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Man Finds Out His Ex-girlfriend Wants to Put Their Daughter Up for Adoption - Flies Across the World to Stop It
Uplifting News

Man Finds Out His Ex-girlfriend Wants to Put Their Daughter Up for Adoption - Flies Across the World to Stop It

Becoming a parent is a huge responsibility and isn't for everyone. Knowing you're embarking on the parenthood journey solo is even more daunting. But despite the overwhelming challenges, single dad, Dan Gaut, wants nothing more than the chance to raise his little girl, Ana. And he's willing to do whatever it takes for the two of them to be together, including forsaking his life in Australia and flying halfway across the world in a frantic dash to stop his ex-girlfriend from putting her up for adoption.A Whirlwind RomanceWhen Australian, Dan Gaut, met Texan, Liv, in early 2023, it was love at first sight. They both happened to be on holiday in San Francisco at the same time and in a classic case of "right time, right place" it seemed as though the stars had aligned and fate had brought them together.Despite spending only a few days together, they both fell hard and fast. Liv made the radical decision to move from Austin, Texas to Australia to be with Dan."She was saying that there's nothing in Texas for me anymore...I've closed the door on it. All my heart and energy is in Australia," Dan told A Current Affair. And for a while, all was good. Really good. The two were inseparable. Liv even worked with Dan, a builder, on his job sites. Then came the news...Liv was pregnant. "It was joyous and beautiful," Dan said. The couple spent weeks planning their life together. However, as time passed, things began to unravel. Liv became more and more homesick. Eventually, she flew back to Austin, explaining she needed to surround herself with her "community" and "support network."And then came the phone call. The Phone Call That Changed EverythingLiv wasn't coming back. Not only wasn't she returning to Australia, but she and Dan were officially over. “I was actually leaving the job site as she’s telling me the news that she got back with her ex-partner,” Dan said. “I couldn’t believe it, what is happening? Like, you’re pregnant with my daughter.”As for that daughter? Liv told Dan she planned to give her up for adoption. She started sending him adoption options for people she knew in Texas, wanting to give her the absolute best life that she could.Dan was devastated."I said, 'No, stop, don't promise her to anyone, this is against all my morals.'"He immediately knew he had to stop her. But first, he had to get to the United States.Strapped for cash and knowing that jumping through bureaucratic hoops isn't cheap, he reached out to his community for help. He set up a Chuffed campaign (the Australian equivalent of GoFundMe) with a target of $30,000 — enough to cover his flights and the necessary paperwork to get Ana home. "I don't know how I will do this, but I do know that I will do everything I can to bring my daughter home and shower her with love and acceptance. Every child should know they are loved and wanted," he wrote on Chuffed.His community stepped up in a big way, raising over $34,000 to date. Single Dad Takes Life-Changing FlightLess than 24 hours after hearing that Liv was in labor, Dan boarded a flight to meet his daughter. Fifteen hours later, Ana was in her daddy's arms. And Dan plans on never letting her go. "It was so magical. It was like whatever apprehension or possibly awkwardness I might’ve been thinking about at that moment just dissolved," the new dad said of holding her for the first time. “The love for her just took over.""Really, from the first moment of meeting, it was like, 'OK, this is it, this feels right, this is perfect ... I'm so happy,'" he added.Their journey together has just begun. And it's not without challenges.In many jurisdictions, the rights of unwed fathers in adoption cases can be precarious, often requiring legal battles to establish parental rights. Add to that the complexity of living in an entirely different country, and Dan has his work cut out for him.Before he can bring her home to the land of Oz, he needs to file a ton of paperwork, including organizing migration papers, getting her a US passport, and obtaining an ETA (Electronic Travel Authority) app - which allows non-citizens to travel to Australia for up to a year or the life of their passport.Thankfully, he has Liv's full support. She's even offered to help him on his return trip to Australia because she knows he's nervous about flying with a newborn. Embracing Fatherhood With Open ArmsAna is fortunate to have two loving parents — one who loves her enough to keep her and one who loves her enough to let her go, knowing that ultimately it's what's best for her.And isn't that what's at the heart of parenthood? Doing the best we can for our kids? Loving them so much that we would do absolutely anything, including flying to the ends of the earth, just to ensure their well-being and happiness? This story is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices and boundless love that define parenthood and the lengths a parent will go to for their child. More from Goalcast:9-Year-Old Girl Loses Her Mom – Years Later, She Pens a Message About Her Single DadPolice Officer Catches Single Dad Shoplifting for His Son – Decides on a Surprising “Punishment”Single Dad Delivers Pizza to Make Ends Meet – Then He Pulls Up to a Parking Lot to Find This

Single Dad Goes on Valentines Date With Daughter - Breaks Down After Reading the Note a Waitress Hands Him
Uplifting News

Single Dad Goes on Valentines Date With Daughter - Breaks Down After Reading the Note a Waitress Hands Him

*Featured image contains photo by Ketut SubiyantoA father's value to his daughter is often understated but not overrated. He's a protector, a confidant and plays a key role in how she'll love herself and others. However, according to the Washington Times, fifteen million U.S. children, or 1 in 3, live without a father.Dinner With Daddy’s Little GirlPhoto by Josh WillinkOne single dad who went by the username 'Takopoke' on Imgur, made sure he wouldn't be one of them. As per Maketosimplify, he was taking out his six-year-old girl to the Spaghetti Factory for a daddy-daughter date.Unbeknownst to them, they had plenty of company. That is until the waitress came by and slipped the dad a note. Hi there! Sorry to spy, but my husband and I saw you out with your little date and were so impressed with what a great dad you are.- Random note to fatherThe note continued to say, “From two adults who grew up without dads, it’s so important to have a male role model at a young age. Keep up the good work, Dad! Dinner is on us! :)”It turns out that everyone in the restaurant noticed the sweet, doting dad, including one couple who were inspired to reach out. Overwhelming ResponseThe father was beyond moved. "I wont lie, I teared up at the table. So, thank you, random strangers. Thank you," he posted on Imgur.The post garnered over 1 million views and hundreds of awestruck comments."What you are doing matters, please continue being an awesome dad to your little girl," wrote one. "This made me tear reading it, because my son’s father barely comes to see him anymore. It makes me happy to know men like you exist,” lamented another. Being a Good Father Sets the Example for AllYet another pointed out just how far a father's love goes. The way you treat her will determine what kind of man she looks for when she is older. You're doing a good job :) (I grew up w/o a dad)- Commenter on ImgurThe father's love and kindness not only helps build a confident, self-assured adult, it sets an example for a world that's watching. Maybe it's an expecting father wondering what to do. Maybe it's an estranged dad wondering where to start. Whoever it is, one look over at the father and daughter at the restaurant, and the recipe's clear: Be present, be loving and never, ever leave her side. More from Goalcast:Sanitation Workers Always Wave to Little Girl During Their Route – Until One Day Her Parents Give Them a Shocking NoteCarpenter Works on House Damaged by Fire – Finds a Hole in the Wall With a Note Written by a 14-Year-Old Inside ItMother of 7 Graduates College as Valedictorian After 10 Years – A Note From Her Daughter Helped Her Overcome Various Hurdles

Teacher Takes Away 11-Year-Old Girls Book and Refuses to Give It Back - Angry Dad Decides to Confront Her
Uplifting News

Teacher Takes Away 11-Year-Old Girls Book and Refuses to Give It Back - Angry Dad Decides to Confront Her

*Featured image contains photo by Marta Wave and cottonbro studioShe arrived from school in a panic, begging her father to not tell Mom. When she finally shared what happened, her father couldn't believe his ears. It would send her parents on a collision course with her school and cause a Reddit riot to erupt. A Daughter’s Cruel School PunishmentThe father posted the story in Reddit's AITA forum, under the username u/iguessimthatdad. He shared that his daughter's big sin at school was...reading. That's right, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo was reading during recess when her teacher reprimanded her, took the book from her hands and told her to go play instead. Despite Cleo's pleas to return it, the teacher refused and even kept it as punishment.Yet that only tells a small part of her story, and what follows only makes this story more unsettling. A 11-Year-Old Girl’s Bullying StoryPhoto by Ksenia ChernayaThe father said that this isn't the case of some antisocial sulker. Instead, he said that Cleo has ADHD and was bullied in the third and fourth grades, adding that though it's under control, 'her classmates still ice her out.' And so, instead of toxic friends, she doesn't socialize at school and 'she's okay with this.' Instead, Cleo enjoys reading her mom's classic books at recess, taking careful care of them. He adds that Cleo is actually very social, involved in many sports and plays with friends outside of school. What's more, he said that all of this was already shared with the teachers at school. Using it as motivation, this papa bear went about making things right for his little bookworm. How a Father Defended His DaughterAfter speaking with his wife, Cleo's dad assured her that 'she did zero wrong' and was in no trouble. With that, he beelined to the school to confront the teacher. However, the teacher defended taking away a child's book during their break. The father told her 'to save it and she has no right' to limit what his daughter does with her free time. The father then went to the principal, who assured him that Cleo can read during recess without her book being confiscated. Consider this cub rescue a success. But to his surprise, not everyone agreed. He got a major shock when he shared what happened with his cousin, also a teacher. She said that this was a hot topic in school lounges, and he'd been marked as 'one of those guys.' She added that teachers aren't paid enough, and he should have accepted it. Most Redditors, however, sided with him. "You did the right thing. The teacher was strangely out of line and lacking in compassion," wrote one. "You gave your daughter the message that it is okay to be herself. To spend her 'me-time' the way SHE wants to. It is a powerful message and who cares what the teacher's lounge thinks of that," wrote another.How a Father Proves That Everyone Has a StoryPhoto by DS StoriesThe father closed by saying that Cleo was going to be switching schools the next year. Sounds like that might be best way for everyone to turn a new page. To be fair, I'm sure this teacher isn't some Cruella de Vil who enjoys crushing kids during recess. It seems that her intent was for Cleo to socialize with others, it was just done in very poor form.Sadly, she and the school forgot that kids aren't cookie-cut. They forgot that classrooms and communities have changed from conformity and control to diversity and collaboration. If the teacher dared to read this book past its cover, she'd see a special kid with her unique lens to the world. If she did, who knows how this story would have ended?More from Goalcast:Dad About to Defend Bullied Daughter in Front of School Board – She Suddenly Stops Him to Say ThisMom Defends Herself After Rude Woman Body Shames Her At Grocery StoreBoy Gets Nearly Suspended For Defending Blind Classmate, Thousands Rally In Outrage

Young Woman Whose Father Passed Away Steps off the Prom Bus - Finds a Dozen Police Officers Waiting for Her
Uplifting News

Young Woman Whose Father Passed Away Steps off the Prom Bus - Finds a Dozen Police Officers Waiting for Her

Prom is supposed to be a happy time in a young person’s life. It’s a milestone filled with fancy frocks, big plans, and even bigger dreams. But it’s hard to think about prom without conjuring up images of proud parents snapping photos. So to lose one of your parents before that big moment can be heartbreaking. That’s one reason this story has people everywhere wiping away tears.Why One Mother Wanted to Make Her Daughter’s Prom SpecialYouTube/Fox NewsIn December 2021, just days before Christmas, a Tarpon Springs, Florida officer named Charles Kondek Jr. was sent on a routine call. There, he was unexpectedly killed when someone trying to evade arrest pulled out a gun, shot him, and then ran him over with a vehicle. The man was later arrested and charged with first-degree murder.RELATED: Dedicated Father Regrets Never Having Been to Prom – Teen Daughter Steps in and Brings Him to TearsIt was a horrific moment Kondek’s family — including his six kids — will never forget. It also shook everyone in the community, and the precinct was heartbroken. So when Kondek’s widow wanted to make her daughter Aleena’s prom extra special a year-and-a-half later, the man’s former co-workers were happy to step in and help.The Huge Surprise One Young Woman ReceivedOn prom weekend, a dozen or so police officers came together and greeted Aleena as she stepped off her prom bus. Together, they escorted her to the big event.“It was an honor and privilege to be able to do this for Charlie as we know he would have been there himself," the police department wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post. "We Will Never Forget - TSPD Blue Family."In an interview with Fox News, one of the officers who showed up that day reiterated the message. “It’s our responsibility and our honor to stand in for Charlie,” he told cameras. “Charlie would be here, and he isn’t able to be here. So we want to be here for Charlie.”How One Fallen Officer’s Memory Is Kept Alive For her part, Aleena was touched. It meant a lot to see her dad’s fellow officers there, reminding her that he’s always in their hearts.“They always say never forgotten, and I totally believe that because every day they’re texting me, saying ‘How are you doing?’ and they step in with things that my dad did,” she told Fox News. “They’re amazing. I love each and every one of them.”RELATED: Dedicated Father Regrets Never Having Been to Prom – Teen Daughter Steps in and Brings Him to TearsWhile some might have expected the teen to be sad during the big day, the memory of her dad brought a smile to her face.“I know he’s always with me, but I just kept smiling throughout the day because I know that he’s watching down,” she said. “I know he’s probably tearing up watching me put my makeup on and get my hair done. They’re my dad’s brothers, and they’ve been amazing.”How Police Officers Proved the Importance of Showing UpHard things happen in life, but what gets any of us through is the support and kindness of our communities and loved ones. Aleena’s prom story is a great example of that, and it serves as a reminder of just how important it is to show up for the people we love.If you’re a parent, that could mean making sure you’re there for all the moments in your kids’ lives, and not just the big ones. The same goes for grandparents and extended family. As a friend, showing up with dinner when your pal is down or showing up to help them even when they didn’t ask can be huge.There are many ways to let the people we love in our lives know that we’re there for them; it’s just a matter of reminding yourself to make the time. After all, none of us know just how much time we’ve got left.

4-Year-Old Girl Has a Sudden Heart Attack – Her Dad Saves Her With Something He Learned on “The Office”
Everyday Heroes

4-Year-Old Girl Has a Sudden Heart Attack – Her Dad Saves Her With Something He Learned on “The Office”

A quick-thinking father is crediting the TV show "The Office" with helping save his four-year-old daughter's life. Matt Uber was playing a game of tag with his daughter Vera Posy when she suddenly collapsed on the floor. While speaking with NBC's "Today," the 46-year-old said he had assumed his daughter tripped and hit her head but when he picked her up off the ground, "she was limp" and her eyes had "rolled back."It's every parent's actual worst nightmare. Luckily, Uber remembered what to do thanks to a chaotic scene from the NBC sitcom, which originally aired nearly a decade before.What a Father Did To Save His Daughter's Life — Thanks to "The Office"(Flex Point Security Inc./Upsplash)Remarkably, Uber claims he was never taught how to properly perform CPR and credits his entire life-saving maneuver to the two-part episode of the series called "Stress Relief" that initially aired in 2009. While Uber was using CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) to try to resuscitate his daughter, Uber's wife, Erin, called 911 and the operator helped to keep the family calm.CPR is an emergency procedure that can be performed to save someone's life if they've gone into cardiac arrest. During cardiac arrest, the heart cannot pump blood to the rest of the body, including the brain and lungs. RELATED: Teen Calls 911 After Burglars Enter Her House – The Woman Who Answered May Have Saved Her Life"I remembered to lift her neck and make sure that she wasn't choking or having a seizure," Uber recalled. "I was panicked, and it was chaotic. In the meantime, the wonderful 911 operator got on and talked me through the process."When paramedics arrived, they used a defibrillator to jump-start young Vera Posy's heart before she was rushed to a nearby hospital. Doctors diagnosed the four-year-old with calmodulinopathy, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that causes children to have irregular heartbeats.After her hospital stay, doctors put an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) into Vera Posy's abdomen which would jump-start her heart if another cardiac arrest ever occurred again.RELATED: 9-Year-Old Is Kidnapped by Family Friend and Hidden Behind a Wall – What She Does Next Saves Her Own LifeAfter the diagnosis, doctors put an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in the girl's abdomen, which will jump-start her heart if it stops again.At the time, Uber said when he was quickly thinking about what to do, his mind "literally went to that episode of 'The Office' where they are doing the CPR training." He admits it was "just what kicked in" to his head and that it was "very fortunate."Since the devastating scare, young Vera Posy is recovering well and the NBC article says she is getting back to a normal life.The Scene From "The Office" That You Can Also Use to Remember CPR(The Office/YouTube)During the "Stress Relief" episode, Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) arranges for a CPR class after his employee, Stanley Hudson, suffers a heart attack.In the iconic episode, the Dunder Mifflin employees attend an at-work CPR training session which comically transformed into an office-wide rendition of the Bee Gee's hit, "Stayin' Alive.""A good trick is to pump to the tune of 'Stayin' Alive' by the Bee Gees. Do you know that song?" asks the trainer in the episode. "Yes, I do. I love that song," responds an always aloof Scott, before signing, "First I was afraid, I was petrified …” mistakenly singing the Gloria Gaynor classic “I Will Survive."RELATED: 19 Funny Michael Scott Quotes to Ease your Day at the Office“No, it’s – Ah, ah, ah, ah, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive,” the trainer interrupts as she instructs the actual song — which turns out to be factually beneficial for CPR.While recalling the episode, Uber says he placed his hands on the right spot of his daughter's stomach and began compression to the beat of the Bee Gee's classic. In the episode, the CPR training session turns absolutely chaotic as the entire office begins singing, completely disregarding the taste at hand. Erin Uber says that every second that her husband didn't use CPR, it increased the risk of neurological damage for their daughter — or worse. "Don't hold back on learning CPR," she said.Even if that means perfecting it from an iconic comedy series. Hey, whatever works.KEEP READING:Wife Brings Husband Back To Life With CPR One Hour After His “Death”