Baby Gets Much-Needed Liver / 65,000 Meals for Needy / Wolf Pups / Jennifer Hudson Dazzles

“Don’t cry because it’s over, SMILE because it happened.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Here are a few of our favorite Chicago-area feel-good and do-good feature stories posted recently.

• Mokena Infant Gets His New Liver: Baby Nathan was born desperately in need of a new liver; on Monday, he got it.

• Lemont’s ‘Food Fight’ Nets More than 65,000 Meals Donated to Nepal: Over a two-day period, more than 800 students—more than half of the school’s population—helped pack meals.

• Big Chief is Ready for His Makeover: Painting and restoration gets under way on Southwest Highway’s giant Native American tribal chief statue.

• Brookfield Zoo Announces Names of Mexican Gray Wolf Puppies: Almost 30,000 votes were cast to choose names for the pups.

• Jennifer Hudson Dazzles in Downers Grove at Art Van Furniture Gala: Hudson’s performance of ‘I Will Always Love You’ brought the singer, and likely several in the audience, to tears.

» GET MORE STORIES LIKE THIS: Sign up for Patch by email

• Deer, Fawn Unfazed by Human Interaction in Deerfield: A Deerfield resident recalls her pleasant run-in with the pair.

• Hinsdale Humane Society Staff Member Travels to Mississippi to Rescue Pets: Many of the rescued pets have already been adopted into loving homes.

• Stanley Cup Coming to Crestwood: The Cup will make another appearance in the south suburbs this month.

• ‘Night of Hope’ Free Event at Joliet’s Jacob Henry Mansion: The event was organized by the friends of murder victim Alisha Bromfield to “inspire others and show that love can overcome tragedies.”

• Newborn Sloth Clinging to Mama at Lincoln Park Zoo: Infant sloth will spend much of its lifetime hanging upside from trees.

• ‘Joliet is a Great Illinois City, Yes!’ Says Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities and Towns: The Guy Who Sings Songs About Cities and Towns’ album is available for $17.98.

• Plainfield Passes Cupcake Ordinance: The ordinance will allow home bakers to sell their goods directly to the public.

• This ‘Curse of Downers Grove’ Clip Gives Eerie Glimpse at Upcoming Horror Film: The movie is set to premiere this month in select theaters.

• Glen Ellyn Teen Heads to Toronto to Swim in Parapan American Games: Ahayla Lettenberger, 14, will compete in the para-swimming events during these games for athletes with physical disabilities.

• Northbrook Native Nominated for a ‘Deadliest Catch’ Emmy: Alexander Rubinow credits his time at Glenbrook North and Northbrook Junior High for finding passion in television production.

• Crystal Lake Girl With Rare Disease in Need of Bone Marrow Match: The family is asking for the public’s help in finding a match for Sophia.

• Orland Park’s Anti-Bullying Initiative Receives National Award: The village formed a coalition with the Bridge Teen Center and local agencies in 2014.