Aaron Beck from Virginia was described as a loving father. His 18-month-old son menat the world to him. But one day, a tragedy struck. Something no one who knew Aaron could thought can ever happen.
During a hot day, when the temperatures were pretty high, Aaron somehow forgot his son inside the very hot car. No one knew exactly how much time had passed until Aaron realized his mistake. Unfortunately, it was too late. The damage was done. His sweet son was dead.
Not able to cope with the pain, Aaron took his own life that same day.
When police officers arrived at Aaron’s home, they noticed that the door of his car was wide open and the child’s seat was empty. Inside the house, they found the boy’s lifeless body. The body of Aaron was located in the woods behind the house.
Aaron’s family and friends spoke of him as of “generous, gentle, kind, and soft with his son. He was a draughtsman by trade. His unconditional affection was a tribute to the potential of parenting and the human heart.”
The GoFundMe page set to help the family during those times of grief said: “Tuesday morning, a father and child were suddenly taken from my dear friend in a tragedy. This cannot be thoroughly planned, even while some expenses are covered. To relieve some of her financial strain, this GoFundMe has been established. I sincerely appreciate your support during this unfathomable loss.”
Chesterfield County Officer Chris Hensley offered his condolences and said, “This is a horrific tragedy on so many levels, and our hearts go out to the family and friends who will have to deal with this.”
This is such a tragic story. Please SHARE it with your family and friends to remind them of the tragic consequences of leaving an unattended child inside a hot vehicle.
Imagine what life would be like if dogs could speak our language. Awesome, I guess. But the thing is that even though they don’t use actual words, these four-legged animals are incredible communicators who can easily show the love they have for their humans.
Over time, they do learn the meaning of certain words, such as walk, the park, and din dins, and they act accordingly. It’s not unusual for a dog to jump and rush towards the door once they hear the work walkie. They get excited right a way and can’t wait to leave the house.
Well, the same happens when they hear words they are not fond of, such as ‘the vet,’ but this time, they get anxious and unwilling to get out of bed instead.
So why don’t dogs love the vet visits at all? The truth is that those experiences are often pretty unpleasant. From getting poked and prodded by needles, to having their claws clipped away, they simply hate it being exposed to such things. Another thing dogs probably find discomforting is the fact that the vet’s office is always crowded with different animals that are as anxious and a lot of different smiles that can easily trigger a sensory overload.
A German Shepherd named Enzo was looking forward to a fun time with his human parents. During the ride, he was in a good mood, but that was until he recognized a familiar route, the one to the vet’s. Once at the parking place, he became completely aware he wasn’t going to have the fun he expected.
His reaction is priceless and we are glad it was caught on tape.
The disappointment that comes with the fact that he was tricked could be seen by his movements. He just goes from one window to another as though he can’t believe where his parents took him.
The video below is definitely a must watch. Poor Enzo, we truly hope his time at the vet’s wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be.
The Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne has experienced quite a hard time during the last years when it came to his health. Ever since his quad-bike accident in 2003, everything went downfall for the famous musician. Later, in 2019, he suffered yet another life-threatening fall when he fell in his bathroom and dislodged metal screws in his spine.
“I went to the bathroom in the middle of the night, lost my balance, and landed flat on my face,” Ozzy explained.
“When I fell to the ground, I noticed a large white flash and said to myself, ‘you’ve finally accomplished it now.’
“I knew it was serious, and I thought I was paralyzed; thus, I remarked very gently to Sharon, ‘Sharon, I can’t move.’ It appears that I’ve broken my neck. Dial 9-1-1 for an ambulance.”
Recently, his wife Sharon Osbourne revealed that the musician is about to undergo yet another surgery that will likely “determine the rest of his life,” but didn’t share any details.
Back in the day, when Ozzy was an active drug user, he had undergone a surgery and the doctor was forced to apply four times the normal dose of anesthetic. The doctor was stunned and allegedly asked the singer why wasn’t he asleep. “I had a method while I was doing all of this s***,” Ozzy said in an interview with the radio station Sirius XM, referring to the anaesthetic incident. The doctor then gave him what is known as “two full syringes,” in order to put him to sleep for the procedure.
Ozzy broke his bad habits some years ago but he still experienced run-ins with relapse.
He recently revealed that he once bought $600 worth of cannabis at one of California’s legal weed shops. Eventually, he didn’t use it, but it was a close call.
“I got it, and I thought, what the *** have I bought that for? Four ounces? I just got Covid, so there’s no point in my smoking anyway. I’d got one of those notions, which was something along the lines of ‘that would be good.’ But I never smoked one.”
Speaking of what helped him stay off substances, the musician revealed it was that he got honest with himself and had full support from his family.
We hope Ozzy Osbourne would manage to overcome every issue which stands on his way to perform and make music again.
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The news of the passing of Ivana Trump, the first wife of former president Donald Trump, caught the world by storm. At the time of her passing, she was 73 years old. Ivana was the mother of three of Donald Trump’s children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, and Eric.
At the moment, neither the Trump family statement nor the post put out by Donald Trump himself has mentioned Ivana’s cause of death.
The former president shared the news of his ex-wife’s passing on the social media platform Truth Social where he wrote: “I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away at her home in New York City.”
Her children, who are devastated and in deep mourning over the loss of their mother remember her as an “incredible woman – a force in business, a world-class athlete, a radiant beauty and caring mother and friend.”
Their family statement read: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Ivana Trump. She fled from communism and embraced this country.
“She taught her children about grit and toughness, compassion and determination. She will be dearly missed by her mother, her three children, and ten grandchildren.”
Shutterstock/Featureflash Photo Agency
What is known of Ivana Trump’s sudden passing comes from The Fire Department of New York. According to Reuters, first responders answered a call about cardiac arrest at an “aided individual” at about 12.40. p.m. When they arrived at Ivana’s apartment, they found a “73-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive.”
Although the exact cause of death hasn’t been revealed, the New York Police Department said there did not “appear to be any criminality” related to her death.
Ivana Trump was considered to be a very important and influential person in Trump’s life as she’s credited with helping him build his empire.
Ivana was born on February 20, 1949 in Gottwaldov, today’s Zlin, Czechoslovakia, today’s Czech Republic.
As a child, she had it all. Her father Milos was very strict, but he taught his daughter to be disciplined. Ivana was very good at athletics and learned how to ski when she was around three years old. Some of her former classmates describe her as a very bright and intelligent woman who excelled at school.
Her beauty helped her get into the modeling industry and work with some of the most famous names in the world of fashion at the time after finding her way out of Communist-controlled Czechoslovakia.
Shutterstock/Vicki. L Miller
Once in Canada, Ivana met and later married Austrian skier Alfred Winklmayr. The two stayed together for two years, and then in 1976, Ivana went to New York at a fashion show and that’s when her love story with the former president Trump began.
In her memoir, Ivana wrote how she and some friends were at Maxwell’s Plum, described by a 1988 The New York Times article as “a flamboyant restaurant and singles bar that, more than any place of its kind, symbolized two social revolutions of the 1960s – sex and food.”
Getting a table there wasn’t easy, and as Ivana was waiting, this tall man with blue eyes tapped her on the shoulder, introduced himself as Donald Trump, and told her he will arrange a table for her. “I look at my friends and said, ‘The good news is, we’re going to get a table real fast. The bad news is, this guy is going to be sitting with us,’” she said in an interview with the NY Post.
After the dinner, Donald paid the bill and left the place. Once she was out, Ivana noticed him waiting for her in his limousine, and that’s how they started dating. At the time, Donald was the richest and most influential mogul who had just inherited his father’s empire and business.
NEW YORK, NY – 1982: Ivana Trump and Donald Trump are seen in December 1982 in New York City. (Photo by Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images
Shortly after, Donald and Ivana tied the knot. First, their son Donald Trump Jr.was born, and then they welcomed their daughter Ivanka and son Eric.
After 14 years of marriage, the two divorced, and at the time, all eyes were on them. Ivana received $25 million and custody over her kids. Speaking of Donald, she always praised him of being the father every child could ask for. Although strict and unconventional, Donald was devoted and his children love him and support him.
“Donald might not have been the greatest husband to me, but he was a good father to the kids,” Ivana wrote. “Obviously, they adore him and are fiercely loyal to him. If he were a horrible dad, that would not be the case. If Donald wants to write a book about fatherhood, I would be happy to read it.
Shutterstock
“I believe the credit for raising such great kids belongs to me. I was in charge of raising our children before our divorce, and I had sole custody of them after the split,” she wrote in her memoir Raising Trump. “When each one finished college, I said to my ex-husband, “Here is the finished product. Now it’s your turn.”
After Donald, Ivana was married twice. Both times with men younger than her.
Rest in peace, Ivana Trump.
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The number of pets who suffer from heat stroke because their careless owners leave them inside a hot car during high temperatures is way higher than we can ever imagine. Our pets should be considered part of our family and we should treat them with utmost respect, which isn’t always the case.
So, how would you react if you notice an animal locked inside a car during the hot summer with no windows cracked and no owner anywhere around?
A man from Canada named Mark Lewis stumbled upon such a devastating sight on June 11th. He spotted a black BMW with a black interior in direct sunlight, and then he noticed a dog inside the car. The temperature was ninety degrees, and he didn’t even want to imagine how hot the car was inside.
Source: YouTube
As it was obvious that the poor animal was overheated, Lewis tried breaking a window. Other people joined him in his heroic attempt to save the dog from experiencing a heat stroke. One of the residents of the neighborhood where the car was parked said that the car’s owner was away for over 50 minutes and failed to return despite the announcement that was made.
Lewis knew he needed to act as quickly as possible so he found a big rock and started hitting the car’s window until it broke. Luckily, the dog, Cotton, was finally released. Sadly, it was quite lethargic and drenched in sweat.
“You really have to use your best judgement and on that particular day, the owners of this dog in this car, did not use their best judgement,” lewis said of the careless owners.
Source: YouTube
Both the owner and police officers arrived at the scene some 50 minutes after Cotton was saved and who knows what would have happened to the poor dog if Lewis didn’t do what he did.
At the moment, the Ontario Provincial Police are conducting an ongoing investigation with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Huron County Human Society, as reported by Today.
If found guilty of animal neglect and putting their life in danger, dog owners, like Cotton’s, face a maximum $10,000 fine or imprisonment from 1.5 to 5 years.
Source: YouTube
The video of Cotton’s rescue was shared online, and as expected, Lewis received all the praise for his act.
You can take a look at it below and don’t forget to SHARE it with your family and friends on Facebook to remind them of the dangers of leaving a pet inside a hot car.
“Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” star Michael Madsen addressed the death of his son Hudson, who died of a gunshot wound to the head in what was reported a suspected suicide, in January 2022, according to the City and County of Honolulu Dept. of the Medical Examiner.
At the time of his passing, Hudson was 26.
The family confirmed the news in a statement to Metro which read: “We are heartbroken and overwhelmed with grief and pain at the loss of Hudson. His memory and light will be remembered by all who knew and loved him. We ask for privacy and respect during this difficult time.”
At the time, they didn’t make any additional comments as they asked from the media to respect their privacy.
Later, Madsen opened up about his son’s passing through a statement released by The Los Angeles Times.
“I am in shock as my son, whom I just spoke with a few days ago, said he was happy — my last text from him was ‘I love you dad,'” the 64-year-old actor said.
“I didn’t see any signs of depression. It’s so tragic and sad. I’m just trying to make sense of everything and understand what happened,” he continued. “He had typical life challenges that people have with finances, but he wanted a family. He was looking towards his future, so it’s mind blowing. I just can’t grasp what happened.”
Madsen, however, is said to believe that his son was facing struggles after he joined the army because he was mocked after he asked for therapy for his mental issues. Hudson had one deployment to Afghanistan from August 2018 to January 2019 while stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.
Hudson was married to wife Carlie and according to their social media, the two lived in Hawaii. According to Madse, his late son’s marriage “was going strong.”
We are very sorry for the loss. Rest in peace, Hudson.
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Unlike what many people think, the truth is that police officers don’t have it easy. Their job is stressful and demanding as they make sure communities stay safe and sound.
We have witnessed many times before how some of these people are true angels in disguise who have hearts of gold under their fierce looks and muscular bodies. One would say that it is part of their job to protect and serve people, but many times, they go the extra mile.
Sergeant Randy Harkness from Dawson County, Georgia, spotted a homeless man begging for money at the corner of the street. He felt sorry and decided to give the man a ride to the nearest gas station in order to give him some money.
However, once the homeless man entered the police vehicle, he started attacking Harkness. He started hitting him and scratching his face. As Harkness didn’t expect his good deed to be answered back by such behavior, he was left in complete shock. The man injured the sergeant’s face and wasn’t about to stop being extremely violent.
Luckily, a bystander noticed the attack and decided to act. She was legally carrying a firearm and rushed towards the sergeant. She then fired a shot and that’s when the homeless man started running. The woman then fired another shot which hit the suspect.
Sgt. Harkness was glad that a member of his community stepped in for him and wasn’t afraid to risk her life in order to help him.
The Dawson County Sheriff hailed the woman a hero.
“I TRULY BELIEVE THAT SHE’S A HERO,” SHERIFF JEFF JOHNSON TOLD FOX 5 ATLANTA. “I BELIEVE THAT SHE POTENTIALLY SAVED THIS OFFICER’S LIFE. WE DON’T KNOW HOW FAR THE SUSPECT WOULD HAVE WENT WITH THE ASSAULT.”
As she acted in order to help an officer in need, the woman is unlikely to be charged with using firearm, but the incident is still under investigation.
After she decided to act, other bystanders joined her in in protecting Sgt. Harkness.
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A tragedy struck on Tuesday of last week after a six-year-old boy was bitten by a rattlesnake during a bike ride with his father and sister at Bluestem Prairie Open Space.
The child, Simon Currat, from Security-Widefield, Colorado, was enjoying the day with his family, not assuming his life would end just a few days later.
During the ride, the family stopped to have a water break and Simon rushed ahead of his father and sister to look at a mile marker sign, as reported by Derek Chambers, Battalion Chief of the Security Fire Department.
Simon Currat was out with his sister and father for a trail bike ride when tragedy struck.https://t.co/cbKxBlOm2y
— Texoma’s Homepage (@TexomasHomepage) July 13, 2022
In the next moment, Simon’s father heard his son yell “rattlesnake.” The father sprung into action and rushed towards Simon, took him in his arms, and started running towards the nearest neighborhood. The neighbors at the area immediately called 911, and per reports, the neighbor who alerted the first responders said that it didn’t take them more than five minutes to arrive after the call was made.
At that moment, Simon had not yet gone into cardiac arrest, which was a good sign.
Chambers called Lifeline for a helicopter that transported Simon to a local hospital, from where he was rushed to Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Unfortunately, despite the immediate help and treatments he received, Simon died on July 9.
Michelle Johnson of Calvary Worship Center in Colorado Springs, where the boy’s family attends church, spoke of Simon and said he was “full of life and he just loved the Lord. So as individuals who believe in Jesus Christ, we know that he’s with God and there’s great joy in that.” Simon was a passionate learner in Sunday School.
Rest in peace, Simon.
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The wisdom of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet is spreading like a wildfire. Many look up to him and try to live by his teaching because they are convinced it would lead them to peace and tranquility. And they are not far from the truth.
The Dalai Lama speaks openly of everything that is taking place around us and how the world is headed to a wrong direction.
Following the incident which took place in Paris some few years ago, he tried to spread the message that we cannot ask from God to repair what we humans break, putting the accent on the number of wars, terrorist attacks, and the money spent on those meaningless fights in which humans of all kind are killed and entire families are destroyed.
The message that appeared on his website touched millions of hearts. It read:
“Of course, war and the large military establishments are the greatest sources of violence in the world. Whether their purpose is defensive or offensive, these vast powerful organizations exist solely to kill human beings. We should think carefully about the reality of war. Most of us have been conditioned to regard military combat as exciting and glamorous – an opportunity for men to prove their competence and courage. Since armies are legal, we feel that war is acceptable; in general, nobody feels that war is criminal or that accepting it is criminal attitude. In fact, we have been brainwashed. War is neither glamorous nor attractive. It is monstrous. Its very nature is one of tragedy and suffering.”
Image source: Flickr/Christopher Michel
We are all very proud and very thankful for the sacrifice of our military men and women. They put their lives on the line for the sake of their country, but as the Dalai Lama puts it, the global war on terrorism is a complete fabrication and an actual product of their own country.
Others, among which Dr. Michel Chossudovsky, University of Ottawa’s Emeritus Professor of Economics, also claim that the wars taking place at certain parts of the world are based on fake premises and that the ordinary people and the soldiers are brainwashed. What they are not aware of is that as they are convinced they are going after an enemy and defending their own country, that same enemy is fully supported and financed by the Western military alliance.
The Dalai Lama’s website further states: “Modern warfare waged primarily with different forms of fire, but we are so conditioned to see it as thrilling that we talk about this or that marvelous weapon as a remarkable piece of technology without remembering that, if it is actually used, it will burn living people. War also strongly resembles a fire in the way it spreads. If one area gets weak, the commanding officer sends in reinforcements. This is throwing live people onto a fire. But because we have been brainwashed to think this way, we do not consider the suffering of individual soldiers. No soldiers want to be wounded or die. None of his loved ones wants any harm to come to him. If one soldier is killed, or maimed for life, at least another five or ten people – his relatives and friends – suffer as well. We should all be horrified by the extent of this tragedy, but we are too confused.“
He explains that the war is something humans made up, and it is humans who kill other humans and prolong it. If more people decide they don’t want to be part of the war, especially soldiers, things would take a different turn.
“No matter how malevolent or evil are the many murderous dictators who can currently oppress their nations and cause international problems, it is obvious that they cannot harm others or destroy countless human lives if they don’t have a military organisation accepted and condoned by society.”
Further, this great thinker speaks of how expensive the war is and how all the money could be instead used for greater causes, such as the end of poverty and feeding the hungry.
For example, the ex Canadian Defense Minister Paul Hellyer pointed out, “trillions, and I mean thousands of billions of dollars” that “have been spent on projects which both Congress and the Commander in Chief know nothing about.”
“We should feel fed up with the violence and killing going on around us. If a human being is killed by an animal, it’s sad, but if a human being is killed by another human being it’s unthinkable. We have to make a special effort to think of each other as fellow human beings, as our brothers and sisters,” Dalai Lama’s post states.
This is such a powerful perspective of looking at the madness that is surrounding us each and every day.
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If you are a parent, you probably think your kid is special and unlike anyone else’s. In fact, you KNOW your child is special. Every parent feels it.
29-year-old Chrissy Corbitt knows very well what it’s like to think her child is special. Her first two children weighed in at whopping nine and ten pounds.
Sweet Smiles Photography Studio
There was nothing that could have prepared her for her final pregnancy.
Mother of four alreday, Chrissy thought she’d seen and done it all in pregnancy. Early on during the pregnancy, Chrissy and her doctors suspected that the baby was going to be over 9 pounds.
“The belly was getting bigger and bigger. It was like she had a huge beach ball and it was getting more and more inflated,” says the baby’s dad, Larry.
Sweet Smiles Photography Studio
Delivered by C-section (good thing!) on May 13, 2017, Baby Carleigh weighed in at a whopping 13Ibs, 5 ounces. Wowzers! It was a shock to Chrissy and everyone in the delivery room.
“When the PEDIATRICIAN showed her to me across the curtain, I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s huge’
“I heard everybody cheering in the operating room. I’ve never had that happen before,” Chrissy said.
This was only the beginning Baby Carleigh was so big that she couldn’t fit in the ordinary newborn clothes that her parents had waiting for her.
Sweet Smiles Photography Studio
Same thing with diapers! Her parents thought they had prepared for everything, they had done this 4 times before. They were pros, or so they thought!
“All the stuff we bought leading up to her being born, we just donated to a local church,” Larry joked.
Sweet Smiles Photography Studio
At just three-weeks-old, Carleigh was wearing baby clothes sized for a 9-month-old!
You might think she is the biggest baby on record but that isn’t the case. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, there was a baby born in 1879 weighing 22 pounds.
Sweet Smiles Photography Studio
Chrissy says: “She’s just a happy baby, she smiles all the time. I can’t get enough of her.”
Chrissy and Larry love all their kids but they promised this one is the last!
“We’re going out with a bang.”
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Most of us associate the name of Jon Cryer to the iconic series Two and a Half Men that revolves around the hectic, yet exciting lives of the hedonistic jingle writer Charlie Harper, his uptight brother Alan Harper, and Alan’s bright but mischievous son Jake Harper.
The truth is, however, that Cryer, who plays the role of Alan, had already been a famous name in the industry before this series.
Back in 1986, at the age of 21, he had his big breakthrough with the film Pretty in Pink. Two years prior, Cryer was part of No Small Affair, in which he starred alongside Demi Moore, who was up-and-coming actress at the time.
In their film review, The New York Times wrote: “Jon Cryer, who plays Charles, makes him a toothy, good-humored adolescent with style.” This was a pretty solid start in the film industry for young Cryer who at the time put all his time and effort into building a career and even dropped out of college to be able to focus on achieving stardom.
Youtube/Tom Simon
No Small Affairs centers around Charles, played by Cryer, who gets into an affair with the glamorous singer Laura (Moore) who at 23 is much older than him in the film. Years later, the movie would gather the attention for a whole different reason.
Namely, what many weren’t aware of was that Cryer and Moore took their on-screen chemistry into their private lives and got involved into a romantic affair.
It was back in 2019, when Moore published her memoir Inside Out that she opened up about her relationship with Cryer, and apparently, he wasn’t happy about it. Among the rest, she revealed that she took his virginity.
Youtube/Tom Simon
Cryer was fast to respond to the claims. He took to Twitter to tell his part of the story. “Well, the good thing about this is she doesn’t have to feel bad about it anymore, because while I’m sure she was totally justified making that assumption based on my skill level (and the stunned look on my face at the time), I had actually lost my virginity in high school,” Cryer wrote.
In another tweet, he added: “But she’s right the other part, I was over the moon for her during a very troubled time in her life. I have nothing but affection for her and not a regret in the world.”
Shutterstock/DFree
It looked like Moore wasn’t that serious about what she and Cryer had. He, on the other side was more into her than she was. Speaking on The Meredith Viera Show, the Two and a Half Men star revealed an incident which made him realize he was in that ‘relationship’ alone.
“I went to her house, and her housekeeper greeted me,” Cryer recalled. “And I asked, ‘Oh, where’s Demi?’ She said, ‘She’s out with her boyfriend.’ And I said, ‘But I’m her boyfriend.’” Up until that point, he was convinced she was “the one.”
“That probably happened two days into the relationship,” Cryer said. “I was like, ‘Yes. This is it, I know it. But at the time, she was more grown-up than me and more sophisticated. And I have a feeling I got in a lot deeper than she did.”
Shutterstock/Kathy Hutchins
Moore was aware she “broke” her co-star’s heart and revealed in her memoir that she regretted not treating him the way she should have, declaring “that I stole what could have been such an important and beautiful moment from him.”
Cryer moved on and married his first wife, Sarah Trigger, with whom he stayed for five years. The two share a son, Charlie Austin Cryer. Today, he’s married to television host, actress, and producer Lisa Joyner.
Maybe Jon Cryer and Demi Moore weren’t meant for each other, but he still found love.
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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.
If you believe this is a useful strategy please SHARE this story with your family and friends on Facebook!
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.
