Wheelchair Touchdown, Carrying Sister's Baby, Taylor Swift Gift: Patch's Most Inspirational Stories Of 2015

By PATCH STAFF (Patch Staff)

One of the most rewarding things about local reporting at Patch is the access we get to inspirational moments that occur daily in communities across America. We report on an uncomfortable number of tragedies, and the steady beat of crime across the country can whittle away at one’s trust and sense of safety.

But every day across Patch, we see and report on stories of kindness between strangers, of communities rallying behind members in need, of extraordinary gestures of love between spouses and partners and of people who are down on their luck — but far from out.

Here are some of our favorite inspirational stories from 2015. We hope you enjoy, and we at Patch wish all of our readers a very happy holiday season.

Touchdown, Matt! Wheelchair-Bound Westford Boy Scores in Game

Teammates rally around a wheelchair-bound friend as he takes it to the house, on a 50-yard TD.

Long Island Woman Gives Birth to Twin Sister’s Baby

Dawn Policastro didn’t blink when she learned her identical twin sister, Allison, couldn’t have a second baby.

See Also:

• Top 2015 Patch Stories in Weather and Fire
• Top Patch Animal Stories Of 2015
• Top Weird News Stories on Patch in 2015

See the Massive Holiday Lights Show One Family Dedicated to Recovering Addicts

16,000 lights on four houses — but what really shines in this light show are the shout-outs to local who’d been vanquished by addiction.

$350K in Donations Keeps Detroit ‘Walking Man’ on the Run

“Walking Man” James Robertson has abandoned an old life he says never suited him well in the first place.

A Change of Plans, Not Heart: Couple Weds in Hospital Chapel

This wasn’t the wedding Mary Sonora had planned.

Life After The Crash--A New Normal For Couple Hit By Drunk Driver

Josie Morey makes lists — to remember who she spoke to, what they said, who has visited, what she needs to do next.

Homeless Man Reunited With Long-Lost Bank Account

This man lived on downtown Tampa’s streets for three years until a cop and a case worker stepped in to help.

After 67 Years of Marriage, Calif. Couple Dies Holding Hands

The couple had known each other since they were children. Their romance blossomed and grew till the very end.

‘Can’t Dance Guy’ Groom Proves Himself So Very Wrong at the Wedding

Growing up in Elmhurst, Kyle Kuchenbecker was always known as the car guy, the baseball guy and even the muscle guy. Kyle has never been the dance guy. That is, until his wedding March 21.

Taylor Swift Comes through for Mt. Greenwood Girl Battling Cancer

Emily Beazley‘s supporters weren’t about to give up on convincing pop star Taylor Swift to reach out to their 12-year-old neighborhood hero.

WATCH: New ‘3D Hand’ Improves Life of Disfigured Man From Guatemala

After nearly 15 years, a disfigured man gets a new hand, thanks to the Newton Library, an employee and the 3D printer.