Weekly Uplifting Stories - October 16th, 2023

Hello and welcome to another edition of Weekly Uplifting Stories!

Tune in for the weekly dose of heart-warming stories that serve as a reminder that doing the right thing isn't always about strength or fearlessness, rather, it's about quiet courage, kindness, and compassion.

“To extend yourself in kindness to anybody is an extension in kindness in the world.” - Oprah Winfrey

This week, we have found heartwarming stories about:

• An abandoned kitten gets a loving home
• A clip of a toddler and a senior hanging out together captures hearts
• A young patient reunites with the nurse who helped her through her treatment journey
• A Nigerian man returns $24,000 that was forgotten in his cab

They Ran Across a Busy Highway to Save a Kitten

While driving on the busy Interstate 45 highway in Texas, Marc Alba noticed a kitten on the side of the road.

Wasting no time, they ran through the traffic and picked up the scared little kitten. Even though they were terrified, Marc managed to stay calm and pacify the kitten as well.

They decided to foster the kitten, and once they got home, little Dodger slowly got over his fear and started warming up to Marc and their other 2 cats.

Marc ended up a foster fail, eventually adopting Dodger to ensure he gets all the love and attention he deserves.

"Dodger came from nothing. He absolutely deserves everything, in my eyes. He'll never have to look for another home." Says Marc.

Friendship Knows No Age: A Toddler and a Senior Share a Beautiful Bond

In this adorable clip, little Josie is seen having a great time with a resident of an intergenerational care center.

“Josie goes to a school that integrates with a senior living & memory care facility. Every day, the kids venture over to spend time with the “grandmas and grandpas” and experience some intergenerational learning and play,” wrote Elizabeth Schmidt, Josie's mother.

The senior lightens up with joy as she sings and dances along with Josie.

Intergenerational care centers combine daycare services for older adults and children. They provide a great platform for meaningful engagement between the elderly and young children, and it helps to reduce loneliness.

Young Girl Reunites With a Nurse Who Became Her Best Friend During Her Treatment Journey

After struggling through treatments for a brain tumor, 13-year-old Dakota Southerland was invited to be a VIP at a game with her favorite soccer team - Atlanta United.

What she didn't know was that they had arranged a delightful surprise for her - a reunion with her 'best friend,' the nurse's assistant who was her rock throughout her time at the hospital, Edwin Guiler.

This video captured the heart-warming moment of gratitude and love between two beautiful souls. 

Edwin couldn't hold back his tears as he embraced Dakota in a warm hug.

Edwin played a big role in Dakota's cancer treatment journey. He helped ease her anxiety and supported her since she first began treatment in 2019 at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. 

"It gives me ease, knowing that they care so much for her, help her, make her not be scared anymore whenever she's there. It's a good feeling" said Molly Southerland, Dakota's mother.

Thanks to Muda, one of our readers, for sending in an Uplifting Story to share with us - 

Nigerian Man Returns $24,000 Forgotten in His Cab to Owners

It was just a normal day for Auwalu Salisu who was out on his usual hustle when two Chadians boarded his vehicle. He took them to their destination. They paid him and went their way. He also continued his hustle.

At about 11:30am, he looked at the back of his vehicle and saw a sack. Upon opening the sack, he found bales upon bales of cash - Naira and CFA, equivalent to $24,000 USD. His first instinct was to rush home to his mother and show her the money.

She directed him to his father, who told him they had to look for the owners. So, they went back to the location where he had dropped them and scoured the area looking for them without success.

They returned home and while listening to the radio, they heard an announcement about the lost money on Arewa Radio, one of the popular radio stations in Kano, the city where the incident happened.

Auwalu called the number provided by the Arewa Radio station, calling more than five times before it was picked up. He told them he had the money, and took it to the owners waiting for him at the radio station.

The most remarkable thing about this story is that Auwalu and his family slept hungry the previous night.

Commending the young man for his honesty, the owners of the money, two Chadian businessmen who had come to Kano to buy goods, could not help but shed tears of happiness for getting their money back. This is the true Nigerian spirit!

What's Your Uplifting Story?

And that wraps it up for this week! 

Do you have any Uplifting Stories of your own? You can contact us in the comments below, or reach out on our Instagram page. We might just share your story in a future article.

Thanks everyone for reading, and have an uplifting week ahead. Take care and see you next week! 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio