’ve been feeling down recently and need something to boost your mood, you are at the right place. If this little guy from the video below doesn’t make you evaporate into a steam of swooning, I don’t know what will.
As it turns out, 1-year-old Albie Dunville is a real star and his action of rubbing pasta with sauce on his bare belly brings smiles all over the country and beyond.
The cute video was first shared on the Facebook Page Positive About Down Syndrome by Albie’s mommy, Emma Ayers.
She has been part of this group and worked closely with other parents of children with Down Syndrome ever since her little boy was born.
This beyond-words-adorable video has stolen the hearts of many and has been shared more than 400,000 times. Little Albie’s joy while playing with his dinner helped in fulfilling the mission of the Facebook group whose goal is to raise awareness and acceptance about children with the genetic condition.
Just look at him. He’s all smiles, and that triggers one on our faces as well.
“When there is so much wrong in the world, everyone needs an Albie to put a smile on their face,” wrote one Facebook user. “Albie, we love you.”
“What a wee cutie Albie is, and a lovely smile, too,” said another, adding that “there’s a certain logic to him — the food ends up in the tummy so let’s bypass the eating bit.”
Emma says that even though Albie doesn’t have any teeth yet, he’s a huge food lover and doesn’t miss the opportunity to munch on his favorite treats.
“Spaghetti is of course a firm favorite, and mealtimes can be very messy where Albie is involved,” Emma told Today.
However, “the food and belly combo was a new one to us,” she added. “Albie has absolute bags of personality and his smile is the most contagious I’ve ever seen. You can literally watch people around him light up.”
Albie was born January 2019, and his parents didn’t know he had Down Syndrome until they welcomed him into the world. When they heard the diagnosis it came to them as a shock mainly because the way the hospital informed them of it “was’t at all positive.”
But now, experiencing how special it is to have such a loving son as Albie, Emma and husband Adam embrace all the amazing parts that came with the diagnosis.
“Albie, I have had a terrible week,” one person shared. “But seeing this post and your infectious smile has cheered me up to no end.” Honestly, we felt exactly the same!
Paying it forward is what an elderly couple from New Jersey set as their New Year’s resolution some years ago, and they are doing good for random people and strangers ever since. Initially, they felt like they should be offering kindness to military members, but in fact, they step in whenever they notice someone’s down on their luck.
Since Wawa and Dunkin’ Donuts are the two places Ruth Reed and her husband visit most often, it’s usually there where they pick people’s tabs and pay for them.
Of all the times Ruth showed kindness to other people, one special encounter that took place at the local Wawa is one she will never forget. This retired elementary school teacher was waiting in line when she noticed the man standing in front of her was short on cash. She then approached and insisted to pay for his items.
Little did she know she would come face-to-face with one of the biggest stars in country music, Keith Urban.
She could say he looked like the musician, but couldn’t believe her ears when he introduced himself and said he was in fact him. She wasn’t certain if he was telling the truth or not, but she then noticed his bodyguards and “fell apart.”
Speaking of the encounter, Ruth said how Keith was very nice to her and everyone around and agreed to pose for a picture.
This kind teacher had no idea she would become sort of a celebrity herself. Many media outlets picked her story and she only agreed to appear on TV because she believes her experience would inspire other people to follow her example of paying it forward.
As the whole country prayed for little Faye Swetlik to be brought home safe, authorities came forward with the tragic news of her death.
The six-year-old was reported missing on Monday after she disappeared from the family’s home front yard where she was playing after getting back from school.
Police activity was intensified in the Churchill Heights neighborhood and the yellow crime tape prevented anyone from coming in, even the residents.
Houses, vehicles, and a great area of the wood and landfill was thoroughly searched.
Faye’s lifeless body was found on Thursday around 11 a.m not far from where she was last seen. Authorities launched a homicide investigation but didn’t report how the girl died.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we’re announcing we have found the body, that the coroner has identified as Faye Marie Swetlik,” Cayce Director of Public Safety Byron Snellgrove told reporters. “We are now treating this case as a homicide.”
Officers found another body in the same area. It was of a deceased male who hasn’t been identified. They, however, believe the two cases aren’t related.
No arrests have been made so far, but the Lexington County Coroner’s Office reported how the community shouldn’t feel endangered as they are doing their best to solve the case and are asking from the public to come forward with any information that would help the investigation.
Crime scene tape covers the wooded area near the Churchill Heights neighborhood, this after the bodies of Faye Swetlik and an unidentified male were found. @wis10pic.twitter.com/9uzSFoIXJW
Sweet Faye was a vibrant little girl who loved art and had lots of friends. Her teachers, her classmates, and the whole community is left heartbroken and mourns her loss.
Police shared a touching post on their Facebook page assuring Faye’s family and the country this case is far from over. We honestly hope who ever committed this horrific crime would end up behind bars as soon as possible.
Rest in peace little angel!
Most couple’s biggest dream is to become parents one day. For some, that comes naturally and with ease, but others spend years of trying before they welcome their bundle of joy into the world and into their lives. The latter often seek help from doctors, and they usually end up with miracle pregnancies.
Andrea and Mark Rivas were over the moon when they learned they were expecting a baby. Sadly, they experienced a miscarriage, and no matter how deep that affected them, they never stopped trying. After two years of unsuccessful attempts they underwent an IVF procedure and became parents of twins Conor and Avery.
Their fertility journey was filled with many sleepless nights, many mixed emotions, but at the end, it brought them children and friends for life. Sandi and Philip Palmisano were also trying to conceive for a longer period of time, but unlike Andrea and Mark, their treatments always failed.
Having experienced the struggle themselves, the Rivas knew what their new friends were going through so they decided to step in. Andrea offered to be their surrogate and Sandi and Philip were beyond thankful.
During a check-up, the families learned Andrea was carrying twins again, and the Palmisanos couldn’t hide their excitement. Andrea helped them fulfill their greatest wish of becoming a mom and a dad.
In February 2014, the Palmisano family got bigger. The new additions, babies EmmaLee and Grayson made their world a better place all thanks to Andrea and her husband.
The life of both the families was a busy one. They had their hands full with work around the little ones who became best friends just like their parents.
After the kids became toddlers, more great news came in. Andrea and Mark were expecting again and the ultrasound revealed something truly incredible. Are you guessing already? They were having twins again.
This story is so uplifting that it makes us become better people ourselves and do good for others the way the Rivas did for the Palmisanos.
