9 Good News Stories: A Message Of Hope; Chicks Get Second Chance

ACROSS AMERICA — When Rod Glasper collapsed at an H-E-B grocery store in September, the moments that followed could have easily been his last. Fortunately for him, Lily DeVarona, an off-duty nurse, happened to be in the right place at just the right time.

While shopping at the store in Round Rock, Texas, Glasper’s heart had suddenly stopped beating due to a ventricular fibrillation arrest. The rapid, life-threatening heart rhythm, usually triggered by a heart attack, can lead to death without immediate medical attention. For 15 minutes, DeVarona performed life-saving CPR on Glasper before medics arrived.

Last week, Glasper got to meet his 64-year-old hero in person in front of St. David's Round Rock Medical Center.

"How do you say thank you to someone who saved your life?" Glasper, who lives in Austin, told Patch. "This lady gave me more time with my family, gave me more time with my friends. What she did was grant time to a stranger. And that I am very thankful for." By Meagan Falcon for Austin, Texas, Patch

Message Of Hope

It's been a long, arduous year for Jennifer Koszewnik, a 39-year-old Florida teacher who was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2020. But the message she delivered to the thousands of fans attending the Buccaneers vs. Chicago Bears game at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday had nothing to do with the pain, the grueling side effects of treatment or the moments of uncertainty she experienced. It was a message of survival and hope, strength and determination. By D’Ann Lawrence White for Lutz, Florida, Patch

Strange Discoveries

There's something brutishly poetic about the urban decay that was once the Newark Branch of the Erie Railroad. If one were to venture into the graffiti-marked offshoot of the old Boonton Line in North Jersey, they might stand a good chance of finding a wild turkey or a deer foraging amid the spindly overgrowth. They might also come across Montclair native, photojournalist and urban explorer Wheeler Antabanez, who recently completed a book and a movie chronicling oddities found on the rail line. By Eric Heyl for Newark, New Jersey, Patch

A Darn Good Rescue

What could have been a tragic end turned into a happy tale for one New Hampshire dog after he became stuck in the Merrimack River last week. A woman who had been walking her dog called 911 when she saw the other dog fall off an embankment and into the river. Firefighters put on flotation devices and lowered a ladder down to the bank of the river just in time to assist the dog back onto dry land. By Tony Schinella for Concord, New Hampshire, Patch

Making Spirits Bright

Several Illinois police departments gathered recently to “brighten” the spirits of Breckin VanHyning, a 7-year-old boy diagnosed with brain cancer. After only two days of planning, more than 100 squad cars, some driven by off-duty police, came to celebrate the boy with a parade of lights. By Emily Rosca for Plainfield, Illinois, Patch

March Of Champions

An Illinois high school marching band has marched its way right to another state championship. The Lincoln-Way March Band took home the Class 6A championship, its fourth state title since 2016. The band also was named grand champion for the third time, narrowly beating out high school band powerhouses Marion Catholic High School in Chicago Heights and Morton High School in Morton. By TJ Kremer III for New Lenox, Illinois, Patch

Chickens' Second Chance

A Florida city’s famous roaming roosters and chickens have something to crow about, thanks to Tampa Fire Rescue. Firefighters this week responded to the frantic squawks of a mama hen whose four chicks fell into a storm drain while they were taking a stroll around Ybor City. With a full contingent of ladders, rope and other equipment at their disposal, firefighters retrieved the chicks from the storm drain and reunited them with their grateful mama hen. By D’Ann White for Tampa, Florida, Patch

Rebuilding Home

Gerald and Debra Platta moved to New Lenox, Illinois, in 1991. They spent 30 years making their house a home, but it only took 30 minutes for it to all go up in smoke. The Plattas had just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on Sept. 25. The next night, their home caught fire. Not much was salvageable following the blaze, but the family is banding together to figure out ways to rebuild the place they called home. By TJ Kremer III for New Lenox, Illinois, Patch

Bravery Honored

Nineteen-year-old Devin Arriaga of New Jersey was honored this week for jumping into the raging floodwaters of Hurricane Ida to save a stranger. Jessi Andruzzi, a 25-year-old tattoo artist, was leaving work in Hillsborough and trying to make her way home during the storm when her car became flooded. She climbed out of her sunroof and screamed for help. Arriaga came to her rescue, pulled her from the car and swam them both to a nearby fence before pulling her to safety. By Alexis Tarrazi for Hillsborough, New Jersey, Patch

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