Buzz
To wrap up your week on a high note, we've put together a list of news that is sure to uplift your spirits. Inside, you'll find a mix of feel-good stories paired with remarkable achievements and heartwarming tales of unity. If you're in the mood for something quirky, don't miss the offbeat section.
This week, we bring you stories centered around friendship—whether it's between lifelong pen pals, a woman and her dog, or even strangers. Additionally, we share two positive medical breakthroughs and several motivating stories of individuals who overcame major challenges.
10. Extinct Flower Rediscovered
A drone uncovered a Hawaiian flower once believed to be extinct. Researchers from the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) employed the flying device to survey the secluded regions of Kalalau Valley on Kauai. They were amazed to find a specimen of Hibiscadelphus woodii, which had not been seen alive since 2009.
The flower was perched on a sheer cliff face, a location that would have been otherwise unreachable by humans. This inaccessibility is a key factor, as rockslides and falling boulders were believed to be the primary reasons for the plant's presumed extinction.
H. woodii was first discovered in 1991 and officially classified in 1995. With its recent rediscovery, NTBG researchers are optimistic that drone technology may assist in locating other species that are endangered or have been thought to be extinct.
9. Pen Pals Reunite in Person
After 60 years of exchanging letters across the Pacific, two pen pals have finally met in person.
In 1960, 10-year-old Lyn Carpenter from Adelaide, Australia, joined a school program to find a pen pal in Canada. The address she was given led to Dolores Baily from Pitt Meadows, British Columbia.
The two girls quickly formed a strong bond as they discovered their shared interests. Both were huge Beatles fans and enjoyed sewing, often exchanging fabric samples from their projects. Their friendship lasted six decades, despite never having met face-to-face, though they did share photos as they grew up.
At times, their correspondence slowed down, particularly when they were raising children. But both women remained committed to maintaining their connection over the years.
This month, the two women finally met when Dolores traveled to Adelaide to visit Lyn. They toured a Beatles memorial together, reminiscing about the early days of their friendship and the things that brought them together.
8. No Hands, No Problem
A 10-year-old student from Frederick, Maryland, born without hands, has triumphed in a national writing competition.
Sara Hinesley has been awarded the Nicholas Maxim Award at the 2019 Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest. This award, judged by occupational therapists, is given to a student who faces a cognitive, physical, intellectual, or developmental challenge.
Despite not having hands, Sara has learned to grip a pencil and excels at cursive writing. While her family considered prosthetics, they opted not to pursue them for now as Sara is thriving without them. In addition to writing, Sara is also skilled in art, swimming, and biking.
The student’s accolade includes a trophy, a $500 cash prize, and an additional $500 worth of educational resources for her school.
7. New Implant For Parkinson’s
Researchers from London, Ontario, Canada, have created an implant that has helped restore mobility for individuals confined to their homes due to chronic Parkinson’s disease.
As Parkinson’s progresses, many sufferers experience difficulty walking, often freezing in place and losing their balance. However, a team led by Professor Mandar Jog at Western University has achieved promising results with an implant that enhances communication between the legs and the brain, helping improve movement and coordination.
The most surprising finding was that the treatment remains effective even when the implant is deactivated. Some of the patients involved in the study have been able to resume outdoor activities after several months of using the device.
Parkinson’s researchers who were not part of the study have labeled the results as “highly promising,” suggesting they could significantly enhance the quality of life for patients. However, this was a small-scale pilot study, and further research will be needed to confirm these findings.
6. Brody And Miss Sally
In Mount Vernon, Washington, a unique friendship has blossomed between a 95-year-old widow, Miss Sally, and a giant, affectionate St. Bernard named Brody.
Brody is the pet of Dave Mazzarella, who brought the dog from Tula, Russia, when Brody was just a 12-week-old puppy. One day, while Brody and Dave were outside, their elderly neighbor Miss Sally went to her mailbox. As fate would have it, Brody ran up to her, and she had a treat ready for him.
The two quickly became best friends and have been inseparable ever since. As Mazzarella candidly puts it, Brody is indifferent to being with him whenever Miss Sally is around.
This special bond has lasted for two years now and has even extended to Brody’s younger sister, Lulu, who loved spending sunny days on the porch cuddling with Miss Sally. After a health scare, the pensioner had to move into an assisted living home, but she is close enough for the dogs to visit her every week.
5. The Bees Of Notre Dame
In a bit of positive news following the Notre Dame fire, it seems the bees that reside in the cathedral have survived and are thriving.
The cathedral was home to approximately 180,000 honeybees, divided into three large hives. These hives were situated on a roof above the sacristy, about 30 meters (100 feet) below the main roof, which had suffered significant fire damage.
A brief visual inspection showed the hives remained undamaged by the flames, but that didn’t guarantee the bees were safe. There were concerns that the intense heat could have melted the wax, potentially destroying everything inside the hives.
It wasn’t until last Thursday that the cathedral’s beekeeper, Nicolas Geant, confirmed that bees were buzzing outside the hives, seemingly unaffected by the fire.
4. The First 3-D Printed Heart
In a groundbreaking achievement with potential to revolutionize organ transplants in the future, Israeli researchers from Tel Aviv University have successfully 3-D printed a miniature heart using human tissue, a world first.
As reported in Advanced Science, the prototype heart is about the size of a rabbit's heart. However, lead author Tal Dvir explains that larger hearts can be produced using the same technology, making it feasible to create human-sized ones.
The 3-D printing process for the muscular organ relied on acquiring the right raw material. To obtain it, scientists extracted fatty tissue from a human patient, broke it down into individual cells, and then transformed these into a specialized bio-ink gel for the 3-D printer. After hours of printing, the machine created a tiny heart based on CT scans and an artist’s depiction.
Though remarkable, the heart is not yet 'alive.' The cells can contract, but they cannot pump blood because they do not 'beat in unison.' The next phase will involve waiting about a month for the cells to mature. If successful, the heart could then be ready for transplantation into an animal.
3. Waking Up From A Coma
An Emirati woman has regained consciousness after spending 27 years in a coma as a result of a car accident.
In 1991, Munira Abdulla, then 32 years old and a mother, was on her way to pick up her son from school when a bus collided with her car. At the time of the accident, Munira was in the back seat, holding her other child, four-year-old Omar Webair.
While Omar emerged mostly unharmed, thanks to his mother's protective embrace just before impact, Munira suffered catastrophic brain injuries and fell into a coma.
She spent much of the following three decades in hospitals across the UAE and London. In 2017, her family secured a government grant from the UAE, allowing them to transfer her to a specialized treatment facility in Germany.
There, she underwent treatments to enhance her condition and surgeries to address the tightening of her arm and leg muscles. A year later, she regained consciousness, with her son Omar by her side. Her first spoken word was his name.
In the months following her recovery, Munira returned to the UAE, continuing her rehabilitation. She has become increasingly responsive and is now able to engage in conversations. Omar has chosen to share her remarkable journey to inspire others “not to lose hope on their loved ones.”
2. The Happiest Person On Earth
A blind Japanese sailor has completed a nonstop voyage across the Pacific Ocean. With the help of a sighted navigator, 52-year-old Mitsuhiro Iwamoto embarked on his journey from California on February 24 and reached Fukushima on Saturday morning.
The Japanese sailor covered a distance of 14,000 kilometers (8,700 mi) aboard a 12-meter (40 ft) yacht. He was at the helm throughout the journey, with his American navigator, Doug Smith, offering guidance on potential hazards along the way.
Iwamoto described his accomplishment as a “dream come true” and proclaimed himself the “happiest person on Earth.” As reported by the Japan Blind Sailing Association, he is the first blind individual to complete a nonstop Pacific crossing. His journey also supported several charities focused on preventing diseases that cause blindness.
This marks the sailor’s second attempt. His first try in 2013 ended in failure when his ship sank after colliding with a whale, requiring rescue by the Japanese military.
1. Dinner For Four
A small act of kindness from three men ended up making a significant impact, thanks to its perfect timing and location.
One evening, Jamario Howard visited a diner named Brad’s in Oxford, Alabama, accompanied by two friends. While waiting for their meal, Howard noticed an elderly woman sitting alone.
Feeling that eating alone wouldn’t be enjoyable, he approached the woman and asked if he could sit with her. They quickly became engaged in a warm conversation. When their food arrived, the woman graciously accepted Howard’s invitation to join them for dinner.
This thoughtful gesture was particularly well-timed. The woman, Eleanor, was a widow, and the next day would have marked her 60th wedding anniversary, which she had planned to spend by herself.
The group enjoyed a 45-minute meal, during which Eleanor shared stories about her grandchildren and her volunteer work at the hospital. It seems that she and Howard really connected, as they have met several times since and plan to keep in touch.
