The good guys thread

[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.

[kuhio98]

A KIND GESTURE CAN MEAN SO MUCH

I fell in love with a beautiful dress when I was out shopping one day. I wanted it badly, but it was much too expensive. The clerk whom I knew from church, suggested I put it on layaway just in case. Then a few weeks later my husband was diagnosed with lung cancer; he died within a few short months. I had obviously forgotten all about the dress during such a devasating time. Out of the blue a few weeks after he passed away, the store clerk stopped by my house with a gift box, inside was the dress, which she had paid for herself. I will always remember her kindness.

Juanita, Oxford, Alabama

[cassiesmom]

And now, a brief chuckle for your day: The Chicago Cubs are on track to lose one hundred games this season for the first time since 1966.

[kuhio98]

Because Experts Were No Match for a Duck

Doctors told Becci Lomax that her son, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, would never walk. But then Becci rescued a lame duckling she named Ming-Ming. When a vet showed her exercises to rehabilitate the duck, Finlay started copying. One day Ming-Ming finally took a few steps on his own and so did Finlay. "I walk like the duck, Mommy," he said. His mobility is still improving.

[kuhio98]

There’s nothing unusual about someone saving a friend by using the Heimlich maneuver. You wrap your arms around a choking victim's waist, grasps one fist with the other hand and presses into the upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Most people have no formal training, just a general sense on how it's done. Maybe they picked it up from watching TV like Elspeth "Beanie" Mar did.

Last week her friend, Aniyah Rigmaiden, started choking on a piece of food, Beanie immediately performed the technique and out popped a piece of apple. Then they sat down like it was no big deal and finished eating their lunch.

At the Caroline Wenzel Elementary School in Sacramento, CA.

Beanie is six years old and 38 pounds soaking wet.

Where'd she learn to do that? "From 'A.N.T. Farm,'" she says, on the Disney Channel. It's a show about a musical prodigy.

School principal Judy Montgomery said she was more "blown away at how a first-grader could handle something like that so seamlessly. Usually, I would expect them to yell, 'Hey, help! Someone's choking!'"
Instead, a third classmate, Anthony Roy Jr., noticed the friend choking and Beanie jumped to the rescue. The school later honored Beanie and Anthony with an impromptu "Heroes of the Day" ceremony.

A proud mother later celebrated with Beanie with ice cream. Lots of ice cream.

[Karen]

Because Experts Were No Match for a Duck

Doctors told Becci Lomax that her son, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, would never walk. But then Becci rescued a lame duckling she named Ming-Ming. When a vet showed her exercises to rehabilitate the duck, Finlay started copying. One day Ming-Ming finally took a few steps on his own and so did Finlay. "I walk like the duck, Mommy," he said. His mobility is still improving.

I have a friend Larry who is 70-something, and has cerebral palsy. When he was a baby, his parents were told he would never walk, never talk, and would be retarded. His parents refused to follow that advice, and raised him at home. He walks, talks, and does everything the doctors said he would never do. When he grew up, he moved here to the Boston area for better public transportation and handicapped access than was available in rural northern Maine, and lives independently. He can still walk, albeit haltingly, but only started using a walker a few months ago, as arthritis is kicking in a little. He can speak, and while one has to listen carefully to understand him, he is intelligent, well-read, and works as a counselor for United Cerebral Palsy. I have no doubt part of his job is simply being there to prove doctors can be just plain wrong!