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Everyday Heroes

Left image: a couple sit side by side, on a couch. Right Image: They sit in the same position 68 years later.
Uplifting News

Why a Husband Laughed In Wife's Face After Her Post-Chemo Makeover

Just when we think we've got it all under control, life has a way of ripping the rug right out from under us. It may be as simple as our car breaking down at the worst possible time (it's always when we have somewhere we really need to be). It could be a little more frustrating like getting slapped with surprise bills that'll make us dip into our savings. But there's one kind of disaster that's the hardest to come back from.

Restaurant Owner Drives 6 Hours Across State Lines - All to Fulfill Dying Womans Final Request
Everyday Heroes

Restaurant Owner Drives 6 Hours Across State Lines - All to Fulfill Dying Womans Final Request

Like many restaurants, Mama Kwan's Grill and Tiki Bar in Outer Banks, North Carolina, is used to getting calls for take-out.However, when owner Kevin Cherry received a long-distance call from Mary Simmons in late February, it wasn't for your typical to-go order.Simmons was desperately trying to make her best friend's dying wish come true — one final meal from her family's favorite vacation restaurant.The problem? Her friend, Heather Bowers, lived six hours away in West Virginia. Knowing it was a long shot, Simmons hoped the food could be shipped.Cherry did one better. He delivered. Literally.Mother of Two Young Children Is Diagnosed With Stage 4 CancerThree and a half years ago, registered nurse Heather Bowers received the news no one wants to hear — she had cancer. Diagnosed with Stage 4, she spent the remaining years of her life valiantly battling the disease.“Right out of the gate it was Stage 4,” Simmons said. “What she went through in three-and-a-half-years would’ve brought down the strongest man.”The cancer, combined with the aggressive chemotherapy treatment, took its toll. In late February, Bowers, 47, was in hospice, preparing to say her final goodbye.Bowers had one last wish on her deathbed: a pork plate from Outer Banks restaurant Mama Kwan's.Simmons knew it was nearly impossible. She made the call anyway. A Restaurant Owner Delivers Just in TimeWhen Cherry heard about Bowers' dying wish, he didn't think twice. He dropped everything to make it happen.Shortly after reaching out to the restaurant, Simmons received a call back. The meal was packed up and on its way.“She calls me back about 5 o'clock. She says, 'Kevin already has it packed up. He’s in the car and he’s on his way there,'” Simmons recalled being told. “He’s on his way.”Nearly six hours later, Cherry showed up at Bowers' door. Despite being emotionally wrought over his mission, he was determined to deliver the meal with a smile.“About halfway up, I had to turn the radio off and had to talk to myself, saying, ‘You can’t walk in here like this,'” Cherry shared. “You’ve got to walk in with a little bit of sunshine from the Outer Banks.”He made it just in time, delivering what ended up being Bowers' last meal. Less than 24 hours later, she passed away.When he heard the news, Cherry honored Bowers by putting the words "Heather, Rest in Peace" on Mama Kwan's restaurant sign. A Final GiftIn a Facebook post, Simmons shared a heartfelt tribute to Cherry, writing:"Kevin at Mama Kwans is one of the most genuine people in the world. He still has never met me in person and traveled over five hours to bring my best friend’s favorite meal to her, after one simple phone call."She went on to say:"He literally delivered it to her house the same day I called to see if they could possibly ship food. This ended up being her last night on Earth as she passed away from cancer the next evening- less than 24 hours after he was able to meet her, her husband, and her two young children."Simply put- he made one of her last wishes come true."Mary Simmons via FacebookAccording to her post, Cherry didn't want any recognition for what he had done. As he told WFLA News, "anyone in his position would’ve done the same thing."Simmons hopes that sharing her story will inspire others.“I just think maybe, if people see that kind of kindness, it’ll start spreading,” Simmons said. “That’s the hope. He made her smile — one of the final smiles of her life.”Our society has an uneasy relationship with death. It carries a heavy emotional price tag. But it is also an honor to be a part of someone's dying process. Cherry didn't have to drop everything and travel six hours. After all, it's a long way to go and a lot of effort for a complete stranger. But by being there for Bowers and delivering her last request, Cherry didn't just give her a favorite meal; he gave an incredible final gift of compassion and humanity to a woman about to say her hardest goodbye. There is no greater gift than that. More from Goalcast:Woman’s First Job Was to Scrub Toilets at McDonald’s – Now, She Owns 12 Restaurants“Homeless” Man Insists on Paying for an Expensive Lunch at Restaurant – So the Server Tells Him a LieMan Leaves Restaurant Without Tipping Server – Days Later, They Receive a Surprising Letter

Veteran Knew WWII Was Ending 2 Days Before Rest of the World - And He Has the Secret Note to Prove It
Everyday Heroes

Veteran Knew WWII Was Ending 2 Days Before Rest of the World - And He Has the Secret Note to Prove It

On Tuesday, May 8, 1945, the news echoed around the world; the Germans had surrendered to the Allies. World War II in Europe was finally over. Forty-eight hours earlier, Sergeant Bernard Morgan was sitting at his desk when a coded message arrived on his Typex machine. It would change the course of history. Eighty years later, he still has it. Who is Bernard Morgan?The day Morgan turned 18, he joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). Two years later, he stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. The youngest sergeant in the RAF, he joined approximately 156,000 other heroes in, what was at the time, the largest naval, air, and land invasion in history. He was later awarded the Legion D’Honneur, the highest French order of merit for military and civil achievements for his part in the liberation of France."I tell the truth, I was frightened to death," he shared in an interview with BBC News. The first time he'd ever seen a dead person, Morgan witnessed horrors that day that have haunted him for the rest of his life.D-Day was a huge turning point in the war. It was the beginning of the end. But it wasn't until nearly a year later, in May 1945, that Morgan would find himself at the center of another historic moment.The Message That Ended the WarIn May 1945, Morgan was working as a codebreaker in the German town of Schneverdingen, located 200 miles outside of the Reich Chancellery, where Adolf Hitler committed suicide on April 30 in his secret Führerbunker.As a code and cipher operative, his job was to translate secret orders. On May 4, Morgan decoded a message from headquarters to the commanders, ordering a cease-fire on the second army front the following morning. It was the prelude to the end. "All hostilities on second army front ceases at 0800 hours tomorrow May the 5th. Work will continue as usual until orders are issued to the contrary."On May 7 at 9:15 am, Morgan decoded a second message and became the first Allied service member to learn the news the world had waited a long, devastating six years to hear. The Third Reich had surrendered. The note read: ”The German War is now over. At Rheims last night the instrument of surrender was signed which in effect is a surrender of all personnel of the German forces - all equipment and shipping and all machinery in Germany."Nothing will be destroyed anywhere. The surrender is effective sometime tomorrow. This news will not be communicated to anyone outside the service nor to members of the press.”Sworn to secrecy, he and the members of his codebreaking unit celebrated with a huge bonfire into the wee hours of the morning."It was a surprise. We couldn't tell anybody until we got the final message to say the war in Germany was now over."Bernard Morgan30 hours later, on May 8th at 3 pm, Winston Churchill announced it to the world.The Secret He Kept For 50 YearsWhen Morgan first became a codebreaker, he had to sign a secrecy document, promising not to divulge any information, including the messages he decoded or his role as an operative. It was a secret he kept for 50 years, including from his own parents.In 1994, the secrecy document became null. Morgan was finally free to share what he had been hiding for years."It wasn't until 1994 that I could tell anybody what I did in the war," he said. Morgan, now 100 years old, kept a lot of memorabilia from the war. Things like his diaries, a manual entitled, "A Soldier's Guide to the French," and the original copy of the message announcing the end of the war two days before it happened. Despite intense interest from various museums, Morgan has vowed to pass the historic note down to his family when he dies.“The Imperial War Museum in London and in Manchester both wanted the original copy - they weren't interested in a photocopy - but I'm keeping it for my family," he said.Lest We ForgetWhile Morgan may not want to give up this particular piece of history, many items of his extensive collection have been featured in museums. And he is more than willing to share his story. He wants younger generations to know about the men and women who sacrificed their lives for peace and freedom.“I am always keen for the younger generation to know exactly what went on during the war and to appreciate the sacrifice that our lads made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today,” he said.He plans to return to Normandy in June for the 80th anniversary of D-Day to honor his fallen comrades. Fragments of history, like this note, aren't just important artifacts. They are living memorials to remind us never to forget the lessons of the past and to forge a better future. More from Goalcast:Widowed Veteran Comes Up With an Incredible Idea to Combat His Depression – And He’s Doing It for Free100-Year-Old Veteran Wasn’t Interested in 96-Year-Old When They First Met – Now They’re Getting MarriedUnemployed Veteran Gets a Call From His Roommate – Then, He Finds Out 2 Girls Showed up on His Doorstep

Man Has Spent 72 Years in an Iron Lung - Teaches Us How to Live a Full Life
Everyday Heroes

Man Has Spent 72 Years in an Iron Lung - Teaches Us How to Live a Full Life

For most of us, the idea of spending even ONE day confined to an iron lung seems unimaginable. Yet Paul Alexander spent a literal lifetime — seventy-two years — before his recent death on March 11.But instead of letting it imprison him, he used it as an opportunity to thrive. And his inspiring life is a masterclass in the power of never giving up. The Worst Polio Outbreak in U.S. HistoryIt was the summer of 1952 and the height of the polio pandemic. Public swimming pools and playgrounds were closed. So were bowling alleys, bars, churches, and movie theatres. Cities doused their streets with DDT insecticide; all in a desperate attempt to stop the disease from spreading. Nothing worked. By the end of the year, nearly 59,000 children were infected with the virus and thousands were left paralyzed, including six-year-old Paul Alexander."I remember it was really hot and raining, something that is sort of rare for Dallas in August," Paul recalled, "and my brother and I had been outside playing, running around and getting wet when the rain started.""Our mother called for us to come in for dinner, and I remember her taking one look at me -- hot and wet and feverish -- and she cried out, 'Oh my God!' She ripped my clothes off and threw me onto her and my dad's bed and called the doctor."Six days after first being diagnosed, Paul ended up in the hospital, struggling to breathe.It would be 18 months before he went home, paralyzed from the neck down and sentenced to life in an iron lung.Not Allowing Circumstances to Control His LifeDespite the extreme limitations imposed by his condition, Paul refused to succumb to despair. With his parents as his biggest cheerleaders and advocates, Paul dove headfirst into embracing life."They just loved me," he said of his parents. "They said, 'You can do anything.' And I believed it."Paul AlexanderHis parents stayed with him in shifts and his mom lobbied the school district to be able to home-school her son — something that until that point had been largely unheard of. They also hired a physical therapist, Mrs. Sullivan, who taught Paul to "frog-breathe," a technique that allowed him to breathe on his own for short periods.It opened up a whole new world for Paul and freed him from his shackles, allowing him to exchange his iron lung for a wheelchair for a few hours at a time. At the age of 21, Paul graduated with honors from high school. But he still wasn't done. He applied to the Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Despite being repeatedly rejected by the university administration for being "too crippled," Paul refused to give up. After fighting for two years, he finally wore them down. He got his Bachelor's degree in economics (while living in the dorms) and then went on to earn a law degree from the University of Texas, passing the bar in 1986. For more than three decades he worked as a lawyer, eventually opening up his own practice, concentrating on criminal and family law and bankruptcy cases.Living Life to the FullestIn 2020, Paul published his memoir, Three Minutes for a Dog: My Life in an Iron Lung. It took him five years to complete and he wrote every single word himself, using a pen attached to a stick held in his mouth.In 2022, Paul broke the world record for spending the longest amount of time living in an iron lung. And at the beginning of this year, Paul made his debut on social media, creating a series of videos entitled, "Conversations with Paul," in which he responded to comments and questions about his life, his polio, and living in an iron lung. In one TikTok viewed over 4.3 million times, Paul shared his secret to staying positive amid life's ups and downs. "There's great purpose in being positive. I've seen so many people suffer in my life and I learned not to let that bring me down but to try to contribute something good for that person." In addition to graduating from university, practicing law, becoming a sought-after speaker, writing a memoir, and inspiring millions on social media, Paul also managed to find time for other not-so-little things. "Over the course of his life, he has been on planes and to strip clubs, seen the ocean, prayed in church, fallen in love, lived alone, and staged a sit-in for disability rights," wrote the Guardian in 2020.“I wanted to accomplish the things I was told I couldn’t accomplish and to achieve the dreams I dreamed."Paul AlexanderOn Setting Your Mind to Accomplish Your GoalsWith sheer grit and determination and an incredible attitude of positivity despite devastating circumstances, Paul accomplished more in his life imprisoned than most of us will free. And he is beyond inspiring. Because if a man confined to an iron tube for the majority of his life can achieve great things, that means we can too. In a 2021 interview, Paul summed it up best: “My story is an example of why your past or even your disability does not have to define your future." “No matter where you’re from or what your past is, or the challenges you could be facing, you can truly do anything. You just have to set your mind to it and work hard.”More from Goalcast:Prisoner Who Earns Only 13 Cents/ Hour Donates His Entire Wage – This Completely Changes His LifeWoman Finds a Note Left by a Stranger on a Train – And It May Have Saved Her LifeWoman Rearranges Her Life to Take Care of Her Husband – After He Passes Away, She Finds His Secret Hidden Letters

Prisoner Who Earns Only 13 Cents/ Hour Donates His Entire Wage - This Completely Changes His Life
Everyday Heroes

Prisoner Who Earns Only 13 Cents/ Hour Donates His Entire Wage - This Completely Changes His Life

Forty years ago, a man simply known as Hamza, was tried, convicted, and imprisoned for accidentally firing a gun and killing his uncle. He was only 16 years old.After spending a literal lifetime in jail, it isn't a stretch to assume that he's become hardened to the plights of others.And yet, after hearing about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Hamza desperately wanted to do something to help the civilians affected. Despite earning a meager 13 cents/hour for prison janitorial duties, he didn't let the paltry sum stop him from donating everything he could to relief efforts.And now? He's getting the ultimate payback for his compassionate gesture. One Good Turn Deserves Another"Confused and heartbroken" by the news coming out of the Middle East, Hamza turned to his friend, filmmaker Justin Mashouf, for help.Unable to donate his paycheck on his own, he sent it to Mashouf to pass on. All $17.74 of it. (The total sum payment of 136.5 HOURS of work).Mashouf, touched by Hamza's act of kindness, shared the paycheck along with his timesheet on X (formerly Twitter).The social media post went viral, triggering an unexpected outpouring of love and support. Internet denizens flocked to the comments, wanting to know how they could donate to Hamza.It prompted Mashouf to launch a GoFundMe campaign, just in time for Hamza's long-awaited prison release. After four decades behind bars, the now 56-year-old has finally been granted parole. "He has lived with the pain of losing his family member due to his own mistake every day for decades," Mashouf wrote on the page. "While in prison, he has become a devout Muslim and has been pleading for parole for decades... Hamza has finally been granted parole and is set to walk free NEXT MONTH!"He also explained that the funds raised would give Hamza a "fresh start.""Your contributions will empower him to transition back into society with dignity and security after years of isolation," he wrote. "With your help, Hamza will access essential resources, secure housing and transportation, and navigate the challenges of his new freedom."Within two days, the fund was sitting at a whopping $102,172."He gave people hope by showing how selfless he is, and then they gave him hope through their kindness."Justin Mashouf via the Washington PostPaying It ForwardAlmost as quickly as it started, the campaign ended. In an incredible twist, Hamza chose to forego fortune and redirect the support he received towards those in desperate need."He said whatever has already been donated is sufficient for him," Mashouf shared. "And that he didn't want to distract people from those who were suffering more than him."In an update on the GoFundMe, Hamza thanked everyone for their generosity and kindness. He then asked people to consider donating to victims of war and poverty in Palestine, Yemen, and Africa."Look upon and consider the suffering children, mothers and fathers of Palestine, Yemen, and Africa living under inhuman[e] conditions, being bombed every hour of the day, without water, shelter, medication and food … who are ordinary people and citizens just like all of you living their lives having not a thing to do with the politicians, but are suffering [in]humanely, please give to them,” he wrote.On a personal note, he also revealed that he is looking forward to life on the other side of the prison gates. "I look forward to the promise of life, happiness, struggles and dreams, to soar and spread my wings, to be a man, a human being once again now that I know the preciousness and the incalculable value of Life."The Impact Even the Smallest Gestures of Kindness Can HaveHamza's donation to the people of Gaza wasn't huge. In fact, it was pretty inconsequential as far as monetary contributions go. But its impact was significant. By giving what he could, he inspired thousands to rally behind him. And that $17.74? Turned into more than $100,000.An unlikely hero, Hamza is proof that empathy, compassion, and goodness can thrive in any circumstance — even in those, like the confines of a prison cell, where it seems impossible. More from Goalcast:After Spending More Than 20 Years in Prison, Ex-convict Turned Franchise Owner Is Paying It ForwardGuard Refuses to Back Down Even After Prison Forbids Her From Taking Care of Inmate’s Baby – Her Kindness Gets Her FiredShe Was Born in Prison and Then Raised by a Single Dad – Years Later, She’s Going to Harvard on a Full Scholarship

Black Couple Helped Chinese-American Family When No One Else Would Now, They Are Paying It Back in a Big Way
Everyday Heroes

Black Couple Helped Chinese-American Family When No One Else Would Now, They Are Paying It Back in a Big Way

Eighty-five years ago, Gus and Emma Thompson didn't just open the door of their home to the Dongs, they opened the door for the Chinese-American family to achieve the American Dream.The Dongs never forgot it. And now, the last two remaining Dong children are paying it forward. They're donating $5 MILLION to the Black Resource Center of San Diego State University and petitioning to have the Center renamed the Gus and Emma Thompson Black Resource Center. A Black Couple Rents Their Home to a Chinese-American FamilyIt was 1939 in Coronado, California. A ritzy resort town known for its white sandy beaches, that's not all that was white. So were nearly all of its residents. With racially restrictive housing laws prohibiting immigrants and people of color from renting and buying in town, Coronado didn't exactly welcome Chinese-American Lloyd Dong and his wife, Margaret with open arms. In fact, finding a place to live was almost impossible. That is, until a Black couple, Gus and Emma Thompson, saved the day. Gus, a former slave from Kentucky, built his house and barn in 1895 before the housing restrictions were implemented. This meant that they were exempt. He used the loophole to his full advantage.Knowing all too well the struggle of racial discrimination, Gus and his wife Emma, successful Black entrepreneurs, made it their mission to defy the law and help the marginalized. They turned the top floor of the barn into a boarding house for seasonal black workers and rented the house to the Dongs. It was the start they needed. And, ultimately, it changed their lives. “At that time, this was the only place my Chinese parents could rent in Coronado,” Lloyd and Margaret's son, Ron, told The Coronado Times. “If it wasn’t for the Thompsons, my family would not have been able to live in Coronado where my father worked as a gardener."The First Chinese-American Family to Purchase Real Estate in CoronadoThe couple rented the house at 832 C Ave. for 17 years. It's where they raised four children. And eventually, in 1955, it's where they became the first Chinese American family to own real estate in Coronado (after buying the house and barn from Emma). In 1957, Lloyd and Margaret Dong replaced the barn with an eight-unit apartment complex. Years passed and life, as it does, changed. Their children went on to university and built their careers and fortunes. Their sons, Ron and Lloyd Jr. moved away. But they continued to manage the properties from afar.Today, Ron Dong (87), his wife Janice, and Lloyd Dong Jr. (82) are the last surviving family members. And after 85 years, they're finally saying goodbye to the home they credit with changing their lives. Paying It Back by Paying It ForwardIn an incredible full-circle moment, Ron and Lloyd Jr. are selling the Coronado property and donating their $5 million proceeds back to the Black community. They hope it helps kids who otherwise might not be able to, go to college. The brothers say they owe their success in life to the opportunity the Thompsons gave them.“Because we grew up in Coronado, and got our education here, we have become financially able to donate this money to the center, and we are happy to do that,” said Lloyd Dong, Jr.“What’s important here is what was given to us, to our family, and the education that came from it, and now is the time to give it back,” said Ron Dong.The Thompsons didn't have to open their home to the Dongs. At a time when they were at risk of being persecuted for helping them, they could have easily turned a blind eye. But they did it anyway.Gus and Emma Thompson weren't afraid to stand up for what was right. And in doing so, not only did they change one family's life for the better, but now they are changing the lives of many more to come. More from Goalcast:Cop Accuses Black Women of Shoplifting After They Spent $300 at T.J. Maxx – He Instantly Regrets ItBlack Mom Is Asked if She Is Her White Daughter’s Nanny – Frustrated, She Sets the Record StraightBlack Woman Receives Hate Letters for Marrying a White Man – 58 Years Later, They’re Still Together

Friend Confides in Librarian About Her Abusive Relationship - So She Uses a Book to Come up With an Ingenious Plan
Everyday Heroes

Friend Confides in Librarian About Her Abusive Relationship - So She Uses a Book to Come up With an Ingenious Plan

*If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence please call 9-1-1 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233)*Domestic violence is cloaked in secrecy. On the outside, it's disguised as a happy, picture-perfect home. But inside, the reality is shocking. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in nine men have been the victim of physical brutality at the hands of their partner. Every 9 seconds a woman in the United States is assaulted or beaten.The statistics are staggering, not to mention incredibly disturbing. But one librarian in Westwood, Massachusetts is working to change it, one book at a time.How One Librarian Is Using Books to Help Save Victims of Domestic ViolenceMolly Riportella, 36, isn't just a librarian, she's also a domestic abuse survivor. She understands being abused, trapped, manipulated, silenced, and controlled by someone who claims to love her. And she knows just how hard it is to escape... She's done it. So when a friend in an abusive relationship confided in her and reached out for help, Riportella didn't hesitate. Knowing that abusers often closely monitor their victims' communications and movements, Riportella bought her friend a burner phone.She also created a new email account, added DV/social services contacts, and left notes on the phone to help her make a plan to escape. But they still had to come up with a way for her friend to conceal it. And that's where the books came in. "After realizing they couldn’t bring home the phone, and a meandering conversation that included Nancy Drew and spy novels, we decided I would make a book safe," Riportella said. Using a discarded book from the library, she cut out the pages and created a hidden compartment — just the right size to hold a phone.Her friend used it to connect with domestic abuse advocates who helped her get out. It was just the beginning.Book-It 2 FreedomNow, Riportella has created a "grassroots library and social justice movement." She calls it the BiblioUnderground; an underground network with the sole purpose of "checking people out of bad situations."She buys pre-paid burner phones with her own money and loads them up with resources such as safety planning, pro bono legal action, and how to get a restraining order. All the things she wish she'd known when she was trapped in an abusive relationship in her 20s. She says that working in a library is a perfect place to meet women looking for resources to help them leave dangerous situations. Her vision is to eventually "establish a network of resourceful book nerds from across the country who create Book-it 2 Freedom Kits (Bi2Fks) and pass them onto local experts," like abuse advocacy groups, OBGYNs, and health and human services departments. She's also created a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds. So far, it's sitting at almost $15,000.Riportella knows that having access to a phone isn't the be-all, end-all solution to ending domestic violence. But having unfettered access to people and organizations who can help is a good place to start.Doing the Right Thing, Even if It’s HardAs for what motivated Riportella to take this leap despite the risk that her abuser, who stalked her for years, would show up in her life again?"I can't live in fear anymore. People have to do the right thing, even if it's hard, even if it's scary. You just have to do it anyway." Molly RiportellaMore from Goalcast:Struggling Student Hangs Up the Phone in Tears – Then Receives a Strange Note From Someone She Didn’t KnowDomino’s Manager Gets a Phone Call From Dejected Mother – Decides to Go the Extra “Mile” When He Hears the Reason WhyHigh School Sweethearts Break Up After Graduation – 63 Years Later, One Phone Call Leads to Their Marriage

9-Year-Old Girl Loses Her Mom - Years Later, She Pens a Message About Her Single Dad
Everyday Heroes

9-Year-Old Girl Loses Her Mom - Years Later, She Pens a Message About Her Single Dad

Being a parent is hard. Doing it alone can feel nearly impossible. And yet, every day, millions of single parents step up to the plate and kill it, taking on the roles of both mother and father to their children.Tiana Sheehan was only nine years old when her mother died from lung cancer and her father, Glenn, suddenly found himself thrust into single parenthood. Over the next few years, he would be her sole guardian, guiding her through all the messy bits of growing up, including the ones in which most daughters typically turn to their mothers for help. It didn't go unnoticed. At the age of 23, fourteen years after her mother passed away, Tiana penned an emotional tribute to her dad, thanking him for "fulfilling both roles."And it's a powerful message to all the single parents out there.Daughter’s Letter to Her Single Dad Goes ViralIn a Facebook post that went viral on the page, Love What Matters, Tiana shared a core memory of her dad after a routine trip to the grocery store.She explained that she had been shopping in Meijer when she overheard a mother talking to her daughter about shaving her legs."It was her first time shopping for razors, and her mom was explaining what kind of razor she needed, how to shave her legs, etc.," Tiana wrote. "I felt that little punch in the gut that I normally feel when I see a mom and daughter doing mom-and-daughter things. I can't help it."And while she felt the familiar twinge of jealousy and sorrow, it also reminded her of a similar moment she shared with her dad when she was 10, and it made her giggle. "I'll never forget the look on my dad's face when I told him I wanted to shave my legs. It was the summer after mom died and some of the girls I went to summer camp with started teasing me about my hairy legs."There are some things in parenthood that you are just never prepared for. "I remember coming up to Dad and being so embarrassed to ask him for help, but man, did he handle it like a champ!" she continued. "For a moment he put his head down; and then he turned the TV off, took me into the bathroom, gave me a new blade on his razor, gave me his shaving cream, and taught me how to shave my legs."Despite being completely out of his depth, her dad didn't try to push her off or find the nearest woman. Instead, he pulled through. And Tiana? Never forgot it. Shoutout to the Single DadsWhen it comes to single parenting, mothers tend to take on the lion's share of the role. But there are a lot of single dads out there too. And it's to these single dads that Tiana addressed the next part of her letter. "Single dads don't get the credit they deserve; especially mine and all dads who are left playing both roles," Tiana continued in her post. "There was never a time in my childhood where I truly thought I was missing out on anything. My dad was so good at fulfilling both roles and making sure my childhood was as normal as possible; that there was never a time I thought life or God had screwed me over."Her dad handled it all — periods, shaving, broken hearts, even catty girlfriends. Tiana ended her post with a heartfelt thank you to her dad for never being too embarrassed to do the "girl stuff.""Dad, I know I haven't said it enough, so here's a big public THANK YOU for never, ever, ever being too much of a man to be my mom." Her words hit home. Not just with her dad but with the more than 40,000 people who liked her post. Tiana and her dad were shocked by the response. "I never thought in a million years that so many people would see and share it — or that it would resonate with so many people," Tiana told People. Single Parents Are SuperheroesOftentimes as parents, we feel like we're failing. Like we're not doing enough. For single parents, this can hit doubly hard as they carry the weight of providing and caring for their children without the support of a partner.Taking on the roles of both mother and father is no easy feat. And yet, so many parents do it all every single day. Making sure that their kids are happy, healthy, and above all else, loved. And that is something to honor and celebrate. "Single parents rock! They deserve all the praise in the world. It’s not single moms or single dads, single PARENTS are superheroes!" Tiana Sheehan via PeopleWe couldn't agree more. More from Goalcast:Shocked Mom Finds Dozens of Notes In Her Daughter’s Drawers – Realizes Her Husband Has Given ThemGarbage Collector Wakes Up at 3 AM to Make Only $10 a Day – Years Later, His Daughter Makes His Dream Come TrueGarbage Collector Wakes Up at 3 AM to Make Only $10 a Day – Years Later, His Daughter Makes His Dream Come True

Teen With Down Syndrome Gets Cut From Cheer Team - But She Didnt Let It Stop Her
Everyday Heroes

Teen With Down Syndrome Gets Cut From Cheer Team - But She Didnt Let It Stop Her

Being cut from a school team can be a difficult experience for a kid. Sure, it can help build resilience but it comes at a cost (usually heartbreak, a sucker punch to self-esteem, and copious amounts of mint chocolate chip ice cream).But when 13-year-old Emmie Tallent (who has Down syndrome) didn't make her school's cheer squad she responded in the most epic way possible — she cheered anyway. The determined girl took to the sidelines while her Chattanooga, Tennessee school's cheer squad performed inside their gymnasium. And she danced, matching the entire routine, move for move. Her 22-year-old sister, Sydnee, captured it all on video and now? It's capturing all our hearts. After Being Cut From the Squad, 13-Year-Old Girl Comes Out CheeringIn an Instagram reel that's gone viral with over 3 million views and 87,000 likes, Emmie, dressed in a black dress and tie-dyed shoes, faces off against the official squad and slays the routine right along with them.Her performance is nothing short of inspiring. “Girl didn’t make the cheer team but she don’t care,” Sydnee captioned the post. “I aspire to have an ounce of her confidence.”(Don't we all).In a subscript, she explained:“The team did not have a lot of spots and even neurotypical girls (who were much better than Emmie) didn’t make it! Emmie’s school is super, super supportive, but there are hard decisions that have to be made sometimes.”She went on to add that "Emmie is still happy cheering with them at home games and my mom is secretly happy that she doesn’t have to drive my sister to tons of cheer stuff..."(And all the sports parents out there are nodding their heads in solidarity.)Sydnee also shared that despite Emmie not making the squad, she isn't just sitting at home. She takes gymnastics and dance, both of which she loves."I’m sure in the future Emmie will make cheer somewhere, but today she’s perfectly happy as she is :) Thank you everyone for caring about her!" she added.A Lesson in Self-Esteem and ConfidenceIn an interview with People, Emmie's mother, Lisa Tallent, shared that initially, Emmie didn't understand that she didn't make the team. She was, after all, a seasoned cheerleader, having been on the squad in grades four and five. It wasn't until about a week later that the realization finally sank in. There were some tears but not enough to dampen the sixth grader's school spirit.Thanks to her previous experience, Emmie can pick up routines and moves really quickly. A talent she proved in her now-viral video. And she has no plans of stopping. She'll continue to spread her joy, albeit from the sidelines. For now. As for her older sister Sydnee, she plans to keep on sharing snippets of Emmie's life in the hopes of spreading awareness about living with Down syndrome.“I’ve always wanted to share Emmie’s humor and positivity with others. There are a lot of people who have no exposure or experience with people with special needs and it can make them close-minded," she said. "I wanted to give a little piece of Emmie out to the world so those people can see the joy that comes with someone with special needs."She also hopes that Down syndrome aside, we can all learn a valuable lesson in self-esteem and finding joy in the face of adversity from a 13-year-old girl who refused to let rejection define her.And if there is anything to be taken away from this, it's this: If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have to choose to sit it out or dance? Choose dance.More from Goalcast:Server Overhears Customers Making a Rude Comment About a Child With Down Syndrome – Risks His Job to Does ThisFourth Grader Makes a Promise to Classmate With Down Syndrome – Years Later, He Shows Up to Fulfill the PactDesperate Mom Puts Out Ad to Hire Friends For Lonely Son With Down Syndrome — The Response is Shocking

Single Moms Driveway Is Stolen in Broad Daylight - Then a Stranger Makes an Offer She Cant Refuse
Everyday Heroes

Single Moms Driveway Is Stolen in Broad Daylight - Then a Stranger Makes an Offer She Cant Refuse

When Amanda Brochu received a ring doorbell notification on her phone, the last thing she expected to see was her driveway being "stolen" in broad daylight.The victim of a bizarre property scam, the single mom not only found herself suddenly driveway-less BUT ALSO on the hook for thousands of dollars to replace it. That is until a stranger stepped in and paved the way to renewing her faith (and ours!) in humanity. The Strange Case of the Stolen DrivewayAccording to Amanda, it all started about a week after she put her house up for sale in Orange County, Florida. Unsolicited contractors began calling her and showing up at her house, asking to measure her driveway so they could quote her the cost of replacing it.Confused, she told them she wasn't interested. But they just kept coming. By the fifth contractor, Amanda was really starting to question what was going on. When she confronted one of them she discovered that a man named "Andre" was posing as her landlord (which was impossible as Amanda owns the home) and had requested an estimate for a new driveway via text.When the now-suspicious contractor, Luiz, asked Andre for proof of ownership and payment up front, he was ghosted.However, Andre wasn't the only one who disappeared. A week later, Amanda's entire driveway did too. "While I was preparing to head out of town for my birthday and Christmas with my kids, I received a ring doorbell notification that someone was outside of my house, ripping up my driveway before my eyes," Amanda wrote on her GoFundMe page. "By the time, the cops got there the company that was tearing up my driveway had already completed the job and left my driveway with only dirt."And Amanda was left with a hefty estimate to replace it to the tune of $10,000. Already under contract on another house, it was money she didn't have. How One Stranger Restored a Single Mom’s Faith in HumanityWith the help of her real estate agent, Rocki Sanchez, Amanda created a GoFundMe campaign to try to raise money to pay for a new driveway. "The cost to replace the driveway is astronomical and I’m seeking some sort of help so I don’t lose the opportunity to purchase my forever home that my kids have already fell in love with. Thank you to anyone that can help and anything helps!" Amanda wrote.The bizarre case of the missing driveway quickly went viral, making headlines nationwide. Because...weird.And while 375 people donated more than $13,500, it was one man, retired U.S. military veteran, Mikol Rowland, who truly saved the day.Now the owner of his own concrete company, MM Concrete Specialty, Mikol was shocked when he found out what happened. He offered to replace Amanda's driveway for free. "Somebody was in need of something that we could offer," Mikol said. "We could bring some good into the world with it, so there was no question about it."In the end he estimated that the work cost his company approximately $4,000. But for Amanda? It was worth so much more.As for that stolen driveway? It turns out its not so bizarre after all. Rocki Sanchez posted about the missing driveway in a Facebook group for realtors and found out that Amanda isn't the only victim of the property scam.“I had multiple people come forward saying that they’ve seen things like this happen — whether it be driveways, roofs, painting, even outside the exterior. So it happens more often than we actually see it,” Rocki told WFTV.Single Mom Pays It ForwardAmanda was so grateful for Mikol's help that she decided to pay it forward. She disabled the GoFundMe campaign and donated the proceeds to The Russell Home — an Orlando-area nonprofit that provides housing and care for infants, children, and adults with severe disabilities.Mikol couldn't be more thrilled. "I would do it all over again. Ten times, if I could help the kids," he said. "It's just a win-win-win for everybody, and it feels good to hear a good story out in the news."What started out as a horrible act against someone turned into a heartwarming act of service and became the foundation for even more goodness. Just by helping one person with the skills and means that he could offer, Mikol ended up having a much greater impact than he could have imagined and made a difference not only in Amanda's life but the lives of so many others in his community as well. More from Goalcast: Man Finds Out a Thief Has Broken Into and Stolen From His Restaurant – His Unexpected Reaction Goes Viral Woman Finds Out Her Car Is Repeatedly Being Stolen – So She Leaves the Thieves This ‘Snarky’ Note in the Glovebox Bullied Boy Loses Hope After a Priceless Gift From His Grandmother Is Stolen – But His Best Friends Feel Otherwise