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Single dad takes hair-styling lessons so he could do his daughter’s hair – Inspires millions

Oh, that father-daughter bond! Is there anything stronger and cuter than that?

Meet Greg Wickherst, a proud dad of a young lady named Izzy. When Greg and his wife separated, his daughter got to spend more time with him than with her mom, and this amazing father loves every second that he gets to have with Izzy.

A year after the split, Izzy’s hair grew long and Greg had a hard time coping with the styling. Of course, he had no idea how to even tie it in a ponytail, but that was about to change all thanks to his devotion and caring nature.

Izzy and I are about to watch The Nutcracker! We actually have front row center seats, we are so excited!!!

Posted by Greg Wickherst on Thursday, 17 November 2016

Namely, Greg, who works at a local college, asked one of his colleagues from the cosmetology department to give him some advice about Izzy’s hair. She introduced him to the best student in her class who was more than willing to step in and show Greg some tips and tricks.

In a matter of weeks, this man turned into an expert. He practiced both on a mannequin’s head and Izzy’s hair.

“In no time, I was able to do a simple braid, then a fishbone braid, and a French braid,” he told the Huffington Post. “I even learned how to do a ponytail, then flip it through itself either under or ever. I call that an inverted ponytail.”

So since Izzy will be wearing uniforms to school, today I let her wear the clothes she was going to wear on her first…

Posted by Greg Wickherst on Friday, 12 August 2016

His creations were unique and he decided to post them on the social media in order to inspire and help other dads out there. Little did he know that the hairstyles he came up with every single day would go viral. This led to a YouTube channel, Hair Dad, and even a contest a Daddy/Daughter Hairdo Contest where other dads post photos of their girls stylized hair.

Posted by Greg Wickherst on Saturday, 23 June 2018

Through his channel, Greg met another dad who enjoys doing his daughter’s hair, Philippe Morgese from Daytona Beach, Florida, who started the Daddy Daughter Hair Factory – an organization that hosts classes for dads to learn the basics of hair care and styling. There, dads learn brushing, detangling, three-strand braids, a standard bun, you name it.

Source: Upworthy

What’s most important of all is that Izzy and the rest of the girls love having their dads doing their hair and being creative. Cute beyond words, I’d say.

You can take a look at this dad-daughter duo’s story below.

Premature baby spent her first weeks in a sandwich bag and it saved her life

Her name is Pixie. And for good reason. She was born when her mom Sharon Grant was just 28 weeks pregnant. Complications forced poor Sharon to give birth via an emergency Caesarian section. And when baby Pixie entered the world, she weighed just 1.1 pounds, Parenting Isn’t Easy reports. She was so frail in fact, that the hospital didn’t have equipment that was small enough to keep her warm.

Pixie proved to be a little fighter. Image by MailOnline via SWNS

Would This Incredibly Tiny Baby Survive?

Doctors were afraid that Pixie, born three months prematurely, wouldn’t live for longer than an hour. So they rushed her into intensive care hoping to find anything that would help her survive.

And they did something that seems unconventional but actually, amazingly, isn’t.

They placed her inside a sandwich bag

This may seem bizarre, but it’s a practice sometimes used by doctors. This is because a premature infant’s skin is very thin, allowing water to evaporate quickly, The New York Times reports.

It came as a surprise to Sharon, The Telegraph reports.

“It was so random that they had her in the Tesco bag — it must have just been what the operating theater had at the time,” she told the newspaper.

During her first weeks of life, people couldn’t even hold Pixie because it would cause her to lose weight. Image by The Telegraph via SWNS

The hospital’s neonatology consultant told The Telegraph that the treatment is fairly commonplace. The practice is used for babies who weigh less than 3.3 pounds.

“It is now a standard treatment, where the wet newborn infant’s body and limbs are placed into a bag under a heater, which creates a greenhouse effect, and this is the most effective way of maintaining their temperature in the golden hour after birth and until they are placed in a warm, humid for ongoing care, the consultant said in a statement.

Sharon hoped the plastic bag would do the trick. And it did. Pixie began to get healthy, but it was a really rough time for her mom, who couldn’t hold or touch her for 18 days. Doing so could have caused the baby to lose weight.

Here you can really see how tiny this sweet little baby is. Image by The Telegraph via SWNS

And things continued to be touch and go even after Pixie was finally able to go home.

“We have been in and out of hospital a lot since she got home, and she can’t be around other children or ill people because if she gets a cold she will end up on oxygen again,” Sharon said. “But at the moment she is doing really well. She looks really nice and healthy.”

But baby Pixie is quite a fighter

Here she is at five months old. Look at how healthy she is:

Isn’t it amazing that a product as simple as a sandwich bag can actually be used to save tiny lives? Why not share this with your friends and family?

“Married at First Sight” – Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner are still together after they tied the knot on the show

It takes years for some to find their soulmate, and many never get to experience the joy of sharing their life with that special someone. But now, imagine finding the right person and saying “I do” to someone whom you meet for the first time ever. This is exactly what happens to couples who are part of the reality show Married at First Sight.

The show first aired back in 2014 and features singles who agree to marry partners chosen for them by a group of experts, including a sexologist, a spiritualist, a psychologist, and a sociologist.

I know that this all sounds crazy and one probably needs to be out of their mind to commit to a complete stranger, but believe it or not, it worked for Jamie Otis and Doug Hehner.

Youtube/FYI

They were part of the very first season and are still going strong six years later.

This show wasn’t Jamie’s first of this type. In fact, she was part of season 16 of The Bachelor, and that is why the producers hesitated to take her in. However, if they hadn’t, she wouldn’t have met the love of her life.

Speaking of her love story and how it began, Jamie told People of her encounter with the show’s sex educator, Dr. Logan Levkoff.

“She came in the room to meet with me and I was very cynical going into it, and I fell madly in love with her,” Jamie said.

“I looked at the rest of the team and we all sort of had the same reaction. We really believed she wanted to find love. And if you think about the journey she’s been on to find love, you have to really want it to have done all those things.”

Youtube/FYI

She walked down the aisle with her little brother and her sisters were her bridesmaids. Jamie recalls the moment she first laid eyes on Doug thinking she wasn’t attracted to him.

“Initially, the whole thing was very awkward,” she told The Knot. “I was in absolute shock for the entire reception. I would try to sneak into the bathroom to pull myself together, but I’d always end up running into a group of my husband’s guests.”

On their first year anniversary, the lovebirds renewed their vows and the ceremony was featured in the spin-off of the show that brought them together, The First Year.

“For some reason we both took a leap of faith and we responded to a random phone call,” Doug told Jamie. “If that phone call came a month or two earlier or a month or two later, we probably wouldn’t be here.”

“Our journey began a year ago when we said ‘I do’ as strangers at the altar,” Jamie said. “What I didn’t know then was that I just met the most amazing, kind, patient and handsome man.”

Youtube/Lifetime

After she suffered a miscarriage, this beautiful couple welcomed into the world their rainbow baby, daughter Henley. In 2020, their family grew bigger with their second child, son Hendrix.

He’s HERE!” Jamie wrote in a Instagram post, “I want to thank YOU from the bottom of my heart for all the prayers, positive vibes, & sticky baby dust you sent me throughout my pregnancy with Hendrix. I truly have the best frans!”.

“All that positive energy sprinkled out into the universe WORKED! He’s snuggling on my chest perfectly calm & content as I write this caption to you!”

The family took a trip to Disneyland recently and they are all very happy together. This love story is an example that miracles do happen.

Mother and baby die after she jumps from highway overpass holding him in her arms

Since the start of the pandemic, a huge number of people were left without a job and struggling to make ends meet. That led to many experiencing depression and feel like there is no way out of the tough situation.

Sadly, among those affected by what the virus triggered, including weakening the economies and job cuts, was a mother of one named Tonisha Lashay Barker from Memphis.

According to her grandmother, who spoke to Oxygen, Tonisha worked at a COVID-19 testing site before she was fired in December 2020. According to reports, not able to cope with her current situation, Tonisha, 26, took her own life, as well as that of her 21-month-old son, by jumping from highway overpass while holding the baby in her arms.

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However, the investigation is still ongoing.

The Madison County Sheriff’s Office got a call about a woman, later identified as Tanisha, who tried crashing her car into a gas pump at a Shell gas station near Interstate 40. Moments later, she got out of the vehicle and jumped from the overpass, as reported by wsbtv.com.

“A few minutes later, dispatch received another call from a truck driver stating that a large object fell from the bridge and struck his truck as he was traveling westbound on I-40 at the Exit 93 bridge,” People magazine cited. Tanisha’s and her son’s body fell on the truck and were pronounced dead at the scene.

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People close to Tanisha described her as a positive person and a loving mother. Friends and family members posted heartfelt message about her.

“I remember when I would stay at your house all night because I didn’t wanna go home,” one person wrote. ”I remember the unannounced visits from us both. I don’t know how we fell out, but right now the memories I have of you are beautiful. R.I.P Tonisha L. Barker.”

Others spoke of the importance of being there for one another. Maybe if people approached her and offered her help with her depression, a tragedy could have been avoided.

“It’s important that we encourage each other and call and check in when possible. I use to see Tonisha all the time, but never knew what she was going through because she would always just appear to be happy,” one of her friends posted.

Depression💔 You just never know💔

RIP-Tonisha Lashay Barker
RIP-Johnathan Jones 21 months old

Posted by Angela Fifer on Tuesday, 5 January 2021

We are very sorry for the lives lost. May you rest in peace.

Country singer John Rich bet $10K that Joe Biden won’t be sworn in as next president

With a lot going on in America recently, the tension between the supporters of President Trump and those of the President-elect, Biden, seems to be growing bigger and bigger as the inauguration day, January 20, 2021, is approaching.

One of those in favor of Trump not leaving the White House was country singer John Rich, who spoke openly of the possibility for the results of the 2020 election to be overturn.

He even went a step further and made $10,000 charitable bet on that belief with journalist Adam Gold who asked the singer if he was still feeling the same about his claims that Biden was named president-elect too soon, after the Supreme Court shot down a Republican challenge of Pennsylvania’s election results.

Rich’s response was: “VERY confident! Let’s make our bet official. We both put 10k into an escrow account and if Biden is sworn in as POTUS, I lose my 10k, but you have to DONATE it to (Folds of Honor). If Trump wins, I’ll donate your 10k to a charity of your choice. Deal?”

Gold accepted the bet.

Since the inauguration will proceed as planned and Biden will take the oath of office as president in a matter of days, we will wait to see whether the bet between Rich and Gold will go public in terms of revealing the charity where the $10,000 will end.

Homeless man risks his life saving animals from a burning shelter

Not having roof over your head and spending your days out in the hot sun during the summers and in the cold during the winter has to be devastating. Unfortunately, the number of homeless people in the U.S. is huge. The reasons for the state these people found themselves in are many, but one thing is certain, they don’t have it easy and didn’t choose that kind of life themselves.

Source: Wikimedia – Matthew Woitunski

Sadly, there is a social stigma attached to the homeless people and instead being offered help by the society, they are many times regarded as failures. Luckily, because of those people like Keith Walker, who is a 50-year-old man living on the streets almost his entire life, the stigma could easily be broken.

All this man has is his Pit Bull Bravo who makes him company. However, when Walker is busy finding food and shelter, he leaves Bravo at the W-Underdogs animal shelter. It was December 18th, 2020, when Walker stopped by the shelter to pick up Bravo. However, he noticed smoke coming from the place. In the next moment, he could see the fire spreading.

Source: Facebook – W-Underdogs

The very first thing that came on Walker’s mind was to enter the burning building and take the animals out. “I’m not going to lie. I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals,” he later said.

Braving the smoke and the flames, Walker rescued all the animals who were at the shelter, six dogs and ten cats, by opening every single cage and crate.

Luckily, someone called 911, and soon, the fire was extinguished.

Source: Facebook – W-Underdogs

The owner of the shelter, Gracie Hamlin, called Walker a hero. They took all the animals and placed them in their new building, which is still under construction, but is suitable for that number of inhabitants.

After this story spread around, GoFundMe was started both for Walker and the shelter. While the W-Underdogs managed to raise around $12,500, people from all over the country donated for the brave homeless man and helped raise $83,000.

Update: We have received a flood of requests on how people can help Mr. Keith Walker, the hero who saved our animals…

Posted by W-Underdogs on Monday, 28 December 2020

We honestly hope that Walker and Bravo would find a nice place to stay thanks to the kind people who rewarded his heroism.

#NoFlyList videos of alleged MAGA supporters being kicked out of flights are going viral

A week after the riots which took place at the US Capitol, videos showing people being prevented from getting in the planes and kicked out of flights started emerging online. Allegedly, these people are MAGA supporters, who were dubbed terrorists by many.

As the number of videos grew bigger and bigger, the hashtags #NoFlyList and #TerroristTears were being added alongside them.

Some outlets wrote how the people featured in the videos have nothing to do with the riots and are actually treated in the way shown probably because they refuse to wear masks. Snopes clarified: “While videos show people who were removed from flights for being unruly or refusing to wear a mask, these people were not added to the FBI’s terrorist no-fly list.”

In hopes of preventing anything unpleasant from happening during the flights, airline companies stated how they keep the right to have their own no-fly list. The APA president Julie Hedrick released a statement, saying: “We are incredibly concerned about recent politically motivated incidents onboard passenger aircraft. Regardless of one’s political beliefs, the cabin of a commercial aircraft must, out of necessity, be a calm environment for the safety of everyone on board.”

In the meantime, the Committee on Homeland Security urged the TSA and FBI to add ‘violent perpetrators’ in the attack on the Capitol to the no-fly list.

“Given the heinous domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol yesterday, I am urging the Transportation Security Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to use their authorities to add the names of all identified individuals involved in the attack to the federal No Fly List and keep them off planes,” representative Bennie Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security reportedly said. “This should include all individuals identified as having entered the Capitol building – an intrusion which threatened the safety of Members of Congress and staff and served as an attack on our Nation.”

We are yet to learn the truth behind all these videos. You can take a look at a compilation of them below.

Woman filmed while dancing at the bus stop earns millions of views

They say that life is too short to not dance as no one is watching, and this lady from the English town of Eastleigh is doing exactly that. Her carefree behavior and obviously vibrat personality made her a star practically overnight after a video of her dancing on the street while waiting for the bus emerged online.

Source: YouTube/Jane Rowland

Someone from across the street found her dancing beyond cute and filmed her, not knowing the video would attract millions of views.

The song that goes on in the background is the legendary Dancing Queen by ABBA. Well, although it suits the “dance routine” just perfectly, the woman from the video, who was later identified as Ellie Cole, said she was actually listening to Knockdown by Alesha Dixon at that moment.

Source: YouTube/Jane Rowland

Believe it or not, since the video was posted on YouTube back in 2013, Cole’s life changed. It helped her land a professional role in London’s AH Men musical and she was also invited onto The Today Show, among the rest.

Who knew that a carefree dancing at Js Corner Cafe, Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh, would go such a long way. Check the video below.

Woman leaves back door open during storm – Finds three baby deer hiding inside her house

When it comes to choosing the best place to live, there are many options. And whereas many choose to be part of the big cities and the crowd, there are those who opt for nature and tranquility and build their homes near woods and forests. The latter not only get to breath fresh air and enjoy the stunning surroundings, but the luckiest of them also get to make friends with the wild inhabitants.

A woman named Amscoile would always see one deer running around her house, so when a storm was announced to take place, she didn’t only think of her own safety, but of that of her unusual guest too. Knowing the deer may come again and look for a place to hide, she left the back door open.

Source: Imgur – Amscolie

But to her surprise, something very sweet and unlike took place. The sweet deer did hid at Amscoile’s house, but he brought his friends too. So having three of them inside was something this woman didn’t really expect. She, of course, let them stay there until it was safe to go into the forest again.

You can take a look at this unusual sight in the video below.

Keanu Reeves gave $65 million of his earnings to The Matrix crew because “they were the ones who made the movie”

Most people dream of becoming celebrities for the sake of leading luxurious lives and being loved by millions, few, however, among which the one and only Keanu Reeves, seem to use their celebrity status for the sake of doing good for others.

This incredible actor is truly a very special person. He’s down to earth and unlike his colleagues, he doesn’t mind taking the metro or dining at a local fast-food store.

Keanu Reeves

Posted by Cinematologia on Thursday, 5 January 2017

Reeves’ generosity is known world-wide. Some years ago, magazines revealed how he was spending huge amounts of money funding cancer research and helping a number of children hospitals.

The A-list actor and star of the science fiction movie Matrix was reported to have given around $65 million to the special-effects and costume-design team who worked on the trilogy. An unnamed source told ABC News: “He felt that they were the ones who made the movie and that they should participate.”

Source: Getty Images | Photo by Mirco Lazzari

For Reeves, it was never about the money. He’s a humble man who simply enjoys what he does in life. He was reported saying, “Money is the last thing I think about. I could live on what I’ve already made for the next few centuries.”

According to Hello!, Reeves also gave Harley Davidson motorcycles costing $7,800 to each of the members of his stunt team while filming in Australia.

Posted by Keanu Reeves, a man, an actor, a heart on Monday, 20 February 2017

Many fans who actually met him in person are happy to share impressions of the encounters.

It’s not surprising that everyone praises him and his actions. One Reddit user who used to work on set with Reeves wrote: “Back in the late 90s and fresh out of college I got my first job as an assistant prop designer on the set of Chain Reaction (Keanu was a supporting actor with Morgan Freeman). EVERY DAY for the last few weeks of filming, Keanu treated the stage hands and ‘grunt workers’ (including myself) by taking us out for free breakfast and lunch. He was genuinely a very nice guy to work with.”

He then added: “Since then, I’ve worked on about 30 different sets and have never met an actor as generous and friendly as him. Most actors I’ve seen and worked with are total douches who always think they are better than us. Keanu on the other hand, at the very least, was socially approachable and definitely kindhearted.”

“That was one example (that involved me directly), but (on the same set), I remember him going out of his way to give my friend a ride to the repair shop to pick up his car… I’ll write more as I remember, but its been a while.”

We love you Keanu. Thank you for everything you do.

21-year-old Marine takes her little brothers out of foster care by legally adopting them

Prank it FWD by Mediocre Films is presenting a truly uplifting story of a 21-year-old marine named Melissa and her two brothers.

Melissa believes she is being filmed for a documentary, not knowing she is part of a “prank” which ends up helping her and her family.

Namely, her childhood was a tough one because her mother faced drug problems most of Melissa’s childhood. Now, not wanting her little brothers to face the same thing, she decides to plead before the court for legal custody of them. The boys are in foster care and although their families take great care of them, they want to live with their big sister.

YouTube

Recently, their mom was tested positive with methamphetamine and Melissa hopes her brothers would stay away from that kind of life.

Luckily, she gets the custody and the moment she visits them at school and shares the great news is beyond touching. They haven’t seen each other for six years and were never raised together, so this is their chance to reunite as a family after all those years.

Prank it FWD didn’t only help with Melissa’s rent and her trip to Alabama where her brothers were, but they also surprised her with a brand new Toyota Rav4 given by Toyota.

Take a look at the whole story in the video below and don’t forget to share it with your friends.

Police officer pays for shoplifters’ Christmas dinner instead of arresting them

Have you ever noticed how we easily judge others for their actions without even knowing their background stories? I have, and I believe that we should never judge a book by its cover and we should always make sure we don’t hurt anyone by assuming things that aren’t true.

Officer Matt Lima, who serves in Somerset, Massachusetts, is a kind of man we should all look up to. What makes him special is not only his profession, which is taking care for the safety of the members of the community, but also an act of kindness he showed to someone in need.

Namely, right before Christmas, Officer Lima received a call about two women and two children who were trying to steal some groceries from a Stop & Shop store.

Credit / Somerset PD

He responded and found himself at the scene in no time. Once there, he pulled the women aside and asked them why they tried sneaking goods out of the store without paying. They responded how they didn’t have enough money and couldn’t afford to get all they needed for the Christmas dinner.

These words touched Officer Lima deeply. He could see the women were telling the truth, so instead of arresting them, he served them with a ‘no trespass order’ and gave them a credit card with $250. He told them how they could leave and spend the money in another store.

“The two children with the women reminded me of my kids, so I had to help them out,” he explained.

Many news outlets picked up this incredible story and reached Officer Lima.

“Obviously this family was in need, and I can’t imagine having to make the decision to go to Stop & Shop and just only pay for what I can afford – or do I go there and try to take things for Christmas dinner for the kids?

“They were very thankful; they were kind of shocked. I’m sure a lot of people in that same situation would be thinking that there was going to be a different outcome, and maybe they would be arrested or have to go to court.

“I bought the gift card close in value to what would’ve been taken. I just did what I felt was right. It’s not about me, I just tried to put myself in that family’s shoes and show a little bit of empathy,” he said.

Credit / Pixabay

His colleagues and the chief of the police department also praised Officer Lima’s kind deed.

“His actions exemplify what it means to protect and serve the members of our community.

“When faced with a difficult situation in which a family was trying to provide a meal for their kids, he made the generous decision to not press charges and instead ensured that they would have a Christmas dinner they could enjoy,” they said in a statement.

This story is so uplifting. It teaches us that we should always step in for those in trouble because that’s the only way to have humanity work.

Korean War veteran graduates from high school at the age of 87

We should never give up on our dreams, because as great author Paulo Coelho wrote in his bestseller The Alchemist, “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

87-year-old war veteran named Edward Sanders knows that best.

Unlike his fellow friends who graduated from high-school, he was forced to drop out when he was only 15 in order to become part of the U.S. Air Force. So, in one moment, Ed was enjoying his carefree life in Jackson, Michigan, and in the next, he found himself flying a B-47 bomber in Korea.

“We had a lot of scary moments over there,” he told MLive. “My first day there, I thought it would be my last. You can’t imagine what it was like.”

However, a day after day, Ed served in the military for almost a decade before he returned home in Jackson where he still resides together with his wife. He shared the story of how the two met. While still in Korea, Ed was given some time off to visit his family and it was then that he met the love of his life.

“(I) thought she was the prettiest girl in Jackson, so I asked her would she wait for me, and she said she would. When I got out, we got married.”

YouTube MLive

Life was good for Ed, but one thing he regretted was not finishing high-school. However, he never really believed that this wish of his could turn into a reality one day.

Thanks to the Michigan program for veterans which allows them to receive their diplomas, Ed got his from Jackson High School.

The best thing of all is that he received his diploma together with his great-great niece Alex Bissell. You can check the video of the graduation ceremony below.

Congrats Ed, and thank you for your service.

Veteran can’t afford to pay for his groceries, people step in for him and we are deeply touched by their reactions

San Antonio, Texas has one of the nation’s largest military populations so the phrase “thank you for your service” can often be heard around the city.

The veterans are those people that we owe our freedom to, so it’s not rare that many of us could be heard saying how we support the military. But how is it that we offer this support that we talk of very often?

What Would You Do? ran a social experiment that was about to show how people react when members of the military are unable to pay for their groceries as their cards gets declined. Ryan is an actor who is playing a veteran and Lorraine is playing the cashier at a market. While she’s speaking to Ryan, she mentions how he served in the military and has a baby at home. In the next moment, she tells him how he’s short in cash and waits for the reactions of those waiting in queue.

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The quick reactions of the customers and their willingness to step in for this veteran in need gives us hope that things are probably better than we all thought.

Some of these people can barely afford to pay for their own groceries, but they are still helping Ryan.

This video is very touching, it will bring you to tears. Please share it with your family and friends.

Scotty McCreery and a group of musicians team up for a perfect rendition of “Angels Among Us”

One doesn’t need to be a firm believer in order to know deep down that sometimes things happen because God wants them to be that way. And even if you don’t believe in angels in a form of divine creations that lead us through life and through difficult situations, you still have to agree that many times, they appear in a form of another human being who crosses our path when we need it the most and restores our faith in humanity and in doing good.

The song Angels Among Us, speaks of such encounters, and that is why it is considered one of the best Christmas songs of all time.

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Randy Owen, the lead singer of the country band Alabama this song was written for, once said how the group received “hundreds of letters from all over the world saying that the song was a blessing.” Honestly, we can’t agree more. It is a piece of music that brings a touch of magic and warms the soul.

This time, a rendition of it was recorded by a group of incredible musicians, among which Scotty McCreery, Carly Pearce, Hunter Hayes, and Brennley Brown. It is a product of the cooperation between Radio Disney and Radio Disney Country with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, whose goal was to raise awareness as well as money for all the children who are being treated in the hospital.

The final result is breathtaking. Check the rendition of Angels Among Us below.

Remember Mary McDonough who played Erin in “The Waltons?” – This is her today, at 59

Most child actors who were somehow forced to be under the spotlight from very early age get tired of the life that comes along the status of being a celebrity, so many of them decide to pursue a totally different career later in life.

If the name Mary McDonough sounds familiar, then you were probably a fan of the first ever family show of that type, The Waltons. In fact, this show is considered to have paved the way to similar series, such as Little House on the Prairie.

“The Waltons kind of paved the way for others to come on the air. We were a large family living in the depression and Little House was a small family living on a prairie. There are some similarities. They both have morals and lessons that they teach in their storylines. Having three generations living under the same roof is a little bit different. Their storekeeper had a kooky wife and so did ours. We both have similar fan bases also,” McDonough said of the series which represent her huge breakthrough.

Youtube/MelissaSueAndersonFan

She played the role of Erin Walton for ten years. Her characters was adored by many, so McDonough became a famous name. The then 10-year-old girl enchanted millions with her acting and people loved her so very much.

The actress recalled the time she auditioned for the role that changed her life. She says that the line was the longest she had ever seen as it looked like every girl from California was there, hoping to be part of this new project. McDonough was asked to read a scene from The Waltons The Homecoming: A Christmas Story, and it was more than enough for her to be picked for the role of Erin among the hundreds of other girls.

“My dad said It was like buying your first ticket to the Irish Sweepstakes and winning,” she said about getting the job.

Youtube/MelissaSueAndersonFan

Speaking of the time of the filming of the series, McDonough remembers how being a young girl she was under a lot of pressure to always look flawless.

Speaking to Oprah, she said: “When I was 15 I had an ulcer, my hair started to fall out, I had these rashes on my head, and I remember my parents took me to the doctor. And the doctor said, ‘Well, is she under any pressure?’ And my parents said, ‘No, she’s the luckiest girl in the world — Are you kidding me?’”

Youtube/MelissaSueAndersonFan

From the beginning of the series, McDonough turned from a young girl into a woman, and that transition wasn’t easy for her. She often starved herself in order for the clothes to fit her, although she wasn’t really getting fat, but maturing.

It was actor John Ritter who helped her overcome that period of her life when he advised her to start writing a journal and put down her thoughts and her struggles. According to McDonough, writing a journal saved her life. She learned how to love her body again.

Youtube/Hallmark

After The Waltons, McDonough had a hard time finding a job in Hollywood. One reason, according to her, was that she wasn’t “large enough.” This “forced” her to undergo a breast augmentation surgery. That, however, didn’t go as planned and McDonough was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and collagen disorder Sjogren’s Syndrome.

“My hair fell out and I would be tired all of the time,” she told Smashing Interviews. “Of course, everybody kept saying, ‘Well you’re crazy. You’re depressed. Go to therapy!’ So it was 10 years of being undiagnosed and finally I got to the point where I was in so much pain I couldn’t even lift my daughter.”

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Once The Waltons was over, McDonough worked as a waitress and a bartender for some time. She also landed some smaller roles in several television series, Will & Grace, The Love Boat and ER, among others.

Today, she is a public speaker and a workshop leader. She “helps people change, create life balance, and return to a sense of self” according to her web page. She also has a YouTube channel and is an author of many books.

“I’m not alone and I never was alone, and none of us are,” she told Oprah. “And now I can help people, and the reason I do almost everything I do is so that no one feels as alone and terrified as I did. And it’s pretty rewarding.”

“Nothing will stop us” tweeted 35-year-old veteran Ashli Babbitt before she was fatally shot in US Capitol

The woman killed in the shooting at Capitol Hill was identified as 35-year-old veteran Ashli Babbitt.

According to her husband, she was a strong Trump supporter and among the hundreds of protesters seeking to overturn Trump’s election loss.

Her husband Aaron Babbitt spoke to KUSHI-TV and said his wife was “a high-level security official throughout her 14 years in the Air Force service,” and “a great patriot to all who knew her.”

After arriving in Washington D.C., now late Ashli Babbitt posted on Twitter. “Nothing will stop us…. they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours….dark to light,” she wrote.

What started as a protest, soon turned into a riot, and as protesters advanced and tried to break through the glass and wood doors into the Speaker’s lobby at the Capitol building, the security personnel drew their guns at Ashli and those around her. In a moment of chaos, a plainclothes Capitol police officer fired a single shot. Ashli was hit in her neck and later died.

An eyewitness described the scene. “We had stormed into the chambers inside, and there was a young lady who rushed through the windows. A number of police and Secret Service were saying get back, get down and get out of the way,” the New Jersey man said. “She didn’t heed the call. As we kind of raced up to grab people and pull them back, they shot her in the neck. She fell back on me. She started to say she was fine, it’s cool. Then she started moving weird and blood was coming out of her neck and mouth and nose. I don’t know if she’s alive or dead anymore,” he added.

Videos of the shooting emerged online. You can see the actual footage of Ashli’s killing below. Please note the content is graphic:

Marine honors military with four-hour salute; bikers pay their tribute back

We, as a nation, always make sure we pay our tributes and respect to those who sacrificed their lives for the country. But that feeling of patriotism and the desire to show our appreciation for the fallen soldiers grows bigger on Memorial Day.

Rolling Thunder/Ride for Freedom has been held in Washington, DC, to raise awareness of the Prisoners of War–Missing in Action of all wars and it’s happening ever since it first took place back in 1988.

United States Marine Corps Veteran Staff Sergeant Tim Chambers takes part in the Rolling Thunder in a very unique way; by standing at attention for hours. This brave man is filmed doing that even while his wrist was broken in 2013. The bikers zipped and passed around him and he felt honored to be standing there. Now everyone recognizes Sgt. Chamber as the Saluting Marine.

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He stands with boots, a rifle, flack jacket, and Kevlar displayed at his feet. Families of fallen soldiers appreciate his act and they even donate personal military items of their loved ones to Sgt. Chambers.

To be part of the Rolling Thunder is an incredible experience.

“Try standing at Salute for more than ten minutes…..this Marine does it for hours…incredible devotion and discipline. One hell of a man,” one person wrote. Honestly, we can’t agree more.
 
Among the bikers who salute him back was a female soldier who took her time to stop and pay her respects for what the Saluting Marine does. Take a look at the video below, it’s truly awesome.

This is what actor Gavin MacLeod who played Captain Merrill Stubing on “The Love Boat” is up to nowadays

Some people are simply born for certain professions. They have it in them from very early age and never stop pursuing their dreams, so maybe that is what makes them a bit more special than the rest of the people.

Ever since he was a 4-year-old boy who stood on stage for the very first time, Gavin MacLeod knew he would become an actor.

It was both the loud applause from the audience and the excitement he felt that made him never let go of the thought of making a name for himself in the theater and film industry.

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During high school, MacLeod starred in a number of plays which brought him a lot of awards and a scholarship from Ithaca College. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts and was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from Ithaca.

Speaking of his 1956 Broadway show A Hatful of Rain, MacLeod told The Flaming Nose: “My first night on Broadway was a momentous time in my life – a goal realized. I was very confident and humbled to be included on stage with some of the best actors in the business.”

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Once he moved to Los Angeles from New York, MacLeod starred in the series The Untouchables, Manhunt and Mr.Lucky. He was also part of McHale’s Navy and Mary Tyler Moore Show before he landed the role he’s probably best known for; that of Merrill Stubing in Love Boat.

When he was offered the role and given the script, his agent told him: “’Aaron Spelling [producer] wants you to do this thing called The Love Boat. I think it sucks but do you want to read it’.”

MacLeod said: “I read it and thought ‘this thing could work’’. It was very commercial kind of thing, I had my wife read it and she thought the same thing.”

Well, the rest is history. Love Boat quickly became one of the most popular shows out there. It ran for nine seasons and many of the episodes were filmed on the cruise ships The Pacific Princess and Island Princess, with guests starring as extras. Considering the popularity of the show, it didn’t come as a surprise that the ticket sales doubled.

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Being under the spotlight and probably one of the famous names in Hollywood at the time put a lot of pressure on MacLeod who turned to alcoholism. He also battled depression, but over time, he managed to get on his feet again.

“I was friends with Ted Knight when I was doing McHale’s Navy [from 1962 to 1964], and he said, ‘Why are you doing this show? You’re a glorified extra.’ I heard that over and over in my head and started drinking. I thought I wasn’t worth anything, that my wife and kids would be better off without me,” MacLeod told Closer Weekly.

In 1985, he remarried his wife Patti and the two published the book Back on Course together.

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In 2009, MacLeod became part of the project called Character Classics. Speaking of it with The Flaming Nose, the 89-year-old actor said: “Young children need to learn character. Obedience, respect, truthfulness, kindness and thankfulness are what they need to be taught.”

“This content will change lives. That is why I wanted to be a participant in the Character Classics Project. I hope sales go through the roof, because it will bless everyone and enhance the chance to bring morality back into the daily lives of our children.”

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Gavin MacLeod gave his fans a number of memorable roles throughout his career which spans basically his whole life.

Little girl hates the idea of being a flower girl at her aunt’s wedding

When it comes to wedding, we all want to share the joy of the reunion with those we love the most, our closest friends and family. That was exactly what the bride from the video wanted as well. She knew all too well how her nieces and nephews could misbehave during her wedding, but according to her brother, who posted the video on YouTube, she still wanted them there as her flower girls and ring bearers.

As the guests were waiting for the little ones to complete their duties, the flower girl started screaming at the top of her lungs because she hated the idea of walking down the aisle with her brother.

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He, on the other hand, wasn’t happy with wearing a tux and couldn’t wait to get those rings to their final destination.

We are sure that neither the bride nor the groom got angry with the kids. On the contrary, they only made the wedding ceremony more memorable.

You can take a look at the video below. It has been seen more than 2.5 million times.

Man whose mom was told he won’t live past 11 turns 62

Joey Wittkugle is a man with Down Syndrome who continues defying the odds and proving doctors wrong.

When he was born, 62 years ago, his mother Bobbi was advised to leave him in an institution. She recalls the doctors saying to her: “You have to put him away. He’ll never talk and he’ll never walk. He’ll never know who you are. He will live to the age of 11 and that will be the end of it,” according to WBTW.

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Bobbi is 90 and she still takes care of her son. She says that back in the day, people had a completely different perception of people with Down Syndrome and those with certain disabilities. Today, these people are better accepted by the society thanks to individuals like Bobbi and her son who try to raise awareness about this condition. “Sixty-two years ago, nobody knew about them and they kept them in the house. I mean, you did not have them out walking or one thing or another,” she said.

For Joey’s 62nd birthday, his mom and his family organized a car parade.

“I want people to start understanding, when you see one of our children, don’t turn your back at them like they did years ago. They are human, they are special from God and please learn to love them as much as they love you,” Bobbi added.

WBTW

We are very glad that things started to change and now those with Down Syndrome are treated as completely normal people, because they are exactly that. They are able to function on their own and are valuable part of the society.

As for Joey, we wish him a very happy birthday and many more to come. Take a look at his story in the video below.

Elephants line up to hug this elderly lady who cared for them for many years

Elephants always line up for hugs whenever they see her..

David Sheldrick and his wife, Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a celebrated author and conservationist, have worked together to care for the wildlife in Africa for many years. They worked hard in order to raise awareness and stop the illegal poaching of elephants for the ivory trade.

However, in 1977, a year after the couple had moved to Nairobi National Park, David Sheldrick passed away suddenly due to a heart attack. 

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick decided to continue her late husband’s legacy by establishing the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, one of the only three organizations on the continent that rescues, rehabilitates, and releases orphaned elephants.

Some of these baby elephants were found ensnared in man-made traps, while some were found after they fell into abandoned wells. However, the majority of these baby elephants were orphaned after their mothers were killed by poachers for their ivory tusks.

These orphaned baby elephants have no chance of survival as they are very dependent on their mother for milk during the first two years. It then takes another two years before they are fully weaned.

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick soon developed a special formula which consists of baby formula infused with vegetable fat and coconut oil. Due to the success of her formula, she became the first person in the world to successfully raise a baby elephant.

As most of the baby elephants were severely distressed when they arrive at the sanctuary, they are all each assigned a keeper who accompany the baby elephant inside the sleeping stall to provide them with comfort.

When the baby elephants have reached a certain age, they will be moved to a relocation center in Tsavo National Park. There, they continue to be cared by a keeper and will eventually be released to join the wild elephant communities in the park.

Here is Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick’s opinion of elephants: “They’re not corrupted. Their sense of family is as strong as ours. Their memories are amazing and their convoluted thinking and reasoning is equal to that of a human.

The caring and nurturing is far greater in elephants than it is in humans, and loyalty and friendship endures.”

You can watch a video of this amazing story below.

Dad teaches his Rottweilers new tricks, the cat joins in

Dogs are pretty good at learning new tricks and obeying commands so watching them perform all the cool stuff they mastered can be a real treat to the eye. Cats on the other hand are not that obedient and would opt to spend their time sleeping instead of goofing around with their humans. And yes, cats don’t let anyone tell them what to do. But, not this particular feline who pretends to be a dog.

When this owner tells the dogs to roll over, the cat wants to be part of the game and to fit in the dogs’ crew so she does the same. Well, if the dogs can do it then why can’t she, right? After all, cats are way smarter than we assume. As for Didga, she isn’t only having fun obeying her owner’s commands, but she’s also proving wrong anyone who believes cats aren’t social creatures.

You can take a look at Didga in action in the video below. Oh, it looks as though the term “copy cat” has been invented to describe her 🙂

Two young men run into a burning building to save a stranger

How far would you go in order to help someone you have never met before? Two young men named Tre Jones and Marcus Harvey from Marion, Indiana, were willing to risk their own lives for that of a complete stranger.

It was on Father’s Day that they stumbled upon a burning house while taking a walk around the neighborhood. They saw all those people gathered around the place which was at that point all in flames.

Screaming could be heard coming from the house and people said how there was a man trapped inside, to what Tre replied, “So why are you all just standing there?”

The man in question was the house owner, 56-year-old Guy Tarlton, who had fallen asleep while making dinner.

Amidst all of what has been happening lately, a couple of super humans emerge!

Neither Tre nor Marcus had to think twice before they entered the burning home. “I kicked the door open and boom, and then fire and smoke started coming out,” Tre told Fox59. “When I heard his voice screaming, I just felt like I knew I could get him out. I didn’t know how far he was in the house. I knew I was in a better position than he was.”

The flames were huge and smoke was everywhere, so the two brave boys couldn’t see a thing in front of their eyes. Luckily, they felt the man on the ground and managed to pull him out of the house. Ambulance arrived just as Tarlton was taken out and according to reports, he is still in a critical condition.

“I wish him the best recovery, and I’m praying for his friends and family,” said Harvey. Tre added, “I don’t say I’m a superhero, but I’m human. I help when I can help.”

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The whole community praised these young people for their courage. They did the unthinkable when they decided to risk their own lives for the sake of stranger’s.

Thank you guys, you truly are superheroes!

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