A father's love, and more

A father's love

A Chinese father who has been carrying his disabled son 18 miles back and forth to school every day has been offered a government-funded apartment near the school. When Yu Xukang, 40, discovered that there was no school bus to the only school appropriate for son Xiao Qiang, he constructed a special basket and carried him to school in Sichuan province and back every day. He wanted his boy to receive an education like everybody else. “I know that my son is physically disabled,” said Yu, “but there is nothing wrong with his mind.”

Paralympian Tatyana McFadden's two mothers

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When Paralympian Tatyana McFadden made her debut in Sochi this month, she drew motivation from a unique source: Both her Russian birth mother and American adoptive mother were watching from the stands. The 24-year-old skier left her St. Petersburg orphanage for Maryland over 20 years ago, and was forced to spend the first six years walking on her hands because of spina bifida. This week, McFadden overcame the odds to win her first Paralympic medal, a silver in the 1-kilometer sit sprint. “When I was feeling tired, in pain, and frustrated, I just had to think about my family in the stands,” said McFadden.

Golden retriever saves owner's life

Otis Orth was in bad shape when rescuers found him lying immobile off an Alaskan roadway last week. Unable to move after crashing his snowmobile, the 52-year-old was forced to spend a numbing 31 hours on the ice waiting for help. He survived at all only thanks to the loyalty of his golden retriever, Amber. She lay across his stomach during the frigid night to keep him warm, and finally alerted other snowmobilers to his plight. “She sleeps with me most of the time,” said Orth, “but I might have to let her snuggle up a little closer to me now.”