Sliver of Hope

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A Mother's Love Sparks A Miracle, Daughter Wakes Up After 5 Years In Coma

Today's good news story comes from Niles, Michigan.

In 2017, Jennifer Flewellen's life took a drastic turn while driving to work. After dropping her kids off at school, she felt lightheaded and veered off the road, crashing into a pole. She ended up in a serious condition and was in a coma for five years.

Throughout this challenging time, Jennifer's mother, Peggy Means, never lost hope for her daughter's recovery. Doctor's repeatedly told Peggy that Jennifer's chances of waking up were slim and that even if she did awaken she would not be able to function.

"They encouraged me, by like day two or three to take her off [life support]," Means recalled. "I said, 'No, not as of today, we're not going to do that.' And then each day, they kind of encouraged me more, and I'd say, 'No, it's in God's hands.'"

But Peggy's hope never wavered. Despite the odds, Peggy cared for Jennifer daily, maintaining a positive attitude and treating her as if she could hear.

"I'd tell her what the kids are doing, what we've been doing, and I tried to encourage her," Peggy told GMA.

"For years I would hold her hands and say 'Just squeeze my hand, Jenn. Squeeze my hand."

But she never did.

Finally, on August 25, 2022, during a walk, Jennifer laughed at a joke Peggy made. After nearly five years, Jenn woke up.

In the following weeks, with speech therapy and Peggy's support, Jennifer progressed from making small sounds to saying vowels and even spelling words. In less than a year, she returned home full-time.

Last fall, Jennifer attended her son Julian's high school football games, fulfilling a dream for both of them.

There's a six and a half minute video at the bottom if you're interested in more.

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KAKE - 'I want them to be warm': 8-year-old Wichita girl sewing quilts for homeless

Eight-year-old Quinn has a new favorite hobby, and after getting a sewing machine for Christmas, she realized she also had a talent she could use to make a big difference.

My mom helped me make like quilts for me and my baby doll, and then I thought about it, and I asked my mom if I can do it," Quinn said. "I just thought about the homeless and what they're going through through the winter. Like they're just out there in the breeze and with nothing."

Quinn decided to put her love for sewing to a good cause by spending all of her free time after school cutting up pieces of donated materials and making warm, custom blankets to hand out to people experiencing homelessness.

As much hard work as it takes to finish each quilt, Quinn says it's a feeling money could never buy.

"Pretty happy that they're warm, and they feel like they're in a nice house," Quinn said, describing how she hopes people feel while using her quilts.

This act of kindness is something Quinn's mom, Jessie Isbell, says is nothing new.

"Pretty teary-eyed over here watching her interview. We were tearing up a lot. She's just so selfless all the time. It's nothing new for her, though. She does this regularly," Isbell said.

Quinn's little venture is now officially branded as Quilts by Quinn, and there are donation boxes set up at Hard Knox Boxing at 3940 E 13th St and at Pizza Hut in Andover, where you can donate fabrics or sewing supplies.

Once she has enough of them finished, Quinn and her mom hope to work with the city to hand out as many as possible.

As if that wasn't kind enough, Quinn also hopes to include a bottle of water and a meal with every donation.

News clip with interview of Quinn in the link. (2 minutes)

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Brave Teen Rescues Woman In Wheelchair Seconds Before Oncoming Train

Today's good news story comes from Giles County, Tennessee.

In a heart-stopping act of heroism, 18-year-old Lilly Baker is being hailed as a savior after risking her life to rescue an elderly woman stuck on the railroad tracks last week in Tennessee.

Lilly was on her way to meet friends when she noticed an older woman struggling to navigate the railroad tracks in a wheelchair. Without hesitation, Lilly jumped out of her car and rushed over to assist. However, their attempts were thwarted as both Lilly and the elderly woman fell twice, struggling to get out of harm's way.

As the pair scrambled to their feet, Lilly suddenly realized the imminent danger - a train was fast approaching. The blaring horn and flashing lights signaled the urgency of the situation.

"He was honking his horn and the lights started flashing. I was like, 'Oh no, we gotta go now!'" Lilly recalled the terrifying moment.

With adrenaline pumping, Lilly managed to pull both herself and the elderly woman to safety just seconds before the train sped past. The narrow escape left Lilly shaken, describing it as a "near-death experience."

"It's a near-death experience, and I've never really been that close to death," she shared. The railroad company later informed her that they were only 18 inches away from being struck by the train, sending shivers down her spine.

Ardmore Police Chief Jereme Robison, recounting the incident to WKRN, said, "She barely gets herself out of the way, and the train actually still clips the lady's leg and spins her around. I mean, it was like a split second. They almost died.”

The elderly woman, though injured, is now in the hospital and expected to recover from the major leg injuries sustained during the incident. Lilly's swift and courageous actions have garnered widespread praise, with the community expressing gratitude for her selfless act that prevented a potential tragedy on the railroad tracks.

There's a one minute news clip in the link.

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I love to see this. It's really a shame when cities try to criminalize compassion.

Texas Court Unable To Find Jurors To Uphold $500 Fine For Feeding The Homeless

Today's good news story comes from Houston, Texas.

In a significant victory for humanitarian efforts, Food Not Bombs Houston emerged triumphant on Wednesday, February 14, as a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against the City of Houston's attempts to impede the nonprofit's mission of providing free meals to the homeless.

Over the past year, the nonprofit, dedicated to feeding the homeless, faced a staggering 90 citations from the city for offering free meals near Central Library without official permission. The first jury trial, set for June 1, 2023, saw the state regrouping after the jury ruled in favor of Food Not Bombs. Undeterred, the city persisted, summoning fifteen Houstonians for a new case against the nonprofit.

However, the recent turn of events in the courtroom highlighted the resilience of Food Not Bombs' supporters. 15 potential jurors were set to decide the outcome of a case alleging a violation of Houston law by Elisa Meadows, a woman accused of feeding the homeless without the city's permission.

Roughly an hour later, the jury pool filed back out — all 15 of them. The lawyers had been unable to fill an unbiased jury, the Houston Chronicle reported.

The city's pursuit of fines, seeking a $500 penalty, faced resistance from potential jurors who expressed unwillingness to issue such sanctions even if they found the defendant guilty. Notably, Food Not Bombs Houston has yet to lose a single case, as the city struggled to secure convictions in the face of jury verdicts in favor of the nonprofit.

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Going above and beyond.

Hero Garbageman Rescues Man, Woman, and Dog from House Fire

GNN often reports on lifesaving rescues by firemen, risking life and lung to pull people from burning buildings, but these two are not firemen, and are a different sort of hero.

They’re heroes, no doubt, but by trade they haul trash. Nonetheless, while working in Tipton, England, on Tuesday morning, they saw fires ripping through a small brick townhome, and rescued a man, woman, and their dog.

Steve Whitehouse and Kevin Marriott work for Serco garbage collection, and it was Whitehouse who first jumped into action.

“I saw a young woman screaming from the balcony and all I could think was that I needed to get to her as quickly as possible,” Whitehouse told the BBC.

Whitehouse climbed up to a first-floor balcony three times to rescue the trio from the flames. He first carried the woman down, but when he turned back to help the young man, he found he was shouting to his dog, still inside. Bundling the dog in a blanket, Whitehouse climbed down and told the owner throw the dog to him. After catching him, the garbageman returned up to the balcony to help the man.

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Paul Skenes Is Donating $100 To The Gary Sinise Foundation For Every Strikeout

A 23-year-old baseball phenom, fresh off his collegiate successes and now a key prospect for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has announced a pledge that's sure to make a significant impact beyond the ballpark.

Paul Skenes recently took to social media platform X to share his inspiring initiative. He called upon fans, supporters, and fellow athletes to join him in supporting the Gary Sinise Foundation, a renowned organization dedicated to serving and honoring America's veterans and first responders.

"Join me this season as I support the Gary Sinise Foundation in raising funds for our nation's veterans and first responders," Skenes wrote in his post.

"I am personally donating $100 for every strikeout I record this season. Please click the link in my bio to join my mission and make your donation!"

Skenes was a standout athlete during his college years and garnered national attention for his exceptional talent as a pitcher while representing both the Air Force and the LSU Tigers. His final year at LSU was nothing short of legendary, as he shattered records and earned accolades, including the National Pitcher of the Year award and the College World Series Most Outstanding Player title.

[WuDrWu]

Paul lit us up in Tucson a few years ago while still at Air Force. 3-4 with a dinger in a route.

Obviously a high quality young man.

[1972Shocker]

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Young kid saves family, community rallies to help.

Six-Year-Old Hero Saves Entire Family From Devastating House Fire

On April 4, Olivia was playing outside at a neighbor's house with a friend when she noticed the fire coming from her house.

Realizing the danger her family was in, she bravely ran into the burning house and found her mother, Laura, 29, and her younger siblings, Joel-James, one, and Tiffany, two, asleep on the sofa.

Olivia quickly woke them up and everyone escaped the fire unharmed.

"We can't believe Olivia got Laura out," said Sadie, Olivia's grandmother. "She's six-years-old and ran into a burning building."

According to Laura, the fire started in their next-door neighbor's house and rapidly spread to the roof of their three-bedroom home. Sadly, the structural damage to Laura's house is irreparable. A fire structural engineer assessed the property and confirmed that it needs to be demolished and rebuilt from scratch.

In response to the devastating loss, Laura's former colleagues have set up a fundraising page to support the Patterson family during this challenging time.

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Teen Drives 16 Hours In American Flag Truck To Fulfill Dying Wish Of Oklahoma Boy

Today's good news story comes from Hollis, Oklahoma.

An Indiana teenager drove 16 hours in his American Flag truck to fulfill the dying wish of a 13-year-old cancer-stricken boy in Oklahoma.

Cameron Blasek, 17, gained viral fame for his unwavering patriotism when he refused to remove an American flag from the back of his pickup truck in his high school parking lot. His commitment to the flag led him to have his entire truck wrapped in an American Flag print.

Last Thursday, Cameron received a heartfelt message from a stranger in Hollis, Oklahoma, asking for an extraordinary favor. The message was from the family of Jaxon, a young boy who had been battling cancer since the age of two and a half. Jaxon's final wish was to be taken to his resting place in Cameron's flag-adorned truck.

Without hesitation, Cameron and his father embarked on the 16-hour journey to Oklahoma.

"This is one of those favors you drop everything you thought was important and say yes to without a second thought," Cameron's mother shared on Facebook. "I believe God had a hand in all those little things that worked up to this purpose."

Upon arrival, Cameron and his father not only transported Jaxon to his final resting place but also took him on a sentimental drive around town. For Cameron, every mile and minute spent was immensely meaningful.

"I never expected any of this from the beginning. All I wanted was to fly the flag on the back of my truck, and I'm happy that's what I got. But I'm also happy to help out other people," Cameron expressed.

Reflecting on his initial decision to stand up for his beliefs, Cameron emphasized the unifying power of the American flag.

"Like I said from day one, the flag is a symbol of unity. It's something that everybody can come together on, no matter who you are, what you look like, or where you come from."

There's a two and a half minute new story over this in the link if interested.

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8th Grade Hero Saves Students On School Bus After Driver Suffers Medical Emergency

Today's good news story comes from Glendale, Wisconsin.

A decisive act by an 8th-grade student averted potential disaster when their school bus driver experienced a medical emergency on April 24.

Today, the Glendale School District is formally recognizing Acie Holland III for his heroic actions.

Reflecting on the event, Acie recounted the moment he sensed trouble brewing as the bus started to veer into the oncoming lane.

We were heading down Villard when I noticed the bus veering off course. I glanced up from my phone and saw the driver wasn't moving," Acie recounted. "When she missed my stop and her head drooped, I knew something was wrong."

Without hesitation, Acie leaped into action, maneuvering the driver's foot off the accelerator and slamming the brakes.

"In that moment, fear gripped me, but I knew I had to keep everyone safe," Acie stated. Taking charge, Acie safely brought the bus to a halt, dialed 911, and instructed younger passengers to contact their parents. As the driver regained consciousness, Acie ensured proper communication with dispatch.

Two minute video at the bottom of the article.

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9-Year-Old Hero Saves Parents' Lives Amidst Tornado Tragedy

Today's good news story comes from Dickson, Oklahoma.

A 9-year-old boy in Oklahoma is being hailed as a hero for his courageous actions that saved his parents' lives.

Wayne and Lindy Baker, accompanied by their son Branson, were navigating the treacherous stormy weather, seeking shelter from the impending tornadoes that were ravaging their community.

On the phone with Wayne's brother, Johnny, they never anticipated the horror that awaited them. As they raced towards safety, the tornado hurled their pickup truck into a pile of trees, trapping the family within its wreckage.

Johnny, the horrified witness on the other end of the line, recounted the chilling moments as he heard the tornado's roar engulf their conversation before the line abruptly went silent. "One of the most horrific scenes I've ever seen in my life," he told KTVT/CNN.

Branson was miraculously unharmed and was able to run to get help.

"The only way he found his way back is lightning strikes," Johnny said. "Every time there was a lightning strike, it would light up the road. He ran as fast as he could, as hard as he could. He probably made a mile in 10 minutes. And that's pretty impressive for a little kid."

Branson managed to find help, leading rescuers to his trapped parents, Wayne and Lindy. Despite suffering from severe injuries including broken necks, backs, hands, and ribs, the couple was rescued and transported to the safety of OU Medical Center.

"The last thing Branson told them was 'Mom, Dad, please don't die. I will be back,'" shared Branson's uncle, reflecting the young boy's profound love and courage in the face of adversity.

As the Baker family embarks on the road to recovery, their community rallies around them in support. Recognizing the financial strain imposed by their injuries and inability to work, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched by a friend to aid them during this challenging time.

There's a three and a half minute news clip at the bottom of the article.

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'Medically, I Was Gone': Two High School Students Save Their Teacher's Life

Today's good news story comes from Detroit, Michigan.

Two Oak Park High School students are being hailed as heroes after saving their physical education teacher, Alfred Kattola, from cardiac arrest.

The dramatic incident unfolded during a routine student-teacher basketball game when Kattola suddenly felt unwell before collapsing in the gym.

"Medically, I was gone," Kattola revealed to Fox 2 Detroit, reflecting on the terrifying moment.

Isreal DuBose and Correy Coleman, both juniors at Oak Park High, sprang into action without hesitation. Drawing on the CPR and first aid skills they had learned just months earlier in a health sciences class, the duo began administering life-saving measures.

"We thought we might use it at some point in our lives, but not that soon," Coleman said.

"We're sitting in the bleachers…I just knew I had to do something," DuBose said. "I began compressions and around two and a half rounds of compressions, the AED was brought and Correy placed the AED pads."

Their swift and decisive actions played a pivotal role in keeping their teacher alive.

Paramedics arrived promptly, and Kattola was rushed to a local hospital for further treatment. Miraculously, he returned to school the following week, thanks to the timely intervention of his students.

Kattola reunited with the girls to thank them for saving his life.

"I don't have too much to say other than I love you guys," he said. "What more can a teacher say?"

There's a near three minute news clip at the bottom of the article.

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A little different, but I like it.

Texas Food Bank Builds Housing for the People Who Need Their Food - Right Next Door

A food bank in a fast-growing Texas community is building affordable housing next to its bank, to ensure people who have to juggle food and rent are able to with minimal effort.

The 51-unit apartment complex hasn’t gone up yet, but planning has begun for facilities that would temporarily house people struggling to afford the cost of living while undertaking job training or studies.

30 minutes outside San Antonio lies one of the fastest-growing towns in the US: New Braunfels.

Here, homelessness is growing due to an exploding population. The New Braunfels branch of the San Antonio food bank wondered if they could do more than just cover the cost of food.

“What we know about a food insecure household is that rent eats first in every household budget,” says Eric Cooper, president and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank.

I don't know if this could lead to other issues or not, but in theory this is wonderful. I hope it works out.

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'It Was Nice To See Them Smile': 10-Year-Old Spreads Joy On Mother's Day

Today's good news story comes from Kansas City, Missouri.

In a heartwarming display of kindness and compassion, 10-year-old Catalina Campos, founder of the nonprofit Circul KC, embarked on a mission this Mother's Day to ensure every mother felt cherished and appreciated.

Circul KC, a nonprofit initiated by Campos herself, is dedicated to serving senior citizens and other local nonprofits in need by providing essential supplies and support. Their ethos revolves around empowering youth to serve their community, do what's right, and foster love for both God and country.

On Mother's Day, Campos and her team set out with one goal: to make mothers feel special and loved. Armed with vibrant bouquets, they visited senior living facilities and ventured into Kansas City's Loose Park, where they delighted mothers of all ages with unexpected gestures of kindness.

Reflecting on her mission, Campos expressed her joy at seeing the smiles on mothers' faces, knowing that their simple act of giving could brighten someone's day.

"It was nice to see them smile because sometimes moms don't have... the kids don't come and give them stuff," Campos told KSHB 41 News.

As the flowers found their way into the hands of mothers throughout Kansas City, they carried with them not just petals and stems, but a message of love, appreciation, and the power of small acts of kindness to make a big difference in someone's life.