The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

THE NURSERY COORDINATORS

My husband and I were just 4 months into the waiting period for a domestic adoption when we got the call that changed our lives. We had been matched with a birth mother 800 miles away, and we had only 2 days to get on the road and get our baby! (We couldn't fly because she was a preemie.) We were totally unprepared. But when we finally came home with our newborn after 11 days out of state and a 14-hour car ride, we couldn't believe what we saw: Our extended family had decorated the nursery, loaded the closet with baby clothes and even installed a changing table with diapers, wipes and supplies. I was already in tears, but then I noticed a sign hanging on the nursery wall that read, "However motherhood comes, it's a miracle." We called every member of our family to thank them, and we all cried together.

Andrea Fox, Boston

[kuhio98]

THE FLOOD FIXERS

After my husband, Sean, deployed with his National Guard troop in August, I immediately took my kids on vacation to Chicago so we wouldn't come home to a sad, empty house. While we were gone, our town flooded, leaving my basement under seven inches of water. I was expecting to return to a nightmare, but when we got home, some neighbors had pulled out all our sodden carpet and another neighbor left a note on my cupboard that said, "Welcome home! Supper is in the fridge." It was so nice, it still makes me cry.

Shannon Taylor, Ames, Iowa

[kuhio98]

THE HOTEL BENEFACTOR

My daughter has a severe form of epilepsy. When she was 8 we had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to take her to see a European specialist who would be in Chicago for a conference. Getting there from Utah was a huge financial strain so we threw a yard sale to help pay for the trip. A man stopped by and asked why we were raising money. After we told him, he left, borrowed a neighbor's computer and then came back with a printout. It was a reservation for a Chicago hotel, paid in full for our entire trip! Seeing the specialist made a huge difference for my daughter, and though we never even learned the man's last name, his kindness truly changed our lives.

Kris Hansen, West Jordan, Utah

[kuhio98]

THE LAWN AIDES

My dad, who's in his mid-80's and wheelchair-bound, still insists on doing his own yard work. One day last summer, he was outside cutting up a fallen tree limb when a woman driving past pulled over. She told my dad that she was amazed to see a man in a wheelchair using a chainsaw. The two of them spent a few minutes chatting before she left. Twenty minutes later she returned with her husband and teenage son in tow, all wearing work clothes. The family, whom my dad had never met, spent the next three hours helping him in the yard.

Andrea, New York City

[kuhio98]

Pam Washek knows what it's like to need a little help.

In 2002, she was sidelined by the chemo and radiation she needed after being diagnosed with sarcoma (a type of soft tissue cancer). But the Wayland, Mass., married mom of three soon discovered "angels were fluttering into my house” to handle chores.

Without hesitation, family friends and neighbors had jumped in, raising their hands to cook, clean and shuttle kids to soccer practice.

"I was touched by how the community embraced us," says Washek, 47.

To pay their kindness forward, Washek teamed up with her friend Jean Seiden (who later died of cancer in 2006) to found what became the Neighbor Brigade, a volunteer network that started as a 40-person email chain.

Now 3,300 members strong in communities around the state, the group helps families in crisis, including Nick Panzeri, 39, of Billerica, Mass.

While recovering from brain tumor surgery, Panzeri accepted rides from dozens of strangers to his cognitive therapy sessions.

"I feel so much less alone," says his wife, Sara.

So does Brianna Anthony, whose family had meals delivered to them after losing their Natick, Mass., home in a fire. "These people," she says, "really care."

Washek recently worked through a brief course of treatment for a cancer recurrence, and the Neighbor Brigade helped her, providing her family with meals. And she's still working on her cause, fielding queries from people from Massachusetts, New England and beyond who want to launch their own Neighbor Brigades.

Says Washek, "People really want to get involved."

By Moira Bailey and Alexandra Zaslow

[kuhio98]

Please share your stories. Remember the Glad Game from the movie Pollyanna?


"The very name “Pollyanna” has come to mean someone who is eternally upbeat and optimistic, who spreads positivity and
good will wherever she goes. Before you decide that such unremittingly cheerful behavior is truly nauseating and deserves
a good smack, think of this: people who take time every day to count their blessings are truly happier (and live longer) than
those who don’t.

So spread a little good cheer in the New Year with this great game that helps you to focus on the glad, not the bad. Your heart–and everyone who knows you–will be grateful. It only takes a minute.

You can play this game when you’re driving in your car, or taking a walk, or sitting at your computer–pretty much under any circumstances.

Start small: just think of ONE THING that you’re glad for. Maybe it’s the taste of the special coffee that Aunt Ruth from Winnetka sent you for Christmas. Maybe it’s the fact that the holidays are over. Perhaps you have a new love in your life, or an interesting new project to work on. Or you could be glad for your family, or your dog or cat. Really think about whatever it is for a moment. Allow yourself to smile over it. Feel your heart open and glow with gratitude for whatever it is.

That’s it. But tomorrow, try thinking of two things you’re really, truly glad for. Expand the field of your gratitude every day. Really take time to appreciate the many many blessings you enjoy. You’re alive: you have the capacity to be a beneficial and positive presence on the planet. You are needed–or you wouldn’t be here. Enjoy this life that you have been given! And be glad.

Inspired by the classic, Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter."
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-glad-game.html

[cassiesmom]

On the way back from my interview I went to Burger King for lunch. Decided to eat in the car and listen to the radio. As I'm sitting there with the window rolled down, I see a gull about six feet from the driver's door, standing on the pavement, looking intently at me. So I wait a moment to see what he's going to do. He keeps looking. I remember a thread I read on PT that says not to feed bread to birds because it can obstruct their airway. I decide I'll toss him some of the lettuce from my chicken sandwich. I toss a couple of bits of lettuce out the window and he darts up and grabs them! Fella wants to share my lunch! I toss out a couple more and he ignores them. Now I guess he is waiting for the good stuff, so I pull out some of the soft center of the bun, break it up into tiny bits and toss a few out the window. Stinker snarfs them up so fast! And then he waits. "Got any more, lady?" So I gave him just a few more tiny ones from the little bit of the bread I had left. He wanted to share my lunch. Oh, how I wish I'd had a camera.

[cassiesmom]

There's been a lot of violence in Chicago this year. Fr. Pfleger from Saint Sabina parish does a lot of work to help improve things. If anybody could work out a one-day truce, it's him. This is from NBC Chicago.

------

Four rival gangs, community and church leaders, and NBA superstars all joined together Saturday afternoon in a gym for a basketball tournament geared towards ending violence in Chicago.

“You walk in that gym and you see the passion, the excitement, you see the smiles on the kids’ faces, you see kids who used to shoot each other playing ball with each other, You see D-Rose and Joakim Noah,” said St. Sabina’s Father Michael Pfleger, who organized the event “Balling for Peace” and asked the NBA stars to get involved. “You tell me anything is wrong with this? I’m in heaven right now.”

Pfleger organized the monumental, one day gang truce in the city, which included 28 kids playing from different gangs in neighborhoods hit hard by violence and crime.

The event gained some NBA star power assists from Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson on the Chicago Bulls along with other Chicago NBA stars Antoine Walker, Quentin Richardson and the legendary Isaiah Thomas. All of the NBA players who showed up on Saturday coached the teams, spoke at the event and encouraged the young people playing in the Peace Basketball Tournament.

“I have been begging athletes to get involved and when they say yes, I’m grateful,” said Pfleger, who lost his adopted son Jarvis Franklin to gang violence in 1998.

No matter who wins the tournament, every player will get a job. St. Sabina has partnered with businesses in the community to make sure that players are rewarded with employment for their peace pledge.

Some community leaders who watched gang members trade their guns for basketballs on Saturday hope it sends a message to other gangs in the city.

“There’s life after basketball, but there is no life after discharging a weapon and taking someone else’s life,” said community activist Andrew Holmes, who was at the tournament to support the players.

Pfleger said he also working with players on the Chicago Bears to get them involved and host more events in the community.

[kuhio98]

Rose Astorina was 35 years old and had a 2-year old son when she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in 2007. She had to undergo 6 rounds of chemotherapy, 18 rounds of radiation and many side effects -- but today she's cancer-free. Astorina is so thankful that she's made finding a cure her personal mission and has raised more than $17,000 for the American Cancer Society. She also joined Imerman Angels, a group of volunteers who provide support to others who are undergoing treatment.

[kuhio98]

To the world you might just be one person, but to one person, you might just be the world.

Go out and make a difference today. You never know what seemingly small gesture or deed can change a life -- human or animal.

[kuhio98]

Beverly Evens of Anderson, California, recently won $2 million on a scratch-off lottery ticket. Instead of splurging on herself, she's using a portion of the cash to fund her do-good mission: rescuing goats. Evens nursed her first goat, Bucky, back to health nine years ago and has since saved more than 40 abused or malnourished goats. She plans to build a better home for the animals and expand her rescue work.

[Taz_Zoee]

This is actually a story about myself (I usually don't toot my own horn, but who will?)
I started going to the gym this week and my trainer kicked my butt on legs Tuesday night. So last night my legs were screaming!! On my way to the gym, just as I was coming out of my court, I saw a dog running around in front yards dragging a leash. I stopped and looked for a person. Around the corner came an older gentleman with another dog on a leash. I rolled down my window and asked if the dog was his. I don't think he heard me, but I heard him calling to the dog.
I jumped out of my car, leaving the engine running and my door open, and started calling to the dog as she ran my direction. She was a young Pointer pup and FULL of energy! I chased her through bushes while the owner rested in one of the driveway's with the other dog. Finally I went to the man and he told me to start petting the dog he had control of (because the loose dog gets jealous). I did that and Stella (the Pointer pup) came up behind me. I quickly grabbed her leash.
I was so glad I was able to help this man. We live very close to a very busy street and she ran that direction a couple of times. I was so scared!
He was beside himself with this puppy. He said "I don't know what I'm going to do with this dog." But she is still a puppy. Oh, and as a side note, the other dog was a beautiful Aussie mix!
Anyway, I didn't even notice my sore legs while I was trying to save this dog. But when I got to the gym I had already got my heart rate elevated for the night.
And of course, after the fact, I thought of all the things I could have told the man. Like to get one of those leash splitters so he'd only have to hang on to one leash, or to take them to a dog park so Stella could run freely to release some of that energy. Maybe if I see him again I will do that.

[kuhio98]

This is actually a story about myself (I usually don't toot my own horn, but who will?)

Great job ~ Toot away!

[kuhio98]

A Meaningful Pet Project

After a weeklong business trip, I was wheeling my bag through the Boston airport at midnight when a young woman approached me. "Excuse me," she said with a French accent. "I have missed my flight home to Paris, and I have here my cat, and do you know where I can go?" She couldn't find a hotel that would take her cat, and her new flight didn't leave until 6 p.m. the next day. As she spoke I sized her up, trying to decide whether this could be a con. Before I knew it I was inviting her to spend the night at my house. (How could I not help a fellow cat person?) She looked surprised but said, "Okay, why not?" I put her and her cat in my spare bedroom, fashioning a litter box out of a file-box lid and mulch from my garden. I lent her a pair of pajamas -- the airline wouldn't release her luggage -- and gave her a short tour of Boston on the way to the airport. A few weeks later she sent me a beautiful linen tablecloth as a thank-you gift. I like to think I left her with a good impression of America and repaid some of the hospitality I'd enjoyed on my many trips abroad.
-- Anne McCrory, Boston, Massachusetts

[robinh]

Love these stories - they make me smile!