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When it comes to knowing the secret to a long life, who better to talk to than a centenarian? Some say it all comes down to eating healthy or exercising daily and others say they’ve just been blessed with good genes. There was even one woman named Susannah Mushatt Jones who claimed eating bacon was the reason she reached 116-years-old.[1]
In 2015, Holiday Retirement commissioned a national survey of American centenarians – real people who have lived for 100 or more years. It included questions about what it takes to live a long and meaningful life. In short, the secrets included spending time with family, saving money early on, working out your problems instead of running from them, and being active.[2]
Possibly the most unconventional response we’ve ever heard came from Scotland’s 109-year-old Jessie Gallan.
Jessie Gallan’s Secret to a Long Life
Gallan was born on a farm in Kintore, Scotland in 1906 to a family with five sisters and one brother. In a tiny two-room cottage, all seven of them would sleep together on a straw-filled mattress. Although she attended school for a while, she left to work in a farm kitchen and then a housemaid in the city for a wealthy businessman. This was followed by a career in the service industry in both the city and countryside.[3]
Eventually, Gallan moved into the Crosby House, a residential care home for seniors. Gillian Bennett, one of her support workers at the time told STV:[3] “Jessie is a lovely woman. She has got her best friend here, Sarah Jane, and they are always together. She likes her music and likes her exercise class and is a very independent person. She is always walking about.”
Judging by Bennett’s kind words, Gallan sounds like she would also credit being active and staying social to living as long as she did. However, although she died in March 2015, her secret to a long life is unlike any we’ve heard!
“My secret to a long life has been staying away from men,” said Gallan.[3] “They’re just more trouble than they’re worth.”
Although we can hear a resounding AMEN coming from other women around the world, Gallan’s secret does have a dietary component…
“I like my porridge. I have all my life.”
While Jessie Gallan didn’t specifically mention any of the survey points above, she lived them out… From staying social to being active, maybe staying away from men was the unspoken cherry on top that kept her going for so long!
We’re not saying stay away from marriage if you want to live long. Rather, we’re highlighting the fact that a combination of healthy (and sometimes unconventional) habits and life choices can help increase your lifespan… potentially even into your hundreds!
In February 3 years ago, when this Nigerian mother of 31 went into labor, she had no idea what she was about to experience. She can now easily tell her identical twin sons apart. Even though they were only minutes apart at birth, Daniel and David look nothing similar.
Both of the children of Stacy and Babajide, who are black and live in Lagos, are albinos. Because of their strikingly different appearances, the cute twins often draw attention wherever they go. Daniel looks like his 5-year-old big sister Demilade and has dark skin and black curly hair, while David is shockingly white with pale skin and golden locks.
Stacy decided to document the odd couple’s antics on Instagram, and now, after only a year, the twins had nearly 18,000 followers.
Birth of the twins on February 26 of last year came as a complete shock to everyone.
“We did not know about their differences while I was pregnant, the scan did not show such so it was a huge surprise and the most amazing moment when the first twin (Daniel) came out with black hair and the second twin (David) came out with gold hair. I had them through CS, so the doctors were like: “It seems you are having totally unidentical twins.” Before I knew it, nurses started coming out to look at them,” mum of three, Stacy, told Bored Panda.
One of the twins was black and the other was white, so it was impossible to tell them apart.
Stacy’s husband’s response to this turn of events is touching, and she shared it with us.
“Their dad was really overwhelmed and immediately named My Twin 2 (David) ‘Golden,’ so he fondly calls him Mr. Golden. He was all overjoyed seeing his boys. He stood for more than 10 minutes staring at them and said he was just looking at God’s wonderful work and that they are his best gift ever.”
David’s albinism puts him in an extremely rare category; just 1 in 20,000 babies are born with this affliction.
Due to a lack of melanin, the pigment produced in the skin, hair, and eyes, albinism is a hereditary disorder that affects appearance. All races and ethnicities are affected, and the degree of pigmentation varies with the type. Albinism is a rare disorder, with a birth probability of between 3,000 and 20,000. Albinos need to be very careful because it can cause a variety of skin and visual issues.
David has oculocutaneous albinism, which explains his beautiful golden curls and unusually pale complexion. Fortunately, according to Stacy, David doesn’t have any health problems.
There are more than two million confirmed or suspected albinos in Nigeria, making it one of the countries with the highest prevalence of the disorder in the world. The numbers don’t lie, though; this community still experiences significant bias due to its members’ skin tone. Over 600,000 albino Nigerians are subjected to prejudice and bullying from their peers, families, and communities, which often leads to economic hardship and educational failure.
Stacy did say that nobody has ever said anything bad to her about her two sons, and that they are both loved equally and unconditionally.
“There’re always side talks whenever we go out, people often wanna know how and what’s happening and maybe due to their cute and adorable nature, you just wanna come close to say hello.”
Because of the twins’ unusual appearance, their family has been getting modeling offers from agencies in the United Kingdom. The family has made an Instagram account to share their delight and bring attention to important issues, and they are eager to take advantage of any possibilities that may arise. In order to raise awareness, Stacy and I decided to make an account for them since we think they have a narrative to tell.
“They have two different amazing personalities, they are a year+ now, walking and very playful,”said Stacy
“Daniel is more expressive while David is an observer. Both of them are highly inquisitive. Daniel is a foodie while David is quite picky; Daniel is extremely playful while David chooses moments; Daniel always likes to play the bigger brother role; they are both energetic.”
We are sure you didn’t know these details of about the life of one of the most famous stars in the world. His mom had to go down a very harsh road, but today she is so proud of her son.
“My childhood was dominated by s**ual abuse and violence, I was first molested around age 3. My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood children reportedly mature beyond their years. I was s**ually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal”, says Justin Bieber`s mother.
The downside in his mother’s childhood
Pattie Mallette, a Canadian screenwriter and film producer in her forties, is also the mother of Justin Bieber and oversaw his early musical endeavors.
Pattie gave birth to Justin when she was 17 and emotionally upset because she was still single.
Quoting Mallette, “My childhood was dominated by s**ual abuse and violence, I was first molested around age 3. My offenders include a male babysitter, the grandfather of one of my friends, and neighborhood children reportedly mature beyond their years. I was sexually violated so many times that as the years went by it began to feel normal. It`s a strange marriage knowing something is wrong yet at the same time finding it familiar and commonplace.”
She started using booze, pot, and acid at the tender age of 14. Also, she began stealing from stores. They expelled her after she set a fire in a school bathroom, committing an act of vandalism. She started dating Jeremy Bieber when she was 15 years old, and the couple stayed together for four years. At the age of 16, she ran away from home and has since survived by a combination of petty stealing and drug selling. She felt alone, depressed, and suicidal throughout this period. A suicide attempt at age 17 landed her in a psychiatric hospital. There, she had a conversion to Christianity.
After Mallette got out of the hospital, she tried to reconnect with old acquaintances who didn’t share her newfound religion. And she’s been talking to Jeremy Bieber again. A pregnancy occurred six months later. On March 1, 1994, in London, Ontario, Mallette gave birth to her son, Justin. Mallette and Jeremy Bieber continued their relationship for a while after the birth of their son, but eventually broke up.
After two years of exhibiting interest in music, Mallette supported her son’s abilities. She enrolled Justin, then a teenager, in the 2007 Stratford Star talent show, where he sang “So Sick” by Ne-Yo and placed second. A video of the performance was uploaded by Mallette on YouTube for her family and friends to watch, and she continued to do so for following performances as her son gained notoriety on the internet.
Her autobiography, titled “Nowhere but Up,” was published by the Christian publishing house Revell in September of 2012. The book details Mallette’s difficult upbringing and her journey to overcome abandonment and single parenting to build a strong faith and a life full of grace and optimism.
On the New York Times Best Seller list it debuted at position number seventeen. The book has been reviewed in numerous publications from all over the world.
While Justin did not have a traditional family upbringing, he was assured by his mother that he would be able to provide the same for his own children.
Just try to imagine what happens when we die. Just by the thought of it, it can become very frightening. That is the exact reason why we want to hear fairytales that make us think about the magic and beauty we have here on earth.
When someone is suffering for a long time it’s very hard for them, but also it’s horrible time for the family members too. Sometimes it’s easy to lose hope and think it’s better to let go than to cling to that pain…
One of a kind story is Martin Pistorius from South Africa who was 12-years-old when it happened. He suddenly fell ill and was diagnosed with a degenerative illness, leaving him in a vegetative state.
For 12 hard and long years, Pistorius was trapped inside his own body.
He thinks he woke up around when he was 14-15 years old, a couple of years later when it happened, but everyone around him though he was unconscious of the perception around him. His mother said once that she wished he was dead, and he heard all that, but he knew she was heartbroken seeing her son lay there in vegetative state, silently suffering on the inside…
In the following powerful NBC interview, we learn what life was like for Pistorius, trapped with his thoughts for over a decade.
Please SHARE this man’s remarkable story with all of your friends on Facebook!
A first kiss, a kiss that rises Sleeping Beauty, a kiss to save Snow White from her death, a mother’s kiss on the forehead before sleep… kisses are what keep our hearts pumping. They are the most universal expression of love and affection.
There are so many forms of kissing as well, to show the different ways a person can love another person. Kissing is an intimate way of expressing passion and the most beautiful way to make someone feel special and worthy.
Presenting today as an interesting read for you – 5 secret facts about kissing that rarely which one of you readers already knew.
1. The authenticity of the French kiss
Before the intimate and passionate kiss between two lovers celebrated as a “French kiss”, it was known as “maraichanage” – also a French name. this word has roots in Brittany, a region in France. The names were replaced after the First World War, when American and also, British soldiers came back safe and sound from the war and the serving in France, welcomed by the passionate kiss from their partners home.
2. The Lengthiest Kiss
A couple from Thailand are the Guinness World Recorders in performing the longest, or, the lengthiest kiss in the world history. They were kissing for exactly 58 hours, 35 minutes and 58 seconds. The loving couple Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat broke the old record in the 2013, and their record is still not broken!
3. Longest kiss recorded “on-screen”
This movie kiss only lengths for about 3 minutes and 24 seconds and it is contained in the movie “Elena Undone”, recorded in the 2010. The kiss is between two girls!
4. Phobia of kissing
as there are many phobias or things that people are commonly scared of, there’s also a fear of kissing! To be more exact, these people are afraid from “the idea of kissing”. The fear itself is called “Philemaphobia”, and it originates in the Greek language, from the word “Philema” that means kissing. The fear generally stems from the fear of exchanging germs and other bacteria.
5. Menstrual cycle can affect kissing!
Yes, you read this well! because we are expressing passion and endorsing hormonal changes in our bodies, kissing while having menstruation can affect the process of kissing. Especially how the kiss is expressed or felt from the woman’s side.
The study shows that this is “due to the alteration of hormonal levels in the body which results in various functions being reworked, which include the re-configuration of saliva”. Basically, this says that the partner “will taste and smell” a woman differently when she’s in her period!
The things we use subconsciously can say a lot about us. For instance, when we sleep, the sleeping position and the dreams can say a lot about us. Moreover, if you sleep with your partner, the most usual sleeping position you have can indicate what kind of relationship you have. Hence, we decided to list the most common couple sleeping positions and their meaning. Take a look and learn something new about you and your relationship.
THE CHASE
This is a common couple sleeping position. It either indicates that one person is in pursuit of the other or that one partner does not feel like being in a close relationship, while the other one insists. The name itself indicates the meaning of this sleep position.
THE TANGLE
There is a lot of intimacy going on in this sleeping position. That’s why it is extremely rare! It is typical at the beginning of a romantic relationship. It indicates that the partners are too dependent on each other to sleep apart.
THE UNRAVELING KNOT
This position starts with the tangle position but unravels after a couple of minutes. It shows that the relationship is strong and there is independence between the partners.
THE SPOON
This isn’t a common sleep position, but partners who sleep in this position are usually very protective over each other.
THE LOOSE SPOON
This sleeping position is a sign a mature relationship. Although it is less sexual position than classical spooning, it is a sign of a serious and healthy relationship.
THE LIBERTY LOVERS
This sleeping position is quite common and shows connection and security.
THE BACK KISSERS
This sleeping position is a sign of a relaxed and comfortable relationship.
THE NUZZLE
This sleeping position creates a sense of protection, nurturing and strengthening of the relationship.
THE LEG HUG
The partner who intertwines their legs shows that they crave an emotional or sexual connection. It is a good sleeping position as it indicates harmony between the partners.
THE SPACE HOG
This isn’t a good sleeping position for partners as it shows that the partner is selfish and dominant. This type of relationship is toxic and should be ended as soon as possible.
I just want to share to you this post that I read from the internet especially to those women out there who are experiencing these signs at some point in their relationship.
Girls/women can post comments if you have experienced some of the signs and share how you feel and what you do about it.
Boys/men out there, you can write comment if you agree that if you did that sign it only shows that you are not really in to that someone or comment if you have any violent reaction.
Want to know whether he is in love with you or you’re just convenient. Then follow these signs. You will get your answers
1. He never opens up emotionally
Without the pure feeling of love, one can’t open up to someone. Boys only consider tearing their heart out of someone they share their soul with.
2. He only seems close when he wants s3x
S3x is something that can totally change a man’s behavior which is why he acts all cute and sweet when he is craving for some wild fun.
3. He keeps in touch with his ex(s)
A man with no emotions towards you can never get over his ex. Because he is not sure about you, therefore, he keeps a backup. And you don’t need any other signs to know that he is just a jerk who is playing around with you.
4. You sometimes feel like a stranger around him
You can never feel that warmth and concern around a person who has got no interest in you or your love. Just your body is making him stick around.
5. He only knows you on a surface level
He never struggles to explore you when he just considers you convenient. Your man has no love feelings towards you. Note these signs.
6. He always walks away from an argument
Because he thinks you’re just convenient and it is useless to talk over love things with a person who doesn’t mean anything to him.
7. He never seems to care about where the relationship is going
This relationship, gurl, is like a game for him. He doesn’t give a sh*t about it. What other signs do you need?
8. He never seems concerned about you
He would never try to protect you or show care and love towards you. Because, it’s not his fault, that jerk just doesn’t feel that way.
9. He spends more time with friends than you
Because who would like to spend time with someone who is just convenient for them. Obviously, he would prefer his friends over you
10. He never seems invested in the moment
You know that moment when you arrange a candle light dinner with an extreme love for both of you. And he doesn’t even seem excited? I feel you, gurl.
11. You have never met his family
Have you met his family? No? Well, that’s because he’s not serious enough to admit that he is in a relationship with you. This is because he doesn’t have those deep love feelings for you. You’re just convenient. Accept it!
12. You have just got an overall bad feeling
He never makes you feel special. And at a corner of your heart, you’re all aware that these signs clearly say that he is not your one. But you still struggle through that bad feeling
Imagine going through the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and eventually living to witness the first African-American president of the USA. President Obama even sent them a signed commendation back in 2010!
The lovebirds Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher broke The Guinness World Record for the longest marriage. They were married since May 13, 1924. Back in 2008, they broke the record for longest marriage at 84 years.
This looks like mission impossible in the world we live in today. Most marriages end before they even truly begin! Researchers estimate that 41 percent of all first marriages end in divorce, 60 percent of second marriages end in divorce and 73 percent of all third marriages end in divorce. Then how come this couple stayed together for so long to broke the world record?! What’s their secret?!
They were interviewed about their secrets to withstanding through harsh times and managing crisis in marriage. Here are the simple answers from the couple that truly lasted till “death did them apart”:
1. What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure. Divorce was NEVER EVER an option, or even a thought.
2. How did you know your spouse was the one for you?
We grew up together and were best friends before we got married. A friend is for life; but our marriage lasted a lifetime.
3. Is there anything you would do differently after 80+ years of marriage?
We wouldn’t change a single thing. There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other and our family. (I guess there lies the secret…)
4. What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there for them?
Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner! He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know for sure.
5. What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
Respect, support, and communicate with each other. Be faithful, honest, and true. Love each other with ALL of your heart.
6. What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
Zelmyra: A hard worker and a good provider. The 1920s were hard, but Herbert wanted and provided the best for us. I married a good man!
7. What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?
Zelmyra: I cook dinner every day. Herbert left work early and surprised me; he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!
Herbert: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her and [that] she could relax. The look on her face and clean plate made my day! (This just made my day!)
8. You got married very young – how did you both manage to grow as individuals and not grow apart as a couple?
Everyone who plants a seed and harvests the crop celebrates together. We are individuals, but accomplish more together.
9. What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?
10. Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.
11. How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
Herbert: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life. Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.
12. At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
Remember marriage is not a contest, never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.
13. Is fighting important?
Never physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, and fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break!
14. What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
We are both Christians and believe in God. Marriage is a commitment to the Lord. We pray with and for each other every day.
Zelmyra and Herbert had an inspiring marriage, and we are lucky to have their advice. After 87 years, it was clear that they were as in love as the day they were married.
In 2011, Herbert passed away at 105, and a few years later in 2013, Zelmyra followed at 105 years old as well. When Herbert passed, the couple had been married for 87 years.
Being committed for life is not easy, but it can be done! We all can use every help and advice we can get! If you treasured a bit of this profound love advice, please pass some of it on to your friends on social media. Everyone should know this!
You probably heard a lot of mind-blowing stories, but the one about the life of Patrick Hardison from Mississippi is about to blow you out of your socks!
Back in 2015, Patrick was the first man to receive a face transplant after he was caught in a burning house that left his face completely disfigured back in 2001.
He began on a humble path as a volunteer firefighter earlier in his life. Whenever his help was needed, he didn’t hesitate a second, until one day a house collapsed on top of him and trapped him. His torso and face were severely burnt.
“[My mask] was melting to my face,” Patrick recalled a terrible memory. “My hose [was] already melted.”
“For somebody who does what we do for a living, I’ve never seen anybody burned that bad that was still alive,” friend and first responder Jimmy Neal told CBS News of seeing Patrick after the accident.
Youtube/ABC News
Patrick’s burns on his face and scalp were classified as 3rd degree burns. He also had burns on his head, neck and upper torso. His lips were completely destroyed along with most of his nose and eyelid tissue.
“I didn’t actually see myself until probably November. I got injured in September,” Patrick told Fox News. “They had cut a little pinhole in one of my eyelids because they had everything covered, skin graft. I looked in the mirror and all I could do, I said, ‘this is it? I can’t do this,’” he recalled.
Believe it or not, Patrick had to sustain over 70 surgeries and other procedures. He couldn’t close his eyes and doctors managed to put together flaps of skin to protect his vision, but there was always the risk of going blind…
Youtube/NYU Langone Health
Every time he ate, the pain was insurmountable. He couldn’t stand to look himself in the mirror, and everywhere he went people starred at him. He couldn’t hang around with people, even with his own children…
To protect himself and his look, Patrick always had a baseball cap and sunglasses on him. He also had ear prosthetic.
“I had kids. It was just a tough time. I never got a day off from the injury. When you walk out in public, it was daily. And, you know, it’s just so — there’s no way to explain everything,” he told Yahoo! Sports.
“You go to the ball field, you have to prepare yourself for the kid that goes running off screaming.”
Youtube/NYU Langone Health
Patrick lost all hope to have a “normal” life, but it all changed when a French woman Isabelle Dinoire got a face transplant after her dog disfigured most of it. This procedure was revolutionary and it gave Patrick hope that he could be the next standing in line.
He met with doctor Eduardo D. Rodriguez from the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York who promised him he’ll do everything he could to do the face transplant as successful as possible IF they find a matching donor. One day LiveOnNY, a nonprofit that coordinates organ donations in the New York found a match.
The 26-year-old David Rodebaugh sustained a severe head injury in a bike accident and has been declared as brain dead. His face was going to be transplanted on Patrick’s.
Youtube/Inside Edition
Nancy Millar, David Rodebaugh’s mother, decided to donate her son’s organs, including his face: “I said, ‘You better save his face. He has the face of a porcelain doll.’ And he’s a donor — we had talked about it,” Millar told People.
She hoped that her sons legacy, or at least a part of him, will be used to save someone else’s life, including Patrick’s.
“When I met Patrick, I saw this strength, this strong, manly, burly kind of energy in him — that David had,” Nancy recalled.
“David wanted to be a firefighter, an I knew if this guy was a firefighter — he was willing to walk into a fire to save people and risk his own life — then he had the strength that David had.”
Youtube/Inside Edition – David
The day finally came, and the procedure was performed by 100s of professionals and lasted for 26 hours.
Of course, with every surgery comes a risk, and this one had a 50/50 percent chance of survival. But Patrick was lucky to be under the wing of hundreds of professionals. He received a new face, scalp, ears, ear canals and eyelids which allowed him to blink naturally and save his vision.
“Everything in life has a risk,” Patrick told Time Magazine.
“When it’s your time to go, you’ll go—whether you’re walking down the street and get hit by a car or you’re lying on the operating table.”
Youtube/NYU Langone Health
After the swelling was better and he learned how to talk and swallow again, Patrick met with Nancy, the donor’s mother. She had one heartwarming request: to kiss Patrick on the forehead.
“I said, ‘Can I kiss your forehead?’” Nancy said. “That’s the one thing I wanted to do because every night before David went to bed when he was little, I kissed his forehead.”
“I’ve been waiting a year to meet her. I’m just very grateful,” Patrick added. “Without her, it wouldn’t have been possible. It’s like she’s family. We connected that easily.”
Twitter/PatrickHardison
Patrick and people who receive an organ transplant take anti-rejection medications which suppress your body’s natural defence system (immune system) to prevent it from recognizing your transplant as a “foreign invader” and attacking it. However, Patrick is thriving with his new life and facial outlook.
Today he is divorced and is working on a book that will help people who think there’s no way out of a situation they put themselves in.
“Because I want to show the world that you can have hope. I wouldn’t want people that were like me years ago to think that’s it, I have to live like this. You don’t. You can accomplish anything,” Patrick says.
His overall recovery, and the chance of him surviving the accident are dubbed miraculous. Thanks to all the professionals that fixed his face, along with the generous offer from Nancy, Patrick is a happy man today.
Please SHARE this amazing story with your Family and Friends to give them hope!
All of us are unique and beautiful since the day we were born. Some kids have temper since birth, some are more calm, but on the outlook everyone is different. One of the greatest things about being human is that we are built exactly the same and nowadays we’ve evolved to a degree to accept and celebrate our differences.
Nicole Hall fears that when her lovely daughter Winry grows up she could have a hard life because of her unique outlook. She is dedicated to promote awareness about congenital melanocytic nevi.
What Is Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN)?
Moles present from birth, or that develop within the first few months after birth, are called congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN).
They are fairly common and, in most cases, they do not cause health problems. However, they can carry risks. Most cases of CMN never require treatment, but there are some cases in which the moles may be removed. This is usually done to lower the risk of skin cancer or to improve appearance…
As long as we accept the differences between one another the world will be a great place. If we divide as species because of our differences, we welcome division in coexistence.
When Winry was born she was different from the other babies. At first they thought it’s a bruise, but later on they got the diagnosis: congenital melanocytic nevi.
“When they first handed her to me, I thought it was a bruise. It was then quickly apparent to my husband and I that it was not a bruise. And like the name, I thought it looked a lot like a mole,” mom Nicole Hall told Good Morning America.
Dr. Harper Price of Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Dr. Heather Etchevers of Marseille Medical Genetics, stated in a report that her condition causes black and brown patches to appear on many different parts of her body.
As we stated earlier, like all moles, especially one with that magnitude on her face can pose a risk of developing melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The risk is relatively low, but Nicole always makes sure to cover her head when they are out in the sun. She also puts sunscreen on Winry and take every precaution.
“Her health and happiness are our top priority. We have to monitor her with sunscreen. I’m careful with hats and that sort of thing. I know our regular dermatology appointment is probably going to be our best friend growing up,” Nicole says.
Winry’s parents are aware that there are unkind people who will point at her, stare and call her words in school. That’s why they are dedicated to help raise awareness about her condition.
“For a lot of people, this is the first time seeing a birthmark like hers and that’s part of why I enjoy sharing,” Nicole says. “This is a good conversation for parents with their children to see kids have differences, or for those parents who do have a kid that looks like Winry or has any kind of a birthmark to see their child represented.”
Winry is very positive and healthy kid, and her parents hope that she accepts her look while she’s young to be able to cope later in life.
“She just radiates joy. She’s almost always laughing or shrieking. She is just the happiest baby I have ever seen,” shared the mom. “She’s a big talker already. We haven’t got a whole lot of words out, but she tells you like it is and she’s already getting a little bit of sassiness, so I think we’re gonna have a lot on our hands.”
Through social media, especially TikTok, Nicole is spreading awareness about her daughters condition, and parents who have kids with CMN are already joining the cause.
When questioned about any regrets people make, or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five.
1. “I Wish I had the Courage to Live a Life True to Myself and Not for Others”
When you are living the last days of your life it is common to reflect on past actions that were left undone more than the ones that were acted upon.
“Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made or not made,” stated Ware.
Giving up on personal goals for the sake of others usually leads you to immense regret.
2. “I Wish I hadn’t Worked so Hard”
This regret is common to most people who regret not spending enough time with their families due to extensive work schedules. This was the case with almost every male patient Ware talked to.
Getting caught up in the rat race and over-working ourselves to achieve name, fame, success, and money at the cost of avoiding family trips and personal assignments usually result in a state of disillusionment and extreme regret that we realize, but not before it is too late…
3. “I wish I had the Courage to express my Feelings”
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.
4. “I Wish I had stayed in Touch with my Friends”
There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Ware states “Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down.”
Figure out who matter most to you in life, and make sure you have them by your side.
5. “I Wish I had let myself be Happier”
Happiness is a choice rather than a consequence of situations. It is important we make choices based on our happiness and not our fears.
Ware expressed “Fear of change had them pretending to others and to their selves that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly.”
Fear is the only thing that holds us back from experiencing happiness and appreciating life to the fullest. Do not leave room for regret in your last days. Act on your choices and be as happy as you wish to be.
Seeing the Durrant family in its entirety is something to behold, a family of six that are not only striking but have beaten some pretty impressive odds.
When couple Alison Spooner and Dean Durrant had their first set of twins in 2001 the arrival instantly caught everyone’s attention..
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Perhaps the most fantastic thing about life on this planet is the unpredictable nature of things.
Sure, there are times when the unexpected can be upsetting, or even heartbreaking, but there are also plenty of occasions wherein we’re pleasantly surprised by something we thought would never happen.
Alison Spooner and Dean Durrant look like an average couple from the outside, but it turns out their genes are special indeed. This is evidenced in the miracle that occurred in not just one set of twins they had, but two …
In 2001, twin sisters Hayleigh and Lauren Durrant, from Hampshire, England, were born with different skin colors. One of the twins was white like their mother, and the other was Black like their father.
When Alison and Dean first discovered they were pregnant with twins, they assumed their babies would take after both of them. When Alison gave birth to Laura and Hayleigh in 2001, however, the parents were met with a surprise.
Laura had inherited her mother’s light skin, blue eyes, and red hair, while her twin sister had much taken after her father.
Of course, Alison and Dean were astounded, as were their families. Yet while the phenomenon is extremely rare, it’s not altogether unheard of.
Growing up wasn’t always easy as their parents had to field questions about how this could have happened and comments of disbelief, and then the girls would face questions from their friends at school.
On the twins’ 18th birthday in 2019, Hayleigh, who has dark skin and hair like her dad Dean, spoke exclusively with The Sun saying they weren’t always accepted.
“Some people can be really rude. They’ll say, ‘You’re lying, you aren’t twins – prove it!’ So we’ll reel off the same address or pull our passports out. It’s nice to see the shock on people’s faces.
“When we went to college it was difficult because there were lots of groups of Asian, white and black kids. The black group were trying to integrate me and I was like, ‘This is my white twin sister.’ No one could believe it. People look at us like it’s some kind of miracle. I’m still amazed that we are twins.”
Meanwhile, Lauren, who has her mother’s green eyes and fair hair, said, “People just assume we’re best friends rather than sisters, let alone twins.
“I’m happy with that because she is my best friend.”
For a biracial couple expecting twins, there is about a 1 in 500 chance those twins will have different skin colors, according to the BBC.
Fast forward seven years and Alison found herself pregnant again … with another set of twins! As Laura and Hayleigh turned 7, their mom gave birth to another set of twin sisters where the same thing happened, and the family made headlines again.
This time around, Alison was induced at 37 weeks when doctors found that her babies were in the breech position. Immediately after the delivery, the babies were rushed to intensive care due to problems with their breathing, meaning Alison and Dean didn’t get the chance to see them properly.
When they could finally look upon their new babies, though, they realized that they’d defied yet more odds … they had another set of miracle biracial twins!
The girls, Leah and Miya, also had different complexions, making them the only family in the world with two sets of biracial twins. The record family soon also found their way to the Guinness World Records.
Dr. Sarah Jarvis from the Royal College of General Practitioners told CBS News, that even non-identical twins aren’t that common.
“To have two eggs fertilized and come out different colors less common so to have it happen twice must be one in millions,” she added.
“I’m almost blown away as the rest of them, there’s no easy way to explain it all,” proud dad Dean told CBS News. “I’m still in shock myself even though the first ones were 7 years ago, it’s amazing.”
Leah and Miya are helped by their two older sisters who have been able to guide them through the challenges.
“The younger ones idolise the older ones and are always copying them. It’s like having two Mini-Mes,” said their father.
“They are best friends and close in every way, apart from looking different. It took me some years to understand the science of how they could appear so different,” their mom added.
Leah shared: “Lauren and Hayleigh are my heroes. I like my older sisters. We want to be like them when we are grown-up.”
The girls realize they are lucky to have each other and, despite their physical differences, said that they are similar in many ways.
Hayleigh explained: “We say the same things at the same time and finish each other’s sentences.Sometimes I know exactly what she is thinking.”
The world works in mysterious ways, but one thing’s for sure: Alison and Dean are lucky to have been blessed in such a way.
Such a strikingly beautiful family that could teach us all a thing or two about celebrating our differences.
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