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One Letter From Ryan Reynolds Changed Celine Dion's Life
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One Letter From Ryan Reynolds Changed Celine Dion's Life

In the depths of despair, Celine Dion was ready to leave her music career behind. After enduring unimaginable loss of both her husband and son, only two days apart, the iconic singer hesitated to return to music. She felt as though a part of her had been lost forever. Then, she found an unexpected beacon of hope in a letter from Ryan Reynolds inspiring her to make her comeback. He recognized the world's need for her voice, but after nearly two years of mourning, did Celine Dion have the heart to go on?

Teen With Cancer Invites Taylor Swift to His Prom but She Rejects It - Then She Does This
Uplifting News

Teen With Cancer Invites Taylor Swift to His Prom but She Rejects It - Then She Does This

"I don't know what else to say. I was just trying not to throw up."One Sister’s Post of FaithPhoto by Brett JordanSiblings look out for each other, so when Victoria McGuire sees her brother Kevin struggle with his big day looming, she swings into action. It's a wild plan, but you only live once. Per CBS, with the motivation to help her bro, Victoria takes to Facebook, closes her eyes and clicks send. And waits. And waits. Then the improbable alert notice pops up on the screen. When they see the response, the hospital room erupts with cheers and clapping. "I don't know what else to say," said a stunned Kevin. "I was just trying not to throw up."18-year-old Kevin McGuire is at New Jersey's Children's Hospital undergoing cancer treatment. With prom day inching closer -- which happens to fall on his birthday -- he's worried that hair loss from the treatment will keep him from landing a prom date. When he shares this with Victoria, they decide to send a star-studded promposal. A Pop PromposalPhoto by Raphael LovaskiThe title of Victoria's post says it all: 'Taylor Swift Please Take Kevin McGuire To The Prom.' Sadly, the megastar declined, but she did have a question of her own."Kevin, I'm so sorry but I won't be able to make it to your prom. But I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up.. Would you be my date? Love, Taylor."Good thing that Kevin had a nurse on standby, as that would knock any teen over. An ecstatic Kevin replied, "I have cancer. Cancer doesn't have me. Taylor, I would love to go with you."And with that, Kevin went from dateless to famous. However, fame has its challenges and for Kevin, it's called cancer. After an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant from his younger brother, Kevin was too sick to leave the hospital. This time, he would be the one who would have to bow out. Yet just when it looked like the magic moment was lost, he receives a phone call that changes everything. A Red Carpet EveningFast forward a year. Kevin picks up the phone, and it's from the Academy of Country Music Awards, inviting him and his family out to the event's festivities.And with that, the McGuires are scooped up in a lavish white limousine and driven out to Las Vegas, Nevada for a night to remember. Pulling up to the hotel, they are ushered to the 12-time Grammy winner's room, where she is getting ready for the show as a nominee and performer. The night's a success, as they all hang out in the hotel room, talk and snap pictures.A starstruck Kevin gushed via Twitter: 'If you guys think she's pretty in pictures, I can't tell you how stunning she is in real life.'So much for worrying about being dateless.How Taylor Swift Reminds Us That an Ounce of Hope Is Worth a Pound of CurePer TasteOfCountry, Kevin describes that night as so much more than meeting a star. “Going through what we’ve been through … it’s symbolic, in a way. It started my chapter with my cancer. Now it’s behind me; I can close the book on it.”With a clean bill of health and star-studded self esteem, you can bet that the sky's the limit for his life story's next chapters. Kevin's story is proof that while we might feel down and out, it just takes a ray of hope to let the light shine in.More from Goalcast:Tweets Expose What Taylor Swift Has Been Secretly Doing During Her Eras Tour – And It’s Not Something She’s PublicizingKobe Bryant’s Surprise To Taylor Swift That Created A Legendary BondTaylor Swift Finds Out Her Pregnant Fan Is Homeless – Shocks Everyone by Buying Her a House

12-Year-Old Reaches Hotel to Have Lunch - Is Shocked to Find Out Dwayne The Rock Johnson Has Taken on a New Job
Uplifting News

12-Year-Old Reaches Hotel to Have Lunch - Is Shocked to Find Out Dwayne The Rock Johnson Has Taken on a New Job

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has played a number of roles over the years — from CFL football player to WWE wrestling champ to Hollywood megastar (and by megastar we mean MEGASTAR. He just nabbed the title of highest-paid actor EVER for his eye-watering $50 million paycheck for the upcoming movie, Red One.) But it's his most recent role, as an undercover waiter, that shows off his greatest talent; being a really awesome human being.The Rock’s Biggest Fan: A 12-Year-Old Girl Battling CancerIn the realm of action movies, Johnson may just be one of the toughest guys on the planet. But beyond his tough exterior and charismatic performances, Johnson has proven time and again that he has the tenderest heart. For the past couple of years, he's been following Luna Perrone's journey as the now 12-year-old battles a rare bone cancer, Ewing Sarcoma. He was first introduced to her back in June 2021 when she reached out to him via social media. Since then, he's kept tabs on his "biggest fan" and when he found out the heartbreaking news that her cancer has spread, he decided it was high time they finally met in person.So, he arranged a special lunch for Luna and her family at the Hotel Bel-Air. With one Hercules-sized surprise — himself. Johnson shared his good deed, worthy of a demigod, on Instagram, captioning the emotional video in part:"Luna’s an amazing and inspiring girl who’s been fighting cancer for a few years now. She’s my absolute biggest fan and always wanted to meet me.My team and I set up this big surprise for Luna at one of my fav “DJ spots” @hotelbelair. Luna thinks she’s having lunch “arranged by The Rock” because unfortunately, “The Rock is out of town” 😉"But The Rock wasn't out of town. He was in the kitchen and he was about to give Luna the surprise of a lifetime.The Rock Poses as a Waiter to Surprise His “Hero”Posing as a waiter, Johnson, chicken fingers and fries in hand, thanked the kitchen staff as he headed out to surprise Luna.Her sweet face says it all. A little speechless and a whole lot shell-shocked at seeing her idol, Luna was barely able to squeak out a "hi." Johnson immediately put her at ease, telling her to bring it in for a hug."You know what I need? Get in here! I can’t believe I’m finally meeting you!" he told her. And while he may be her hero, the feeling is mutual."I’ve had some super cool jobs in my life - but being Luna’s waiter just might be the coolest 😎 👍🏾," he wrote. He added, "They say, don’t ever meet your heroes, because you’ll be disappointed — well I got to meet my hero and she was AWESOME 😊🥰 🙋🏽‍♂️"As for Luna? She felt the exact same way. She posted her own video of the exciting event on Instagram, writing:"Coolest thing EVER happened yesterday! I got to meet my hero, THE ROCK! It was the best day!!!"Using His Fame for GoodOf course, being The Rock, he couldn't just stop there. He also gifted Luna and her family tickets to Disneyland for the day. A brief and welcome respite before she heads back to the hospital for her second round of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.This isn't the first time that Johnson has stepped up and used his celebrity status for good. And, it very likely won't be his last. The Fast & Furious star describes moments like this as the “best part of fame.”But you don't have to be famous to take a page out of his playbook. Johnson believes we all have the ability to make the world a better place, famous or not. And it starts with being nice."When I was 15yrs old I heard a quote that stuck with me for life – it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."Dwayne "The Rock" JohnsonHe's definitely living it. More from Goalcast: The Rock Films Custom Selfie for Girl Superfan Who Waited Two Hours to Meet HimThe Rock Admits He Used to Steal Chocolate Every Day – Instead of Catching Him, the 7-Eleven Clerk Turned a Blind EyeDwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson Turns Down People’s Choice Award – What He Does Next Is Unexpected

Mother Has to Resume Chemotherapy - What Her Son Does to Support Her Will Leave You Teary-Eyed
Uplifting News

Mother Has to Resume Chemotherapy - What Her Son Does to Support Her Will Leave You Teary-Eyed

Cancer treatment is an uphill battle that can break down even the strongest individuals. While going through your hardest times, the support received from family can pull you through to the other side. Recently, a barber's sweet gesture while shaving his mother's hair before she started chemotherapy has left many people emotional.What One Barber and His Colleagues Did for a CustomerPhoto by Thgusstavo SantanaThe barber posted the video of this gesture to his Instagram which has since gone viral, tallying over 4 million likes.In the video, Guilherme Magalhaes, a barber working at the Barbearia Entre Amigos shop in the Brazilian municipality of Presidente Epitácio is seen shaving his mothers hair prior to her chemotherapy treatment. His mother, Claudia, was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer a few years ago. Claudia recently had to resume treatment. Due to the chemotherapy making her hair eventually fall out, she chose to have it all shaved off beforehand.Claudia is clearly emotional watching her hair fall to the floor. As he moves the razor through her hair, Guilherme is seemingly light-hearted and trying to get Claudia to crack a smile.Seeing his mother tearing up in his chair, Guilherme acts in ultimate solidarity. He takes the razor to his own head and begins shaving himself bald. Claudia tries to stop him but Guilherme seems to laugh it off as if he is saying, “Oops, too late!”Next, Guilherme’s colleague, Fernando Brito approaches the chair and asks for the same haircut. Guilherme pulls the razor through Fernando’s full head of hair. Watching through the mirror, Claudia gets emotional and begins crying. Fernando gives Claudia a pat on the back as she wipes away a tear.Following Fernando, another one of Guilherme’s friends, Deeh Winchester asks to join the club. At this point, we see Claudia laughing through her tears. He finally got her. When sharing the clip, Guilherme wrote in the caption, “I love you. No words to describe you, brothers Deeh Winchester and Fernando Brito.”How Her Family’s Support Helped One Woman Get Through ChemotherapyIn a photo Fernando shared to his Instagram of him, Claudia, Guilherme, and Deeh with their shaved heads, he wrote in the caption: “No obstacle will be big if your will to win is bigger.” Claudia has a tough road ahead of her, but luckily, she also has a mountain of support.In an interview with a Brazilian news outlet, Guilherme mentioned that it had all been spontaneous. “My own friends didn't know, it was something very spontaneous and it reverberated in a good way,” he said. “At the time she was very surprised and then it became something exciting for her.”After the video was posted, users flooded the comments hailing Guilherme and his friends. One user commented, “This is the most beautiful support. I played this video for my children to show them this kindness.” Another commented, “Best video I’ve seen today.”Chemotherapy is no small task. Claudia was emotional that day because she had been through it before and hoped to never again have to. Although it’s an uphill battle, her family’s support will carry her and give her strength when she needs it most.More from Goalcast:Cancer Survivor Finishes Chemotherapy Treatment – What Her Husband Did Next Completely Stuns Her74-Year-Old Spends Her Entire Life Savings Nursing Her Daughter Back to Health – Then, She Wins a $2 Million Lottery

Inspired by Her Sons Dying Wish, Woman Graduates From College in His Place With the Highest Rank
Uplifting News

Inspired by Her Sons Dying Wish, Woman Graduates From College in His Place With the Highest Rank

Ben Algar was a promising young student who had been accepted into the carpentry program at Durham College. His mom, Danita, says that he enjoyed building things. After following a trade fundamentals program in high school, which exposes students to different types of trades, Ben chose to continue with carpentry.A Dream DeferredPhoto by PixabayThe family was excited for him when he started school in September, but just a month later came the devastating news that Ben had cancer. His aggressive treatments meant that he couldn’t continue school.One of Ben’s professors came over to the house one day to tell the family that Durham College was going to defer his enrolment and that he could pick it back up again next year. “I’m praying for a miracle for you,” the professor told him, “and I want to see an Algar in the front row come Fall.”Everyone appreciated the professor’s kindness, but they were a little surprised by Ben’s response: “I’m hoping for a miracle as well. But if it doesn’t come, I'm going to send my mom in my place.”Tragically, Ben’s miracle never came. The following summer, he passed away. One Life Lost, Another One SavedPhoto by Stanley MoralesIt was in the back of everyone’s minds that his dying wish had been that his mom take his place at Durham College and finish the carpentry program for him. It hung in the air — until Don Fisher, a professor at the college for over 20 years, called Danita.“I said, ‘Ben wants you to do it,’” Fisher remembered. “Honor him and do it.” The college had saved Ben’s spot in the carpentry program and was offering it to her.When Danita thinks back on this, she recognizes how remarkable it is that her son knew she would need a focus when she passed away. Battling grief and with little direction, Danita was grasping at straws — and took the one held out to her by Durham College. She decided to complete the carpentry program in Ben’s honor.“It saved my life,” said Danita, who started the program the following September. “I don’t know how things would have gone had I not been at school.”The Rough Start One Mom Had in CollegeLittle did she know how much she’d enjoy it. At first, it was difficult. She went from being a stay-at-home mom who had never been on a Zoom call to being a full-time student with online classes. And she was still working through her grief.“You know, there's days when you don't want to get out of bed and there's days when you are angry and hurt and upset that your child's not doing this and you're there carrying on,” explained Danita. There were many days when she questioned why she was there. There were days when she angrily thought Ben should be doing this carpentry program, not her. But being at school also meant she had a reason to get up and get moving in the morning. She had places to be. There was comfort in the routine, and that routine saw her through many rough patches along the way.As time went on, Danita realized that, while doing this program for Ben, she was doing it for herself as well. There was a moment when she took a step back and said, ‘Hey, I’m good at this!’ It was exciting.How One Mom Is Spending Her Life Honoring Her SonDanita’s professors loved her. “She would just mentor students,” said Fisher, who believes Danita was a godsend. Danita was always quick to help her classmates and she worked hard to make Ben proud. “I wanted to be in that top position and to be able to say to Ben, ‘I gave it everything I had.’”And by the end of the carpentry program, not only did Danita walk across that stage and receive her diploma — she did so as the highest ranking student in the program.“Knowing that Ben was looking down on her — pretty proud moment,” said Fisher with tears in his eyes.On stage, Danita kissed her diploma and pointed up. “I did it for him,” she says. “Ben was a great kid. He was kind. He was supportive, and we really miss him.”A newly minted graduate, Danita already knows what her first project will be. The family owns land in New Brunswick, and it had always been Ben’s dream to help his parents build their retirement home on the property. Danita has been out to the property since Ben’s death and is clearing land to build a memorial garden for Ben. She’s also going to build a little cabin, which she says “will be Ben’s place.”What a gift Ben gave his mom when he told the college professor that he was going to send her in his place. In doing so, he saved her life, and she will spend hers honoring him.More from Goalcast:Cancer Survivor Convinced She’ll Never Have More Kids — Miraculously, She Gets Double What She Bargained ForWoman Gives Birth to Baby Boy – Less Than 24 Hours Later, She Rushes to Graduate College With a PhD

Mom Who Survived Breast Cancer Now Works to Give Free Vacations to Other Women Who Have Been Diagnosed
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Mom Who Survived Breast Cancer Now Works to Give Free Vacations to Other Women Who Have Been Diagnosed

Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2009, at the age of 39, Jeanine Patten-Cobble was one of them.The day after she received her devastating diagnosis her family went to the beach on their annual vacation. Dreading having to tell her then 11-year-old son the news, she decided to go for a run instead.And in the midst of running away from her present, she ended up finding her future.How the Idea for a Cancer Retreat Centre Was BornDuring her run, Jeanine happened upon a compound of 43 old, abandoned houses. And that's when she got a crazy, wonderful idea. "As I started my run back to our beach house, I kept thinking that these houses were meant to be used for something," she said. "I could paint them pink and create a cancer retreat center where families could come to get away from the daily life of cancer."The proverbial seed was planted. One which she credits to divine inspiration.Throughout the course of a year, Jeanine underwent intensive treatment for stage three breast cancer. It included months of chemotherapy, 42 rounds of radiation, and two surgeries. Through it all, she worked on her plan to start a breast cancer retreat for fellow breast cancer survivors.In 2011, her dreams became a reality. The non-profit organization, Little Pink Houses of Hope, opened its doors, giving cancer sufferers and their families a vacation from breast cancer.A vacation they desperately need.How One Breast Cancer Survivor Is Giving Others a Much-Needed RespiteThe mission of Little Pink Houses of Hope "is to embrace families as they are going through the difficult breast cancer journey with retreats to help them focus on celebrating life."(And it's not just for families, single people with breast cancer can also apply.)The premise behind it is simple. Jeanine and her team partner with property management companies and private homeowners to donate fully-furnished vacation homes, townhouses, and condos for weeklong beach retreats.Additionally, they also secure donated meals and services, including dedicated volunteers who assist the families with their basic needs. Also included are family-friendly activities such as paddle boarding, boat rides, ziplining, and fun date nights for couples.The best part of all? They're free. But the experience they provide is priceless.Because it's not just about a fun vacation. It's about finding community, joy, and hope during a time that savagely strips it away."While retreats offer a much-needed respite from schedules dictated by medical appointments and the heavy burden of healthcare bills, the real value of retreats is in the supportive environment that helps families rediscover hope and joy," Jeanine said.A Life-Changing Vacation For Breast Cancer Survivors Since 2011, Little Pink has served thousands of cancer-stricken families. What started with one beach house in North Carolina has now expanded to offer retreats in multiple states."Sometimes in life, God can take our deepest moment of discouragement and open a door for us to make an impact." - Jeanine Patten-CobleCurrently, there are 21 retreat locations across 10 states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Maryland, Arizona, Michigan, U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida, and California.For the participants, the experience is nothing short of life-changing. "It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime trip," said Jeanine. "For most of the families that come, it would be financially difficult for them to afford it. It's also difficult when you're going through cancer treatment to prioritize a vacation, especially not knowing what lies ahead in the near future."Tonya Potter, who underwent chemo and a double mastectomy at 33 years old with a 10-year-old daughter, is just one of the many inspiring Little Pink stories. "Meeting these women at the little pink retreat and hearing their stories, and meeting their families was inspiring and empowering," she said. "I am thankful to have had the opportunity to enjoy life again. I forgot what it was like to be free and be me."Cancer is a thief. It not only robs its' victim but it robs their families and loved ones as well. Stealing innocence, happiness, peace, and life as you know it and replacing them with fear, worry, loneliness, and unbearable grief.And Jeanine knows this firsthand. In the midst of her own overwhelming darkness, she not only battled cancer but also fought to provide a beacon of light for others on a similar journey. She isn't just giving away free vacations, she is giving hope, love, and a community of supporters to walk with the families because no one should have to face cancer alone. To find out more, donate, or apply for your own retreat, check out littlepink.org.

Her Father Was Diagnosed With Cancer: A Girl’s Act of Kindness Comes Full Circle
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Her Father Was Diagnosed With Cancer: A Girl’s Act of Kindness Comes Full Circle

Growing up, Emily Bhatnagar didn’t have many friends. She was a shy, nervous child who often found herself on the outside. “If I’m being honest,” Emily said, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt ‘enough’ a single day in my life.” But she did have books and a loving family — her two favorite things. She was an avid reader, and her father Mike Bhatnagar was her best friend.That made it all the more devastating when Mike was diagnosed with Stage 4 thyroid cancer. It was another source of anxiety added onto Emily’s already full plate. The teenager kept her head down and tried to juggle school and her job at her family’s food store; but she felt increasingly overwhelmed and more alone than ever. She was so worried about her father that she spent every spare minute she had at his side, running to and from the hospital.“I would tube feed him during my small breaks,” Emily said. “I wanted to spend more time with him just in case anything were to happen. At that point my anxiety was so bad I had to take a break from high school.” She was depressed and had developed a worrying eating disorder. It was time to take back control of her life.Emily put her senior year on hold to focus on her family. Visiting her father day after day, she realized that she was not alone in her sadness. But there was no solace in that. It occurred to Emily that thousands of families must be struggling with the cancer diagnosis of a loved one. Even worse, that loved one might be a child.The Reason Why One Teen Started a Book DrivePhoto by Huỳnh Đạt“I thought, there’s a child out there who’s fighting the same or a similar battle as my dad,” Emily remembered. “Imagine being that young and having to go through that and not understanding it fully. I thought about how terrifying that would be.”And so Emily selflessly put her own fears aside and thought about how she could help children who were struggling with theirs. What would make them happy? What would help them escape their loneliness and fear? For Emily, the answer was obvious: books. “They kept me company [when I was young] and I became so immersed in them. It felt like I was less lonely.” So she started a book drive, calling it For Love and Buttercup. Emily says that buttercup flowers represent all that is “pure and innocent and happy in the world.” Those were the exact three things that she hoped that kids undergoing cancer treatment would be able to find their way back to.That summer, she started locally and asked neighbors to donate books for children of all ages. The response was overwhelming — in a good way, this time. Emily and her brother drove around town picking up books…and did so again and again and again. Eventually, Emily created an Amazon Wishlist so that people from anywhere could donate books to the cause and have them shipped directly to Emily.Several years later, For Love and Buttercup is still going strong, so strong in fact that Emily is working on creating a proper nonprofit organization. So far, she’s been able to donate over 15,000 books to hospitals in the Washington, DC area where she lives. She still thinks about the kids she’s met on these book drops every day.How One Girl’s Book Drive Helped Children Feel Less AloneIn the winter of 2021, Emily walked back through the halls of MedStar Georgetown University, where her father was treated for cancer. This time, though, it wasn’t to visit her father but rather to bring books. It felt good, Emily remembered. “Full circle,” she called it.Emily’s father Mike isn’t in the hospital anymore. Much to the joy of everyone who knows him, Mike recovered from his thyroid cancer. Although he lost his ability to speak, he doesn’t need his voice in order to be able to communicate with his daughter. The two spend lots of time together delivering books.“He helps me lift up the boxes,” Emily smiled. “It’s just really heartwarming to see everything and see his reaction. It’s probably one of the most special parts of the book drive.”In an email to Today.com, Mike wrote: “I have never seen such warmth and kindness from people as I have during these past few months during Emily’s book drive. I have learned that people have a great capacity to show love to others.” He couldn’t be more proud of his daughter and how far she’s come from the quiet, insecure little girl she used to be.“The first time I gave believing in myself a try,” Emily admitted, “the book drive happened, and it’s one of the most precious things to have ever happened to me.”Indeed, it’s one of the most beautiful things to happen to a lot of people.