Feel-good stories of humanity

Give yourself a lift with these heart-warming tales from around the globe.

Liver transplant from her father gives baby Mila a new shot at life

Photo: ABC News/Patrick Rocca

Melbourne surgeons are celebrating after a successful liver transplant between father and daughter duo Cameron and Mila – a procedure believed to be the first of it’s kind in Victoria. A month ago, Mila’s health started to decline and her liver suddenly failed. She was near death when doctors placed her on an urgent donor waiting list, and tested both of her parents for matches as living donors. Living donors for liver transplants are rare, and not preferred because of the risks associated with two people undergoing the operation. Whilst mum Nicky didn’t match, Cameron did – and after no options came back from the deceased donor list, there was no question that he would be the donor. The day of the surgery was stressful for all involved, especially Nicky, but everything went perfectly, and both Cameron and Mila are recovering well and looking forward to heading home. See more »

First rainfall in three years brings relief to the residents of Pinnaroo

Photo: ABC Riverland/Anita Butcher

The South Australian town of Pinnaroo is home to 700 people – and this week all of them were smiling when a very welcome heavy rainfall arrived. The 35 millimetre downpour was perfectly timed for the upcoming crop season, and gave the farming community a much needed mental boost from the stress of the drought. Farmer Corey Blacksell described how important rain was to the area, saying, “You just have to walk down the street and the farmers are bumping into each other and [asking] 'how much rain did you have' and saying ‘how good is this.’” Local businesses and shops were also excited by the rainfall, with people more willing to shop and spend money when it rains. Bakery owner Dennis Gniel said “It makes it a bit better when everyone is happy. It’s the first time I’ve seen people smiling for a long time.” See more »

Special teddy bears help young hospital patients

Photo: Medi Teddy

Ella Casano is a 12-year-old that’s spent a lot of time in hospital. Diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease when she was 7, her blood doesn’t clot properly and she has a very low blood platelet count. Every 8 weeks she receives treatment via an IV drip bag. Understandably, when she first started treatment she found the IV drip and medical equipment intimidating – and so, to help other children in the same situation as she is, she invented the ‘Medi Teddy.’ The Medi Teddy is a cute stuffed bear designed to hide the IV bag, and make children more comfortable and relaxed when receiving medical treatment. Ella has raised over $20,000 to make and supply local hospitals with the Medi Teddy, and has plans to launch a non-profit organisation to distribute the bears even further. See more »

Student collects hundreds of wheelchairs and crutches for those in need

Photo: Project Embrace

What happens to mobility aids after the person they’re designed for outgrows, or no longer needs them? Utah student Mohan Sudabattula asked himself this question after volunteering in the prosthetics department of a hospital whilst studying. He learned that prosthetics can’t be recycled as they’re fitted specifically for each individual – but there’s no reason why wheelchairs, crutches and other mobility devices can’t be reused. He started collecting medical equipment from thrift shops and calling for donations from the local community, passing them onto medical facilities in need once the equipment was cleaned and refurbished. Since launching the initiative in 2016, ‘Project Embrace’ has donated over 900 cleaned and refurbished medical devices to low-income hospitals across India and the United States. Mohan says the project is all about empowering everyday people to make a huge difference to someone’s life. “Often times when it comes to healthcare innovation and design, people tend to opt out of professional conversations because they don’t feel qualified enough to contribute to the discussion,” he said. “This is ironic because access to healthcare (and healthcare innovation) affects everyone — naturally, everyone should then be involved.” See more »

Aboriginal artists from remote NT community head to Paris for art exhibition

Photo: Babbarra Women's Centre

As a child, Elizabeth Kala Kala learned bark painting from her father. Now, over 40 years later, she and five other women are travelling to Paris to show their artwork as part of a special exhibition at the Australian embassy, to mark the United Nations Year of Indigenous Languages. The exhibition, named Jarracharra, a word referring to the cold wind that signals the beginning of dry season in Arnhem Land, aims to highlight the role of Aboriginal women as story keepers. The trip will be the first time the women have travelled overseas, and the exhibition organisers worked for over 2 years to help them get their passports. All are thrilled to bring their art and culture to a new audience. Co-curator Jess Phillips said the exhibition is a “proud moment” for the artists and their families. “The women love talking about their stories of their prints. This trip will excite them to continue what they do and come back with a story to tell their families who still live on remote homelands.” See more »