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Gas Station Attendants Get Surprise Pies and Gift Cards for Thanksgiving from Resident

Believe it or not, gas station workers provide essential services, and unfortunately, people often overlook them and the blue of their service. They are there for the community morning, noon and nighttime. You can depend on them for accessibility even when your grocery store has closed.

When you’ve forgotten that all-important item for your meal preparation or that bottle of wine for the party, and even the case of beer for the football game, the gas station attendants keep their doors open for your convenience.

It’s no surprise then that even during a time such as Thanksgiving, when people are preparing feasts or traveling all over to be with family, they remain available. We can get fuel as we travel or grab those last-minute items you desperately need to make your event a success.

One man took it upon himself this year to make the gas station attendants in his neighborhood know that what they do is highly appreciated after catching his attention during the height of the pandemic last year. After all, that is what the focus of Thanksgiving regards.

Countless gas station workers sacrifice time with loved ones on Thanksgiving to employ people, says one Herriman resident. A little something extra was what Josh Downs had in mind for this year’s event.

This Thanksgiving, Downs ended up without his two girls. Because of this, he resolved to go and do something somewhat out of the ordinary and give pies and gift certificates to the people keeping the gas and fast food flowing for the holidays.

In an interview, Downs said, “I just desired to do something that could give back to the society which I’ve been a member of for so many years.

He thanked convenience store employees who were unable to spend Thanksgiving with their family members.

A small token of appreciation for those who work long hours away from loved ones so that others like him can spend time with theirs, he explained, would be delivered to as many service stations as possible.

While at the gas station on Thanksgiving Day, the attendant invited him to join in the discussion.

When she couldn’t be with her friends and family, she chose to work so that others would be able to enjoy time with their families, Downs said.

He needed to demonstrate to her how much he cared about her.

The memory of bringing a tray of Thanksgiving food from the kitchen to her has remained with Downs ever since.

Downs initiated a fundraising campaign called #GiveThanksForGas this year, and 70 people contributed. “We received more than $3,200. That’s how it went from just five pies to a whopping 40,” he stated.

Each pie had a $100 gift voucher and a note of thanks attached. About what they’re doing, Downs said, “only a little individual thank-you note.”

The gas station attendants were amazed and gratefully received the deliveries made by Downs and several of his pals. When he’s at the service station, he’s generally rushing around like everyone else; however, not this Thanksgiving Day.

Instead of rushing to get where you’re going, “I slowed the pace down and identified the opportunities we have just to make a significant difference in our daily expeditions,” Downs explained.

The Daily Drive is the name of his podcast. Short, faith-based messages communicated by him to encourage more people to search for ways to serve and share.

Millions of people celebrate Thanksgiving every year with friends and family, but unfortunately, many have no families, or they’re unable to be with them for various reasons. What Downs did is one of the many ways people can help bring joy to individuals who would have otherwise spent the day sad.

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A Purr-fect Ending: How Paradise, California, United to Find Dundee the Cat

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In Paradise, California, a community came together to find a much-loved cat named Dundee, who had survived the devastating 2018 Camp Fire. Dundee’s adventure began when his owner, Suise Heffernan, took him to the vet. After the appointment, she stopped to get pet food, locking her truck with Dundee inside. But when she returned, the truck and Dundee were gone.

Surveillance footage from a nearby store showed someone breaking into the vehicle and driving off with Dundee still inside. Heffernan was especially worried because Dundee has a thyroid condition and needed his medication.

The whole community of Paradise stepped up to help find Dundee. After four long days, their efforts paid off, and Dundee was found. Heffernan had adopted Dundee in 2018, just before the Camp Fire. She lost her home, a barn, and hundreds of acres of timber in the fire. Despite being displaced, Dundee transformed from a feral cat into a warm and cuddly companion.

One community member pleaded, “Just return the cat! Trucks can be replaced, and anyone living on the ridge has lost so much already.” Heffernan shared her agony over not knowing Dundee’s whereabouts, a feeling she knew all too well from losing another cat in the Camp Fire.

Heffernan and her friends, along with independent volunteers, continued their search. Finally, on Saturday, they received a call from someone who had Dundee. A group drove to Chico that evening, where Heffernan was reunited with Dundee, who started purring immediately.

Heffernan expressed her gratitude for the community’s support: “There’s something about the people – they just come together and they are there for you. I just can’t even imagine the hours that people that I’ll never meet put in on his behalf. It is so appreciated.”

This heartwarming story showcases the power of community and the unbreakable bond between humans and their pets.

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Texas Zoo Fits Grasshopper with Miniature “Neck Brace”

Amanda J

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In a remarkable display of veterinary ingenuity, a grasshopper at a Texas zoo was fitted with a miniature “neck brace” after experiencing a unique health issue. The grasshopper, a stick-like breed known as a Peruvian jumping stick, recently underwent a common process for insects: molting. At around six months old, these grasshoppers shed their exoskeleton, allowing for growth. However, this particular grasshopper faced a challenge after molting.

According to a recent zoo blog post, the grasshopper had a weakened area around part of its body resembling a “neck” due to a crease in its thoracic region. This crease caused its head to flop backward when climbing upwards, as these grasshoppers spend most of their time in tree branches.

To address this issue, zookeepers developed a miniature neck brace to temporarily support the insect’s neck in a neutral position while its exoskeleton hardened. The brace was created using a sterile Q-tip shaft and microspore tape to secure it. This innovative solution allowed the grasshopper to continue its normal activities without further injury.

The zoo emphasized the importance of providing exceptional care to all its animals, regardless of their size. “Whether it’s a mammal, reptile, bird, or even insect, all of our animals receive extraordinary care from our veterinary team, no matter how big or small it may be,” the zoo stated.

This story highlights the dedication of zookeepers and veterinarians to the well-being of all creatures in their care and showcases the creative approaches they take to ensure the health and safety of even the smallest residents.

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The Incredible Journey of Ullr: A Dog’s Survival After an Avalanche

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In a story that sounds like it’s straight out of a movie, a dog named Ullr, who had been missing for almost a year, was finally spotted alive and well. Ullr, a mix of Border Collie and Rottweiler, had been living in the wild all by himself after surviving an avalanche. For Jacob Dalbey, Ullr’s owner, this news was the light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel.

Jacob Dalbey’s world turned upside down on March 17, when he was caught in an avalanche near Chair Mountain while skiing with friends. The terrifying incident left Jacob seriously injured and hospitalized, and tragically, one of his friends did not survive. Amidst the chaos, Ullr, who was with them, ran away from the avalanche site. Rescue teams later found dog tracks leading away from the debris, sparking hope that Ullr had survived.

For 341 days, Jacob never gave up hope of finding his beloved pet. He set up trail cameras and left food in various locations, hoping to lure Ullr into view. And then, on a day that seemed like any other, the unimaginable happened. Ullr was captured on a trail camera not once, but two days in a row. “After 341 days, 11 months to the day…it has happened,” Jacob shared on his GoFundMe page, a platform where he had been updating supporters and raising funds to aid in the search for Ullr.

The joy and relief in Jacob’s message were palpable as he thanked his friends and supporters for their unwavering belief and support. “Knowing you believe in us really means a lot,” he wrote, acknowledging the tough journey and the difference their support made.

Jacob’s next steps are focused on bringing Ullr safely back home. In the meantime, he has asked for the community’s help in keeping an eye out for any signs of Ullr, including pawprints, barking, or sightings.

Jacob’s harrowing experience during the avalanche, where he was buried under the snow for over three hours with a broken hand and frostbitten fingers, adds a layer of awe to Ullr’s survival story. Jacob’s determination to dig himself out and survive mirrored Ullr’s own fight for survival in the wild.

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A Newspaper Carrier Who Saved a Home from Fire

Liz L

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In the quiet early hours of a St. Petersburg morning, an ordinary newspaper carrier named Josh Herring became a hero in the most unexpected way. At 3 AM, while most of the neighborhood was still fast asleep, Josh Herring was on his usual newspaper delivery route for the Tampa Bay Times when he stumbled upon a life-threatening situation that would change the course of a woman’s life.

The woman in question, Pam Smith, had no idea that her house was in imminent danger. The fire that had started on her deck was silently spreading, a threat lurking just outside her doorstep. It was Josh Herring, her dedicated newspaper carrier, who turned out to be her guardian angel that night.

As the flames inched closer to her home, Pam Smith was startled awake by a persistent banging on her front door. Wondering who could be at her door at such an hour, the 75-year-old approached cautiously. From the other side, a man’s voice rang out, “Pam, I’m your paper man, and your deck’s on fire!” She swung the door open, and to her horror, she saw the deck ablaze, with the flames threatening to engulf her house.

Without a moment to lose, Josh Herring sprang into action. He rushed to the nearest hose, which luckily was within reach, and began spraying water on the fire. In a state of panic, Pam Smith joined him, taking turns to battle the flames that seemed determined to devour her home. Together, they fought tirelessly for 45 minutes until the fire was finally extinguished.

Pam Smith, still shaken by the ordeal, couldn’t find enough words to express her gratitude to Josh Herring. With tears in her eyes, she said to him, “If you never stopped by, I might not be here today. I might not have my house.” Her heartfelt words conveyed the immense impact of Josh’s heroic act.

Josh Herring, a humble newspaper carrier who had been faithfully delivering papers for six years, downplayed his actions. He explained that it was purely coincidental that he had decided to make Pam Smith’s house the first stop along his delivery route that day. Had he chosen to start his route in reverse, it would have taken him about three hours to reach Smith’s residence.

Pam Smith’s response to this revelation was profound. She said, “Just to think, if I had never ordered the paper. I love the paper, and I will order the paper until I die.” Her unwavering loyalty to the Tampa Bay Times had led to this fateful encounter, where the simple act of ordering a newspaper had unknowingly brought her a real-life hero in the form of Josh Herring.

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Florida Man Plays Guitar During His Own Brain Surgery

Sarrah M

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In an extraordinary medical procedure, Christian Nolen, a man from Florida, played the guitar during his brain surgery at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. This unique approach helped doctors protect critical areas of his brain while they removed a tumor.

Why Play Guitar During Surgery?

The surgery was conducted while Nolen was awake. This method is used to continuously monitor a patient’s brain functions during the operation. Nolen was asked to play the guitar to give the surgical team real-time feedback on his motor skills. This was crucial because Nolen’s tumor was in his right frontal lobe, an area that controls important functions, including hand movement.

The Discovery of the Tumor

Nolen’s journey began when he noticed issues with his left hand while playing guitar. This symptom led to the discovery of the brain tumor. Only ten days later, he was in surgery to have it removed.

The Surgical Procedure

The surgery started with Nolen under general anesthesia. Then, for a critical part of the two-hour operation, he was awakened and asked to play the guitar. “Upon awakening, it was quite overwhelming to see everything around me and to fight the natural reaction to sit up,” Nolen recalled.

A Critical Moment

During the surgery, the doctors noticed that Nolen’s hand function began to decline as they were removing the tumor. The tumor was affecting the part of the brain that controls hand movements. Thankfully, the doctors were able to remove the entire tumor without injuring Nolen’s hand.

Unique Aspects of Awake Brain Surgery

During an awake craniotomy, patients can engage in activities that don’t increase pressure in the head. Dr. Komotar, part of the surgical team, mentioned that some patients even sing during brain surgery. This helps the surgeons assess their language capabilities while removing tumors from areas associated with language.

A Successful Outcome

Christian Nolen’s story is not just about the removal of a brain tumor; it’s about the incredible advances in medical science and the human spirit’s resilience. Playing the Deftones and System of a Down on his guitar during brain surgery, Nolen not only aided his medical team but also demonstrated an inspiring strength and courage.

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