9 Good News Stories: They Got By With A Little Help From Their Friends

ACROSS AMERICA — Heidi Woo still remembers some of the worst news she ever got: The tumor was back. That bombshell — which she received while pregnant with her son — would have been impossible to overcome alone, she said.

Fortunately, she and her husband, Brad Yankiver, didn’t have to, a testament to the place where they live, Montclair, New Jersey.

Woo, 37, recently shared some details with Patch about her harrowing-yet-inspirational struggles with brain cancer, noting that at one point, the battle made her question "whether or not I wanted to be here."

But with the help of family and friends — not to mention a new medical treatment — Woo and Yankiver are looking forward to a full life together with their child. » By Eric Kiefer for Montclair, New Jersey, Patch

Only In Portland …

You don’t have to live in Portland, Oregon, to understand this. But it helps. There’s a guy (top photo) who goes around town riding a unicycle in a Darth Vader costume and playing bagpipes that shoot out actual flame. This fellow, Brian Kidd, calls himself The Unipiper. Everything was rolling along just fine and people were more or less saying, “that’s Portland for you; keeping it weird,” and then, poof, someone smashed the window of Kidd’s Volkswagen Golf and stole The Unipiper’s unicycle. It didn’t smash his spirit, though. He had a backup unicycle and is continuing to spin his tales around Portland. » By Colin Miner for Portland, Oregon, Patch

There’s No Gemstone For This

A 45th wedding anniversary is commonly associated with sapphires. But, for Sheree and Steve Twiddy and their grandchildren of New Lenox, Illinois, the milestone anniversary will be connected with something just as, if not even more so, enduring than the precious blue gem: the memory of saving the lives of two Great Danes that were trapped in a burning van. “Everyone did what they had to do," Steve said. "The kids did what they had to do. My wife did what she had to do. I did what I had to do. Everybody just worked together and did it right.” » By TJ Kremer III for Frankfort, Illinois, Patch

High-Five For ‘High Five’

A trip to the grocery store may not seem like a big deal, but it was for 6-year-old Fiona Smith, who hadn’t been to the Fort Myers, Florida, Publix store where her family shops since before the pandemic. And that meant she hadn’t seen her friend, Gilnet Sainvil, or “High Five,” so named because he taught her how to give the celebratory greeting. There was more to it than connecting two friends, though. Fiona’s mother wanted Sainvil to know that his kindness inspired a nonprofit, Who’s Your High Five, celebrating people who have had a positive impact on children. “It’s the ripple effect that [Sainvil] has created,” Rachel Smith said. “We want to know who is someone really formidable, who’s had a positive impact on your life. We want to uplift people.” » By Tiffany Razzano for Fort Myers, Florida, Patch

‘What Can A Girl From California Do For Us?’

From the comfort of her home in California’s San Fernando Valley, Lexi Pendola decided that tutoring Ukrainian children in English wasn’t enough. She wanted to raise money. “What can a girl from California do for us?” Julia Pais, a school official in Ukraine, said after Lexi’s initial offer to help. She appreciated the offer but was unconvinced much could be accomplished. Was she ever wrong. “Dear Lexi, do you know how wonderful you are?” Pais said in a text message to the teen this past week. She’s using the thousands of dollars raised on GoFundMe to help a steady stream of refugees replace everyday items they had to leave behind, while also assisting with other humanitarian efforts. » By Beth Dalbey for Calabasas, California, Patch

‘Walkway Of Peace’

Nina Chepovska of Seattle likes to book Airbnb Experiences when she travels, and that put her on the path of Miami mural artist Kyle Holbrook’s “Walkway of Peace.” Chepovska was born in Ukraine but came to the United States with her parents as a 7-year-old. She told Patch there was little doubt about what she would paint when Holbrook asked her to contribute. “I felt really good channeling all the emotions and pain I had through art.” Her contribution reinvigorated waning attention to the war, and Holbrook said he wants to create a larger project that keeps it there. » By Tiffany Razzano for Miami Patch

A Special Family Reunion

The Cotter family on Long Island was finally able to be together again. Both of Brian and Ashley Cotter’s children need heart transplants. Ruby June received her new heart two years ago, and her little brother, Everett, is hospitalized while he awaits his new heart. Ruby isn’t technically allowed to visit, but she had an appointment of her own at the hospital, and the staff made it possible for them all to be together. “It’s hard to describe all the emotions,” Brian Cotter told Patch. » By Lisa Finn for Riverhead, New York, Patch

Know Your Farmer

In the overall scheme of things, farmers are important players in the lives of Virginia kids. Local farmers whose crops end up on school lunch trays are featured on trading cards — and this year, the nine farmers featured on the cards recorded video messages talking about different aspects of farming. The idea behind this “know your farmer” initiative is to encourage students to make healthy eating choices. “Student consumption of produce appears to increase when they know where it was grown or if they've met the person who grew it,” according to Elizabeth Mills, the nutrition director for Loudoun County Schools in Virginia. “The personal connection seems to encourage eating healthy.” » By Liam Griffin for Ashburn, Virginia, Patch

The Fox Ran Away With The Dish

An intrepid Patch reporter has the story — and video documentation — of the ongoing trouble between a fox and a feral cat named Popeye. Popeye had the upper hand at one point in this ongoing saga, and even chased the fox away. Always cunning, the fox enlisted other foxes in a crime of petty larceny. They not only gobbled up the kibble left for Popeye, one of them ran away with his dish. The two foxes returned to the scene of their crime to see what they’d missed. » By Michael O’Connell for Fairfax City, Virginia, Patch

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