The week's good news: October 31, 2019

1. Climber summits the world's 14 highest peaks in 6 months

In just six months and six days, Nirmal "Nims" Purja summited the 14 highest peaks in the world — a challenge the previous record holder completed in seven years. The Nepalese climber started his adventure — dubbed "Project Possible" — in late April, when he made his way to the top of Annapurna in Nepal. In May, he went up Everest, and he climbed five peaks in Pakistan in July. On Tuesday, Purja battled wind and snow to reach the top of the final mountain, China's Mount Shishapangma. "It's been a grueling but humbling six months, and I hope to have proven that anything is possible with some determination, self-belief, and positivity," Purja said in a statement. He crushed two previous records for climbing the peaks — Jerzy Kukuczka of Poland finished the challenge in seven years and 11 months, while Kim Chang-ho of South Korea only shaved a month off of Kukuczka's time.

NPR

2. Somali refugee now director of Seattle clinic that treated her as a child

When Dr. Anisa Ibrahim and her family arrived in Seattle from Somalia in 1993, one of the first places they visited was the Harborview Medical Center's Pediatrics Clinic. Now, decades later, she is the clinic's medical director. Ibrahim, her parents, and siblings fled during Somalia's civil war, and while living in a Kenyan refugee camp, Ibrahim's sister contracted the measles and they were all exposed to tuberculosis. Ibrahim was just 6 when she was treated at the clinic, and decided at that early age she wanted to become a doctor. Ibrahim found herself back at the clinic after completing medical school, and told King 5 News she is "passionate" about its mission. She works closely with immigrants and refugees in the community, and has formed close relationships with her patients. "It's amazing seeing children who I saw at three days of life now telling me about their first day of kindergarten," Ibrahim said.

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King 5 News

3. Rare 13th century painting found in French kitchen

A woman in France spent decades cooking her meals underneath a work of art dating back to 1280, and she had no idea. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, decided to sell her house in June, and asked an auctioneer to see if there was any furniture or decor that could be sold. Upon entering the kitchen, the auctioneer was drawn to the 10-inch by 8-inch painting of Jesus Christ above the stove. The woman thought it was a Greek religious icon, and can't remember how it came to belong to her family. With the help of infrared reflectography, experts determined the painting was "Christ Mocked" by famed artist Cenni di Pepo, known as Cimabue. Only 11 Cimabue paintings exist, and "Christ Mocked" was the first to ever go to auction. It was dusty but otherwise in great condition, and sold on Sunday for $26.8 million — four times the estimate.

CNN

4. When student can't find lost tooth, principal writes letter to Tooth Fairy explaining everything

Curt Angeli wanted to make sure the Tooth Fairy didn't skip one of his students who literally lost a tooth on the playground, so he grabbed his official letterhead and wrote a note explaining the whole situation. Angeli is principal of Gillett Elementary School in Gillett, Wisconsin, and earlier this month, a first-grader realized during recess that his loose tooth had fallen out. The boy couldn't find it anywhere, and was worried the Tooth Fairy wouldn't leave him any money. That's when Angeli stepped in, and crafted a note for the Tooth Fairy. He vouched for the student, saying he could "verify that there is definitely a gap in [his] teeth that was not there this morning when he came in." Angeli told FOX TV he "figured I would make it look as official as possible, in case the Tooth Fairy was suspicious." The note worked, as the student received a crisp $1 bill.

FOX TV

5. Goats helped save the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library from burning in a fire

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, is safe, thanks to the hard work of firefighters and goats. The Easy Fire broke out in Simi Valley on Wednesday morning, and the flames came within a few feet of the library's pavilion that holds an old Air Force One. While the building was threatened, it didn't sustain any damage, due to the hundreds of goats brought up every May by the Ventura County Fire Department to eat vegetation in the area. "The firefighters on the property said that the fire break really helped them because as the fire was coming up that one hill, all the brush has been cleared, basically," library spokeswoman Melissa Giller said. The library holds millions of documents and photographs.

USA Today