Uncategorized

Ten-year-old Isabella Nicola Cabrera plays her violin with her new prosthetic at the engineering department of George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Thursday, April 20, 2017. Isabella never had any doubt it would come together. “I felt right away that I’d be able to play,” she said. “I’ve always had perseverance.”

Source: Undergrads build prosthetic arm for 10-year-old violinist

3-D printing has always seemed somewhat magical to me, but this is a case where it just makes so much sense. It’s an awesome application of the technology.

Conversation is everything.

Source: The Royals Make A Perfect Observation About Mental Health | The Huffington Post

That mental health is getting “the royal treatment” is only good news. Too many people have suffered – and died – because of the negative stigma associated with mental health issues. This is fantastic.

…data from the WHO’s World Health Statistics 2016 report shows a much-needed positive: life expectancy on the continent is better than it was in 2000. While the report shows a global spike in life expectancy across the various regions, Africa has gained the most increase with life expectancy up 9.4 years between 2000 and 2015.

Source: Africans are living longer than at any point in the last 25 years — Quartz

The big reasons? Improved access to treatment for the HIV, as well as progress in malaria control and treatment. In other words: improved health care. Awesome.

Jason Parker has shipped more than 100 wheelchairs to animals in need through his nonprofit, Gunnar’s Wheels Foundation.

Source: Gunnar’s Wheels aims to help injured dogs get wheelchairs – TODAY.com

As someone who’s had two dogs in “wheelchairs” over the years, I can tell you two things: the carts may not be inexpensive, but they can make a world of difference for the dog. In our most recent experience our dog Helen (far right in this photo) just got in the chair and walked on as if nothing special. It added quality years to her life. Gunnar’s Wheels is awesome recognition of this. I know that many breed-specific groups and organizations also often offer information, loaners, and financial support, to dogs and their owners in need.

BEL-RIDGE, MO (KTVI) – A police officer with an unusual pedigree is getting a second shot at life.K9 Officer Luke went from living in a shelter, just days away from being euthanized, to becoming a star crime fighter.The narcotics and tracking dog is newest member of the Bel-Ridge Police Department. And in a short period of time, the yellow-white Labrador is making his mark.

Source: From animal shelter to crime fighter, K9 officer gets second shot at life | FOX2now.com

Rescuing dogs is wonderful, of course, but it’s extra special when that dog goes on to play an even larger role – be it narcotics tracking, service dog, or even someone’s “one special dog”. (I particularly enjoyed watching his leaps and bounds of happiness on being rewarded for his ‘find’.)

Kathrine Switzer ran the Boston Marathon in the same bib number that a race official tried to rip off her in an iconic photo from the 1967 race.

Source: Boston Marathon 2017: 1st woman to officially run does it again 50 years later – CNN.com

Ground breaking at 20. Wonderful for so many reasons at 70. We’ve come a long way. (Though as Ms. Switzer herself says, we still have a long way to go.)

Eye surgeons Sanduk Ruit and Geoff Tabin, along with the doctors they’ve trained, have helped restore sight to over 4 million people and aren’t finished yet

Source: Restoring sight to over 4M people – CBS News

I love simple solutions that have such a dramatic impact on so many people…

The damage to this family’s home could have been much worse if it hadn’t been for this heroic driver in brown, finishing up his UPS route.

Source: Brave UPS Driver Rushes Into Burning Home to Save Family – Good News Network

Drivers often deliver much more than just packages.

As spring approaches, fields outside of Los Angeles debut a wildflower ‘super bloom.’ (The Washington Post)

Source: California’s wildflower super bloom is so prolific you can see it from space – The Washington Post

After the years of drought the before/after photos are pretty impressive.

An American Airlines customer service manager at Charlotte Douglas International Airport was honored Tuesday after officials said he saved two lives in one day.

Source: American Airlines customer service manager saves 2 lives in 1 day | WSOC-TV

Let’s just call this better airline-related news than we’ve been hearing of lately, OK? It’s much more common than all that other stuff.