Disabled student receives life-changers award

A DISABLED student who went from rags to riches in seven years has been honoured with a “life-changers” award.

Holocaust survivors meet their angel

The pilgrims keep coming, seeking out the fragile 97-year-old woman in black in her tiny nursing home room filled with pictures and flowers.

Dispatchers to the rescue

They’re hung up on, yelled at and sometimes denied the very information they need to do their jobs.

Miracle woman still not ready to give up

Those who meet her are inspired. Those who hear her story are in awe. I would even bet that to hear her tell her amazing journey could make just about anyone into a believer.

Breast Cancer Survivor Shares Her Inspiring Story

Sandra Jackson and her other-half, Paul, are getting ready to open their own motorcycle repair shop in Las Vegas. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Everyday Hero

Across Canada university students are finishing up their final exams and looking toward a summer of work, or for graduates, a lifetime of it. Tonight’s Everyday Hero is one of them.

Birthday joy for a little miracle

THE parents of little Star Regan were today celebrating her first birthday – one they feared she would never see.

Farm Rescue Helps Heart Patient

This non-profit organization was created to help the family farmer temporarily sidelined by injury or other disaster by planting up to one thousand acres of crops free of charge.

Man picks up tabs for charity

After they get their can of beer or pop open, most people don’t give a second thought to that little tab they had to pull.

Joe Nuxhall finds reward in helping thousands

Joe Nuxhall looks around the old Fairfield Central Elementary School gym and likes what he sees.

‘It’s a miracle’

Miguel Pena peered at his daughter, Miranda, through the protective shell of her isolette.

Cancer Survivor Lives A Dream

A teen cancer survivor from Butner is on the trip of a lifetime. She’s representing North Carolina in a program called Champions Across America – part of the Children’s Miracle Network.

20-year-old rescued from lake

Daniel Cobb, 20, of Allendale had hoped to get a better look at the sunset early Thursday night by venturing out on the ice on Lake Michigan with two others at Grand Haven City Beach; instead, he found out the hard way that ice in mid-March is unstable.

No sour grapes as water rescues winemakers

JESUS turned water into wine. These days, however, some people are more impressed by those who can turn wine into water.

At first paralyzed in crash, woman slowly recovers

In December, Angel Troyer was told her daughter would never walk again and never breathe on her own.

Lost Service Dog Reunited with Owner in Texas

Dakota the Australian shepherd who had been missing for three weeks was reunited with his owner in Fort Worth, Texas, late Wednesday afternoon.

Lawn Turns Into Prayer Message Board

A family in Bowling Green, Ky., turned their front lawn into a type of prayer message board last year during Lent when they nailed a giant cross outside their home.

Someone saved his life, he returned the favor

On April 3, 2003, David Osborn received liver and kidney transplants, surgery that saved his life.

Teacher’s baby makes dramatic entrance

Drama is a part of Stacy Hansen’s life each day as she teaches the craft to high school students.

Woman who makes dog hair clothes

No wonder people say some owners resemble their pets – now animal lovers can even wear clothes made from Fido’s or Tiddles’ fur.

Use your life to make a difference

Close your eyes.

Man helps car crash victims, falls from overpass – survives

“A lot of things go through my mind but I know God was there.”

Dog helps lift patients’ spirits

Whenever Jane Koseki gets a visit from Simba, a 70-pound golden retriever, her mood changes.

Suddenly, she’s not a patient at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific, learning how to walk after losing her toes to diabetes.

She’s a dog-owner desperate to be reunited with her 11-year-old Shih Tzu, Hubby.

“I miss my dog so much, it was just wonderful to hold him,” said Koseki, who hasn’t been home in more than a month. “Just to be able to feel Simba gives me the reassurance that my dog is waiting for me at home.”

Simba is the first and only resident therapy dog at the rehab hospital, which treats nearly 8,000 disabled or injured patients a year.

His first day on the job was Feb. 6.

Under the supervision of therapists, Simba works five days a week, visiting patients and helping make their lives a little easier.

He even gets mandatory vacation — one week every three months.

With Simba making the rounds, the hospital hopes it can raise awareness with patients about the benefits of service dogs.

“These service dogs are trained to help patients with disabilities, and this is an introduction to that service,” said Dr. Amendeep Somal, a physiatrist at the rehab hospital. “We see this as a resource for our patients.”

Service dogs assist people with physical disabilities. They are trained to retrieve objects, open doors, turn on lights and pull wheelchairs.

It can take up to two years and $10,000 to train these dogs, who can learn more than 100 commands.

But more than physical support, they can also provide much-needed companionship and comfort.

Dennis Okada, 62, of Waipahu, was paralyzed from the waist down in a scuba-diving accident in 1986.

He’s had his service dog, a black Labrador named Jetson, for about two years. He can’t imagine life without him.

“All of us have days where we don’t want to get out of bed. But then the dog looks at you and says, ‘Take me walking,’ ” Okada said. “He really keeps me going.”

Like all resident therapy dogs, Simba doesn’t live at the hospital.

He’s cared for by Dawn and Mike Ebesu, who work as an occupational therapist and physical therapist, respectively, at the hospital. Simba lives with them in Hawai’i Kai.

“He really lifts (the patients’) spirits and takes their focus away from dealing with their problems,” said Dawn Ebesu, stroking Simba’s golden coat. “It’s nice to see a friendly face instead of someone who’s going to give them medicine.”

The Ebesus had to complete an intensive two-week training before adopting Simba, learning the verbal and physical commands the dog had already learned as a puppy.

“We were told if the dog doesn’t do it, it’s not his fault,” said Mike Ebesu, laughing. “It’s ours.”

92-year-old Odessa woman keeps busy with sewing

When Glenda Scruggs, 64, bought some aprons recently to fulfill a family tradition, she stumbled upon the longtime tradition of another Odessa woman.

Coming home soldier gets a second Christmas

The residents of this town of just over 2,000 weren’t about to let a native daughter miss her favorite holiday because of military service, so they recreated it.

Baby born on rescue chopper ride

A Northland couple welcomed their baby into the world in a dramatic fashion, as their daughter was born in mid-air on board a rescue helicopter.

Lucky escape for hero of the storm

Jason Price had a lucky escape when he was blown off a roof in last week’s gale-force storms while rescuing a pet cat and crash landed on a parked car.

Dog OK after swallowing wads of glue

A black Labrador retriever is expected to fully recover following surgery to escape a sticky situation, swallowing a quarter of a bottle of Gorilla Glue.

Marine nominated for award for aiding man in accident

It started as a quick stop at a fast-food restaurant for a cup of coffee.

Sister to the rescue

A young Dundee woman, who was unaware she was pregnant, has told how her sister came to the rescue as she went into labour on the living room floor of her Ardler home.

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