The week's good news: April 14, 2022

1. These 1st responders are now godparents to a baby whose life they saved

When it came time to choose her daughter's godparents, Kitana Garrett immediately knew who to ask: Cody Hill and Jamie Roan, the first responders who saved her baby's life. On Oct. 5, 2021, when she was just 25 weeks pregnant, Garrett went into labor while alone at her home in Columbia, Tennessee. She called 911, and Hill, a firefighter, and Roan, a paramedic, soon arrived. Everyone was "amazed" by the tiny newborn weighing just over one pound, and seeing her respond to their treatment gave them "a little hope and we got excited," Roan told Good Morning America. Za'myla Camilla Miracle Garrett spent four months in the NICU, and doctors said the quick actions of Hill and Roan are what saved her life. The first responders kept track of Za'myla's progress on Garrett's Facebook page, and since she's been home, Garrett has taken Za'myla on regular trips to visit Hill and Roan. In March, she surprised them both by asking if they would be Za'myla's godparents. "They didn't give up, so I feel like they will continue to do that later on in life [for Za'Myla]," Garrett told GMA.

Good Morning America

2. Community comes together to celebrate 106-year-old's milestone birthday

Janet Crampton has done a lot of living in 106 years. Born in Washington, D.C., on April 3, 1916, Crampton's earliest memories include when she had to stay inside because of the 1918 influenza pandemic. She attended the University of Maryland and after graduating in 1937, became a dietitian in government cafeterias. Crampton married in 1939, and her new husband owned a flooring business; while he was installing floors in the White House, Crampton was able to meet first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. At 45, Crampton changed careers and became a teacher. Today, she's as active as ever, spending her days playing cards and other games, including bingo with her friends at the Brighton Gardens of Friendship Heights senior living community in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To celebrate her 106th birthday, the staff at Brighton Gardens of Friendship Heights threw Crampton a party, inviting all her friends and decorating the space with photos of Crampton from throughout her life. "Janet was tickled pink," business office coordinator Karen Seth told The Week in an email. "She was so honored and told us she felt like the queen of the day."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

The Week

3. Willow Biden, the First Cat, shows off her new life at the White House

Willow Biden went from a Pennsylvania barn to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Monday was National Pet Day and to mark the occasion, website The Dodo shone a spotlight on the newest member of the Biden family: Willow, the cat that first lady Jill Biden met in 2020 during a campaign stop at a Pennsylvania farm and later adopted. She officially joined the Bidens at the White House in January. In The Dodo's video, Willow takes viewers along as she goes about her daily routine, which includes napping on desks, staring out the window at birds, and getting treats from the first lady. It's clear that Willow, a short-haired gray tabby, has made herself right at home in the White House.

The Dodo YouTube

4. 9-year-old fashion designer's stylish looks caught the eye of Vera Wang

Give her a piece of fabric and some thread, and Kaia Aragon will turn it into the outfit of her dreams. The Colorado resident was 5 years old when her mother, Tonya, taught her how to sew. When she turned 7, Tonya bought Kaia a sewing machine, and now at 9 she has hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers who can't get enough of her one-of-a-kind fashion creations. Kaia has made dozens of skirts, dresses, and tops, designing and sewing them all on her own. Kaia finds inspiration everywhere — a recent ensemble was influenced by the house in Encanto — and her current project is transforming a wedding dress from 1983 into a skirt. A fan who can't wait to see how it turns out is iconic fashion designer Vera Wang, who recently commented on one of Kaia's TikTok videos. Kaia told Today she was "so excited" by the praise, and when she realized just how big of a deal Wang is in the fashion world, "I was freaking out."

Today

5. San Francisco Giants' Alyssa Nakken makes MLB history by coaching on the field during game

Alyssa Nakken of the San Francisco Giants has once again made MLB history. During a game on Tuesday, the Giants coach took over at first base, becoming the first woman to ever coach on the field during a regular-season major league game. She did so after coach Antoan Richardson was ejected in the third inning, and San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer shook her hand as she came onto the field. The Giants ultimately defeated the Padres 13-2. "Sometimes I think we always limit ourselves to thinking what we could do," Nakken told MLB.com. "At least that's my experience. I never thought that I could do something like this because I never saw it. So I think, sure, it's certainly important for people to be able to see that this is an opportunity and they can see somebody that kind of looks like them going out there and coaching in the big leagues." In 2020, Nakken was hired as an assistant under Giants manager Gabe Kapler and became the first female full-time MLB coach.

ESPN MLB.com