Not All News is Bad!

Scientists have long tried to duplicate the procedure that led to the first long-term remission 12 years ago for Seattle-born Timothy Ray Brown.

Source: HIV is reported cured in a second patient, a milestone in the global AIDS epidemic | The Seattle Times

While not directly practical it brings something very important to the table: hope.

For years, Justin Whaling has been visiting an Edmonton hospital four times a week to play the piano for patients and visitors. But what you’d never know from his spirited performances is that he can’t see.

Source: ‘He’s an inspiration:’ Blind pianist brings music to Edmonton hospital | CTV News

Inspiring. It’s amazing how much something this simple can help the atmosphere in places like hospitals, too. 

When the last of the classic cars rolled out of Bill’s shop, different wheels moved in. These days, he toils for hours restoring power wheelchairs.

Source: Man restores, donates dozens of power wheelchairs – from a wheelchair

Well, that’s pretty cool.

Staff Sgt. Skyler Cooper had been deployed in Kuwait while his wife, Cydney, was pregnant with their twins.

Source: U.S. Army soldier Skyler Cooper surprises his wife in emotional Kansas homecoming – The Washington Post

Love these surprise stories. Always touching.

(Important: a note about paywalls.)

Karelian bear dogs are a new, non-lethal tool for wildlife agencies concerned with ursine visitors getting too comfortable around humans.

Source: Karelian bear dogs scare bears away—to protect them

What a neat solution.

While eBooks and companies like Amazon may be causing an end for some small, independent booksellers, nothing can beat the connection that has formed between store owners, their employees, customers and even competitors.

Source: Competitors help independent bookstore owner keep shop open during medical emergency | KIRO-TV

Community coming together…

If you lost a coin in Montreal’s west end, there’s a good chance it was picked up by Young S. New. But he didn’t slip that coin in his pocket with the intent of spending it on himself — he picked it up so he could give it away.

Source: ‘Respect the penny’: Montrealer scours city to find lost coins | CBC News

Very simple, yet inspirational.

It takes real tenacity to make it on the U.S. women’s sled hockey team. But what sets Retired Army Sgt. Christy Gardner apart, and what brought us to Lewiston, Maine,

Source: A disabled puppy is training for a special task thanks to a veteran paying it forward | News Headlines | kmov.com

Inspiring. (I also didn’t realize that sled hockey was a thing … very cool, that.)

There are over 270 volunteer medical workers who facilitate the final wishes of hundreds of senior patients around the world every year.

Source: Ambulance Volunteers Have Granted Thousands of Senior Patients’ Dying Wishes for Free

What a neat idea.