Top FL Good News Stories 2021: War Veterans Reunited, Unexpected Adoption, MIracle Baby

FLORIDA — As we continue our rollercoaster ride on COVID-19 into the new year, let's take a look back at 2021 on the good news that happened in Florida.

Patch has rounded the top good news stories up that includes The Rock gifting a veteran, double-luck Florida Lottery winners and more. The best good news stories are listed below:

A Tampa toddler goes from having violent epileptic seizures for the first two years of her life to experiencing a normal life following a complex surgery in which half her brain was removed.

• Rare 'Miracle' Brain Surgery Gives Toddler Chance At Normal Life

Following 2021 Firestone Grand Prix, the city of St. Petersburg and race organizers said they expect for the 2022 Grand Prix to return to a normal by moving the date to its traditional month, March, after it had been moved to April because of coronavirus concerns.

• Firestone Grand Prix Expected To Resemble A 'Normal' In 2022

It's evident Floridians love animals as well as prioritize their health and safety with all the stories the Florida editors wrote—that's why we just couldn't choose one. From rescuing manatee, kittens, bees, dogs and a turkey and some chickens with big personalities, there was no lack of good animal stories for 2021.

• Hope The Dolphin Presents New Aquarium Pal With 1st Holiday Gift
• Dog Injured By Car: Rescued By Animal Services Officer
• Baylo Back In The Swim After Nearly Dying From Red Tide Toxins
• Kitten, Sandhill Crane Rescued By Manatee County Deputies
• Falling Cat Caught In American Flag At UM Football Game: Watch
• Watch: Manta Ray Swims Up To Sarasota Police’s Marine Patrol Unit
• Watch: Lost Sheep Rescued After Wandering Bradenton Streets
• Tom Turkey Takes Over Florida Aquarium: Video
• Dave Bautista Adopts Puppy Found With Chain Embedded In Neck
• Chicken Life: Clementine Rules The Burlington Roost
• 27 Pups Pile Onto Plane To Avoid Doggie Death Row
• Newly Adopted Dog Lost Near Everglades, Found 9 Days Later
• Healing River Beekeepers Rescues Swarms, Shares Knowledge Of Bees
• FL Firefighter Rescues Terrified Goat From 30-Foot-Deep Sinkhole
• Drowning Manatee Rescued, Red Tide Toxin May Have Caused Illness

It's a beautiful start to the new year for a Manatee County teen resident, Monyay, who aged out of the foster care center recently following an unexpected adoption by her longtime mentor.

• 19-Year-Old Aged Out Of Foster Care Adopted By Her Case Worker

Remember when The Rock gifted a Navy veteran with his personal truck because he's just that great of a man? Well, Patch doesn't want to ruin the rest of the story for you, but we will say, there is a Tampa Bay connection.

• The Rock's Gift To A Veteran: What You Haven't Heard

Some people had all the luck in 2021 by winning the Florida Lottery not once, but twice.

• Woman Claims Two Winning FL Lottery Tickets Worth $2M Each
• Meet Seffner's Newest Millionaire, Second-Time Lottery Winner

In this day and age, can you imagine someone being polite to you when you dial their number by mistake, or develop a lifelong friendship? That's exactly what happened about 20 years ago when a South Florida woman inadvertently dialed a Rhode Island man.

• Wrong Number Leads To 20-Year Friendship, Callers Finally Meet

The Tampa Bay area had national champions like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning the Super Bowl, Lightning keeping the Stanley Cup home and the Rays clinching the American League Championship. Big winnings expanded to the Suncoast area with a Sarasota shooter competing at Tokyo Olympics.

• Sarasota Shooter Wins Silver Medal At Tokyo Olympics

Two Guinness Book Of Records were set in the Tampa Bay area with ice cream scoops and the movie, "Avengers: End Game."

• Riverview Man Sees 'Avengers: End Game' 191 Times, World Record
• Guinness World Record Ice Cream Scoops Goes To Beans & Barlour

A community came together to help save a Marine veteran's home, two Vietnam War veterans reunited after war time in the 1960s and a Florida veteran cleaned abandoned gravestones of those who have been forgotten.

• FL Marine Reunited 56 Years Later With Medal Of Honor Rescuer
• FL Veteran Builds Movement To Clean Abandoned Gravestones
• Safety Harbor Pulls Together To Help Save Tom The Can Man's Home

Two nationally-known Tampa Bay artists didn't allow negative experiences from giving up on their dreams.

• St. Pete's Rod Wave Goes From Gangs To No. 1 Album In U.S.
• Drag Queen Turns No Into A Yes On Fox's 'AlterEgo' Show

Thanks for reading Patch!

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