Woman born with birthmark on her face ends up with scars after doctors try to lighten it

The definition of beauty has changed over the years, but the time when we would stop judging people based on their looks is yet to come.

Being different is not bad, in fact it gives you the chance to be unique and feel special as long as you learn how to accept yourself the way you are. A woman named Tessa Schiethart from The Netherlands is doing exactly that. She loves herself no matter what.

This incredibly brave young lady was born with a birthmark on her face, or a condition known as  Sturge-Weber Syndrome.

Tessa’s parents were concerned because they know people can be judgmental and they didn’t want their girl to go through a hard time during her life, so they decided to take the doctor’s advice and take her to treatments that would make the birthmark lighter.

Unfortunately, wanting to offer the best to their little girl, they made things worse. The treatments weren’t successful and Tessa was left with scars on her face.

“When I was six we stopped laser treatment because my eyes became more important and there was high eye pressure and we needed to lower it in order to keep my left eye from becoming blind as well,” she told Barcroft TV.

All this didn’t make Tessa feel sorry for herself. Instead, she decided to embrace the fact that her face is different and now spreads her positivity to people who don’t feel confident because they are different themselves.

She works as a life coach and helps change the lives of many.

”My birthmark and my different look has never stopped me from pursuing my dreams. I have studied the studies I wanted to, I work, have many friends and have travelled the world extensively all by myself. I love the little things in life, and practice yoga every morning to set my intention for the day”, she says.

“I chose not to spent two hours of my morning in front of a mirror putting on a mask of chemical make-up to cover my stain so that ‘society’ would accept me and I would fit some ‘standard of normalcy.’”

She used to spend a lot of time covering her birthmark but seeing herself in the mirror without it was “such a weird distorted feeling.”

Tessa believes that the term normal is overrated and that we shouldn’t identify ourselves with our bodies.

We believe that what Tessa does is so inspirational that it becomes life changing. She truly is a very special young woman who looks absolutely stunning the way she is.

The middle daughter of Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, Maggie, is all grown up and looks exactly like her mom

It’s not often that we hear of famous people staying together in marriage for many years, but when we do, we are glad they are sharing a positive example and assure us that not everything in the world of celebrities is about gathering attention and being in the spotlight.

Shutterstock

Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are one of the most beautiful celeb couples we know. They have been married for 24 years now and have three stunning daughters who are now all grown up and resemble their stunning mother a lot.

Gracie Katherine is 23, Maggie Elizabeth is 22, and Audrey Caroline is 18.

View this post on Instagram

Had a great day out on the town with my #girls today!

A post shared by Maggie McGraw (@maggieemcgraw) on

However, it was just recently that Maggie’s beauty caught the eye of the wide public and people became interested to learn more about her and her life.

Her dad Tim posted a photo of her for her birthday and his followers couldn’t stop commenting about how gorgeous she is and how she inherited her mom’s smile.

“So hard to believe that this little thing turns 22 today! Life sure goes by fast. Soak it up Maggie May. We love you and are so proud of you, Dad,” Tim wrote.

Her mom also took to Instagram to congratulate on her daughter’s birthday by posting photos of the two. Faith wrote, “Happy Birthday to our Maggie !!!!!! 22 years old today. “A throwback photo from our cross country road trip 4 years ago. I love you my sweet.”

Instagram / Faith Hill

Fans of the musicians say they are glad the stars installed in their daughter the life values they themselves live by, and that’s love, honesty, devotion, and helping others.

”As a parent, you do not want to stand in the way of their dreams,” Faith told AOL a few years ago. ”You want to protect them; you want to make sure they aren’t disappointed…Sometimes, it’s better to let your children go through things on their own and let them experience it instead of saying, ‘Don’t do it this way, or you must do it this way.’”

Shutterstock

Maggie graduated from the Stanford University in California this year and is planning on obtaining a master’s degree in sustainability science. Despite being an excellent student, Maggie is also part of a rock band called ”Sister Supply.” They are a new group, but they already performed at festivals. On top of that, Maggie is known as a girl with a heart of gold who is always there for those in need of help and support. The charity she is part of, Feed The Front Line Live, has helped many people from Nashville during the pandemics. Being devoted and working hard for the cause, she was named vice president of the organization recently.

“I think I grew up with a mentality that it’s kind of an obligation for you if you have more than other people, to give back,” Maggie said speaking to Us Weekly.

Shutterstock

It’s awesome that someone that young has their priorities straight and knows exactly what their goals in life are. Maggie and her sisters are happy to have parents who set good examples for the girls to follow. We can’t wait to see what Maggie will do in the years to come, and we hope she will be as famous as her mom and dad one day.

Months after his wife Kelly died, actor John Travolta lost his nephew Sam Travolta Jr.

Actor John Travolta has suffered two major tragedies. He and wife Kelly lost their son Jett in 2009 while on holiday in the Bahamas. Jett suffered a seizure which lead to his passing. Both John and Kelly were heartbroken and went through a very long process of grieving. The actor told US Weekly, “It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life. The truth is, I didn’t know if I was going to make it.”

John and Kelly first met on the set of The Experts in 1989 and were considered one of the best and most loved Hollywood couples.

Sadly, Kelly was diagnosed with breast cancer and after battling with the disease for two years, she died in July 2020. John posted on the social media to inform friends and fans of the loss of his loving life, writing, “My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered.”

View this post on Instagram

It is with a very heavy heart that I inform you that my beautiful wife Kelly has lost her two-year battle with breast cancer. She fought a courageous fight with the love and support of so many. My family and I will forever be grateful to her doctors and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center, all the medical centers that have helped, as well as her many friends and loved ones who have been by her side. Kelly’s love and life will always be remembered. I will be taking some time to be there for my children who have lost their mother, so forgive me in advance if you don’t hear from us for a while. But please know that I will feel your outpouring of love in the weeks and months ahead as we heal. All my love, JT

A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta) on

As though suffering the deaths of two people who meant the world to him wasn’t enough painful for the Pulp Fiction actor, a month ago, John lost his nephew Sam Travolta Jr., the son of his older brother Sam. The news of his death wasn’t revealed until now, however. Sam was 52 and was working as a screenwriter who had a hard time making ends meet at times.

He once said how his uncle John was giving him monthly allowance and told Esquire Magazine, “I’m a struggling screenwriter living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment, so John’s money helps.”

It has been reported that Sam passed away in his home in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin.

One of his school friends, Nick Mavrostomos, told The Sun, “He will be greatly missed, but he will always be with us. I found out through high school friends, they reached out to me to let me know. We had a great time when we used to hang together in high school.”

Speaking of Sam’s relationship with the actor, Nick added, “Sam was definitely proud of being related to John Travolta. He was happy go lucky and a good friend, good-spirited.”

We are very sorry John had to go through such a hard time in his life. Our thoughts are with him.

Elderly lady stuns passersby with her incredible piano-playing skills

Music has a healing power and everyone who has ever found comfort in the tune of their favorite song can tell you that.

Today, when the pandemic that changed the way we live is still ongoing, looking at some incredible gatherings between strangers that took place by pure chance remind us of the good times and teach us a lesson that we should never take things for granted.

YouTube

The video below which shows an elderly lady playing the piano in public was taken before the lockdown, but was now shared to remind us of the beauty of being together.

The lady plays like a real goddess and the passersby can’t help by stop and listen to the incredible music she produces. She plays the stride and ragtime and people take their phones out to take videos. Well, this isn’t something you come across every day.

Take a look at the incredible atmosphere this lady created. I really wish I was at the mall that day.

Waitress gets a generous tip from a man she thought was a homeless person

Appearance can be deceiving and that is why we should never judge a book by its cover. On top of that, we should never treat the poor any different than the rich. Some people may not have a lot of money, but they are rich in heart, and that’s what matters most.

A waitress named Maria was told by her colleagues to only be nice to those who are well dressed because they are the ones who leave generous tips and not to waste a lot of time with the “rest” of the customers. Maria, however, knew she should treat everyone the same, regardless of their appearance or status.

One day, a homeless man entered the diner where she worked and asked for several dishes. Although he looked like someone who couldn’t afford that much food, Maria brought to him everything he asked for. She was well aware that in case the person doesn’t pay she would be the one paying instead.

After some time, the man left the place and left a $100 tip along with a piece of paper with a message written on it. He praised Maria for what she did and how she treated him.

If you want to know who that person was, check out the whole story in the video below.

We don’t know whether this is a true story or not, but anyways, it is a nice reminder that we should always be kind.

Teenage mother who was forced to give her son for adoption right after giving birth meets him for the first time after five decades

Kirk Kellerhals from Virginia Beach spent 50 years of his life believing his biological parents were killed in the Vietnam War and that’s how he ended up in an orphanage and later adopted by an American family. What this man didn’t know was that the truth was way different than that.

Kirk’s biological mother was only 17 when she gave birth. She was a young Vietnamese woman who fell for an American soldier, but her father was against her carrying a serviceman’s child so he gave his newborn grandson at an orphanage.

Source: CBN News/YouTube

Over the years, Kirk often thought of his origin and wanted to learn more about his heritage, so he decided to submit his information to an online DNA database.

Source: CBN News/YouTube

Not long after that, he received an e-mail saying “call me.” He thought the mail was vague but decided to see who sent it not knowing it was the woman who gave birth to him on the other side of the line. She said, “I think you’re my son.”

Source: CBN News/YouTube

Kirk couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He recalled the DNA database sending him a message saying there was a match with the info he submitted but he didn’t take it seriously.

His mother, Thuy-Nga Thi, was living in America with her husband, and soon after the phone call, these mother and son finally met. It was a moment so emotional and touching that no one who witnessed it was able to stop tears from rolling down their faces.

It took five decades for one family to be reunited. A family that shouldn’t have been separated in the first place. Although both Kirk and Thuy-Nga Thi missed out on so much throughout the years, they could now be where they always belonged; by each other’s side.

Take a look at the video below for the whole story. Make sure you grab some tissues before hitting play.

Over 1500 people join haunting rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”

Music is the universal language. It has the power to lift you up even during the darkest of times and serves as consolation whenever we feel down. Our favorite songs are there with us when we celebrate life and the good things that happen along the way.

So, do you need to be talented in order to belt out the lyrics of that music piece that fills your heart with pleasure? Definitely not.

If you haven’t heard of the Choir! Choir! Choir! you are missing a lot. This duo was founded in 2011 by Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman, by chance. It all started as a one-off event for a birthday party and turned into something marvelous.

In fact, this group isn’t a traditional one by any means. This duo’s performances revolve around a single song. People from all ages are welcomed to participate in the singing of the song after Goldman and Adilman teach the song’s arrangement to everyone who wants to be part of something so unique.

YouTube

The duo gathered the attention of the public after a marvelous performance of Cohen’s iconic song Hallelujah. Over 1500 people joined in to sing the tune together at the Luminato Festival in Toronto, Canada back in June, 2016.

Rufus Wainwright was a special guest who led the way.

YouTube

The performance has been seen over 11 million times and people love it. One person wrote, “I’m here in my house during quarantine and I’m watching my favorite things. I’ve probably watched this video a thousand times and this time I cried harder than ever. Strangers coming together and making something beautiful.”

We hope the pandemic will be over soon and this incredible duo will continue with their live performances again.

YouTube

Take a look at the video below to see what 1500 voices singing Hallelujah all at once sounds like. You’ll be amazed.

This is what our favorite child character Steve Urkel from “Family Matters” looks like today

What was supposed to be a single appearance in an episode, turned into a role that we all love so very much. Family Matters would have never been the same if the producers only hired the suspenders-wearing pre-teen Steve Urkel as a guest star as they initially planned. The viewers went crazy over the Winslow family’s nerd neighbor and the show somehow morphed into The Steve Urkel Show.

Steve was played by young Jaleel White whose talent for acting was discovered when he was just 3 years old by his preschool teacher. One of his first ever commercials was the one for Jell-O pudding.

Jaleel White / Instagram

White became part of Family Matters when he was just 12, and his undeniable talent made millions laugh. His character was easy to fall for and he became a huge star almost overnight.

Steve Urkel changed White’s life forever. After the show was over, however, he had a hard time landing a role as everyone only saw him as Steve Urkel. Back in the day, the actor spoke of this role which marked his acting career and said, “If you ever see me do that character again, take me out and put a bullet in my head and put me out of my misery,” according to The New York Times.

Jaleel White / Instagram

In 2011, White told Vanity Fair that his words were taken out of context during the interview and said, “It’s one of those things that it’s very unfortunate how quotes are taken out of context. I remember that interview very vividly. I loved playing those characters […] But the fact is that I was maturing. […] To be honest, I was retarding my own growth as a man to maintain the authenticity to what I thought that character should be.”

Wikipedia Commons

The impact Steve Urkel had on the wide public was immense. The name became a brand itself and people could buy posters, clothes, trading cards, and even a talking doll of the nerd who wore multi-colored cardigan sweaters and stole the heart of every American out there.

Screenshot

So, where is Jaleel White today?

Steve Urkel turned into a very handsome man. He graduated from UCLA where he studied film and television and was part of the show Dancing With the Stars. Recently, White launched his podcast Ever After where he speaks with other fellow child stars to see what they are up to nowadays.

Shutterstock

White has a daughter, Samaya, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Hardy. They share the custody but are not on good terms as their split was a nasty one. They both accused each other of domestic violence.

Shutterstock

Family Matters is definitely one of the best sitcoms there are. However, asked whether he would ever agree to do the role of Steve Urkel again, White says, ”I don’t think we need it. I think “Family Matters” belongs in the era of life before cellphones.” He, however, says that a reunion with the cast can take place.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, White’s net worth is $10 million.