The week's good news: October 24, 2019

1. Woman hopes her book about rescuing a stray dog will motivate others to do the same

During Thanksgiving four years ago, Jill McGlaughlin was visiting Mississippi when a stray dog began following her and her family around. The dog, who they dubbed DD, was hungry and had clearly been on her own for awhile, so the McGlaughlin family nursed her back to health and took her home with them. "We really needed her," McGlaughlin told WHSV. She shared DD's story on social media, and friends told her she should write a book about the experience, to encourage other people to help animals in need. Over the last two years, McGlaughlin worked on the book, titled DD's Miracle. Out now, a portion of the proceeds will go to nonprofit animal organizations.

WHSV

2. Medical students operate health clinic for uninsured patients

Caroline Hensley wants everyone to have access to health care, whether or not they have insurance. Hensley is a medical student at the University of Cincinnati. She previously worked at a health center for people without insurance, and saw that patients came from far and wide to receive care. This inspired her to start a free health clinic, called The Healing Center. At The Healing Center, Hensley and her fellow medical students see patients, but are supervised by a doctor. They connect people with resources, and have Spanish translators available. While the clinic is only open on Saturdays, the plan is to expand the hours. Hensley told WLWT that "seeing what need there is out there, and seeing how starting with just one person having a voice and one person identifying a problem, that can grow into something so much bigger, has been really impactful for me."

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WLWT

3. Inspired by students, elementary school custodian becomes their teacher

When Kevin Knibbs became a custodian at an elementary school, he had no idea that would be the start of a career working with children. The 33-year-old from Dade City, Florida, quickly learned that he enjoyed interacting with kids, and after nearly a decade as a custodian, enrolled in college and signed up for education classes. "I wanted something that would drive me and make me happy for the next 20 years," he told the Tampa Bay Times. Knibbs is now in the middle of his first year at Cox Elementary School, teaching third grade. His principal, Kim Natale, says Knibbs is a role model for all students, as he "brings that lens of perseverance and that lens of having a dream and working to accomplish it. Children in our day and age need to have people in their lives who have worked through that experience, worked to achieve their goals."

The Tampa Bay Times

4. Author asks teen fan to collaborate on a book

An email to her favorite author turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Taryn Everdeen. Three years ago, Everdeen, now 18, sent Carolyn Meyer, creator of the Young Royals series, some fan mail. The pair began corresponding, and Meyer thought Everdeen was so "creative," she told Inside Edition. Meyer asked Everdeen if she would like to collaborate on a project, and she quickly agreed. Everdeen lives in England and Meyer in New Mexico, but they flew back and forth to work on their book, a time travel tale about a modern boy and a girl from Elizabethan England. Everdeen considers Meyer not only a mentor, but also a friend, who has "taught me a lot about writing and about life in general." Meyer said working with Everdeen has been a treat, and provided "a real lesson for me to stop and take in somebody else's point of view."

Inside Edition

5. Bride has her 4 grandmothers serve as flower girls

The flower girls stole the show at Lyndsey Raby's wedding, just like she knew they would. Donning matching blue dresses, Lyndsey's grandmothers — Betty Brown, 72, Kathleen Brown, 90, Wanda Grant, 76, and Joyce Raby, 72 — made their way down the aisle ahead of her during the Sept. 22 nuptials in Benton, Tennessee. "I'm so lucky," Lyndsey told Today Style. "A lot of women don't get one grandparent at their wedding, and I was blessed to have all of them." The flower girls had a blast, although there was a disagreement over the dresses, Lyndsey said — her grandmother Betty Brown insisted they wear something long, while Betty's mother Kathleen Brown, Lyndsey's great-grandmother, wanted something shorter. The newest member of the family is Joyce Raby, Lyndsey's husband Tanner's grandmother, and she has already bonded with the crew. "They're all besties now, and talking on Facebook," Lyndsey said. "Family is the most important thing to all of us."

Today