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When Sick Teen Needed Stable Housing to Get a Kidney, His Math Teacher Welcomed Him Home

By
McKinley Corbley
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This math teacher has not just opened his heart and home to a student – he has also given the youngster a chance to receive a new kidney.

Finn Lanning teaches middle school math classes at the AXL Academy in Aurora, Colorado. He first met 13-year-old Damien when the school year started in August – but unfortunately, they did not have very long to connect in class.

Damien was just 8 years old when his kidneys failed. The youngster needs to be hooked up to a home dialysis machine for 12 hours of a time, and his condition requires him to stay on a very strict diet.

Furthermore, Damien has been in and out of various foster homes since he was child. Whenever his medical issues became too much for a caregiver, he would be sent to live in the hospital.

MORE: Video of Teacher Goes Viral After He’s Admired For Putting Young Student’s Hair in a Ponytail

Every time Damien was sent to the hospital, he had to be removed from the transplant list because unstable housing is considered to be too high-risk for organ failure.

His most recent caregiver sent the youngster back into county custody in December – but when Lanning learned about his student’s circumstances, he started stopping by the hospital to chat and bring Damien up to speed with his school work.

Damien was in the hospital for about three months before Lanning knew that he had to give the youngster a home.

RELATED: Watch Hospital Staff – From Janitors to Surgeons – Line Hallway to Honor Organ Donor in ‘Walk of Respect’

“As I learned more about his story and what he was facing and what his needs were and why they weren’t being met, it just became really hard for me to look the other way,” the educator told KDVR.

Even though caring for Damien has been a challenging process for Lanning, he and his student have received an outpouring of support along the way.

In addition to welcoming the youngster into his home, Lanning started taking time off of work in order to train as Damien’s caregiver. His colleagues have been donating their sick days to the educator so he could continue training and taking Damien to his doctor’s appointments.

WATCH: In Twist of Fate, NFL Star’s Organs Go to the Ailing Sports Hero Who Inspired Him

The expensive grocery list that is required for Damien’s restrictive diet also costs about $200 per week – but a GoFundMe page for the student-teacher duo has raised over $50,000 since it was started in February.

Now that he lives with his math teacher, Damien has been placed back on the transplant list and the two of them say that they are expecting a call from the hospital any day now. Once Lanning finishes his caregiver training, he hopes to officially adopt Damien by the end of the year.

Until then, the surge of GoFundMe donations will help to finance their new lives together as a family.

CHECK OUT: Woman Changes Homeless Man’s Life After He Stood on Same Street Corner for 3 Years

“Damien deserves, at the very least, to have a place he can call home, and these funds will make furnishing our home possible,” says Lanning. “Additional funds raised will be used to provide opportunities Damien hasn’t been able to access for the last several years including cooking classes and maybe a family vacation once he is healed from transplant.

“These funds make our life logistically simpler, but, more than that, the support and warm wishes keep us moving forward,” he added.

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by KDVR

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UK is Now Safeguarding Ocean Territory Twice the Size of England Thanks to Massive New Protections

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Good News Network
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The United Kingdom has just designated a massive new swath of ocean territory as protected marine habitat.

The legislation protects 41 new patches of ocean, making it the largest expansion of the UK’s “Blue Belt” of protected areas to date.

Collectively, the new designations will safeguard 12,000 square kilometers (4600 square miles) of marine habitat – an area that is almost eight times the size of Greater London.

With 50 zones already designated in 2013 and 2016, the UK now has 355 Marine Protected Areas of different types, spanning 220,000 square kilometers – nearly twice the size of England.

WATCH: Man Postpones Retirement to Save Reefs After He Accidentally Discovers How to Make Coral Grow 40 Times Faster

“The UK is already leading the rest of the world by protecting over 30% of our ocean – but we know there is more to do,” said Environment Secretary Michael Gove in a statement. “Establishing this latest round of Marine Conservation Zones in this Year of Green Action is another big step in the right direction, extending our blue belt to safeguard precious and diverse sea life for future generations to come.”

The latest round of protections follow an extensive consultation, including with local fishermen and marine conservation experts, which received overwhelming support for the proposals.

In total, over 48,000 responses were submitted by members of the public, with the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs designating all 41 of the proposed sites and expanding protections at 12 existing sites.

MORE: Undersea Robot Just Delivered 100,000 Heat-Resistant Baby Corals to the Great Barrier Reef

“Today really does mark a major step forward for the conservation of our precious marine environment, but there is still much to be done, including putting in place more of the good practices that we know are needed to secure the long-term health of our seas and their wildlife,” said Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England.

“These new protections are based on advice from our world-leading marine scientists and we believe will go a long way toward safeguarding over a million hectares of England’s ocean and coastal environment, and the many species which rely upon it.”

Water You Waiting For? Share The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – File photo by Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0

World’s Smallest Baby, Born the Size of an Apple, Finally Leaves Hospital as Healthy 5-Pound Infant

By
McKinley Corbley
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A 5-month-old infant has become the world’s tiniest surviving baby after she defied all the odds and went home with her family earlier this week.

The miracle baby, who the hospital has been calling Saybie to respect the family’s privacy, was delivered at just 23 weeks and 3 days in gestation after doctors concluded that her mother was suffering from severely high blood pressure. For reference, a typical childbirth takes place at 40 weeks – but if Saybie had been allowed to stay in the womb any longer, then both she and her mother would be at risk.

After Saybie was delivered via an emergency C-section, doctors from Sharp Mary Birch Hospital in San Diego, California told the baby’s parents that she would most likely only survive an hour.

“But that hour turned into two hours, which turned into a day, which turned into a week,” the mother said in a video released by the hospital.

LOOK: Boy is Cured of Aggressive Cancer Thanks to Stem Cell Treatment Using Donated Umbilical Cord

As a micro-preemie, Saybie weighed in at only 8.6 ounces (254 grams) – which is about the size of a small apple.

According to the official Tiniest Baby Registry, which is maintained by the University of Iowa, she weighed 7 grams less than the previous baby to officially take the world record in 2015.

These preterm newborns face a variety of life-threatening medical challenges and their survival rate is greatly compromised – but Saybie experienced virtually none of the medical challenges typically associated with micro-preemies, which can include brain bleeds, and lung and heart issues.

MORE: ‘Man With the Golden Arm’ is Finally Retiring After Saving the Lives of Over 2 Million Babies

Now, after spending five months in the hospital’s intensive care unit since her birth in December, Saybie has been sent home with her family – and her send-off was an emotional one.

“I just want her to know how strong she is,” said an NICU nurse. “I mean, if she can start off where she was and do as well as she can be, there’s nothing she can’t do.”

(WATCH the news coverage below) – Photo by Sharp Mary Birch Hospital

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Instead of Excess Produce Going to Landfills, Companies Are Sending It Off to Be Dried into New Snacks

By
McKinley Corbley
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Rather than letting excess produce go to a landfill, this California startup has started collecting food waste from agricultural companies in order to preserve the fruits and veggies as dried snacks.

Treasure8 is responsible for creating a new kind of technology that can suck 97% of the moisture out of fruits, vegetables, and fungi. Once dried, the produce still maintains the same taste and nutrition – except it has a much longer shelf life without using any preservatives.

Not only is the dried produce far healthier than potato chips and salty snacks, the dehydration machine can cost-effectively process the food in just one hour.

RELATED: Construction Begins On First Ever Commercial Plastics-to-Fuel Factory in the US

Treasure8 worked with the University of California – Davis and the USDA in order to create the “Sauna” machine’s dehydration technology.

The San Francisco-based startup now sources all of their produce from various agricultural companies and manufacturing facilities for consumer packaged goods – and they hope to start collecting excess produce from local retailers and supermarkets in the near future.

“Our mission is to capture some of the 1.3 billion metric tons of food wasted every year and convert it into healthy food sources for folks around the world,” reads the Treasure8 website.

LOOK: School District Turns Unused Cafeteria Food into Take-Home Meals for Kids in Need

“Food waste is the #1 item in landfills, making it the 3rd largest source of methane behind China and the US if it were ranked as a country. The more food we can all prevent from being wasted, the less additional growing capacity and resources we need to bring online in feeding an increasing global population.”

Treasure8 is currently using the Sauna machines to turn their salvaged fruit and veggies into Ground Rules snacks. In addition to selling chips made out of beets, sweet potatoes, and apples, the company soon plans on unveiling a new kind of cookie that is partially made out of dehydrated vegetables.

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After Man Saved Drowning Deer From Freezing River, He Used His Own Clothes to Keep It Warm for 40 Minutes

By
McKinley Corbley
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A 27-year-old man is being hailed as a hero after he stripped down to his underwear and dove into a freezing river to save a drowning deer last week.

Marc Headon and his colleague Jamie Toyne had been driving home from work through Saxilby, England when they spotted a pair of ears floating on the surface of a nearby canal.

After they parked their car and got a closer look, they saw that there was an exhausted deer in the water.

Without hesitation, Headon took off his clothes and plunged into the river. As Toyne cheered him on and filmed the rescue mission from the bank, Headon swam out to the deer, put his arm around its torso, and gently towed it back to the riverbank.

LOOK: Farmer Saved Fox Cubs By Performing Emergency C-Section On Mother That Had Just Been Hit By a Car

Toyne briefly stopped filming the event so he could help Headon pull the deer up onto dry land – but he managed to catch a clip of Headon hauling the shivering deer to its feet so he could keep it warm and soothe its nerves.

Headon, who works as a painter, reportedly stayed in his underwear for 40 minutes so he could use his clothing to keep the deer warm until rescuers arrived.

Shortly after the deer was taken in for treatment, the two workmen received a phone call from an animal rescuer thanking them for successfully saving the young deer’s life.

(WATCH the rescue video below) – Photo by Jamie Toyne

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“The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.” – Walt Whitman (born 200 years ago today)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.” – Walt Whitman (born 200 years ago today)

Image: Copyright GWC, 2019

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Watch Will Smith’s Adorable Response to Little Girls Asking Him About His Genie Magic

By
McKinley Corbley
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Will Smith may be an all-powerful genie on the silver screen, but this adorable new video from the red carpet is just as magical.

4-year-old twin sisters Emma and Mila Stauffer were at the Los Angeles film premiere for the new Aladdin movie with their mother last week when they were approached by the actor.

Smith, who plays the role of the genie in the film, can be seen chatting with the girls before they ask him where his magic is.

Without missing a beat, Smith earnestly explains that he can’t do magic in public because it might scare people and he doesn’t want anyone to know he’s a genie.

WATCH: High School Performance of ‘Alien’ So Impressive, Sigourney Weaver Surprises Students at Second Show

When the girls ask him where his friends are, Smith invites them onto the red carpet to meet Princess Jasmine (who is played by Naomi Scott).

After getting permission from the girls’ mother, Smith lifts up the velvet rope and ushers the youngsters over to Scott.

Mila and Emma’s mother, Katie Stauffer, posted a video of the interaction to social media last week so she could praise the celebrity A-lister for being so nice.

MORE: Pop Star Grieving His Own Loss Helps 83-Year-Old Widower Check Off Bucket List After Wife’s Death

“He was pretty freakin’ cool!!” wrote Stauffer. “Clearly I was excited… I couldn’t even film correctly.”

Stauffer isn’t the only person who thinks it’s cool, either – since Stauffer uploaded the footage to Facebook, it has been viewed over 60 million times.

(WATCH the sweet video below)

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Atlanta is Transforming an Abandoned Plot of Land into the Largest Public Food Forest in the US

By
McKinley Corbley
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As a means of ending hunger and providing healthy food to all its citizens, the city of Atlanta is creating the largest public food forest in the United States.

According to a new piece of legislation that was passed last week, the food park will be located on 7 acres of vacant forested land near Lakewood Heights.

The ordinance states that the city plans to “transform these formerly vacant properties into a public park with edible trees, shrubs, vines and groundcover” with “public gathering spaces, walking trails, community garden beds and a restored forest and stream-side areas.”

Completion of the Urban Food Forest will pave the way towards the city’s goal of ensuring that 85% of their population will be within a half-mile of fresh food by 2021.

LOOK: Epic New Trail Will Allow Cyclists and Hikers to Travel 3,700 Miles Across America From Coast to Coast

The ordinance goes on to say that the U.S. Forest Service has provided a total of $164,500 in grant funding for the establishment of the Urban Food Forest. Once completed, the city plans on creating a trust fund to ensure a steady source of financing for the park’s future maintenance.

The abandoned plot of land was originally purchased in 2016 by the Conservation Fund, a nonprofit dedicating to buying and preserving natural land across the US. According to the city ordinance, the charity will continue to work with the parks and recreation department to maintain the public space.

This will be Atlanta’s first urban food forest – and since there were reportedly about 70 designated public food forests in America in 2018, it makes their trailblazing initiative all the more impressive.

Plant Some Positivity By Sharing The Good News With Your Friends On Social Media – File photo by Huangdan2060, CC

After Mailman Puts Off Retirement Out of Love for Neighbors, Hundreds of People Send Him on Dream Vacation

By
McKinley Corbley
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This community’s affection for their mailman has been so contagious, people from all over the country are pitching in money to send him to Hawaii for his retirement.

Floyd Martin has been a mailman in Atlanta, Georgia for 35 years, but for the last two decades, he has driven the same route through the Marietta neighborhood and delivered mail to the same 500 houses.

However, Martin did not earn his “local celebrity” status just for delivering letters and packages.

Every day without fail, the 61-year-old postal worker would give lollipops to the local kids; he smiled and waved to homeowners; he checked up on the families; he brought newspapers to the front doors of elderly residents; and he even doled out cat and dog treats to all the neighborhood pets.

MORE: When Man Was Trying to Sell His Car to Save His Dog, Community Came to His Rescue

Much to the heartbreak of the residents on his route, Martin announced two weeks ago that he would finally be retiring.

“I could have left them a long time ago, but I wouldn’t,” said Martin, “because I love them.”

Initially, Martin said that didn’t expect very much recognition for his retirement – but then his story reached social media.

 

On Martin’s very last day of work, local journalist and Atlanta resident Jennifer Brett hopped in his mail truck so she could document the affectionate interactions between him and the families on his route.

She then posted pictures and anecdotes of the interactions to social media in a continuous Twitter thread.

In one of her posts, Brett writes: “Doreen Hipps, 87, has been on his route since the beginning. Her granddaughter Amanda Seals spoke on her behalf tonight. ‘Dementia has set in, and she doesn’t see well anymore, but she still knows Floyd.’”

 

 

In another tweet, a woman described how meeting Martin for the first time “was like meeting an old friend.”

Finally, as a means of giving Martin a proper sendoff, the neighborhood hosted a block party in his honor.

To Brett’s surprise, her tweets were shared thousands of times. One reader in particular was inspired by a quote from Martin about how he hoped to visit Hawaii one day, so they started a GoFundMe page to raise money for his dream vacation.

 

 

Since it was created one week ago, the campaign has surged past its original goal and garnered over $32,000 in donations from hundreds of people all over the country.

One of the donors, a woman named Susan Taylor, even left a comment describing her own experience with Martin.

RELATED: After 12 Years of Waving to Students From Her Window, Watch Her Reaction to 400 Kids Saying Goodbye

“I donated because Floyd truly has been a hometown hero. He has been my mail carrier over 18 years with three different addresses. He even remembered me when we moved overseas for seven years.

“He was a ray of sunshine as I waited for his deliveries as a brand new, lonely, worn-out mom. We stocked the freezer with popsicles for summer days and the kids would run to help cool him down. He never once complained – always with a smile. I cried when they changed his route. I wish ALL the best of the best for Mr. Floyd!”

 

 

Furthermore, since the story went viral, Delta Airlines has reached out to Brett and offered to fly Martin to Hawaii for free.

In an article for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Brett posted Delta’s official statement: “Mr. Martin, you’ve touched many lives, helping connect those on your mail route to their families and friends through the letters you delivered.

“We too are all about connections; on behalf of Delta employees, enjoy your trip to Hawaii—we can’t think of a better way to kick off your retirement. Cheers.”

 

 

There is not yet a set deadline for Martin’s trip to Hawaii, but the GoFundMe page organizers say that they will be sure to keep everyone updated.

“Once Floyd decides when he will visit Hawaii, we promise to share photos of his trip,” says the organizers. “Until then, we leave you with this quote from Mr. Floyd, “‘Continue to take care of each another, and smile when you think of me.’”

(WATCH Martin’s block party goodbye in the video below)

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For the First Time in History, an Albino Giant Panda Has Been Caught on Camera

By
McKinley Corbley
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For the first time in history, researchers have captured an albino giant panda on camera.

The bear, which conservationists believe to be between 1 to 2 years old, was photographed at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in the Sichuan province of China.

Though albinism can be found throughout the animal kingdom, it is a very rare occurrence. Albinism usually occurs as a result of a genetic mutation that prevents an animal from producing melanin. Apart from being more sensitive to light, however, albinism does not affect the reproductive or physiological functions.

Based on the footage of the newly-discovered albino panda, its gait and stature are that of a healthy young adult, and researchers expect it to continue thriving in the wild.

LOOK: With Only 147 of World’s Fattest Parrots Left, This Year’s Baby Boom Has Left Researchers Positively Squawking

“The picture clearly shows the unique morphological characteristics of the panda: the hair is white, the claws are white, and the eyes are red, passing through the lush native deciduous broad-leaved forest,” the nature reserve said in a press release.

“The panda, which was filmed by Wolong, is the first fully whitened individual recorded in the wild … indicating that there is a ‘whitening’ mutant gene in the giant panda population in Wolong.”

The documentation of the white panda was captured by a monitoring system that was only recently installed by the Wolong Wildlife Grid for research purposes in December 2018. Since the photos were captured in April and released earlier this week, the Wolong researchers hope to increase the number of monitoring systems in the region so they can track the albino panda’s movements.

Photo by Sichuan Wolong National Nature Reserve Administration

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Watch the ‘Magical’ Moment Epileptic Teen is Surprised With Her Own Therapy Dog for Her Birthday

By
McKinley Corbley
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For years, Summer Shott has dreamt of one day owning her own dog – so when her parents finally surprised her with her own therapy dog, she could barely contain her emotions.

Due to her medical issues, Summer’s doctor has encouraged the family to get her a therapy support dog in the past; because in addition to the London teen suffering from epilepsy, she also has hemiplegia as a result of being born with cerebral palsy.

The condition means that Summer is almost constantly suffering from anxiety, which prevents her from doing a lot of the activities that other young girls are free to do. Since she has also been bullied for her medical conditions in the past, the youngster struggles with self-confidence.

Her accumulative anxiety issues have had a history of triggering her epilepsy. After a recent string of seizures landed her in the hospital, doctors urged Summer’s family to consider getting her a therapy dog to reduce her anxiety.

RELATED: After 12 Years of Waving to Students From Her Window, Watch Her Reaction to 400 Kids Saying Goodbye

Summer’s mother Cherie Johnson is allergic to furry animals – but with her daughter’s 16th birthday quickly approaching, she finally decided to surprise the teen with her very own support dog.

With camera in hand to videotape the big reveal, Johnson broke the news to her daughter by giving her a birthday card with a message inside detailing her struggles in school. At the end of the card, Johnson instructed her daughter to life up a little flap of paper. Underneath the paper, it said that Summer was the proud new owner of her own therapy dog.

Shocked, the teen could barely believe what she was hearing – and then her father walked in with Buddy the Chihuahua puppy wrapped in a towel.

MORE: When Radio Station Hears About Mom Struggling to Care for Sick Son, They Give Her Surprise She Will Never Forget

Summer immediately started crying tears of happiness. Still in disbelief, the teen asked her mother several times “Is he really mine!?”

Finally, the teen sits down on the sofa with her new canine companion in her arms – and the pup even touched noses with Summer as a way of saying hello.

Since being given the puppy in April, Summer’s mental health has undergone a huge transformation.

CHECK OUT: Woman Stunned to Find Out That ‘Anonymous’ Kidney Donor is Actually Her Best Friend

“I knew Summer would be ecstatic, but her reaction was absolutely magical,” Johnson told Caters News Agency.

“Since having him, she looks forward to the weekend, she’s got someone to look after rather than her always being looked after, and it’s given her so much confidence,” she added.

“Her anxiety levels have dropped dramatically and she hasn’t had any of the bigger seizures since she came out of hospital.”

(WATCH the emotional video below)

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“Many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” – Leo F. Buscaglia

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Many educators and parents still differentiate between a time for learning and a time for play without seeing the vital connection between them.” – Leo F. Buscaglia

Image: Copyright GWC, 2019

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

‘Best Leaf Musician’ in China Wants More People to Play the Leaves – Here’s His Lesson on How to Do it Yourself

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Luo Wenjun is a master of the “cheapest instrument in the world” – and he wants more people to learn how to play it.

Though it may sound peculiar, Wenjun makes music by blowing on leaves with his mouth.

The technique was originally developed to imitate the sounds of insects, although people quickly realized that they could use the unique chirping sounds to make music.

RELATED: Song Made Entirely of Bird Calls is Climbing the Music Charts – Watch the Enchanting Music Video

Hailed as the best leaf blower in China, Wenjun has been playing the leaf for over 30 years and his skills have brought him to dozens of musical stages around the world.

As a means of keeping the tradition alive, Wenjun also hosts private leaf blowing lessons for students ranging in age from 7 to 70 years old.

Wenjun hopes that his efforts will help to preserve the cultural technique for many more generations to come. Additionally, he wants to bring the joy of leaf blowing to more people – which is why he offers a quick lesson on the basics of leaf blowing in the video below.

(WATCH the charming video below) – Photo by Great Big Story

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Training for Your First Marathon ‘Reverses’ Aging of Major Blood Vessels on Par With Medication

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Good News Network
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Training for and completing a first-time marathon “reverses” aging of major blood vessels, according to an exciting new research.

The study, which was conducted by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), also found that older and slower runners benefit the most.

“Novice runners who trained for six months and completed their first marathon had a four-year reduction in arterial age and a 4 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure,” said study author Dr. Anish Bhuva, a British Heart Foundation Fellow at University College London, UK.

“This is comparable to the effect of medication, and if maintained translates to approximately 10% lower risk of stroke over a lifetime,” he added.

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A hallmark of normal aging is stiffening of the blood vessels, which increases the risk of stroke and heart disease even in healthy people. Compared to their peers, lifelong athletes have biologically younger blood vessels. This study investigated whether training for a marathon could modify aortic stiffness even in novice runners.

The study included 139 healthy first-time marathon runners aged 21 to 69 years who were advised to follow a first-time finisher training program and ran an estimated 6 to 13 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) a week for six months ahead of completing the 2016 or 2017 London Marathon.

Before they started training and two weeks after completing the marathon, participants had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound scans of the heart and blood vessels, a fitness test, and measurements of blood pressure and heart rate. Biological age of the aorta was calculated at both time points.

MORE: Managing Your Gut Bacteria Shown to Alleviate Anxiety, Says New Research

After completing the marathon, aortic stiffness had reduced and the aorta was four years younger than before training. Older participants and those with longer marathon finish times had greater reductions in aortic stiffness after training. Reductions in aortic stiffness were independent of changes in blood pressure.

“You don’t have to be an elite athlete to gain the benefits from marathon running, in fact the benefits appeared greatest in those who were older and slower,” said Dr. Bhuva. “By completing training, and getting to the finish line, it is possible to rejuvenate the cardiovascular system of first-time marathon runners.”

Fitness improved and heart rate dropped after training – both to a modest extent. “The minimal impact on these conventional markers of health suggests that study participants trained within their personal limits,” said Dr. Bhuva. “Aortic stiffness and blood pressure changed more than fitness and heart rate.”

CHECK OUT: Broccoli Isn’t Just Good For You; Scientists Find It Holds Molecule That Could Be the ‘Achilles’s Heel’ of Cancer

Dr. Bhuva noted that participants had been running for less than two hours a week before marathon training and their finish times were slower than average, which was expected as it was their first race. “The study shows that the health gains of lifelong exercise start to appear after a relatively brief training program,” he said. “Training for a marathon can be a good motivator to keep active. Many people enjoy it and continue running, which should increase the likelihood of sustaining the benefits.”

Professor Sanjay Sharma, medical director of the London Marathon and an author of the study, said: “The benefits of exercise on the heart and circulation are well established, and are associated with lower cardiovascular disease and mortality. Recent studies have shown that exercise may retard aging of the cardiovascular system. Our study shows that a first-time marathon makes the cardiovascular system ‘younger’ therefore participants will reap these benefits whilst running for a good cause.”

Reprinted from the European Society of Cardiology

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Watch People Join Rescue Elephants in the Streets As They Embark on 10-Hour Walk to Their New Home

By
McKinley Corbley
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After spending their lives being exploited on the streets, two elephants have been rescued and given a new lease on life at an elephant sanctuary – and they were escorted to its gates by hundreds of people rallying for their support.

SomBoon is a pregnant 30-year-old elephant who is expected to give birth within the next few months. The other elephant, Sri Nuan, is 50 years old and suffering from digestive problems as a result of a poor diet.

As their rescuers prepared to move the pachyderms to their new home at the Samui Elephant Haven in Thailand earlier this month, they realized just how difficult it would be to move the massive mammals.

Because the elephants had not been on board any form of automotive transportation in two decades, their rescuers were anxious about the creatures becoming panicked and causing harm to the vehicle or its drivers.

LOOK: India Gets Its First Ever Hospital for Abused Elephants – and They’ve Already Treated Dozens

Not to be discouraged, the rescuers simply resolved to walk the animals along the 12-mile (20-kilometer) journey to their new home.

The team embarked on their journey at 6pm and spent the next 10 hours walking the elephants through various villages and roadways. As a safety precaution, the elephants were kept on a chain for the start of the expedition – but as they became calmer and more accustomed to their surroundings, the chains were removed and they were allowed to move freely along the road.

Photo by Diane Silva

The rescuers were not alone on their intrepid journey, either; as they walked, dozens of villagers and tourists joined them in the streets to walk with them in solidarity. Food vendors even exited their stores in order to offer fruit and water to the elephants.

Initially, the entourage was joined by about 60 strangers – but their group steadily swelled in size the longer they walked.

RELATED: Watch Orphan Elephant Conquer His Fear of Water With Help From His Loving Human

“It was so exciting, I got goosebumps all over – the hairs just stood up,” said Mango Yordbear, a UK traveler who helped with the rescue. “It was an electric feeling. It was so beautiful.”

The elephants were successfully introduced to their new home at 4AM. Since arriving at the sanctuary, they have already begun making friends with their fellow pachyderms – which is particularly exciting due to how it can be difficult for elephants to form social bonds with new additions to a herd.

(WATCH the heartwarming video below)

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This Breathtaking Café Made Entirely Out of Cardboard Shows Just How Eco-Friendly Architecture Can Be

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This newly-opened café in India is proving that cardboard is not just for boxing up your possessions on moving day.

The “Cardboard Café” is a restaurant in Mumbai that is made entirely out of corrugated cardboard. Except for the kitchen area, everything in the café from the tables and walls to the light fixtures and menu holders are made out of recyclable cardboard.

 

In total, the café is made out of 40,000 square feet of cardboard.

Since cardboard naturally consists of about 50% air, the material is lightweight, durable, inexpensive, and exceptional at absorbing sound, which makes it ideal for busy restaurant atmospheres.

 

The tabletops, on the other hand, were treated with wax to make them resistant to spills and stains.

The café was designed by Nuru Karim, the founder of the Indian architectural firm Nudes.

 

It only took the architects a total of 7 months to design and build the café – 3 months for planning and 4 months for construction.

The team spent an extensive amount of time testing the durability, flexibility, moisture resistance, and temperature adaption of the material.

 

In addition to the café being made out of sustainable materials, they also specialize in serving organic and locally-sourced meals.

Karim says he created the restaurant as a means of illustrating the versatility of cardboard so it can be taken more seriously as a structural material.

 

“I think the idea was to literally think outside the cardboard box,” Karim told Midday India in the video below.

“We also wanted to advocate [for] issues such as climate change, global warming, sustainability, and hopefully this café could start becoming a dialogue for the way we treat our national resources, the way we treat out planet, the way we consume, and the way we recycle.”

(WATCH the video below) – Feature photo by Nudes

Build Up Some Positivity By Sharing This Cool Story To Social Media…

When Mom Wanted to Build Walker for Her Son, Home Depot Workers Sent Them for Ice Cream and Got to Work

By
McKinley Corbley
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These Home Depot employees are being praised for going above and beyond the call of duty when one of their customers had a very specific request.

Christian and Justin Moore walked into the Home Depot in Cedartown, Georgia earlier this week with the intention of building a walker for their 2-year-old son Logan.

Logan was born with hypotonia, a condition that makes it difficult to build strong muscle mass. Since the condition makes it harder for Logan to walk and stand, his physical therapist suggested that he get a gait trainer.

Logan’s parents were worried that their insurance would not cover a walker – and if it did, then it would take too long to get one.

RELATED: Though Her Alzheimer’s Worsened, Supermarket Still Found Creative Ways to Keep Her on the Team

The parents then turned to YouTube and found instructional videos on how to build a walker out of PVC pipe. Christian and Justin went to the home goods store with a supply list of tools and materials they would need. Upon showing the list to one of the employees, the couple was joined by the store manager – and they were stunned by what the workers had to say.

“They started getting the parts together and told us they would put it together and would not charge us for it,” Christian told CNN. “They told us to go get ice cream and come back in an hour.”

By the time they returned, the Home Depot employees had assembled a brand new walker for Logan – and it even featured his name across the front.

MORE: When ‘Homeless‘ Man Insists On Paying for Fancy Meal With His Hard-Earned Money, Restaurant Makes Special Offer

“I couldn’t believe they were willing to do that. It took everything I had not to cry because it hasn’t been an easy road for my son. He has had a hard time doing things that would be easy for most children his age,” she added.

One of the employees, Jeffrey Anderson, later posted photos of the heartwarming exchange to Facebook, saying: “Everyone was crying to see Logan walk around with the biggest smile on his face and when the family tried to pay us, we said no way this one is on us. Thanks to all that help and for being a blessing to this family and to this little guy.”

Be Sure And Share The Sweet Story Of Kindness With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by Christian Moore

“Problems generally get smaller if you turn to face them, rather than running away.” – Inspired by Nelson Mandela, Clare Josa

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “Problems generally get smaller if you turn to face them, rather than running away.” – Inspired by Nelson Mandela, Clare Josa

Image: by Stephen Brace, CC license, via Flickr

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

 

Scientists Use New ‘Holy Grail’ Gene Therapy to Heal Damage Caused By Heart Attacks and it Could Save Millions

By
Good News Network
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In a world first, researchers from King’s College London believe they may have found a new therapy that can induce heart cells to regenerate after a heart attack.

Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, caused by the sudden blocking of one of the cardiac coronary arteries, is the main cause of heart failure: a condition that now affects over 23 million population in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

At present, when a patient survives a heart attack, they are left with permanent structural damage to their heart through the formation of a scar, which can lead to heart failure in the future. Fish and salamander, on the other hand, can regenerate the heart throughout life.

In a new study that was published last week in Nature, however, the team of investigators delivered a small piece of genetic material, called microRNA-199, to the heart of pigs, after a myocardial infarction – and the treatment resulted in the almost complete recovery of cardiac function one month later.

RELATED: Broccoli Isn’t Just Good For You – Scientists Find It Holds Molecule That Could Be the ‘Achilles’s Heel’ of Cancer

Lead author Professor Mauro Giacca, from King’s College London said: “It is a very exciting moment for the field. After so many unsuccessful attempts at regenerating the heart using stem cells, which all have failed so far, for the first time we see real cardiac repair in a large animal.”

This is the first demonstration that cardiac regeneration can be achieved by administering an effective genetic drug that stimulates cardiac regeneration in a large animal, with heart anatomy and physiology like that of humans.

Professor Giacca and his team joined the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences BHF Centre of Excellence of King’s College London earlier this year to continue translation of these studies in patients.

MORE: Another Study Shows How Flickering Lights Can Slow (And Maybe Even Reverse) Alzheimer’s Symptoms

Professor Ajay Shah, who is the Head of the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences at King’s, said: “A treatment that helps the heart repair itself after a heart attack is the holy grail for cardiologists.

“Professor Giacca’s study convincingly demonstrates for the first time that this might actually be feasible and not just a pipe-dream,” Shad added. “It’s a very exciting advance in the field. While we are not yet at a stage where a treatment could be offered to patients, I’m confident that our excellent team in the King’s BHF Centre of Excellence is very well placed to drive forward the research to make such a treatment a reality.”

Reprinted from King’s College London

Good News Is Good For The Heart: Share It With Your Friends On Social Media – Photo by King’s College London

Thousands of People Have Been Encouraged By Mom’s Yard Signs – and Their Feedback Has Been Amazing

By
McKinley Corbley
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Thousands of encouraging roadside signs have been popping up around the world – and it’s all thanks to one woman who felt helpless in the face of mental illness.

Amy Wolff was first inspired to start erecting the inspirational signs after she had a heartbreaking discussion with an acquaintance in May 2017

“We were hanging out with friends when one of them mentioned the suicide rates in our community and I about fell out of my chair,” says Wolff. “I felt completely hopeless and ill-equipped to be part of a solution. After all, I wasn’t a therapist. I didn’t know of anyone suffering with thoughts of self-harm. What on earth could I do?”

Despite her initial feelings of helplessness, Wolff got the idea to start putting up motivational signs in people’s yards. For the following two weeks, she and her kids started knocking on people’s doors across their town of Newburg, Oregon and asking if they could put up signs featuring messages like “Don’t Give Up” and “Your Mistakes Don’t Define You”.

RELATED: If You Worry About Having ADHD, Don’t Despair – Scientists Now Believe Leonardo da Vinci Had It Too

Wolff then started receiving messages from other people in the community wanting to buy the signs – and within a few days, Wolff had sold over 150 of the yard signs.

The very same night, Wolff’s husband designed her a website to sell the signs at-cost.

“The movement really picked up traction when family friends road tripped that summer from Portland to Rochester, leaving a trail of our [messages] in every public bathroom, restaurant, and rest station across this great country,” says Wolff.

MORE: ‘Guardian’ Officer Has Saved Over 200 People From Jumping Off the Golden Gate Bridge

“Within a year, we had news outlets in Dallas, Boston, Massachusetts, Cincinnati, and Portland cover our movement,” she added. “I guess generous love with no strings attached was newsworthy. I guess yard signs were genius.”

By the fall of 2018, Wolff realized that her initiative was not going to slow down any time soon – so she then launched the Don’t Give Up nonprofit for her signs.

Since she planted her first sign two years ago, she has shipped the nonprofit’s messages of encouragement to all 50 US states and 26 countries in 6 languages.

LOOK: How a Yoga Teacher is Saving First Responders Across America From Depression – With Downward Dog

With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, the testimonies that Wolff has received from sign owners are particularly significant.

One sign owner told the nonprofit: “I just had a woman knock on my door. She began to cry and thank me for the signs in my yard. She lives up the road and said her son had attempted suicide and these signs were in the yard the day they came home from the hospital. She drives by every day and for her, her son, and her daughter – the reminder is profound.”

CHECK OUT: Global Suicide Rate Has Declined By 29%, With Millions of Tragedies Avoided Since 2000

Another testimonial reads: “So someone just knocked on my door almost in tears. He told me about his daughter and her struggles with drugs and asked if he could buy my sign. Of course I said no he could have it. I prayed for both of them and he left. I will be ordering more signs…”

A more recent endorsement says: “Today a middle school boy knocked on my window while I was in the drop-off lane at school. He pointed to my ‘You Matter’ decal and said ‘Seeing your decal made me feel special and good about myself. Thanks.’”

Wolff now hopes that the movement will continue gaining traction so that young people – and adults – will be reminded that there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel and they are deserving of happiness.

Be Sure And Share The Inspiring Story With Your Friends For Mental Health Awareness Month – Photo by Don’t Give Up

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