The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Pittsburgh Doctor Heads to the Streets to Treat the Homeless – and Finds Them Homes

For the past 22 years, Dr. Jim Withers has been putting an entirely new spin on the concept of house calls.

Not only does he hit the streets of Pittsburgh to treat the homeless, but he also finds them actual homes.

It was a natural spin-off of his work caring for the homeless, he tells PEOPLE.

"In the late '90s we discovered that the homeless would not or could not go through the processes in place to qualify for housing," Withers, 56, says.

"We began asking them, 'What do you really want?' " says Withers. "And they wanted their own apartment. Fortunately, the rents in Pittsburgh are low enough so we were able to get them Social Security."

So far his nonprofit, Operation Safety Net, run through the Pittsburgh Mercy Health System, has given free medical care to about 20,000 individuals and helped more than 1,200 homeless people find a place to call their own.

"We are extremely fortunate to have Dr. Withers and his team from Mercy and Operation Safety Net working with the homeless population here in Allegheny County," Marc Cherna, director of the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, tells PEOPLE.

"Many homeless individuals, despite their situation, are very guarded when it comes to accepting help of any kind," he says, "but Dr. Withers has been able to connect with the community through his patience, compassion and care."

Street Medicine
When PEOPLE first profiled Withers in 1996, his work had just gotten underway. Since then, his "street medicine" (he coined the term) practices have been put into place in more than 45 communities in the U.S. and 90 internationally.

Withers's separate Street Medicine Institute hosts an annual symposium and assists communities throughout the world in starting their own programs.

Despite all that success, Withers continues to walk the streets at night, caring for those living under bridges, in boxes and in the shadows of the city – and his passion for it hasn't dimmed at all.

"I love the street people," he says. "I've formed friendships out there that are meaningful."

Making a Difference
He recalled the first time he met Lois Burke sleeping in a snow bank near a church.

She was behind a board when he approached and she playfully called out "Peekaboo!" startling Withers, he says.

It was the beginning of a lovely relationship between the two with Burke being placed in her own apartment for the past four years.

"I have my own bed and a couch," Burke, who worked in manufacturing before losing her job and landing in the streets, tells PEOPLE.

"I love it," she says. "I've never had a doctor like him before."

For his part, Withers says he has "so much respect for how strong she is," and affectionately calls the woman in her 50s "J-Lo."

More recently, he was able to help a desperately ill 20-year-old woman who was living in a homeless camp.

"She had a tough childhood, had run away and was in this camp with liver disease," he says. "She was attacked by someone on heroin and our team was able to get her out of the situation and connected with a case manager."

Subsequently, she went to a drug rehabilitation program to detox and is now clean thanks to Withers and his outreach workers.

"It was a lifesaving intervention," he says.

[kuhio98]

Hitting the Ice to Help Those with Cancer

MIDDLEBURY Vt. - Many took the ice in Middlebury for the 15th annual Face Off Against Breast Cancer. Over twenty teams come together from all over the state participated in the event to raise money for The Cancer Patient Support Program.

This organization helps cancer patients and their families with everything from counseling to helping
buy food.

Liz Cronin a breast cancer survivor says “It’s more than a hockey tournament. It's wonderful to see people who want to come out and have a passion for hockey but are also able to take it another step and support their loved ones or friends."

Organizers of this event say that they were planning on raising more than $60,000 at this event for a great cause.

[kuhio98]

An update to this story. Dylan has now raised nearly $1,000,000 for research. And he and Jonah are still best friends. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2014/...e/?hpt=us_bn10

7-Year-Old Has Raised Over $600,000 to Help Cure His Best Friend's Disease

The next time you think about the power of friendship, think about Dylan Siegel.

Dylan is 7 years old. His best friend, Jonah, has an extremely rare liver disease, and funding for his treatment almost dried up at one point. So Dylan decided to help by writing a book, The Chocolate Bar Book, which has helped raise over $600,000 for research into Jonah's disease.

Jonah has Glycogen Storage Disease Type 1b, which is a rare liver disorder that causes dangerously low blood sugar. As one of 500 children in the world with the disease, Jonah has to be fed every few hours through a feeding tube in his stomach. There is currently no cure.

Dylan describes his friendship with Jonah as "awesome as a chocolate bar," which is where he got the title of his book. People in all 50 states and 42 countries have purchased copies of The Chocolate Bar Book, with every cent going to Dr. David Weinstein's Florida lab, where a cure for the disease is apparently near to being reached.

"It is now reality. It's not just a dream that these children can be cured," Dr. Weinstein told ABC affiliate KGO-TV.

Dylan seems to think so, anyway. Asked where he and Jonah would be 10-15 years from now, he told KGO-TV, "Um, high school and probably [Jonah's] disease would be cured."

Jonah's answer to the same question?

"Friends."

Dylan and Jonah http://chocolatebarbook.com/

[Karen]

Aww that's fun - and I like both boys' answers to the question at the end!

[kuhio98]

Tattoo artist pays it forward to help baby who must wear helmet

An Eastlake (Ohio) tattoo artist used his time and talents to help a five-month-old boy suffering from a unique disorder.

“Well everyone thought it was his Halloween costume when he was wearing it cause he has an aviator jacket that he wore with it,” said Lauren Rowan of Perry.

It’s not a Halloween costume but a special cranial helmet that Talen Rowan is wearing. Talen suffers from Plagiocephaly which causes flat spots on his head. He has to wear the helmet for seven months.

“So we took him to specialists and they said this helmet was the right treatment for it. He’s gotta wear it 23 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Rowan.

The Rowan family was looking for an artist to customize Talen’s helmet so they posted an ad online and that’s when tattoo artist Greg Chadwick came forward and gave them a great offer.

“If I can make somebody’s day better, opening a door, saying something nice, I’m just doing what I do,” said Greg Chadwick of Eastlake.

Chadwick spent more than 12 hours airbrushing Talen’s cranial helmet to look like an aviator helmet complete with goggles and Talen’s name on the back. Chadwick usually gets $100 an hour for his work at Iron Clad Tattoos, but he airbrushed the helmet for free.

“I contacted Lauren and Matt and said I’d like to do it no charge. Don’t worry about it, just pay it forward or just do something nice for somebody down the road when you can you know and here we are,” said Chadwick.

The family can’t thank Greg enough.

[Karen]

Chadwick spent more than 12 hours airbrushing Talen’s cranial helmet to look like an aviator helmet complete with goggles and Talen’s name on the back. Chadwick usually gets $100 an hour for his work at Iron Clad Tattoos, but he airbrushed the helmet for free.

“I contacted Lauren and Matt and said I’d like to do it no charge. Don’t worry about it, just pay it forward or just do something nice for somebody down the road when you can you know and here we are,” said Chadwick.

The family can’t thank Greg enough.

Hee hee - and maybe he will grow up to be a pilot - you never know!

[kuhio98]

BARRE, Vt. - It was a secret act of kindness that lifted spirits in Barre and has been shared more than 5,000 times on Facebook.

Kathleen Connors has a thing for bingo and doing good.

"I have been on a lucky streak with bingo and I had a pocket full of money and I like to pay it forward," said Connors, a Central Vermont Medical Center nurse.

And Saturday morning over breakfast at the L&M diner in Barre she had an idea.

"I said to the waitress 'I think I'll take care of their bill.' She says, 'do you know them?' I said, 'no, I just wanted to do it,'" Connors explained.

But when she left what she didn't realize was that her simple act of picking up the tab for a father and son she didn't know would take off in a big way. Nearly 50 additional tables followed her lead, treating folks to a meal on the house.

"Like I said before I only thought a couple tables did it, but as the day went on it kept going and going and going," said Tayler Merriam, a waitress at L&M.

"I am speechless, I'm euphoric. It's just insane," said Connors.

When Connors returned to work at CVMC Sunday night after a weekend in Massachusetts she was in for a surprise.

"I came in to work the other night and everyone was giving me kudos and high-fives. I'm like what are you talking about and then it got back to me and I was like I never told anyone," said Connors.

But when co-workers and friends heard a nurse was behind the simple act of kindness they knew it had to be Connors.

"She always has a great personality when she comes in. Always wicked bubbly, always good morning and a smile on her face," said Merriam

The constant optimism, caring heart and generous spirit might be hard to come by for those in similar shoes. Connors made the move to Barre from Massachusetts looking for a fresh start after more than a year without work.

"I came here 10 months ago because I had no job and I took on a big move and I had nothing when I came here and it was my way of wanting to pay it forward and make someone else feel good the way I feel good. I am very grateful," said Connors.

She says buying breakfast for a family she didn't know was the least she could do for a community that's welcomed her as one of its own.

"This is my way of showing my appreciation for Vermont. I love Vermont and I couldn't be happier. I love where I work, I love where I live and I love the people around me," said Connors.

It's love that started in a dinner and is now inspiring others all over the world.

[kuhio98]

This put a smile on my face today.

[kuhio98]

I Almost Gave Up on Pet Adoption, Then Came Ike
By Peggy Frezon, October 13, 2014

I might have given up on pet adoption. After all, my husband Mike and I had been through one adoption fail, one adoption that ended with a broken heart, and countless months of searching shelters and rescue groups, just missing out on dogs that seemed the right match. Yup, I might have given up. Then came Ike.

Last spring Mike and I walked a pebbled park path, a lanky golden retriever trotting cautiously at our side. “What do you think, do you want him?” Lex asked. Lex was the volunteer from Peppertree rescue group.

The dog was about 9 years old, too skinny, with patchy gold fur that hinted at allergies. His teeth were mostly broken stubs. Lex told us that he’d been shut away from a female dog in heat and chewed through a wooden door to get to her.

“He gets car sick,” she said, handing us some pills to settle his stomach. Was this supposed to convince us? I struggled to decide what was right for us, right for the dog.

Basically, all I knew was that his name had been Buddy and the rescue group had renamed him Burleigh, neither name we’d likely keep. That, and he was apparently a lusty fellow.

We stopped walking, and Mike stooped down and put a hand on the dog’s golden head. He leaned in close and talked softly. This was Mike’s way, a little tête-à-tête, a private attempt to evaluate the dog’s capacity to trust and bond.

“Did you make a connection?” I whispered.

“Yes, a little,” he returned.

Still, I wasn’t sure. We took Buddy/Burleigh home, renamed him Ike, and surrounded him with love. Even our resident bossy female dog, Kelly, accepted him.

The four of us went out on walks, played in the yard, and relaxed in the living room in the evenings. All seemed to be going well, but it takes a little time for pet adoptions to shake out. Sometimes new dogs put on their company manners for a while.

One night, a week or so after we got him, Ike came up to me and sat at my feet. I stroked his head, thinking how difficult it must have been to leave everything he knew, to adjust to a new home and new family.

Yet, each morning he greeted me with jumps of joy and faithfully followed at my heels all day. He’d never once given me anything but love. He looked in my eyes, and I saw that trust. And we made a connection.

Ike is gentle, adorable, loving, and devoted. I’m so glad we gave him a chance. And we’ll forever give adoption a chance. It isn’t always easy. It isn’t always quick. But when you end up giving a homeless dog a sense of security that enables love and trust, it’s all worthwhile.

October is National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. There are millions more homeless dogs (and cats) than there are people who adopt from shelters. Adopting a shelter pet can be life-saving.

Adopting also means refusing to support cruel factory breeding organizations called puppy mills. Puppy mills will continue to operate until people stop purchasing from them. So, if you’re thinking of adding a dog to your family, please consider adoption.

And tell them Ike sent you.

[kuhio98]

Katie Driscoll calls it a campaign – but others might call it a crusade.

Either way, for the past two years she has been on a vigorous mission to help cast children and adults with intellectual disabilities or physical differences in advertisements ranging from local to international.

"We're a society that's all about inclusion for children," Driscoll, 40, of Palos Park, Illinois, tells PEOPLE. "But when you look at imagery, you almost never see children with disabilities of any kind."

In 2012, she and her friend, Steve English, created a website, Changing the Face of Beauty, to promote the use of special-needs models in mainstream ads.

The response has been astonishing.

They have helped at least 20 models from all over the world land gigs – and those are just the ones they know about.

"I tell companies and designers: 'When you're putting your advertising out there for all to see, why wouldn't you include someone with a disability?' " says Driscoll.

Holly Ramsburg is one grateful parent.

"What Katie is doing with her campaign is life-changing for a lot of us," says Ramsburg, 44, of Naperville, Illinois, whose 8-year-old daughter has Down Syndrome and has been in several ads promoted by Driscoll's campaign.

It all started with Driscoll's youngest child, four-year-old Grace, who has Down Syndrome. After having five boys, Driscoll was delighted to finally have a reason to buy girls' clothing and started posting photos of Grace wearing every new outfit on her blog.

She then reached out to small online vendors to see if they might be interested in using Grace to model their products to show people that "Grace is more than just her diagnosis."

After forming the website, Driscoll began sending pictures of Grace and other special-needs kids she'd photographed to various companies, urging them to consider using special-needs models in their mainstream ads.

As word of her campaign spread through social media, she was inundated with photos of special-needs individuals – including individuals with Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, autism, reliance on devices such as wheelchairs, etc. – sent by parents or guardians from all over the world.

Most of those images were transferred from the campaign's website to its Facebook page for public viewing, where company reps can view the portfolio and contact Driscoll or English if they're interested in using any of the models. Driscoll then puts the company reps in touch with the families.

"There's more than $200 billion in discretionary spending from individuals with disabilities, so why wouldn't they be represented?' " says Driscoll, who also runs a small, separate commercial photography business out of her home.

She also champions inclusion.

"Often, when I talk to advertisers, they say: 'Great idea! We'd love to do a campaign celebrating special-needs children!' " she says. "And I say, 'No, I'm talking about including, say, one child who has a difference, along with everyone else in the ad.' "

Driscoll is grateful for responses from agencies like Chicago-based Real Talent Inc., which specializes in representing "real people" as models. Last year, agency founder Markus Giolas signed 18 models from the CTFOB database.

"I wish there were more people at high levels demanding 'real' models like the ones Katie is promoting," Giolas says, "because the more people see those models in mainstream advertising, the more they'll become comfortable with it."

Driscoll's campaign has benefitted from some celebrity support, including Maria Shriver. The Kennedy family member championed the effort on her blog.

But for Driscoll, the most important feedback is from the parents themselves – like one mother whose 23-year-old daughter is profoundly disabled and non-verbal.

"She told me, 'Thank you for changing my perception of my daughter,' " says Driscoll.

The mother also told Driscoll: " 'I've gone through life viewing my daughter as a disabled child,' and now I see her as a beautiful young woman – and I see opportunity for her.' "

[kuhio98]

GRANDVILLE, Mich. — Two young girls from Zeeland are making a world of a difference in the lives of animals still in search of their forever home.

Raina Bredweg, 11, and Taylor Bredweg, 6, donated a $300 check along with a letter and adrawing to the Lake Haven Animal Rescue in Newaygo.

The girls’ mother, Angela Bredeweg, says she’s extremely proud of her kids. adding that they chose the Lake Haven Animal Rescue right away because of it’s no-kill policy.

Volunteers at the shelter say donations can be hard to come by, but when they do come in, they can go a long way.

The shelter plans to name two kittens after the girls in honor of their selfless act.

The shelter also says there’s lots of ways for people in West Michigan to get involved.

The Lake Haven Animal Rescue is holding adoption events at the Pet Supplies Plus in Grandville on Saturdays.

[kuhio98]

ROCKY HILL, CT (WFSB) - A Kosovo native, who is a barber in Rocky Hill, said he was brought to the United States with the help of American soldiers.

On this Veterans Day, Nazim Saliu gave back to them by cutting their hair for free on Tuesday.

Saliu, also known as “Noli,” is a barber who is living a dream in his Rocky Hill salon. It's a dream that didn't seem possible when he was in his native Kosovo in the late 1990s.

"When I was in a refugee camp, how they help me and brought me here,” Saliu said. “It's my favor to do.”

Saliu and his family were chased out of their native Kosovo where war was leaving thousands dead. The United States Military came to the rescue and Saliu got a new chance in this country.

After living in Minnesota for about nine years, Saliu said he knew it was time to make some kind of change and that's what ultimately brought him to Connecticut where he has been living with his family and cutting hair now for almost seven years.

That is why Saliu offered free haircuts to any veteran, police officer or firefighter all day on Tuesday at his salon Noli's.

“I like to help pay back whenever they need me,” Saliu said.

His offer started at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at his salon which is located at 2409 Main St., in Rocky Hill. For more information, call the salon at 860-563-1670.

"That makes me feel good that people appreciate what we do because we get a lot of negative most of the time, you know,” Ronald Tarpey, of Rocky Hill, said. “It's good to get a positive from everybody."

Noli made it clear to Eyewitness News on Tuesday that this offer is not about him, but about the people in the US Military.

“We come here all the time for our haircuts,” said veteran Robert Bright, who served in the US Air Force during Vietnam War. “He's a real nice guy.”

The shop was full all Tuesday with veterans taking advantage of the deal. There was a line earlier in the day. People stopped by to drop off food and donations for those men and women who served in the military.

It's a service that should not be forgotten.

"I have a lot of respect for these men and what they've been through a lot,” Saliu said. “They deserve to be treated well."

Read more: http://www.wfsb.com/story/27355829/r...#ixzz3IsGLYktP

[kuhio98]

Sending a shout out to the city of San Francisco -
The Make A Wish Foundation contacted a 5 year old boy with leukemia asking about his big wish, he said he wanted to be a super hero. He spent a day as "Bat Kid" with Batman. He was dressed for the part and went around with Batman in the Batmobile. The film clip showed people lining the street many holding signs supporting Bat Kid. Along the way, he rescued a woman tied to the railroad tracks. The city's police commissioner went on tv saying there were problems in the city and asked Batman to help - and bring Bat Kid. While there, Bat Kid foiled a bank robbery and arrested the Riddler. The police commissioner also said the mascot for the San Francisco Giants had been kidnapped, Bat Kid found the mascot and the Penguin was arrested for the abduction. Dressed as Bat Kid, this little boy was cheered by the crowd everywhere he went and was given the key to the city. Then at the end of the day an anonymous donor paid for a billboard by the bridge that said "Bat Kid, thank you for saving our city".

Thank you to all in San Francisco that made this little boy's dream come true. You've proven that there are angels among us!

Update on this story from November 13, 2014: Batkid One Year Later: One Granted Wish Spurred Flood Of Donations, But Help Still Needed
The Bay Area Make-A-Wish chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — It was one year ago when Miles Scott stole the show and our hearts as Batkid as part of his Make-A-Wish dream.

So whatever happened to Batkid?

Scott was in the fight of his young life, battling leukemia from the tiny town of Tulelake. For one day, the 5-year-old was able to fight something else—crime, so he could save the world.

There was no time to waste on that day as the streets of San Francisco transformed into Gotham City as Batkid fought off villains, rescued a damsel and grabbed the headlines.

T-shirts were made celebrating his triumph, billboards praised his victory, and even months later, Batkid would throw out the first pitch at AT&T Park for the San Francisco Giants’ opening day.

This weekend marks one year since it all happened, so where is he today?

Scott’s family provided us with photos of him on his first day of school with his trusty sidekick, little brother Clayton.

They were elated to tell us his leukemia is in remission. Oh and Batkid has lost his first tooth since that day.

But what Make-A-Wish gained because of his story has been huge.

The Bay Area chapter saw a 45-percent increase in granting pending wishes, and in Sacramento there was also a jump in donations and volunteers.

Nationwide, the group make a record-setting 14,247 wishes.

Scott’s mom and dad issued this statement this week: “We are happy to say that Miles is healthy, and we want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and support you showed him that day. We hope this will result in more wishes coming true for other deserving children.”

And it has, says Michele Flyn, director of outreach for Northern California and Northern Nevada Make-A-Wish.

“Miles’ story was amazing and he’s a special little guy and he really proved to us that superheroes do exist,” he said.

But, she reminds us, for every Miles Scott that grabs the headlines, there’s another child with a life-threatening illness waiting in the wings to have their wish granted.

“We know in our chapter—37 counties—we know there is potentially about 450 children who are eligible for a wish,” she said. “We grant about 260 a year so the need is very great.”

We’ll soon be able to relive Batkid’s story on a big screen. A documentary based on that amazing day is wrapping up funding and should be out by the end of the year.

Chances are, the audience for that documentary will be huge. On the day Batkid took over San Francisco, more than 1 billion people took to social media to cheer him on.

To mark the anniversary, Miles and his family will be back in San Francisco this Saturday. They’ll hold a private celebration with some of the people who helped make that day happen.

[kuhio98]

Kathy Russell Gives Sick Kids a Home Away from Home

When Kathy Russell was a young hospital administrator, she saw something she didn't like.

"Every day I'd come up on the elevator and I'd walk through radiology and I'd see all these kids in metal cribs with their parents lined up to go through whatever test they had in the morning," she tells PEOPLE.

"It really dawned on me that the whole business of people queuing up to go through radiology was really kind of ridiculous."

So Russell, with the help of a group of congressional spouses and some of her hospital colleagues, co-founded the Children's Inn, a residential facility at the National Institutes of Health for children battling life-threatening illnesses, such as cancer, blood disorders and HIV infection.

But the Children's Inn, a rustic lodge located in Bethesda, Maryland, is more than just a place to stay. With plenty of natural light from the many windows and skylights, as well as newly remodeled kitchens so families can make their children's favorite comfort foods, it's a home away from home, a place where kids can have fun and be themselves.

"I learned how hard it is to have a kid with a life-threatening illness and not be in your own community and not have the people you would call on in terms of support," Russell, 58, who lives in Montgomery County and serves as the Inn's CEO, recalls of those early days as a hospital administrator.

"It just became clear to me that there were a lot of things that we could do if we had the right resources," she says.

At the Children's Inn, there's always plenty to do. Whether it's field trips to Washington Nationals baseball games or playing with the Inn's resident therapy dog, Viola, Russell and her team of dedicated staff and volunteers make sure the kids are having fun every night.

One of the Inn's most popular activities? Bingo.

"We have a police officer who comes in and calls Bingo on Tuesday nights," Russell says.

"He'll get off his shift and come in here," she says, "and be standing there in his uniform with a goofy hat on and making the kids laugh."

But it's Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog, who's the most visible member of the team. (She's even got her own mailbox at the Inn.) A former seeing-eye dog who lost her job for being too friendly, Viola now works full-time at the Inn, keeping the kids company with her sweet, calm demeanor.

It's not all fun and games, though.

By allowing their illnesses to be studied at NIH, these kids are helping to find a cure for some truly terrible diseases.

"They're pioneers in that they're looking for their own opportunity to be well, but if they can't, they're contributing to the body of medical knowledge that will hopefully be helpful to some other child in the future," says Russell.

"So unlike a Ronald McDonald house, we're in a position to bring our resources to bear to empower and engage the research in a way that helps develop new therapies," she explains.

Robert Vogel, whose 24-year-old son, Scott, has been staying at the Children's Inn on and off since 1999 while being treated for chronic granulomatous disease, says the Inn was a godsend.

"Words can't describe how competent she is and how wonderful she is," says Vogel, 62, who is also a member of the Inn's Board of Directors.

"I've walked in after a long day at the hospital with my son and you always get such a warm feeling from everyone," he says.

Tammy Koch, whose daughter Karly, 20, is staying at the Inn following a bone marrow transplant, credits Russell with making her family feel comfortable in this trying time.

"Even at a recent event we had where Kathy needed to schmooze with board members and donors, she took the time to come and talk to us," recalls 53-year-old Koch, who works part-time as a dental hygienist. "When I've asked for things, she never forgets and always follows through."

Koch, of Muncie, Indiana, is also especially grateful to the Inn for making the holidays extra special. "How do you replicate the holidays when you are away from home?" Koch says. "The Inn totally made that happen with stockings and gifts that were donated by generous donors and volunteers."

"The kids got to make Santa's cookies and leave them at the fireplace – just like at home," Koch says. "Being able to keep up some of the holiday traditions with the help has meant so much and Kathy Russell has created that kind of a place."

Adds Vogel: "I've seen her run down the hall chasing kids who are hysterically laughing. She has it all. She is an amazing person."
Kathy and Viola, the Inn's resident therapy dog

[Karen]

So glad there's a dog there!