Good News Roundup: 10 Stories That Will Inspire, Make You Smile

Amid stories showing the darker side of human nature, we found many stories across Patch’s network of 1,122 hyperlocal sites that show the opposite: that most people are good and decent and eager to serve their neighbors and communities.

From the townspeople who turned out to help one of a neighbor facing nearly insurmountable challenges to a World War II hero’s posthumous welcome home, from a doting husband’s 40-year Valentine’s Day tradition to a homeless man who helped save a stranger’s life, these stories will make you smile, warm your heart and lift your spirit.

Here are 10 from February that we think you’ll like:

She Has Cancer And No Heat; Here’s What Her Town Did

It was three years ago when Pam Merola lost heat. She found out her furnace was rusted out on the inside and then two weeks later she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma. For years she used gas and electric space heaters to heat her 300-plus-year-old house in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. She forgot all about the furnace since she had her own battle with cancer. It no longer became a priority. Read more about what her neighbors did.

He Was Dead For 28 Minutes Until Homeless Man Saved Him

Aug. 7 is the day George Dakin Jr. died, which makes it odd that he can recall that day at all. It's blurry for the 64-year-old retired architect from Melrose, Massachusetts. He doesn’t remember his heart attack. He doesn’t remember being dead for nearly half an hour. But of all the details Dakin doesn't remember about that day, the most important is the homeless man who helped bring him back to life. Read more about how it changed them both.

This Inspirational One-Handed Hockey Player Defies Odds

Most athletes shun wearing the number 13 for superstitious reasons, but donning that jersey has been anything but unlucky for Caden Gesualdi, a freshman at Ellington High School in Connecticut who has assumed a semi-regular role as a forward. Remarkably, he’s heating up the ice despite what is referred to as a "limb difference." Read more to find out how he refuses to be defined by limitations.

These Two Amputees Share A Special Bond

Lance Vagas and Dan Monzo have a lot in common. They’re both athletes. Lance is a high school wrestler known for his athleticism and Dan is a Paralympic snowboarder. They’ve both lost a limb. They met at Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where Lance is putting his life back together after losing a leg. Read more to learn more about their inspirational bond.

This World War II Hero Is Finally Coming Home

U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Walter Howard Backman was killed at the bombing of Pearl Harbor when he was just 22 years old. Like many of the other victims of Pearl Harbor, the Aurora, Illinois, native's remains were not identified after his death. After more than 75 years, Backman's remains were identified and brought home for burial. Read how the USS Oklahoma Remains Preservation Project made it a mission to identify the fallen sailors.

This College Athlete Blew Shot At Record On Purpose

When Jordan Bohannon stepped to the foul line in a Feb. 25 game, the Iowa Hawkeyes' point guard needed to make just one more free throw to break the school's record for consecutively drained attempts. Bohannon had made 34 straight. This time, with his team up eight points with just over two minutes to play, he missed. The shot clanged off the front of the rim. Bohannon pounded his chest and pointed to the sky. Read more to find out why he did it.

This Good Samaritan Stopped A Kidnapping

It’s been said so often that it’s become a cliché — if you see something, say something. “Are you OK?” a Good Samaritan in Santa Ana, California, asked a 12-year-old girl caught in a one-handed hug by a homeless woman as she walked toward her middle school. Read more about how the simple act of getting involved saved her.

This Kid Named Valentine Gave 750 Reasons To Smile

Callan Valentine, 18, decided to make sure that each of the 750 girls and female staff members at his high school in Oregon got a long-stemmed red rose on, of course, Valentine's Day. Read more to find out how he accomplished his secret mission.

She May Forget Him, But Dementia Won’t Stop Love Story

Some day, 74-year-old Donna Kramer may forget her sweetheart as dementia, a condition she was diagnosed with four years ago, continues its cruel toll. But her husband, Ron Kramer, 77, won't forget her. Read more to find out about the Valentine’s Day tradition he started at an Albuquerque, New Mexico, gourmet candy shop when they were dating, and why he will continue it even if she doesn’t remember.

These Olympic Skaters Found Gold, But Not How You Think

And speaking of Valentines, we leave you with this: Some people expect gold for Valentine's Day, but for Alexa Scimeca-Knierim, a handmade construction paper heart from her husband, Chris, was more than enough. The married couple from Illinois had just finished a less than flawless short skate program at the Pyeongchang Olympics. For a moment as Alexa held the homemade Valentine —which read "Will you (still) be my Valentine?"— to her chest, it was as though, despite a filled arena and millions of TV viewers, they were the only two people in the world. Read more about their love story.

Do you have an inspirational story about what’s going on in your Patch town? We’d love it if you’d post directly on Patch. Here’s how to get started. If you’d like to become a regular contributor, email rick.uldricks@patch.com for more information.

Image of Callan Valentine via GoFundMe, a Patch promotional partner