Great News Blog

Everyone loves a good dog story, but this one takes the cake. Tanner is a beautiful, two-year-old Golden Retriever who was born blind. Tanner also suffers from seizures. The poor pup wound up at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, animal hospital, where a rescue group hoped he could get the care he needed and (eventually) be adopted into a loving family. Nothing was working, and the future looked bleak for the sweet, loving dog.

That's where Blair comes into the picture. Blair, a one-year-old black Laborador mix was brought to the same animal hospital where Tanner was staying, after being shot while roaming the Tulsa city streets. One afternoon a few months ago, the two dogs wound up together outside, and the result is nothing short of incredible.The staff at the Woodland West Animal Hospital had to be overjoyed when they realized that Blair and Tanner were becoming best friends. Tanner's seizures, which get worse during times of stress, began to become less frequent. What's truly incredible, though, is that somehow, Blair began to lead Tanner around, acting as a kind of seeing eye dog for him. Blair picked up Tanner's leash and began leading him around, helping him become more mobile.

It's an amazing story, isn't it? It's even more incredible when you consider that Blair did this without any prompting or training. Some dogs take years to learn this sort of behavior, yet Blair picked it up almost instantly.

Now, here's the most important part of what I think is just a fantastic, great story: Blair and Tanner still need a forever home. Woodland West's Director, Dr. Mike Jones, says the two dogs will need "...a special home with someone who understands their special relationship," in addition to being able to care for Tanner's seizures. The Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue organization is handling the adoption search, so hopefully someone will step up and give these two remarkable best friends the home they deserve so very much!
 

Sometimes, finding great news to write about is challenging. Sadly, it's a fact that the news headlines are dominated far too often by bad news. Occasionally though, I'll hear about a wonderfully positive news story that's unfolding in my own backyard. When that happens, it makes everything just seem better in the world.

That's exactly what happened here in Alabama: Over the past few weeks, I've heard whispers that the University of Alabama's former star running back, Trent Richardson, was going to take a seriously ill young lady to her high school prom. This past Saturday, Trent did exactly that. The story is a two-hanky one, I warn you -- but it's wonderfully inspiring.

Trent Richardson, for those who don't follow college/pro sports, is considered the best running back in the country, heading into the big NFL draft later this month. Trent was a superstar at the University of Alabama, and a major player in the school's 14th NCAA national championship in 2012. He's also known around these parts to be one of the nicest, most humble people around.

When Trent Richardson got word that Hueytown High School senior Courtney Alvis, a young woman who battled leukemia in recent years, didn't have a date for her prom, he stepped up. On Saturday, April 14, 2012, Richardson accompanied Ms. Alvis to Hueytown's prom, decked out in a white tux with a vest that he matched to Alvis' dress. He even brought her a corsage, met her dad (asking his permission to take Courtney to the dance) and stood proudly by her side as she was crowned Prom Queen. Trent probably had a blast. After all, this was his first prom too!

It's a truly heartwarming story that, thankfully, was picked up by national media over the weekend. ESPN's great video piece on the event is definitely worth watching. You can see the video here. Don't forget, I warned you: have hankies on hand.

Hats off to future NFL star Trent Richardson, for making a wonderful young lady's senior prom all that it should be. Courtney Alvis, by the way, shows no sign of any cancer in her bone marrow (yay!) though she still takes monthly chemo treatments. What a brave young woman and what a generous young man!
 

It's April 2012. Nearly one year ago, a deadly tornado very nearly brought down my hometown of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. April 27, 2011, is a day that will forever be etched in my memory. Even now, nearly one year later, I can recall the events of that day and the days that followed with terrible clarity. If you've lived through a disaster of this magnitude, you know that the experiences you have never leave you. It's very easy to give in to feelings of desperation and overwhelming sadness.

What helps me (and I suspect, many others) hope is volunteering. This story is just one of so many that have emerged in the wake of the Tuscaloosa tornado -- but it gives me hope. Sometimes good news is all we need. Volunteers continue their backbreaking work in my city today. This afternoon, in fact, I saw a group of volunteers working to rebuild several homes in a neighborhood very near my own. It's work like this that made it possible for Amie Hall and Keith Matthews (and their three young children) to have a new home today -- after the tornado ripped apart their old home and very nearly took their lives.On April 27, 2011, Amie Hall Matthews and her children, 10-month-old Krystin, 3-year-old Khloe and 1-year-old Karter, were inside their home in the Alberta City area of Tuscaloosa when a massive tornado hit. In the days and weeks that followed, Amie struggled to pick up the pieces. Like so many in Tuscaloosa, Amie and her husband, Keith Matthews, were most concerned about having shelter for the family. For a while, they lived at a local shelter. Eventually, they wound up in a small apartment that definitely redefines the word "cramped space." What was next? How could they begin to rebuild their lives?

That's where the volunteers come in. Two University of Alabama students, Zarah Trinh and Kyle Ryce, took a great interest in Amie Hall Matthews' story. They made sure that Habitat for Humanity knew about the family and sure enough, the family was approved for a new home. They moved into the house in February. Today, Amie says she wants to pay it forward. She has plans to start her own non-profit organization, with hopes that somehow, she can make a difference in Tuscaloosa.

This is just one story of hope in Tuscaloosa, but it's a great one. I've always supported volunteerism, but I never truly understood how incredibly important it is until this past year. Each day, it seems, I see new groups of young people arriving to help with the rebuilding efforts. Everyone in this community is so grateful for their efforts -- including my own family. I'll save that story for another day, but for now, just know that despite all the horrible things that can happen in life, a volunteer can help turn things around in an instant. And, in case you're wondering, yes, I am volunteering here in Tuscaloosa every chance I get.
 

As someone who, unfortunately, knows all-too-well the heartache and devastation that results when a massive tornado strikes, I'm particularly touched by the uplifting story of Robert Wolniewicz. Robert is only ten years old, but as soon as he learned about the tornadoes that demolished towns in Kentucky and Indiana this month, he sprang into action.

Robert is a Cub Scout, and for a project, he started a fund for victims of the tornadoes, in hopes that anything he could do would help and lend comfort to kids in the aftermath of the disaster.Robert Wolniewicz first decided to start raising money for tornado victims when he learned about 15-month-old Angel Babcock. Angel lost her entire family in a deadly storm, and she was gravely injured. The story touched hearts all over the world. Robert, a Danvers, Massachusetts, resident, immediately began asking for $1 donations to help Angel replace the physical belongings that were lost.

Sadly, Angel Babcock later died of her injuries, but Robert Wolniewicz continued his efforts to aid other children affected by the deadly twisters. His website, Helping Angel, allows visitors to donate money -- but it also provides a way for others to get involved and volunteer.

Grassroots efforts to help in the wake of major natural disasters are always uplifting and inspirational, but this one, in particular, touched me very deeply. Robert Wolniewicz is so young, yet he's spearheading this huge effort to help others. He and his fellow Cub Scouts are a true inspiration. They're learning valuable lessons about generosity and volunteerism through their efforts, too. The lessons they learn now will hopefully allow them to continue to help others later in life.