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Mother Meets Recipient of her Son’s Heart, Gains New Family (Video)

Mother listens to son's heart in a donor recipient - NBC video

Mother listens to son's heart in a donor recipient - NBC videoLast August, Renee Varela’s 18-year-old son, Anthony, was killed by a drunk driver. His heart was transplanted into the chest of Eric Ford, a husband and father of two in Texas.

After the transplant, Varela held a stethoscope to Ford’s chest and, for the first time, heard her son’s heart beating outside of his body. Varela and Ford met for the first time in Dallas.

After her son’s death, Varela had only seconds to make up her mind whether or not she wanted her son’s organs to be donated. Ford was on his death bed at the time, his kidneys and heart failing.

Tragedy brought the two families together — an extended family now bound by an act of grace.

(WATCH the video below, or read the full story at NBC-Dallas)

Sign up for Organ Donation Today!

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video.

Mother Meets Recipient of her Son’s Heart, Gains New Family (Video)

Mother listens to son's heart in a donor recipient - NBC video

Mother listens to son's heart in a donor recipient - NBC videoLast August, Renee Varela’s 18-year-old son, Anthony, was killed by a drunk driver. His heart was transplanted into the chest of Eric Ford, a husband and father of two in Texas.

After the transplant, Varela held a stethoscope to Ford’s chest and, for the first time, heard her son’s heart beating outside of his body. Varela and Ford met for the first time in Dallas.

After her son’s death, Varela had only seconds to make up her mind whether or not she wanted her son’s organs to be donated. Ford was on his death bed at the time, his kidneys and heart failing.

Star Pitcher Turns Down $12 Million Because He Doesn’t ‘Deserve It’

Gil Meche photo by John H. Kim via CC license

Gil Meche photo by John H. Kim via CC licenseIt’s not good news when a major league baseball pitcher hurts his shoulder and misses an entire season, but it is inspiring that he turns down the millions of dollars that his contract would pay for him simply sitting in the dugout all year.

Kansas City Royals pitcher, Gil Meche explained:

Economy Grew At 3.2 Percent Pace In Fourth-Quarter 2010

construction worker with VADOT

construction worker for VA DOTGross domestic product grew at a 3.2 percent annual rate in fourth-quarter 2010, up from a 2.6 percent pace in the third quarter, the Bureau of Economic Analysis just reported.

This morning’s report shows that GDP has expanded for six straight quarters.

(READ the story at NPR.org)

Ford Reports Largest Profit In 11 Years With $6.6 Billion

ford logo

ford logoFord reported earnings of $6.6 billion last year, its highest net income in more than a decade.

The auto manufacturer’s U.S. sales jumped 20 percent in 2010 as it became the top-selling brand in the nation.

Revenues rose 3 percent to $120.9 billion.

(READ more of the AP report at NPR.org)

Good Samaritan Teens Stop Knife Attack as Others Watched

teen stabbing heroes are humble and unassuming

teen stabbing heroes are humble and unassumingThe family of a Syracuse-area teenage girl attacked inside Wegmans, issued a statement thanking Mustafa Said and Chris Patino, the two young men who bravely intervened to save her life.

Accolades are also flowing on Facebook along with calls for official recognition of the courageous boys. A donation of $100 reward arrived via telephone to the Sheriff’s office.

“There were people watching and well I don’t have that kind of heart to stand there and watch while a girl gets killed. He was sucking the life out of her and some guy was taking pictures and we were like, we can’t just stand there. It’s time to act.”

Comments on the news website revealed at least one person who “learned a lesson” about stereotypes after seeing the heroes, who were young men of color, juxtaposed against the photo of the white attacker, which the viewer assumed at first glance would have been that of the victim.

(READ the story at WHEC.com)

Taliban Ready to Lift Ban on Girls’ Schools, says Afghan Official

afghan-girls-school

afghan-girls-schoolAccording to the Afghanistan education minister, the Taliban’s leadership is prepared to drop its ban on girls’ schools, having undergone an “attitudinal and cultural change.”

Farooq Wardak said the Taliban’s leadership had undergone a profound change since losing power after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, and was prepared to scrap its policy on girls being educated.

Doctor Hero Fills Health-Care Gap for Homeless Women (Video)

image by imelenchon via Morguefile

heart-stethoscope-morguefile-imelenchonDr. Roseanna Means is bringing quality medical care — for free — to women in Boston’s homeless shelters. She and her nonprofit organization, Women of Means, have helped 2,500 women and children each year since 1999.

Dr. Means gave up a lucrative medical career to work with Boston’s homeless population, and along with 17 volunteer doctors have together donated $500,000 in services annually.

WATCH the video below, or read the story at CNN Heroes

Image by lmelenchon, via morguefile

Alaska Natives Throw Potlatch Celebration for Deploying Troops

photo by Ryan Bushby CC license, image cropped

photo by Ryan Bushby CC license, image croppedNative-American Alaskans hosted a traditional potlatch on Tuesday for about 400 soldiers and officers getting ready to deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Donations of moose meat and fish came from throughout the area. Although food was a highlight, the troops also enjoyed traditional songs and dances.

“The food is awesome. It just keeps coming,” said Staff Sgt. Jose Perez, 27, of the 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment. “I think it is outstanding to see this type of culture.”

(READ the story at Anchorage Daily News)

 

Thanks to Ruth R. for submitting the link! – photo by Ryan Bushby

Arts Legacy in America: Alive At 50, Needed Now More Than Ever

Arts award to Dinero, Springsteen, and others, Clinton administration

Arts award to Dinero, Springsteen, and others, Clinton administrationThis week, the Kennedy Center is celebrating 50 years of American promotion of the arts.

People forget how much goodness is fostered in society by culture and entertainment.

In Charles Dickens’ “Hard Times”, one of his shorter novels often taught in schools, Mr. Sleary, who runs a circus, says people need to be amused. They can’t always be working or learning. They’re not built that way. By the end of the story, we know Sleary is right.

Ranchers Rally to Save Starving Horses

photo by David Shankbone, GNU license

photo by David Shankbone, GNU licenseThe first shipment of donated hay made its way to a Yellowstone County ranch to help save hundreds of starving horses in what could be one of the largest animal abuse cases in Montana history.

Hay — 100 tons — was donated by the Valley M Ranch in Red Lodge and hauled to the Home Place Ranch where investigators say horses were left without food, water or veterinary care by the ranch’s former owner.

Offers to help the horses were pouring in from around the world.

(READ the KULR story at MSNBC)

photo by David Shankbone, GNU license

The Awesome Foundation Offers Cash for Crazy Ideas

pineapples by Sun Star

pineapples by Sun StarThat crazy idea simmering on the back your brain could nab you a bag full of cash.

If it’s awesome.

The newly formed Toronto Chapter of the Awesome Foundation is now accepting wild ideas and crackpot schemes. The best of the bunch will get a paper bag stuffed with $1,000.

“It’s about turning random flashes of half-baked genius into reality,” says Matt Thompson, the Toronto chapter’s Trustee of Awesome.

(READ the story in the Toronto Star)

Photo by Sun Star

Dow Hits 12,000, Consumers Confidence Soars, too

business-graphic-up

business-graphic-upThe Dow Jones Industrial Average has once again topped 12,000 — a level not seen since the summer of 2008, when the deepening financial crisis was on the verge of bringing the bull market to its knees. Stock analysts say it can provide investors with a much-needed psychological boost.

Also more confident, the American consumer may have resolved to be more optimistic about the U.S. economy this year. The consumer confidence index shot up this month to its highest level in 8 months.

(READ stock news at SmartMoney.com and consumer report at The Atlantic)

Albanian-American Enterprise Fund to Return $15 Million to American Taxpayers

Albania microloan recipients-USAID

Albania microloan recipients -USAID photoAn original grant of $30 million made by the U.S. Agency for International Development back in 1995 to assist the economic transition in Albania after the fall of the Soviet Union has born fruit — enough so that in a ceremony last week, half the money was returned to the U.S. Treasury with thanks to the American people.

The Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF) used the money to promote private sector development in Albania by investing in a wide array of private enterprises and providing management advice, training, and best practices to companies. The Fund has completed approximately 62 investment transactions with over 32 Albanian companies, contributing an estimated $725 million to the GDP and creating over 3,500 jobs.

Albanian-American Enterprise Fund to Return $15 Million to American Taxpayers

Albania microloan recipients-USAID

Albania microloan recipients -USAID photoAn original grant of $30 million made by the U.S. Agency for International Development back in 1995 to assist the economic transition in Albania after the fall of the Soviet Union has born fruit — enough so that in a ceremony last week, half the money was returned to the U.S. Treasury with thanks to the American people.

The Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF) used the money to promote private sector development in Albania by investing in a wide array of private enterprises and providing management advice, training, and best practices to companies. The Fund has completed approximately 62 investment transactions with over 32 Albanian companies, contributing an estimated $725 million to the GDP and creating over 3,500 jobs.

Hundreds of Volunteers Renew Gulf Oyster Beds for New Coastline Project

oyster restoration by Nature Conservancy

oyster restoration by Nature ConservancyVolunteers from across the country are rebuilding oyster reefs along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, hoping to revive oyster beds weakened by the BP oil spill and decades of overharvesting and human encroachment.

Donning boots and gloves, 550 volunteers descended on Mobile Bay over the weekend with 16,000 bags of oyster shells, reef building material to complete the first in a series of shoreline habitat projects aimed at restoring Alabama’s Gulf coast.

Hundreds of Volunteers Renew Gulf Oyster Beds for New Coastline Project

oyster restoration by Nature Conservancy

oyster restoration by Nature ConservancyVolunteers from across the country are rebuilding oyster reefs along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, hoping to revive oyster beds weakened by the BP oil spill and decades of overharvesting and human encroachment.

Donning boots and gloves, 550 volunteers descended on Mobile Bay over the weekend with 16,000 bags of oyster shells, reef building material to complete the first in a series of shoreline habitat projects aimed at restoring Alabama’s Gulf coast.

Miracle of Rebirth for Iraqi’s Garden of Eden (Video)

iraqi marsh on Euphrates RiverThe vast and ancient wetlands between the Tigress and Euphrates rivers in Iraq is considered by some to be the original Garden of Eden.

It teemed with wildlife and small fishermen until the 1980s, when Saddam Hussein drained the great wetlands turning them to desert, as political retribution against his enemy, the Marsh Arabs.

Since Saddam’s overthrow, a remarkable restoration effort has led to stunning success in the Mesopotamian Marshes. (For background, read the 2006 story in the Good News Network.)

In the last year, a BBC film crew witnessed the return of rare birds — by the thousands — as they documented what they called the largest restoration of habitat in the world and followed one man who grew up on the river and returned to help resurrect it.

“This year, with the help of ornithologists from BirdLife International, they counted a single flock of rare marbled teal on the lakes, numbering at least 40,000 birds. Marbled teal only live in the region, and across the border in countries such as Turkey. The drying of the wetlands under Saddam caused the population to fall so significantly that it is now considered Endangered.”

The film aired on PBS’s Nature, is a production of Aqua Vita Films and the BBC in association with WNET.

WATCH the preview below from NATURE and see the full documentary from PBS here.

Read the UK news story last week when it was broadcast on the BBC… Also, UK residents can view clips on BBC, here. (Thanks to contributor Jason Stamp, for sending the link!) 

Miracle of Rebirth for Iraqi’s Garden of Eden (Video)

iraqi marsh on Euphrates RiverThe vast and ancient wetlands between the Tigress and Euphrates rivers in Iraq is considered by some to be the original Garden of Eden.

It teemed with wildlife and small fishermen until the 1980s, when Saddam Hussein drained the great wetlands turning them to desert, as political retribution against his enemy, the Marsh Arabs.

Since Saddam’s overthrow, a remarkable restoration effort has led to stunning success in the Mesopotamian Marshes. (For background, read the 2006 story in the Good News Network.)

In the last year, a BBC film crew witnessed the return of rare birds — by the thousands — as they documented what they called the largest restoration of habitat in the world and followed one man who grew up on the river and returned to help resurrect it.

“This year, with the help of ornithologists from BirdLife International, they counted a single flock of rare marbled teal on the lakes, numbering at least 40,000 birds. Marbled teal only live in the region, and across the border in countries such as Turkey. The drying of the wetlands under Saddam caused the population to fall so significantly that it is now considered Endangered.”

The film aired on PBS’s Nature, is a production of Aqua Vita Films and the BBC in association with WNET.

WATCH the preview below from NATURE and see the full documentary from PBS here.

Read the UK news story last week when it was broadcast on the BBC… Also, UK residents can view clips on BBC, here. (Thanks to contributor Jason Stamp, for sending the link!)

Single Mom Can’t Afford Groceries in Check-Out Line… What Would You Do?

grocery checkout Good Samaritan - ABC

grocery checkout Good Samaritan - ABCYou’re standing in line at your local grocery store and you see a customer scrambling through her purse to pay for her items…

It turns out, many Americans would step forward to help pay for the groceries, according to an ABC News team who employed actresses and hidden cameras in a New Jersey store to record customer reactions.

On the first go, within a matter of minutes, a woman in line steps forward to help the ‘distressed’ mother. “How much does she need?”