All News - Page 836 of 1716 - Good News Network
Home Blog Page 836

Dance Company Includes People in Wheelchairs and Busts a Beautiful Move

By
McKinley Corbley
-

These choreographers are on a mission to prove that anyone can dance – no matter their abilities.

The nonprofit called Infinite Flow hosts classes, dances, and inclusive programs for kids and adults alike—and touts itself as the first professional wheelchair ballroom dance company in the world.

The founder herself, Marisa Hamamoto, used to be confined to a wheelchair when a rare disease called spinal cord infarction left her paralyzed from the neck down in 2006. Two months after the diagnosis, however, she regained her mobility and was able to walk out of the hospital so she could pick up her career as a professional dancer once more.

WATCH: Boy Named ‘Blessing’ Born With Deformed Legs Shows Off Award-winning Breakdance Moves

Then, eight years later, she stumbled upon wheelchair dancing at the Abilities Expo in Los Angeles.

“When I discovered wheelchair dancing in 2014 … I couldn’t believe how underdeveloped it was,” Hamamoto told Good News Network. “Having been paralyzed from the neck down myself, I felt compelled to do something about it. I could not imagine my life without dance and it was not fair that there were millions of people who did not have access to it.”

She eventually connected with Adelfo Cerame Jr., a paraplegic bodybuilder on social media, and the two became dance partners.

“… though he was completely new at dancing, after a few practice sessions together, I not only felt like I was connecting with him like my other professional dance partners, but I did not see the chair anymore – I just saw Adelfo, not ‘Adelfo in the wheelchair’.”

WATCH: Broadway Casts of Aladdin and Lion King Get Stuck at Same Airport, Have A Sing-Off

“My barriers were broken, and I knew in that moment that I wanted to share this experience to the millions people around the world, and this experience led to founding Infinite Flow in March 2015,” explained Hamamoto.

Recently showcased at the National Day of Dance by the Dizzy Feet Foundation & The Music Center in California on Saturday, their children’s troupe and the professional dancers in the group blew away the crowd with a stunning performance.

Marisa believes if the world danced together, there would be no war—and her goal is to prove it.

(WATCH the video below)

Wheel This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share

Veteran With PTSD is Creating Free Tiny House Community for Others Like Him

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This Air Force veteran was taught that he should never leave a man behind – and that is exactly the creed behind his new tiny house project.

Donnie Davis is creating a micro-housing community in Franklinville, New Jersey that will provide shelter, counseling, and therapy animals to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder – and it will all be provided free of charge.

An Afghanistan War veteran himself, Davis first got the idea for the Operation Safe Haven project when he got a call about an abandoned 277-acre campground that was going up for sale in Franklinville. Since Davis is also a pastor, the caller asked whether he would want to build a church on the property.

RELATED: Elderly Couple Share Their Farm With Vets Suffering From PTSD

Instead, Davis launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for a tiny house community that would nurture vets with PTSD back to health.

In 14 months, Davis has raised over $200,000 of his $500,000 goal.

Davis has already moved onto the property so he can dedicate all his time to the initiative. A team of volunteers and veterans alike are currently working on building the facilities and recruiting potential residents. In return for housing within the community, residents will help care for the animals, grounds, and gardens.

“The houses are the easy part. Providing the counseling, social and medical aspects of the program are still ‘fluid’ as we create a personal program for each vet,” Davis told Good News Network. “We also have the 200 acres to prepare for the vets so they have a truly beautiful retreat!”

The facilities will also be carbon neutral and environmentally-friendly thanks to solar panels installed on the roofs.

CHECK OUT: Veterans Find Peace Protecting African Wildlife from Poachers

Since Davis started working on the project, the veteran has found that the calming outdoor atmosphere of the campground has helped treat his own PTSD. After being in the Air Force for five years in the 90s, he worked for five years as a Maryland police officer. But now, surrounded by nature and peace, Davis feels the anxiety of his past ebbing away – and he now wants to help other veterans who are just like him in a meaningful way.

“[We want] as many [veterans] as we can help!” he told GNN. “But our goal is to also inspire others to do the same! Many hands make the load light!”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photos by Donnie Davis)

This Calf Bears an Uncanny Resemblance to Rock Star From KISS

By
Good News Network
-

This heavy metal heifer is becoming a rock star for having the same facial markings as Gene Simmons: the infamous bass player from the band KISS.

The calf, which was fondly named Genie, was allegedly born at a Kerrville, Texas ranch while KISS music was playing on the radio.

Hill Country Visitor, a Facebook page that spotlights local businesses in the area, posted a photo of the cow hinting that Simmons was the father.

CHECK OUT: Scientist Wants to Name This Cute Octopus Species “Adorabilis”

Despite the suggestion, Simmons himself was impressed by the surprising resemblance and posted the photo on Twitter with the caption: “This is real, folks!!!”

While most cows at the ranch are bred for the slaughter, they insisted that Genie is far too special for such treatment. In fact, they are now trying to get the KISS singer to visit the ranch and meet the bovine who stole his signature look.

(WATCH the video below)

This Story Was Made For Loving: Click To Share – Photo via Hill Country Visitor

When a Scared Homebody Got Lost, Stranger Helped Find Her Home – and Her Confidence

By
Good News Network
-

Anita Hughes used to be a notorious homebody who rarely left the house, except on Sunday mornings. If she did venture out during the week, she insisted on not doing it alone.

So when she eventually got the nerve to take a road trip from her home in Cleveland, Ohio to a gospel concert in North Carolina, it was a momentous occasion.

The devout churchgoer made it to the concert without any issues – but on the way back, she got dizzyingly lost.

She then stopped at a convenience store in Virginia and begged the customers to give her directions home.

CHECK OUT: 12-Year-old Saves Friend’s Leg Using First-Aid From ‘Hunger Games’ Book

Jason Wright stepped forward and gave his best instructions on how to get to Ohio – but Hughes was still scared.

Moved by her desperation, Wright traveled dozens of miles out of the way so he could lead her back to the right interstate highway.

Wright’s patient kindness had such a big impact on Hughes, she has since become a fearless traveler, unafraid of misdirection.

The Virginia gentleman has taken a lot more trips, too. He reportedly enjoyed his time with Hughes so much, he has given rides to dozens of other strangers – all of which stem from that first encounter in the convenience store.

(WATCH the video below from CBS’s Steve Hartman)

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends

Kenyan Schoolgirls Invent App to Stop Female Genital Mutilation

By
Good News Network
-

These Kenyan students are the embodiment of “girl power”.

Five teens who call themselves “The Restorers” are taking a stand to end female genital mutilation (FGM) with their innovative cell phone app.

The app, known as i-Cut, is a program that allows girls to call for help, seek assistance, and report abuse to reputable law enforcement organizations. When utilized by a user, the app connects her with the legal, medical, and therapeutic counseling and resources required—all at the touch of a button.

RELATED: 10-Year-old Boy Invents Device That Will Save Children From Hot Cars

For their ingenuity, the Restorers were invited and became the only African participants to attend the Technovation Challenge in Silicon Valley, California – a competition for women who are using technology to address problems in their community.

If i-Cut wins the challenge, Technovation—which is sponsored by Google and the UN—will award the team $15,000.

The girls’ own community has denounced the practice of FGM, but since the tradition is deeply embedded in the social structure of many African villages, some Kenyan women are still subjected to the “rite of passage”.

“FGM is a big problem affecting girls worldwide and it is a problem we want to solve,” team member Stacy Owino told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. “This whole experience will change our lives. Whether we win or not, our perspective of the world and the possibilities it has will change for the better.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Technovation)

Mexico City Passes Landmark Dolphin Captivity Ban

By
Good News Network
-

Mexico City is finally taking a stance on dolphin abuse.

A bill recently passed by the Legislative Assembly of Mexico City has banned the captivity of dolphins for entertainment, performances, therapy, and research.

The bipartisan legislation, which was hailed as a “landmark ban” by the international animal protection organization In Defense of Animals, took effect earlier this week.

The law was passed in light of the organization’s “Ten Worst Tanks” list of abusive cetacean facilities. Mexico City’s Six Flags park, which is renowned for housing the late ora from Free Willy, is ranked at number 6 internationally.

CHECK OUT: Vancouver to Eliminate Harmful Single-Use Packaging

Though the fate of the two dolphins and two sea lions currently at the park is still unknown, In Defense of Animals is encouraging their retirement to an aquatic sanctuary for rehabilitation.

“This landmark ban will spare generations of animals from cruelty and sends a clear message that the public increasingly rejects dolphin captivity,” said Dr. Toni Frohoff, Cetacean Scientist for In Defense of Animals. “We thank Mexico City officials for recognizing our Ten Worst Tanks list and acting swiftly to end the abuse. We urge Six Flags to retire the dolphins at a seaside sanctuary where they may recover.”

“All parties, from rights to strong lefts voted just as one,” said dolphin advocate Yolanda Alaniz at a press conference. “Deputies recognized dolphins as sentient beings who suffer living in concrete tanks. Politics spoke with ethics, and marked a new way to follow for our country, and we will follow this path.”

You Should Dolphinately Click To Share With Your Friends (Photo by Road Fun, CC)

During Layover, Flight Crew Goes ‘Above and Beyond’ for 5-Year-old Flying Solo

By
Good News Network
-

This 5-year-old was all set to have a safe flight as an unaccompanied minor last month – but then the kindness of the crew made it even better

Since Southwest Airlines reportedly allows children aged 5 and up to travel unaccompanied (as long as it is either a nonstop flight or non-plane change layover), Aisley Schatz was flying home to Orlando, Florida from visiting her grandparents in Los Angeles, California

The youngster was on a non-plane change layover in Omaha when she tried to call her mother Natesha on her tablet, only to have the call give out.

That’s when Jessica Darnell, one of the trip’s flight attendants, offered up her own phone so Aisley could FaceTime her mother.

CHECK OUT: Icelandic Postal Workers Go Above and Beyond When There is No Address – Just a Hand-Drawn Map

Then, even though Aisley had been able to take some snacks aboard, she began to get a little hungry.

The captain of the flight, Wes Huston, then stepped off the plane and bought the young passenger some KFC chicken strips and potato wedges.

Aisley’s mom was so grateful for the crew’s kindness, she posted her praise to Facebook.

“With all of the negativity going around with airline companies and their employees, I want to point out these … wonderful employees you guys have and I want to give them a shout out for taking care of my daughter by going above and beyond when it wasn’t something they had to do,” wrote Natesha.

Fly This Sweet Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share (Photo by Natesha Schatz)

Watch Adorable Siblings Burst into Tears When Mom Surprises Them with Adopted Baby Sister

By
Good News Network
-

This bundle of joy certainly brought a lot of joy to her new sisters – so much so, that they couldn’t help but cry with happiness.

Shane and Kasi Pruitt have always been keen on adoption; only two of their four children are biologically theirs.

RELATED VIDEO: Dog Starts Tickling Baby to Stop the Crying, Adorable Gigglefest Ensues

So when the parents started readying themselves for a third adoption, the family was anticipating a lengthy legal process. After 10 months of waiting, an adoption lawyer finally paired them with a 3-week-old baby girl.

Two weeks ago, the Pruitts brought the baby back to their home in Rowlett, Texas to surprise their daughters with their new sister – and their reactions are priceless.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends

Nevada Cracks Down on Driving Below the Speed Limit in Left Lane

By
Good News Network
-

If there is anything more road rage-inducing than when someone doesn’t use a turn signal, it is when someone is driving under the speed limit in the left lane.

And that is why Nevada lawmakers passed legislation that makes it illegal to drive too slowly in the passing lane.

Nevada State Troopers reportedly state that the number one cause of road rage is slow drivers in the left lane. In order to address this issue and encourage safer driving habits, law enforcement will be on the look out for sluggish drivers.

CHECK OUT: Man Built $550 Staircase for Park After City Estimated $65,000

According to KTNV, first offense drivers will be ticketed $50, second offenses will cost $100, and third offenses clock in at $250.

The new legislation will hopefully prevent dozens of car collisions caused by frustrated drivers having to pass on the right side, rather than the left.

(WATCH the video below)

Drive This Story Over To Your Friends: Click To Share – Photo by dlofink, CC

If You Ever Need to Get Pumped, Watch this 9-Year-old Singing Whitney Houston

By
Good News Network
-

No matter what happens, we will always love this video of a 9-year-old boy with Down syndrome singing a Whitney Houston song.

A video of Dane Miller belting along to Houston’s “I Have Nothing” has gone viral, with over 23 million views in just one week.

Miller reportedly first got hooked on the tune when he was watching a documentary on the award-winning musician last month – and he has loved singing the song ever since.

RELATED VIDEO: Obama Sings Purple Rain for Trick-or-Treating Child Dressed as Prince

His mother Danna says that while Dane has always been a passionate singer, she was surprised that the video she took of her son became so popular.

“We just posted [the video] because it is so cute and precious … [but] we’re just so grateful and so happy to share Dane’s joy with people. He has a pureness of heart and a light inside him that is truly infectious,” Danna told TODAY.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share This Greatest Love Of All Time With Your Friends

For the First Time Ever, US Scientists Have ‘Corrected’ Genetic Code for Heart Condition

By
Good News Network
-

For the first time in American history, scientists have successfully used a gene-editing tool to correct a disease-causing mutation in human DNA with the goal of ending its heredity for future generations.

Until now, the CRISPR gene-editing tool had never been used for human testing in the United States. But, according to a new report published in Nature, researchers at Oregon Health and Science University were able to edit the DNA in donated embryos to remove the gene for a heart condition that is the most common cause of sudden death in young athletes.

CRISPR, which stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, uses an enzyme to track down specific sets of gene mutations that cause certain diseases. When CRISPR removes the mutation from the embryo’s DNA, it effectively brings an end to the disease being passed down that family line.

CHECK OUT: Bold Trials to Kill Vicious Cancer Type is So Successful, FDA Will Fast Track to Patients

“Every generation on would carry this repair because we’ve removed the disease-causing gene variant from that family’s lineage,” said the study’s senior author and scientist Shoukhrat Mitalipov. “By using this technique, it’s possible to reduce the burden of this heritable disease on the family and eventually the human population.”

The targeted disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, affects 1 in every 500 people worldwide. It is entirely undetectable and devoid of symptoms until the host basically goes into cardiac arrest.

Since CRISPR is a controversial topic of medicine due to the ethical implications of gene-editing, researchers made sure to clarify that they were not modifying or enhancing any genes – simply correcting the mutations that had already occurred. While there may be some debate over the moral action of editing genes, scientists say that they are proceeding with caution in order to fully understand the scope of the research.

Scientists at Temple University have already successfully removed HIV from the DNA of living animals using the much-touted genetic tool.

RELATED: First Ever Quadriplegic Treated With Stem Cells Regains Motor Control in His Upper Body

CRISPR could also be effective in eliminating a disease like sickle cell anemia—which causes crippling pain, organ failure, and death—by removing the single misspelled letter in the genetic code that causes it.

Muscular dystrophy is another disease that might be an ideal candidate for gene correction technology that could convert mutant genes back to normal.

“This research significantly advances scientific understanding of the procedures that would be necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of germline gene correction,” said Daniel Dorsa, senior vice president for research at OHSU.

“The ethical considerations of moving this technology to clinical trials are complex and deserve significant public engagement before we can answer the broader question of whether it’s in humanity’s interest to alter human genes for future generations.”

(WATCH the video below to learn how CRISPR works)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends

Baby Octopus is Quick to Thank Human Rescuer Before it Swims Back to Sea

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This little octopus was dehydrated when it was rescued by a Good Samaritan – so when it eventually recovered from its near death experience, it made sure to say thank you to its human savior.

Four years ago, Pei Yan Hang was wandering along Cyrene Beach in Portugal when it found a beached baby octopus who had become stranded on the sand at high tide.

Without any way of getting back to the ocean, it was starting to dry out when Hang arrived.

Hang grabbed a cup of water, scooped up the cephalopod, and put it back in shallow waters.

RELATED VIDEO: Baby Deer Refused To Leave Side of Man Who Rescued It

After a minute or so of recovering, the rescued octopus crawled over to Hang and stretched two tentacles across his boot before swimming out to sea – almost like it was thanking the human for its rescue.

While some might say that this is simply projecting human emotions onto animals, octopi have been credited for being surprisingly intelligent creatures. Back in 2016, Inky the octopus – a resident at the National Aquarium in New Zealand – was credited for accomplishing a stunning Finding Nemo-esque escape from his tank in the dead of night.

One of the maintenance workers had left the tank slightly ajar, allowing Inky to squeeze out of his tank and down a drain pipe that actually led to the Pacific Ocean.

With that in mind, we’re willing to believe that this little cephalopod was expressing its gratitude before it took off to greener pastures – or in this case, bluer seas.

(WATCH the video below)

Help Your Friends Sea This Story: Click To Share – OR,

Clooney’s Foundation to Open 7 Schools for 3,000 Syrian Refugee Children

By
Good News Network
-

George and Amal Clooney are making sure that despite the overwhelming obstacles faced by Syrian refugee children overseas, they will have the opportunity to seek an education.

That’s because the Clooney Foundation for Justice has just announced that they will be donating $2.25 million to build 7 public schools for 3,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

The donation, which was made as a part of an educational campaign in partnership with Google and Unicef, will hopefully offer relief during one of the largest humanitarian crises since WWII.

RELATED: Shakira Built 7 Schools in the Poorest Areas of South America

“They have been victims of geography and circumstance, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t hope,” said the couple in a statement to the AP. “Our goal with this initiative is to help provide Syrian refugee children with an education and put them on a path to be the future leaders their generation desperately needs.”

“Thousands of young Syrian refugees are at risk – the risk of never being a productive part of society. Formal education can help change that. That’s our goal with this initiative. We don’t want to lose an entire generation because they had the bad luck of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said the Clooneys.

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by George Baird, CC / Unicef, Romenzi)

Adorable Family Wears Helmets in Solidarity With Newborn Son

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This family may be considered “hardheaded”, but they would do anything in order to stick together – even if it means wearing helmets in the sweltering Texas heat.

The Gutierrez family recently welcomed the birth of a hefty baby boy named Jonas. Currently at 4 months old, the infant is an adorable addition to the family.

Jonas’s parents were horrified to discover, however, that he was quickly developing a flat spot on the back of his head. It also didn’t help that – unlike most newborns – he was a very heavy sleeper. Lying on his back only made the flat spot worse, to the point where it was widening the features on the rest of his face.

Luckily, the condition, which is known as brachycephaly, is easily treatable. All Jonas has to do to keep a healthy head shape is to wear a helmet.

RELATED: Dad Has the Perfect Plan to Cheer 6-Year-old Who Wet Her Pants

For the next few months, Jonas is destined to wear the little helmet so it can mold his head to the proper dimensions.

While older kids might be a little embarrassed by the device, Jonas’s older sister Camila loved it – so much so that she demanded the rest of the family wear helmets to match Jonas’s.

Jonas’s parents Shanya and Gary appreciated the gesture of solidarity and posted photos of the helmet-wearing family to social media. The photos quickly went viral, with users applauding their endearing familial unity.

“Let’s be honest: having two young kids can be tough, so helmets are probably a good idea anyway,” Gutierrez told TODAY. “Now I feel a little less anxious if Camila throws her toys and hits Jonas or if he takes a dreaded tumble off the couch.”

Click To Share This Sweet Story With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by Shanya Gutierrez)

When Pizza Man’s Car Breaks Down, He Doggedly Delivers Pizza on Foot

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This pizza delivery driver went above and beyond the call of duty after his car broke down earlier this month – and his grateful customer is making sure that he is properly repaid for his kindness.

Ashley Schafer was at her home in Flint, Michigan when she decided to order some Domino’s pizzas for her husband’s dinner. Sometime around midnight, however, she was confused to see that the pizza had left the store at 11:24PM – and it still had not arrived.

“An hour later I still had no pizza and was about to call when there was a knock,” says Schafer. “It was a manager informing me that the delivery driver’s car had broken down, a deaf young man named Benjamin, and he was worried.”

CHECK OUT: Icelandic Postal Workers Go Above and Beyond When There is No Address – Just a Hand-Drawn Map

23-year-old Ben Houston had indeed been on his way with the order when his car broke down. Because his cell phone had recently stopped working as well, he had no way of contacting Schafer or the Domino’s store about his predicament.

Houston then started knocking on nearby doors in order to see if he could use someone’s phone. Eventually, a man answered the door and let Houston call his manager.

“He deserves a round of applause…” says Houston. “Not sure what your name is, but unsung hero, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for having patience with me and not closing the door on me.”

Houston then waited for one of his team members to pick him up from his broken down car. After waiting a long time, however, he decided to go ahead and deliver the pizza to the customer’s house.

RELATED: Football Player and Uber Driver Become Besties After Trip Across 5 States

Then, on the way to Schafer’s house, he saw one of his coworkers drive past. He rushed back to his car only to find that the coworker still wasn’t there. For the second time that night, he started hiking back over to the woman’s house.

Finally, he was able to give her the pizza.

“Half an hour later there was another knock, it was Ben with my pizza who was apologizing profusely and explaining what happened,” wrote Schafer. “I said I’d heard, I completely understand and it was not a problem at all.”

After taking the pizza inside, she looked out the window and was surprised to see Houston hiking back down the road.

RELATED: Uber Driver Saves Stranded Couple On the Way to Their Wedding – And Goes the Extra Mile

“He had WALKED me my pizza. If I wasn’t alone with two young kids asleep I would’ve went after him. I immediately called the store to let them know so they could go find this amazing young man.”

“It might seem silly, but in a world that right now feels tumultuous and full of hate and in a city where itself and its people are constantly put down, there was this bright light that was Ben. He went far above and beyond, caring more about getting me a stupid pizza then staying at his car and waiting for help.”

Schafer has since started a GoFundMe page which has already raised $2,000 for either “keeping him on the road … or new shoes for when he goes above and beyond”.

Pie It Forward: Click To Share – OR,

Even With Her Heart Problems, 8-Year-old Becomes Youngest Female to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Roxy Getter just became the youngest female to ever reach the peak of Mount Kilimanjoro – and she hasn’t even peaked into her teen years yet.

Because 8-year-old Roxy and her 10-year-old brother Ben have both had heart issues in the past, their parents talked to a cardiologist before the climb to make sure that they would be okay.

As it turns out, the kids were better than okay – their parents say that Roxy and Ben never once complained over the course of the 5-day hike. In fact, their cheerful attitudes soothed the exhaustion of hiking all 19,341 feet of the mountain.

CHECK OUT: 101-Year-old Breaks World Running Record: “I Missed My Nap for This”

In addition to the heart issues, the family has never actually camped overnight before. Though the Getters used to actively hike when they lived in Arizona, they recently moved to Florida where the only practice they could have for the Tanzanian mountain was climbing stairs.

Conquering the tallest mountain in Africa may have been an exhausting endeavor, but the family says it was all worth it – although Roxy says she might take a break from climbing mountains for a while.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends – OR,

This Pup Was a Ringbearer at His Owner’s Wedding – and the Pictures are Adorable

By
Good News Network
-

When this dapper looking pup was asked to be the honorary ring bearer at his owners’ wedding, he didn’t hesitate to say “I do”.

 

Sean McCrory and Sheree Atcheson of Belfast, Northern Ireland recently tied the knot in a happy, dazzling ceremony – but the spotlight was stolen from them by their 7-year-old pup Alfie.

 

It may have been because the dog was given his own custom-made suit for his special role in the wedding – and it was really adorable.

 

When it became his time to shine, he determinedly charged down the aisle to where the lovebirds were waiting for him.

 

And the photos from the cute occasion, which were captured by Kat Mervyn Photography, are even more precious.

 

Click To Share The Pawesome Story With Your Friends (Photos by Kat Mervyn Photography)

Thousands Send Rainbow Pictures to 9-Year-Old Who Lost Both His Parents

By
McKinley Corbley
-

This little boy believes that though his parents are gone, they are not far away – in fact, he believes that they are just over the rainbow.

Robbie Ecuyer, a 9-year-old autistic boy from New York, absolutely loves rainbows. His mother Shelley, who was suffering from gastroparesis and cystic fibrosis, always used to tell him that if anything happened to her, she would be crossing a rainbow bridge into heaven.

So when Shelley passed away in May – just two weeks after her husband Robert died of an overdose – a family member was shocked to see a double rainbow stretching over Robbie’s school on the very same day. She snapped a photo with the intention of showing it to Robbie later that day.

CHECK OUT: Strangers Step Up For Man With Down Syndrome Who Lost Beloved Film Collection in Fire

He was so excited to see the stunning picture, he started going outside every time it rained so he could look for more rainbows.

After Shelley’s sister Crystal Skawinski was given custody of the youngster, she took to social media with a plea for strangers to share their own pictures of rainbows for the days when Robbie couldn’t find any.

Under the hashtag #RainbowsForRobbie, over 7,000 people from all over the world have sent in the most dazzling photos of double and single rainbows. Strangers from Romania, Australia, Budapest, Belgium, California, Spain, and the Netherlands have all submitted photos.

The new family has been so excited to receive all the photos, they plan on putting together a scrapbook in order to document all of the different rainbows.

If you want to send your own rainbow photo, click here.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The Sweet News With Your Friends – OR,  (Photo by Crystal Skawinski)

UK to Hold First Ever Nationwide Quiet Hour for Autistic Shoppers

By
Good News Network
-

For a full hour in October, stores and shopping centers across the United Kingdom will be giving autistic customers a break by hosting a “quiet hour”.

All of the stores in the UK’s 14 Intu shopping centers, Toys R Us outlets, and other retailers will be dimming their lights, quieting their music, and reducing the amount of commotion in their stores for sixty minutes on October 2nd.

The initiative is part of a National Autistic Society campaign to raise awareness for the information overload that autistic children experience. According to the organization, over 700,000 UK residents experience autism, and a large majority of these people avoid shopping all together because of the overwhelming environment.

CHECK OUT: Plane Passengers Are Left “In Awe” of Woman’s Kindness Towards Agitated Boy With Autism

Hopefully, thanks to the National Autistic Society’s partnership with Intu, the quiet hour will become a regular occurrence that can give autistic shoppers a break from the hustle and bustle of stressful shopping.

“We are asking every shop, restaurant and leisure brand in our centers to dim their lights and reduce their music for an hour and to raise awareness of autism among their staff and customers,” said Intu’s corporate responsibility director Alexander Nicoll.

“We hope that launching the National Autistic Society’s Autism Hour in our centers will encourage many more organizations across the country to take these simple steps that will make life easier for the millions of people impacted by autism.

“We want to put a smile on the face of everyone who visits an Intu centre and this means training our staff, supporting our customers and working with brands in our centers as well as organizations like the National Autistic Society to provide a welcoming and accessible experience for all.”

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Intu)

Community Shows Up in Full Force to Love Hero Dog in His Final Hours

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Losing a furry friend is always hard – but this goodbye in particular was especially hard for Lance Corporal Jeff DeYoung.

When DeYoung was just 19 years old, he was deployed to Afghanistan to fight the Taliban. He wasn’t alone, however – he was also joined by Cena the bomb-sniffing pooch.

During their tour together, DeYoung would carry Cena across rivers and protect the dog from enemy fire. The two would keep each other warm by snuggling together through the night. Throughout their time together in 2009 and 2010, they were virtually inseparable.

CHECK OUT: Hospital Grants Dying Patient’s Last Wish For Wine, Cigarette

After they retired, DeYoung adopted Cena, which also helped him deal with his post-traumatic stress disorder.

Then, two weeks ago, the faithful hound was diagnosed with bone cancer and lost his ability to walk.

Heartbroken by the prognosis, the marine’s brother-in-arms made a GoFundMe campaign in order to help raise money for vet bills, tasty dog food, and a rental Jeep with a detachable roof so Cena could feel the breeze in his face one last time. The page, which has raised over $62,000, will also pay for a bronze statue of the pup as a headstone.

WATCH: Mom Brought To Tears When Wild Bird Comforts Her at Son’s Grave

“This dog was more than a pet to us,” said DeYoung’s fellow marine, Jacobie Baumann. “He was another brother.”

Additionally, as news of Cena’s impending fate became more widely spread, the community turned up in full force in order say goodbye to the dog and give him a proper military sendoff. Over 100 people from around Muskegon, Michigan were in attendance of the ceremony on Wednesday.

DeYoung carried the 10-year-old pup on his shoulders into the USS LST 393 Museum with dozens of onlookers waving goodbye. After he was euthanized, Cena was carried out in a casket with an American flag draped over it.

While Cena will be missed, it is safe to say that he was certainly given a canine funeral fit for a king.

(WATCH the video below)

Click To Share The News With Your Friends (Photo by Jacobie Baumann)

1...835836837...1,716Page 836 of 1,716
© Copyright 1997–2026 GNN, LLC