Sharing this world with animals is one of the best things there are. While some are already domesticated and have become humans’ best friends over the years, like cats and dogs, others live in the wild and having any close contact with them could be extremely dangerous.
However, judging from this story and the incredibly cute video which comes along with it, wild animals can be our friends too.
Source: YouTube Screenshot / Patrick Conley
Namely, a bear named Simone is a frequent visitor at the porch of a man named Patrick Conley who lives in Asheville, North Carolina. The friendship between the two started back in 2017 when Simone first visited Patrick in his yard. Ever since, she would pay him a visit every now and then.
The last visit, however, was a bit different. This time, Simone brought her first litter of cubs with her because she wanted to introduce them with her human friend.
Source: YouTube Screenshot / Patrick Conley
Needless to say, Patrick couldn’t believe his eyes when he noticed the beautiful family of three approaching. The mama bear was proudly leading her babies to the porch. After a while, they turned around and left, leaving Patrick in awe by the incredible encounter.
Source: YouTube Screenshot / Patrick Conley
The great thing is that he caught everything on tape. In fact, on his YouTube channel, Patrick has plenty of breathtaking videos of bears, and that includes those of Simone’s mother, Maïté, and her siblings Maurice and Solange.
Source: YouTube Screenshot / Patrick Conley
You can check out the sweet moment in the video below. Enjoy! And yes, it’s okay to envy Patrick, I know I do.
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Earlier in February, one of the best and most dominant WNBA players in history, Brittney Griner, was detained in Russia and she’s been there ever since as her trial couldn’t proceed as planned because of various reasons.
Griner went to Russia to play there during the WNBA off-season, just as she did years prior, as many women’s pro players do overseas. As she tried to enter the country, she was approached by custom officials who asked to check her bags claiming their dogs had sniffed illegal substances. It was later reported by the Russian media outlets that an American basketball player was caught carrying vape cartridges in her luggage containing hashish oil. If convicted on drug charges, she faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
On Tuesday, as reported by Reuters, Griner pleaded guilty of the charges, claiming she wasn’t aware the vape cartridges were in her luggage. “I’d like to plead guilty, Your Honor,” she was reported to have said. “But there was no intent. I didn’t want to break the law.” She then asked if she could give her testimony at a later date, saying she needed more time to prepare.
Amid the war that is going on between Russia and Ukraine, and with the States providing support to Ukraine, the case of Griner gathered media attention.
Washington is convinced that Griner is “wrongfully convicted” and asks her to be released from prison and sent back home. That demand, however, has been compromised by the diplomatic chill over the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine.
A top Russian official spoke of the case and said no steps could be taken on a prisoner swap until the case is complete at court.
“The American side’s attempts to foment hype and make noise in the public environment are understandable, but they don’t help to practically resolve issues,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. He, however, added that “[Russia and the States] have a long-established form for discussing these matters.”
American officials said they won’t stop working on Griner’s release, as well as that of other American citizens detained in Russia, among which former Marine Paul Whelan who has been convicted of spying in a closed trial, receiving a 16-year sentence.
Griner’s trial is expected to resume on July 14. One of her lawyers, Maria Blagovolina, told The Post, “We are expecting a fairly quick completion of the trial: another three to five sessions, no more…
“We hope that the confession of guilt will influence the court to hand down a more lenient sentence, and we will ask for that,” she added.
Russian human rights lawyer, Ivan Pavlov, spoke of Griner’s case. “This case was highly political, which could mean a tougher sentence. I think that they will be trying to raise the price as much as possible. I believe that they will give her a maximum term so that the other side will react,” Pavlov predicted. “Because if they give her a short or mild term, then it will be hard to make the other side interested in negotiations.”
Griner sent a letter to President Biden and asked him not to forget her and the other detainees, writing, “I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
The case is now reportedly being handled by a special departmental section that specialises in helping release Americans held hostage or wrongfully imprisoned overseas.
Ms Griner’s wife, Cherelle, posted on Instagram in April about the painful wait.
“People say ‘stay busy.’ Yet, there’s not a task in this world that could keep any of us from worrying about you. My heart, our hearts, are all skipping beats everyday that goes by,” she wrote. “There are no words to express this pain. I’m hurting, we’re hurting.”
A State Department spokesperson noted that a consular official was able to speak with Griner on May 19 and reported that she “is doing as well as might be expected under conditions that can only be described as exceedingly difficult.”
As prisoner exchange isn’t something new for America and Russia, the Russian news agency TASS predicted that the U.S. and Russia could reach a similar deal and exchange Griner for Russian Arms dealer Victor Bout, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence in the U.S. for agreeing to sell arms to a Colombian terrorist group.
As the entire country is awaiting the trial to proceed and a verdict to be reached, Griner received outpouring support from her native country, her fans, and WNBA players association.
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FILE - In this March 15, 2012, file photo, President Barack Obama pets the family dog Bo, a Portuguese water dog, outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. So let's get all the puns out of the way, shall we? It's the issue with legs _ four of them. The doggone thing won't go away. Has the presidential race just gone to the dogs? Or are we simply in those dog days between the primary season and the start of the general election? Whatever it is, the political Mommy Wars seem to have given way, at least temporarily, to the Doggy Wars, with an effort by supporters of both Mitt Romney and Obama to gain points with the Doggy Vote. That's dog owners, not the dogs themselves _ at least for now. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
Saying that final goodbye to a pet is always followed by heartbreak. Those who have ever owned a furry companion and lost it know that they lost a lot more than just a pet. It also means loss of the unconditional love they were given each and every day, the loyalty, and the friendship.
The Obama family has endured such heartbreak when their sweet dog of 10 years, the Portuguese Water Breed named Bo died of cancer. The cute dog was a present to Sasha and Malia by the then-Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Victoria shortly after Barack Obama’s first inauguration, as reported by the Presidential Pet Museum. Bo was named after the father of the former First Lady.
At the time of his death, Bo was around 12 years old. He was a very valuable part of the family and his departure from this world left a huge void in his humans’ hearts.
The former President himself took to Twitter to share the devastating news. “Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion. For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives—happy to see us on our good days, our bad days, and every day in between,” he wrote.
Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion. For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives—happy to see us on our good days, our bad days, and everyday in between. pic.twitter.com/qKMNojiu9V
Many people felt the urge to offer their condolences.
Michelle Obama made her own announcement that she shared on her Instagram account.
“This afternoon was a difficult one for our family. We said goodbye to our best friend—our dog, Bo—after a battle with cancer,” her thoughtful post started.
“For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, comforting presence in our lives. He was there when the girls came home from school, greeting them with a wag. He was there when Barack and I needed a break, sauntering into one of our offices like he owned the place, a ball clamped firmly in his teeth,” she wrote. “He was there when we flew on Air Force One, when tens of thousands flocked to the South Lawn for the Easter Egg Roll, and when the Pope came to visit. And when our lives slowed down, he was there, too—helping us see the girls off to college and adjust to life as empty nesters.”
“This past year, with everyone back home during the pandemic, no one was happier than Bo. All his people were under one roof again—just like the day we got him,” the former first lady added, “I will always be grateful that Bo and the girls got to spend so much time together at the end.”
Bo, a Portuguese water dog and the family pet of President Barack Obama, is seen in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Today, even a year after Bo’s passing, the Obamas still remember just how special of a pet he was. They say that they still miss him a lot.
Bo was lucky to be part of this family.
Please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook in a loving memory of all the pets who have left this world.
When she was just 16 years of age, a woman named Sara Kruzan committed a murder and was sentenced to life behind bars. The man she killed, George Gilbert Howard, was a sex trafficker who abused her sexually and made her a victim of human trafficking. It was the year of 1995 when Sarah decided to take matter in her own hands and take the life of the man who made hers miserable.
After long years spent in prison, the then governor of California, renowned actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, commuted her sentence to 25 years to life. Some three years later, Sarah was again re-sentenced. This time, to five years to life for second-degree murder, plus a four-year firearm enhancement, making it to 19 years to life.
Credit: Sara Kruzan
Recently, there was another change in this woman’s sentence. She was pardoned by California governor Gavin Newsom and is walking out of prison a free woman.
“When Ms. Kruzan was 16 years old, she fatally shot the man who had abused her and trafficked her for sex,” the pardon read.
“Ms. Kruzan has submitted to this office a formal application for executive clemency in the form of a gubernatorial pardon.
“She has provided evidence that she is living an upright life and has demonstrated her fitness for restoration of civic rights and responsibilities.
“Ms. Kruzan committed a crime that took the life of the victim. Since then, Ms. Kruzan has transformed her life and dedicated herself to community service.
“This act of clemency for Ms. Kruzan does not minimize or· forgive her conduct or the harm it caused. It does recognize the work she has done since to transform herself.
“By the laws of this state it is proper that I, as Governor of the State of California, give testimony that, by completion of her sentence and good conduct in the community, Ms. Kruzan merits this pardon.”
Credit: Alamy
Sarah wasn’t the only person who was pardoned. Others were given this opportunity to start their lives over, too. Some of them were Steve Kirkendoll, who was sentenced to three concurrent terms of five years to life for robbery in 1977, and 82-year-old Henry Pachnowski, who was born to Polish parents imprisoned in Nazi labor camps during the Second World War.
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One of the most famous hosts and comedians there are, iconic Steve Harvey, made headlines recently after rumors of him cheating on Marjorie emerged online following a comment on Twitter.
It all started after Harvey posted a photo of himself on Twitter with the caption “Mr. Put that $$$$ on.” In no time, Shannade Clermont of the Clermont twins, reposted Harvey’s photo with the comment: “Come home daddy,” which caused quite a stir between social media users who wouldn’t stop wondering if the Instagram model is Harvey’s side chick.
One of Shannade fans replied to her comment, writing: “nae nae this uncle steve bby wyd ?!?!” However, instead of backing off, Shannade heated things up even further writing: “Das my man sis.”
From what is known of this famous twin is that she apparently has a thing for married men. After Kanye divorced Kim Kardashian, Shannade was seen entering Nobu together with the rapper, though they left the place separately.
The comment about Harvey wasn’t the first time she shot her shot at the famous host. Earlier this year, she tweeted that while most ladies are praying for a Russell Wilson type of men, she is looking to some rich sugar daddy vibes with Steve Harvey.
Marjorie didn’t comment on the rumors this time, but back in the day, she did fend off speculations of issues in their marriage.
Once, she posted a photo of herself and had a fan writing, “Steve cheated…” to what Marjorie replied jokingly, “Only on his diet.”
As of Shannade, we don’t know for sure what made her put those comments online. Back in 2018, the famous influencer was arrested after being charged with aggravated identity theft and wire fraud. She was solicited as a prostitute by Manhattan-based real estate broker James Alesi in 2017 and was charged of numerous purchases she made after copying his credit card details even after his death. She was never, however, charged with any involvement in Alesi’s murder.
What are your thoughts on this?
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When we lose a loved one, we feel like our whole world collapses and the sorrow that settles in our heart can be overwhelming. In those times of grief, nothing seems to help ease the pain, but life is miraculous at times and comfort can come from unexpected places.
21-year-old Mary MacInnes from U.K. is giving grieving families something to hold on to while doing their best to overcome their pain. This incredible young lady is creating teddy bears from the clothes of the people who left this world.
Memory Bears started after a friend of hers asked her to craft one. The next moment, other started asking for these special “toys.” However, Mary had to say no because she was way too busy with her fashion studies. “I turned them down because I wanted to concentrate on university and a career in bridal,” she told the Metro.
But you know what they say. Things don’t always turn the way we have imagined, so Mary found herself creating teddy bears and she never looked back. It’s been seven years now that she is doing it. Some of them even include pockets for storing ashes or letters.
Good Morning from gran & papa bear made from dressing gown, shirt & tie 🧸
Of course, it’s not always easy, because she meets many different people who lost someone they loved and cared for, so she feels their pain. “Recently I had a 37-year-old man pleading with me to make his two daughters aged 10 & 12 bears before Christmas. He insisted on paying in full and gave me £10 extra asking me to post them to his girls,” Mary said. “It turned out he has terminal cancer and won’t see Christmas. I cried the whole time I cut out, sewed and stuffed those two little bears.”
At the same time, she’s happy her hand-made creations can bring comfort when people need it the most.
Dressing Gown bear is waving to you.
Let’s see who waves back. Comment your city please.
My memory bears have joined…
“I love seeing their faces take on character and I’m absolutely loving life. I really enjoy meeting my customers when they collect bears – 80% burst into tears. I think that’s because garments arrive as sad reminders of the past then it’s almost as if new life is breathed into them,” she told Metro.
“They become something that’s much more acceptable to cuddle and talk to, and the feedback is they definitely can help the grieving process,” she added.
Child kidnapping is a real thing and it happens way more often than any of us can imagine. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children revised its estimates of stranger abductions to 4,000 to 20,000 per year, while previous figures estimated these numbers to be 50,000 per year.
The question many parents ask themselves is whether there is something that could be done in order to protect their children from potential kidnapping. It turns out there is a method which has been widely used over the year, but not by enough number of parents out there.
Source: YouTube/ Good Morning America
It was Wednesday, November 7, 2018, when the deputy of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office was alerted of a potential abduction of a young girl named Maddison. Luckily, a tragedy was avoided because the girl was previously told by her parents to never talk to strangers and ask those approaching her if they knew the code word, a word the parents and the children decide on previously just in case the little ones become potential victims of kidnapping.
“At 3:45 p.m., a [10]-year-old girl was walking with a friend near a park in the neighborhood when a man, driving a white SUV, pulled up next to them. The man told the girl that her brothers were in a serious accident and she needed to go with him,” the Facebook post by the Sheriff’s Office read.
“The child asked the man what the “code word” was, but he did not know it and drove off.”
Source: YouTube/ Good Morning America
Thanks to the girl’s quick thinking, she probably saved her own life and now the police department is using her story in order to raise awareness and make more parents use the full potential of the ‘code word’ strategy.
“Kudos to the parents of this child for having a code word and talking about to their children about stranger danger. We hope by putting this out, it will encourage parents to have that conversation and create a plan with their children, so they know what to do if they are in that situation,” Sheriff Mark Lamb wrote.
The girl’s mother, Brenda James, said that she encourages all of her daughter’s friends to come up with code words together with their parents. “[Maddison] can show other kids it’s okay to ask that question and not everyone’s your friend. I think kids respond more to kids than they do adults, and they can understand they can be brave and smart and run,” she said.
Even the thought of a child getting abducted or kidnapped is scary so preparing the children for such situations can save their life.
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Going through life without a parent by your side can be truly harsh, especially when you are young. The parents are those people who have our back no matter what and whose guidance make everything easier, so not having them around to share the joys with them can be devastating.
One teen with special needs lost his mom in 2010 and he was left to fight his battles without her love and support. However, no matter the challenges, he managed to graduate from high school.
Source: YouTube/ RM Videos
Wanting to share the happiness of reaching such an important milestone in life, he dressed nicely, bought a bouquet of beautiful flowers and visited her grave on the day of graduation. “I did it, I graduated today and I know you’d be so proud of me and so happy and I love you so much,” he said on his mother’s grave.
The video touched many hearts. People congratulated him on his huge achievement and wished him all the best. “This young man is lovely, I bet your mother was cheering you on from heaven buddy. You did great, congratulations on your graduation,” one person wrote.
We are sure your mother is watching over you from heaven young man, and she’s smiling for raising such a loving boy.
Source: YouTube/ RM Videos
What a bittersweet moment this must have been. Take a look at how he honored his mom in the video below.
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Recently, there were a lot of articles published on social media asking whether we knew who Jacqueline Faye was. As that was the first time I stumbled upon that name I was curious enough to take a sneak peak at some of them. Apparently, Jacqueline was the latest sensation that stole the show on the stage of X factor. Her performance was one of the most noticeable so far on the show that it left all the four judges in delight. I couldn’t stop myself from watching the episode Jacqueline was in and it was the best decision I made that day. Now let me share my impressions on her stunning performance with you.
What caught the eye of those watching is that Jacqueline lives on a farm in Oxfordshire, England and she spends her days with the animals she takes care of, among which chickens, ducks, horses, and two special peacocks named Dave and Chaz. As she states her peacocks are her greatest love, judge Ayda Field jokes how her peacock Robbie is standing next to her.
As she goes on about her life and her husband, the audience is left in laughter and it seems like they take the 53-year-old lady for granted believing she entered the wrong show.
It’s quite obvious that she’s tensed as she announces she is about to perform Cilla Black’s hit song “You’re My World”.
YouTube
Once she starts singing, she immediately receives a round of loud applause for it is obvious she’s killing it. Everybody is overwhelmed by her breathtaking vocal abilities and she proves that appearances can often be misleading. It seems as though never in her wildest dreams Jacqueline could imagine getting ovations from Simon -who is the most strict of the judges- or even debuting in front of Robbie Williams who she says “is not just an entertainer, he’s an icon. He’s the kind of guy I’d like in my family.”
YouTube
The ending of her staging was followed by amusement by the audience as well as the judges. Simon admitted he didn’t expect such strong and powerful performance by her saying: “As you walked out I’m kind of thinking to myself [that] maybe you’ve walked on to the wrong show by mistake. And I’m thinking this isn’t going to be great… and then you were.” to which Louis Tomlinson added “For me, stories like this – this is exactly what this show should be all about – someone your age standing up there and having a real moment like that.”
Jacqueline’s talent is undeniable, and no matter her age, she is destined to become a super star loved by many.
YouTube
In case you missed it, this is her performance that will leave you speechless!
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June was a month of great significance for the British Royal Family. Her Majesty the Queen celebrated her Platinum Jubilee which marked 70 years of reign. The event lasted for a couple of days and was celebrated by the entire country, as well as people from all over the world.
The celebrations began on Thursday, June 2, with Trooping of the Colour, an event for which the Queen appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The following day, there was a Thanksgiving service which the Queen could not attend because of discomfort she felt the day before. For the same reason, she had to cancel her planned appearance at the Epsom Derby on Saturday, June 4.
Shutterstock/Shaun Jeffers
On June 5, however, she made an appearance. In a thank you letter she released, Her Majesty wrote:
“When it comes to how to mark 70 years as your Queen, there is no guidebook to follow. It really is a first. But I have been humbled and deeply touched that so many people have taken to the streets to celebrate my Platinum Jubilee,” the Queen’s letter read.
“While I may not have attended every event in person, my heart has been with you all, and I remain committed to serving you to the best of my ability, supported by my family.
“I have been inspired by the kindness, joy, and kinship that has been so evident in recent days, and I hope this renewed sense of togetherness will be felt for many years to come.”
“I thank you most sincerely for your good wishes and for the part you have all played in these happy celebrations,” the letter ended, signed “Elizabeth R.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 05: Queen Elizabeth II stands on the balcony at Buckingham Palace at the end of the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022, in London, England. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Among those who attended the celebrations were Prince Harry and Meghan. This was the first time the Duchess of Sussex to visit Britain after the couple stepped down from their royal duties and settled in California. They, however, attended only a handful of events, including the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Harry and Meghan weren’t really welcome to appear on the balcony of the Buckingham Palace to greet the gathered crowd because the Queen had made a decision only the working members of the royalty to stand by her side during that meaningful event.
“After careful consideration, The Queen has decided this year’s traditional Trooping the Colour balcony appearance on Thursday 2nd June will be limited to Her Majesty and those Members of the Royal Family who are currently undertaking official public duties on behalf of The Queen,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said in May.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral on June 03, 2022, in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Another reason for celebration in June was Lilibet’s first birthday. Since the Sussexes were in Britain, the proud parents decided to throw a picnic party at Frogmore Cottage, their UK home. Since this was the first time for the sweet girl to visit her father’s homeland, the event was even more meaningful.
Queen Elizabeth was reported to have been in attendance but she refused to take photos with her great-grandchildren. As per The Sun, she banned Harry and Meghan to have a photographer present because she didn’t want any images to be made public. Camilla Tominey, royal expert, claimed one of the reasons was that the Queen had a bloodshot eye.
“Harry and Meghan wanted their photographer to capture the moment Lilibet met the Queen,” an insider told The Sun. “But they were told no chance. It was a private family meeting.”
It was such a privilege to celebrate the 1st birthday of Lilibet with my family and hers! Joy and face painting all around ❤️🎂🎉 pic.twitter.com/bg3RY6MOEu
William and Kate didn’t attend Lilibet’s birthday party. It was reported that they traveled to Wales together with their three children.
“William and Kate made no effort at all to introduce Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to [Lili],” royal expert Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly, adding that there is still “a lot of tension” between Harry and Meghan and William and Kate.
“As far as I know, nobody believes they spoke [to one another] during the celebrations,” he claimed.
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Those who get the chance to grow up with their grandmas by their side are the luckiest people of all. Why, you may wonder? Because grandmas are the best. They love like a mother and spoil their grandkids rotten. From the tasty meals they prepare, to all the presents and stories, nothing beats grandmas. The great thing is that children know how to appreciate the love and affection given to them by the elderly.
A boy dressed in a karate uniform seems to know this best. Asked about his 100-year-old ‘MamMa’ and why God created her, he provides some very interesting answers that make many go ‘awwww..’
YouTube
Well, before you listen to this cutie pie’s explanation let us tell you that there is also a bit of science behind the importance of grandmas. According to Psychology Today, grandmas are way calmer with their grandkids than they were with their own children. That is one of the reasons why these special individuals let things slide off their shoulders when their grandchildren do something unruly.
At the same time, they don’t need to worry about parenting. They just need to make sure the little ones have fun without the stress that raising children brings. Now it makes sense why grandmothers are the best. They are allowed to be the “cool” family member while never really having to discipline!
YouTube
The video of this sweet boy has been seen nearly 4 million times. He doesn’t even hesitate a bit when he needs to answer why grandmas, especially his ‘MamMa,’ are one of God’s best creations. “Well, God made grandmothers to love and care about you, that’s all I know,” he says among the rest. His words truly are hearmelting. For more on what he has to say go to the video below.
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The kindness we offer to those around us is what makes this world go round.
When they spot someone in need of help, some people simply turn a blind eye. Others, however, go the extra mile to step in for the person in trouble.
A young woman named Casey Spelman, who works as a speech and language pathologist for the deaf at an Indiana school, belongs to the latter.
Without being aware that someone is a witness of the kindness she offered to a complete stranger, she did what she believed was the right thing.
Source: YouTube/ WRTV Indianapolis
Namely, she was visiting some friends in the Wrigleyville area and attended a Chicago Cubs game. Once the game was over, she headed home and that’s when she noticed a blind man waiting for a cab. Looking at the crowd, she knew it would take quite some time for the man to find what he was looking for so she approached him and said: “Do you want some help getting a cab?”
The man, who was later identified as Yusef Dale, an assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago, was happy to accept the offer. “He said, ‘Yeah, you sound pretty, so cabs will probably stop for you before me,’” Casey explained.
Source: Facebook/ Ryan Hamilton
At the time she tried to get a cab for him, another person, Ryan Hamilton who was on a rooftop near Wrigley Field, witnessed the situation and decided to snap a photo of Casey and Yusuf that he later shared online.
“Wanted to give a shout-out to this girl. No idea who she is, but we are in Wrigleyville on the rooftop of Old Crow Smokehouse. There was a blind Cubs fan trying to hail a cab for several minutes until the lady came up and asked him if he needed help hailing a cab. She stood there with him until one pulled up. Awesome to see such kindness in a world that the media portrays so much hate in. Share freely in hopes that her kindness spreads,” Ryan wrote in the caption.
Before getting inside the cab, Yusuf gave Casey a hug as a thank you for her kind deed.
Source: Facebook/ Ryan Hamilton
At the time, the young woman was unaware someone was watching her.
“I didn’t really think much of it at the time,” she explained. “It was after a Cubs game and it was still pretty crowded. I thought, ‘Man, it’s going to take him a while.’”
Casey also added that she hopes her action serves as a positive lesson for others.
What an awesome lady Casey is.
For more go to the video below.
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Sometimes in life, we are challenged, and sometimes more than others, but above all else, this story is about overcoming obstacles! Little Brenna and her parents are a reminder of how parents love is unconditional no matter what the obstacles!
Some parents are different than others, some give away their children just because of the way they look and the best kind of parent give unconditional love to their children.
It is, we think, a great thing to show people stories, the best kind, where they can have inspiration and to help them find their own strength and realize that no challenge is too big if you have a little support and inspiration!
Also, there is a message, really to those people that might be tempted to judge anyone based on the way they look.
Courtney and Evan Westlake live their lives very happily with their son Connor, they then realized that Courtney was pregnant again!
The couple was really and completely overjoyed with the news of her pregnancy, they really wanted to expand their family that little bit more.
They were really looking forward to being parents again to another baby, their first ultrasound was fast approaching and they were quite impatient for the time to arrive.
Each time they went to the hospital they were told by the doctors that all was well with their baby, and they were happy with her progress.
Then a few more months into the pregnancy it was discovered that Courtney and Evan found out that they were going to have a girl and their son was going to have a little sister.
The family was all in all super happy, and the couple planned everything that they wanted to do, and what the little baby would do for the all of them.
Evan, the dad, said:
“I’ll have to learn to braid hair now”
Just beforenew years eve was the big day, the little girl was born, but all the plans they made were completely crushed…
They called their daughter Breanna, sadly she was born covered in thick white scales, she didn’t move, she was too hot and her little body was covered in sores, what a sad and scary moment for both parents!
Brenna had to be taken to intensive care straight away so she could even have a chance of survival.
Her parents held her for the first time some two weeks after their daughter was born.
Brenna had been born with a hereditary disease, it was quite serious, it’s called Harlequin ichthyosis…
The disease causes Brenna to grow skin on her body around ten times faster than it should.
A redness all over her body is caused by this exaggerated growth, it also causes problems with her eyes and her mouth too, even her nose and ears are affected.
The disease has no known cure and is often fatal, so sad for this poor little girl!
All the complications caused by Harlekin ichthyosis makes it very challenging to cope with just a normal, or as close to normal as they can make life for her, it was a long hard road ahead for the whole family.
Many people didn’t understand what was going on with the little girl and would stare and point at her, make loud comments or ask many questions about Brenna, it was hard.
Courtney feels really sad sometimes, she understands that other children are curious though because of how she looks.
The thing that upsets Courtney the most is the reactions from other parents, how they pull their children away from Brenna, their ignorance is upsetting, how she sees them tell their children to be quiet as they approach Brenna.
If it was a perfect world, then the ideal situation for Courtney would be, that parents went up to her and Brenna, instead, they look away and leave the playground, and that is the worse of all things to do.
Brenna is a very proud little girl and she is quite confident in herself too. She doesn’t let anyone make her feel down at all, with the support from her family she really is strong.
Big brother Connor also really supports his little sister too, of course, he loves her!
“Why do parents try to avoid talking to people who look different? What are they afraid of? They could just come up to me and ask how old Brenna is”
“When their child asks why Brenna is so red and swollen, why can’t they just be honest and say ‘I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter how we look. We’re all unique’?”
Even though they have really challenging days, Evan Connor and Courtney are really proud of what they achieve and how they cope and support each other, and with good reason too!
Without fail each night Evan bahts his daughter really carefully, and gently, it must be done every single day.
The same guy that joked about learning to braid his daughter’s hair now massages the rich cream she has to have on every day into her scaly skin that just keeps growing.
The disease has a kind of side effect, that Brenna doesn’t have much hair, but every day dad combs the hair she does have, carefully…
Brenna is just like other children in most other ways and she really loves her family, she adores playing with her big brother, and of course bedtime stories too, with dad and big bro!
Brenna’s mommy and daddy are quite rightly convinced that she can do whatever she wants and sets her mind to in life, and why shouldn’t she!
Courtney now writes every day about her family and her life, she has also written a book called ‘A Different Beautiful’, it was published back in August 2016.
Let’s all SHARE this wonderful story with friends and family. We really hope that this story and the book helps dispel prejudices people have about this condition.
The greatness of a human is best seen in the way they treat others. And the well-being of someone else to be placed in front of your own is a trait only the best possess. Or better said, those who have a good heart like Johnathon Grayer.
This 25-year-old man experienced an accident when his rental truck crashed into a school bus while it was unloading students. Grayer was badly injured and needed medical help, but instead, he rushed inside the bus wanting to make sure each of the kids was safe and sound.
WRCBTV.com
The bus surveillance camera footage showed Grayer using his every last ounce of strength to lift the seats and release children trapped underneath. Georgia State Trooper Shane Copeland told WSAV how this young man helped save many of the kids before he collapsed.
Sadly, after he was taken to hospital, Grayed died of his injuries.
Grayer’s parents, Veronica and Isaiah, describe their son as a man with a heart of gold who “had this laugh about himself.”
“They said that for some reason or another, he just ripped the whole seat out the bus with the child, and I was, like, ‘Wow,’” the grieving mother said.
WSAV3/People
Veronica explained how her son tried calming the kids down telling them how everything was going to be just fine.
“He told a little child that they were going to get ice cream. And the parents said the little kid asked, ‘Where is the man that took me off the bus? Because we were supposed to get ice cream,‘” she said, speaking to News4jax.com. “After it happened, he collapsed and he was just done like God saying, ‘You did what I wanted you to do,‘” Isaiah added.
Jonathon Grayer/News4jax.com.
Most of the children didn’t sustain any injuries, while some of them were admitted to the hospital with minor cuts and broken bones. The bus driver, who also helped getting the students out safely, suffered non-life-threatening injures.
Grayer died a hero and what he did during the last moments of his life will never be forgotten. His parents say that his heroic deed would be what will keep them pushing forward.
Rest in peace Johnathon Grayer.
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John Wayne was an exceptional actor with a remarkable career in the film industry. Even today, years after his passing, he remains a true Hollywood icon adored by millions.
Wayne was born Marion Morrison on May 26, 1907, in Winterset, Iowa. His original name remained an important part of his personality throughout his life because he believed that being Marion Morrison and being John Wayne meant being two different people in one body.
Growing up, Wayne was called Duke by his family, after the family dog that he loved to the core.
When Wayne turned 10, his family moved to Glendale, California, where his father started working as a pharmacist. This change affected Wayne a great deal and for most part, it helped shape him into the man he grew up to be.
John enrolled at Glendale High School, where he first discovered his passion for acting. In fact, he was a child of many talents and excelled in all his school subjects, as well as sports, particularly football, and the theater. Additionally, he was the school newspaper’s editor-in-chief, ran the debate team, and participated in the dance committee and drama clubs.
His achievements as a football team’s captain of his school led to a football scholarship to the University of Southern California. However, the family still needed to pay money for his education, something they couldn’t afford at the time, so Wayne started working instead.
This decision would later turn a serendipitous one because it helped him with his acting career in a way young Wayne never imagined.
As he got a job as a prop man at a local theater, Wayne got to meet some influential people in the business who saw his acting potential, among which John Ford, who taught him a lot about acting.
“I was a carpenter, I was a juicer. I rigged lights, I helped build sets. Carried props. Hauled furniture. I got to know the nuts and bolts of making pictures,” Wayne said, as quoted in Scott Eyman’s biography, John Wayne: The Life and Legend.
Over a period of time, Wayne landed his first gig, that in the 1930 film The Big Trail, directed by Raoul Walsh. It was then, that he changed his name to John Wayne. According to Eyman, “Back then the studios didn’t like ethnic names, they wanted names that sounded kind of classical.
“Winfield Sheehan, who ran Fox Studios, was a big fan of ‘Mad Anthony’ Wayne, the Revolutionary War general — that’s where the ‘Wayne’ came from, and ‘John’ just sort of came up in conversations because it seemed to fit with ‘Wayne’: ‘John Wayne.’ It had a nice symmetry to it.”
Besides his remarkable career, Wayne was also a devoted father to seven children whom he had with two of his three wives. With his first wife, Josephine Wayne, whom he married in 1933, Wayne had four children. The couple called it quits after 12 years.
He married his second wife, Esperanza Baur, a year later and they stayed together for 8 years.
His third wife, with whom Wayne stayed until his passing, Peruvian actress Pilar Pallet, was the mother of his three other children.
Unlike many celebs, Wayne made sure he spent quality time with his children. He was a devoted and a loving father.
“My dad was one of these people whose presence was show-stopping. He could walk into a room and everything would come to a standstill. By the same token, in five minutes he could just charm you into being totally relaxed and comfortable. Being charming and easygoing came naturally to him;” his son Patrick said during a 2017 interview with Jeremy Roberts.
“They knew who I was and who my dad was. My dad, in a sense, was also growing and becoming and more important,” he recalled. “More and more well known. It was happening to all of us in my close circle of friends.”
At the peak of his career, Wayne was diagnosed with lung cancer. After the numerous treatments, he felt better. Doctors removed one of his lungs and some of his ribs, after which he returned to the big screen with his final movie, The Shootist. In the years after its release, Wayne’s health declined. The cancer returned and his body was too weak to endure chemo treatments.
“In [The Shootist], he was dying of cancer, and that was extremely unnerving,” Wayne’s daughter, Aissa, wrote in the book John Wayne: My Father.
“If not quite a family curse, for us the specter of cancer had never entirely faded. By the time of The Shootist, the disease had killed my Uncle Bob, and I’d lived ever since with the fear that cancer would come again for my dad. Though his cancer would not be diagnosed for two more years, when he made The Shootist I think my father had similar apprehensions.”
Great John Wayne passed away on June 11, 1979, at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, with his family by his side. His daughter Alissa held his hand and asked him if he knew who she was, as Wayne went in and out of consciousness during his last days. His reply was, “Of course, I know who you are. You’re my girl. I love you.”
He was buried at the Pacific View Memorial Park Cemetery in Newport Beach, California. His grave’s location was a mystery for over 2 decades and his grave was unmarked for that many years as guards locked fans out of his funeral service, and his farewell ceremony remained a private affair.
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Baby Manushi from Rajasthan, India, is dubbed a little miracle for all the right reasons. This beautiful girl was delivered via C-section when her mom, Seeta, 48, was just 28 weeks into pregnancy. Sadly, Seeta was diagnosed with extremely high blood pressure and doctors determined that her baby wasn’t receacing enough blood through the placenta.
The decision the baby to be delivered was done very quickly.
When Manushi was welcomed into the world, she weighed only 14 ounces. The chances of her survival were slim because she was extremely tiny and most of her organs, including her lungs, her brain, her heart, and her kidneys were underdeveloped.
After six months at the neonatal intensive care unit, Manushi’s organs developed to the point that she could finally be released from hospital. At the time doctors discharged her, she weighted 5.2 pounds.
The fight for her life wasn’t an easy one, however. From the moment she was born, Manushi was placed on a ventilator and the chances of her survival were under 1 percent. Believe it or not, she beat the odds.
As her gut was underdeveloped, Manushi couldn’t be fed in a sufficient manner so doctors administered all the needed vitamins, minerals, carbs, lipids, and amino acids straight into her blood.
Once she turned 7 weeks old, Manushi started breastfeeding and that was a great sign. At this point, she started breathing more independently and her other organs grew normally.
Doctors were determined to save the life of this girl in order to send a message out there that female children are as important as male, contrary to the common opinion people in some parts of India hold.
“We decided to save the life of the infant and give her necessary medical care and attention because we wanted to send out a message that a girl child must be protected,” the director of the hospital, Dr. Sunil Janged said. “We offered her the necessary medical care and attention.”
Records show that a girl named Emilia Grabarczyk, born in 2015 in Wittenberg, Germany, at just 8 ounces, is the world’s lightest surviving baby.
We wish baby Manushi a happy life ahead of her.
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Fifty-five-year-old Riaan Naude, a well-known trophy hunter, was found dead on Monday, a police spokesperson revealed in a statement.
Naude made many angry over the years with the number of photos he shared on the social media posing next to animals he killed in South Africa, many of which endangered species such as elephants, leopards, and black rhinos.
The police spokesperson revealed that Naude was killed by two unidentified men who got out of their vehicle and shot him while he was out of his car which got overheated. Before fleeing the scene, the shooters took some of their victim’s guns.
Getty Images/ Alys Tomlinson
Naude was found “lying with his face up” with “blood on his head and face,” it was revealed.
For those who have never heard of this man before, he was the founder of Pro Hunt Africa, an organization which organizes paid hunting trips for tourists. According to the media, Naude made plenty of money out his lucrative business.
The investigation is ongoing and there isn’t any information whether his killing was in any way related to his business.
Sadly, and surprisingly for many of us, trophy hunting is still legal in South Africa. The country seems to lack a conservation plan. What is even more shocking is that the government constantly raises the number of endangered animals that are allowed to be hunted per year.
Getty Images/ Kim Marriott
Humane Society International reports that roughly “83% of the wildlife trophies exported are captive-bred animals or non-native species,” as well as “native species with no national conservation management plan.”
The South African government stands by the belief that trophy hunting is what helps manage populations and better conservation.
What are your thoughts on this?
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Billy William is just a regular 12-year-old boy who loves being around friends and who enjoys watching and playing football. In fact, it is his biggest wish to become a professional football player one day. Sadly, his classmates often tease him because of this. They believe he’s way too skinny to be a football player. But that teasing isn’t just limited to Billy’s dreams, which his friends find silly. Ever since he changed schools some two years ago, many bully him for his teeth, too.
We are all perfectly aware that bullying takes place way often than many people imagine and putting a stop to is seems like a hard work. The sad reality is that most schools don’t even confess that such behavior is present among students.
Learning of the ordeal Billy was going through, one of the best and most famous NFL players, J.J. Watt, who is known for his heart of gold, decided to surprise Billy, who was at a restaurant and never believed he would see his idol standing there right next to him.
Source: YouTube
Just like this young boy, J.J. was once made fun of for his small frame. He shared with Billy his childhood experience and told him to never stop dreaming, because with hard work, everything is possible. Then, J.J. drove Billy to the YMCA where they played football and had a fun time together.
The surprises came pouring in and Billy received plenty of gifts which made this day the best in his life so far.
To learn more of this heartwarming story and all the gifts Billy received go to the video below and make sure you SHARE it with your family and friends on Facebook!
Children should be taught basic life skills from very early age, both by their parents and their teachers. 6-year-old Madalyn Karlborn learned a lot about fire safety at school recently. Well, she knew many things from before as well, knowing her dad has been a firefighter for 17 years. Thanks to all that, she managed to save her family from the fire that caught their house recently.
It was around 2 a.m. when this sweet little girl felt burning sensation in her eyes and her throat. She knew the feeling was out of the ordinary and the moment she noticed the smoke detector alarm going off, she rushed to alarm her mom and dad who were sound asleep downstairs.
CBS New York
The second floor was already filled with smoke when Madalyn went down. She started yelling, “fire, fire,” in hopes to wake her sleeping parents up.
Thankfully, her dad James Karlborn heard her screams. Speaking to Inside Edition, he said, “I heard my daughter screaming ‘there’s a fire, there’s a fire,’ so I jumped out of bed and realized there was smoke all around.”
NBC New York
The whole family was out very quickly, just moments before the whole place got caught by the flames. They were lucky Madalyn acted quickly, otherwise, no one knows what would have happened. Besides her mom and dad, this quick-thinking girl saved her 2-year-old brother’s life, too.
They lost their house and all their belongings, but they are happy to be alive and are very proud of Madalyn. “She’s my angel, she makes me so proud every day,” her mom said.
Check the whole story out in the video below.
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They say that it takes a village to raise a child, and this is something every new parent who knows all too well how changeling taking care of a child can be can tell you. Thankfully, there are nurseries, as well as babysitters, that can come in handy when parents need it the most.
However, leaving your most precious jewel in the hands of people you don’t know well can be concerning. This is usually when grandmas and grandpas step in.
The truth is that sometimes parents treat their children’s grandparents as babysitters just because they believe it’s their job to take care of the grandchildren. Which, of course, isn’t.
One new mom named Amy wrote a letter to Brightside asking if she had the right to be mad at her mother-in-law who asked to be paid for taking care of her son and daughter-in-law’s baby.
Namely, Amy has been married for ten years now, but she and her husband only welcomed their baby just six months ago. As she needed to get back to work, while her husband works from home, they had a hard time making arrangements for the baby so her mother-in-law offered to watch the baby while the couple is at work. They were more than happy to accept the offer, especially because they knew she would take great care of the little one. “I truly appreciate her time and devotion and everything she does,” Amy said of her mother-in-law and added that besides taking care of the baby, the grandma also cooks and cleans around the house.
What Amy didn’t expect, however, was her mother-in-law to ask to be paid for babysitting her own grandchild. “How dare she ask for money for precious time with her grandkid?” Amy asked and added that her husband is on his mother’s side and believes she has the right to ask for compensation for the favor she offers.
Amy asked from the readers to advise her what to do.
Babysitting involves a number of responsibilities so maybe parents should indeed consider offering payment to those taking care of their children, even if those people are the closest members of the family.
Just because they are grandparents doesn’t mean they have the obligation to help around with the grandchildren. If they are not offered anything in return grandmas and grandpas out there could feel like they are taken advantage of. The question about offering payment should be talked through in order to avoid these sorts of negative outcomes.
What are your thoughts on this? Are you on Amy’s side with this one or you believe her mother-in-law is right?
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Known not only for the huge number of films he both acted in and produced and directed, but also for his weakness for beautiful women, Clint Eastwood is one lucky man. He has been active in the film industry since the ’50s and has numerous awards under his belt. He has won four Academy Awards and four Golden Globes among the rest.
In fact, Eastwood is a true Hollywood legend who has done a lot for the world of film.
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His awesome looks and charm were the reason why many women fall for him over the years. Although he was only married twice, the actor has eight children with different women and is known as someone who wasn’t really faithful to his partners.
He married Maggie Johnson in 1953 and the two had two children together, Kyle and Alison. However, shortly after they tied the knot, the Million Dollar Baby director had an affair with a woman from Seattle which resulted with a daughter, Laurie, that Eastwood learned of and met later in life.
Eastwood in the 1960s
Although he remained married to Johnson until 1984, Eastwood had plenty of affairs, including that with Sondra Locke with whom he was together for nine years before he divorced his wife. Locke was also married, but she never divorced her husband.
Eastwood has daughter Kimber with a stunt-woman named Roxanne Tunis, son Scott and daughter Kathryn with Jacelyn Reeves, a flight attendant, daughter Francesca with actress Frances Fisher and another daughter, Morgan, with second wife, news anchor Dina Ruiz.
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On the premiere of his movie The Mule, in December 2018, Eastwood appeared on the red carpet with all his children. It could be seen from the photos that he’s a proud father.
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Today, Eastwood is dating his girlfriend of six years, beautiful Christina Sandera who is 33 years his junior. The two met back in 2014 while she worked as a hostess in the actor’s Mission Ranch Hotel, a resort created by Eastwood in Carmel, California.
The two live together in the actor’s $20 million mansion in Carmel Valley and his friends and family say he’s really happy with her. Also, those close to the actor say how she’s getting along with all of his kids who love her and respect her very much.
Christina’s ex husband, bakery owner Paul Wainscoat with whom she was married for 11 months, slammed his ex-wife in public. He told National Enquirer, “I wish Clint all the luck in the world with that woman,” describing their marriage as hell.
Well, Eastwood has a great time around his girlfriend. “She’s fun, easygoing, and his kids like her too. She’s on an even keel like he is,” a source told Closer Weekly. Honestly, that’s all that matters. We are very happy our favorite actor is having someone special as Christina by his side.
The Mad Max films caught the world by storm. Telling the story of a police officer in a future Australia, “cruising the squalid back roads that have become the breeding ground of criminals foraging for gasoline and scraps,” the action-packed movie turned into a true classic loved by millions.
The second sequel, Mad Max 2, released in the United States as The Road Warrior, featured impeccable Mel Gibson in the main role. However, another character that fans went crazy about was The Feral Kid, played by then 8-year-old Emil Minty.
This boy became a huge star almost overnight and his portrayal of the grunting, primitive-looking mute, stunned millions of fans, although he never said a single word in the movie.
However, besides the stardom he rose to at such early age, Emil never made a career in Hollywood.
Youtube/Movieclips
So how did it all start for Emil Minty?
Back in the day, his sister was signed to a talent agency, but she insisted her brother be the one to try and land some roles, which is exactly what happened. At first, Emil, who was born in late 1972 in New South Wales, Australia, was part of a couple of commercials. But then, he auditioned for the role of The Feral Kid and his life took a different turn.
“My next audition was for the Feral Kidd in Mad Max 2. It came down to about three kids out of many, and we were asked to come up with a story on how we became the Feral kid out in this wasteland,” he said in a radio interview.
“My short story was that we were flying with my parents in a plane, landed, had no fuel, dad went to find fuel and never came back, mum went to find dad, never came back, and I was left to defend for myself. And well, that’s how it all began.
“I was just eight years old, and I was just having fun, surrounded by these crazy guys in costumes and all these cars in the desert. I was just playing around and jumping into cars, just had an amazing time.”
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images
During the filming, his mother was there the entire time.
“My mom spent all the time with me at Broken Hills for about three months. She would ground me before I was about to go on and do a scene. She sat me down, and we did breathing exercises and relaxed and calmed down,” he recalled.
“I mean, I was 8-year old. I was hyperactive, ran around, and got into things. When it came to doing my work, I believe that back then, I was quite professional. But [director George Miller] was able to get out of me what he wanted for the character, and he was a genius. A mastermind.”
Youtube/Movieclips
What the character was known for was his skill of throwing boomerang. In the book Mel Gibson – Man on a Mission, by Wensley Clarkson, Emil was quoted saying that it was Gibson who taught him how to “throw a boomerang and head-butt people without hurting them.”
When the filming was over and the film was released, Emil wasn’t allowed to attend the premiere because the movie was R-rated.
When it was reclassified to M, Emil went to see it together with Gibson and his family.
Youtube/Mad Max Costumes
The character of The Feral Kid was praised by critics, with The Calgary Herald movie critic Rosemary McCracken writing: “Wild of hair and short on words but stout of heart and killer with a boomerang. This has to be the toughest preteen in the outback.”
Besides the success the film achieved, Emil didn’t continue his career in Hollywood. He did stare in a few movies, including Fluteman and The Winds of Jarrah, as well as some commercials, but that was it.
He got interested in jewelry and is working at the same jewelry shop for 25 years. “I just got more interested in having a secure job and getting a trade,” he said. “So I just sort of faded out of the movie and television industry, and I still work in the jewelry industry and for the same person today 25 years on.”
Youtube/Oz Studio
Today, Emil is happily married and has two children. He says that his family leads a life like most ordinary families.
As of the legendary role he portrayed, he shared with the Daily Telegraph: “I’m just so thrilled to have been a part of it. It makes people’s day when they find out I’m the Feral Kid.”
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Landing a job as a child actor can easily snowball into a full-blown career in showbiz. However, that’s not always the case. Because of one reason or another, some child actors have it enough of being under the spotlight and turn to different careers.
Actor Danny Bonaduce played the role of wisecracking, redheaded middle son of the singing family band in the smash hit television series The Partridge Family. These series took the country, and perhaps the world, by storm.
Danny became a huge teen idol and a true star. Many young girls were into him and his popularity grew bigger and bigger every day.
“We had 21-year-old girls hanging around our house all night,” Danny’s mother, Betty, told People magazine in 1992.
“I was the witch who wouldn’t let them in.”
Getty Images
Being that famous at such young age was flattering for young Danny who spent his days on jet planes and hanging with other famous stars. “I spent my childhood on jet planes and with mayors. I didn’t play baseball, but I did ride on an elephant. I missed out on football but I flew on the Concorde. I totally lucked out,” he said.
However, once The Partridge Family came to an end, Danny had a hard time landing other jobs. He did stare in a couple of movies, but never reached the same level of success as with the role of Danny Partridge. Apparently, he was told he “not funny anymore” and that he wasn’t “cute anymore.”
During the 80’s, as he took a step back from Hollywood, Danny became an on-air radio personality and focused on his private life.
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At the age of 26, he tied the knot with his first wife, Setsuko Hattori, who was from Japan. Their union lasted for three years and rumors were he married her so that she could get a green card. His second marriage and how he met his second wife, Gretchen Hillmer, actress and entrepreneur, resembles a movie plot. The two went on a blind date and tied the knot that same day. They were together for over 16 years and had two children together.
Wikipedia Commons
Once they called it quits, Gretchen published a book about her life and what it was like to be married to a child-star. In it, she claimed that her marriage was “rocky and full of craziness.”
Danny’s third wife, who is 26 years his junior, Amy Railsback, is a former substitute school teacher who now manages Bonaduce’s career full-time.
Amy has been her husband’s support during the hardest of times.
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In April 2022, Danny suffered a mysterious illness which left him unable to walk. It was Amy who realized something was wrong when she noticed he couldn’t speak properly. What he uttered wasn’t proper English and that raised a red flag. “She looked really nervous, and she [said], ‘You’re not saying words, you’re not speaking English,” Danny recalled.
This was a hard blow for Danny who makes a living as a radio personality.
He was rushed to the hospital where doctors ran a hune number of tests to discover what caused his speech impairment. He wasn’t able to walk properly either, and experienced a hard time to balance his body. Having seen his father having a stroke, he was convinced he suffered one as well, but doctors claimed that wasn’t the case, although they were unable to diagnose Danny.
Twitter
In April, 2022, he shared with his fans that he’s taking a break in order to focus on his health. “I’m taking a temporary medical leave from my radio show. I’ll share more when I know more. I’m still working towards receiving a diagnosis. What I know is, I need time to focus on my health. I love my job and talking to you guys & I’ll be back on the air soon,” he shared on social media and thanked his well wishers.
Then, in May, Danny’s sister updated the info regarding his health, writing: “We are not being coy when we say this is a ‘mystery illness’… in layman’s terms, his balance sucks — super sucks — and all the great medical minds of Seattle are at work trying to solve this conundrum. We will keep you posted.”
Twitter / Amy Bonaduce
In June, Danny said he’s feeling a bit better, although he’s still unaware what caused his health to decline in the first place, referring to his illness as “mysterious.”
Today, he’s back on the radio and is trying to raise awareness about the importance of having regular checkups at the doctor’s.
“There was nothing that said this was going to happen. There was nothing at all. Take time to consider your health, what you’re doing. Pay attention,” Danny told ABC News.
We wish Danny only the best life can bring and we keep our fingers crossed for him to recover fully.
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Jess Caldcott, Lilly-Jo’s mother, felt as though her world collapsed when she discovered the reason why her daughter became withdrawn, sad, and not willing to go out and do what she once enjoyed doing, like riding her bike and being around the family.
The word bullying was ringing inside her head and she became aware her daughter was a victim of constant terror by the kids who were supposed to be her friends.
Facebook/Jess Brown
Initially, the mother encouraged her daughter to ignore all the bad comments she was getting on a daily basis and she brought up the issue of bullying in front of school officials, but nothing useful came out of it. The teasing and the threatening became even more severe and Jess felt as though she failed at being mother because there was nothing she could do to protect Lilly-Jo. The struggle was real and the girl eventually snapped and did something unthinkable.
A day before her 10th birthday bullying was about to take its toll. That day a young life could be lost all because of the peers who decided to mock and hurt the girl who used to be happy and enjoyed her life to the fullest. It was the day Lilly-Jo tried to commit suicide because she wasn’t able to cope with the way she was treated by her classmates any more.
Jess decided to speak up about her daughter’s condition and raise awareness of the consequences of bullying that is unfortunately part of every educational facility and affects the life of many innocent kids who are way too weak to stand for themselves.
“My daughter is fighting for her life because of bullying.”
This mother told Mirror UK how she knew things were getting even worse when her daughter refused to eat or drink the day before her birthday. It was obvious her health was deteriorating as she confessed that she swallowed tablets in attempt to take her own life.
“I sat her down and she admitted she’d taken some pills. I took her to the GP and he said we should go straight to [the] hospital. I thought my daughter was going to die.”
Facebook/Jess Brown
Fortunately, doctors were able to save her and now she is sharing her story with the world.
Lilly-Jo told Mirror UK:
“[The bully] was staring at me in the changing rooms and calling me fat. She saw me eating two crumpets, a drink and a turkey baguette, that was all I had. I’m scared she’s going to call me fat.”
The bullying was going on for quite some time and the things this brave little girl was forced to go through are simply unthinkable.
“[The bully] has pulled her hair, pushed her, smacked Lilly-Jo and also shut a locker door on Lilly-Jo’s head, stamped on her foot when it was broken – the list is endless… I am disgusted my daughter is being bullied yet nothing is being done about it. Nobody seems to want to help at all…
The day after Lilly overdosed I went round to the parents of the girl who has bullied her and showed them the pictures of her in hospital. I wanted to show them the impact of their daughters’ words but they just laughed at me and swore at me.”
Jess claims that the school officials didn’t offer any significant help but despite her claims, Cath Crossley, the headteacher of Witton Middle School, told Worcester News the school did everything to curb the bullying:
“We were made aware of these bullying allegations and took immediate action, following the relevant school policies and procedures. Face-to-face meetings were organized with myself, the deputy headteacher and our chair of Governors with the families involved and the families have also been working with our support worker.
Our thoughts go out to Lily-Jo and her family at this difficult time.”
Facebook/Jess Brown
Schools should do everything in their power to provide a safe physical and emotional surrounding for their students and incorporate into the system anti-bullying policies that will make sure a safe learning environment is being met.
We hope no other kid will have to endure what Lilly-Jo went through. We pray for her health and we hope she will have a happy life ahead.
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