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PC: Pixabay

Good news doesn’t attract the most clicks, and these stories are being buried more than ever underneath COVID-19 news. But we could all use a pick-me-up, and good news is exactly that. Here are five pieces of good news you may have missed in the last couple of weeks: 

104-Year-Old World War II Veteran Believed Oldest Person To Survive COVID-19

Once a fighter is always a fighter. William Lapschies of Lebanon, Oregon went into isolation on March 5th after showing symptoms of COVID-19 and then testing positive. He recovered from the coronavirus earlier this week, just in time for his family to throw him a socially distant 104th birthday party. Lapschies not only survived fighting in WWII and this pandemic, but also survived the 1918 Spanish Flu and the Great Depression. He is believed to be the oldest person to survive the virus thus far. 

Heroic Coach To Receive Congressional Medal Of Honor 

Last May, high school coach Keanon Lowe disarmed a student who was about to take his own life, handed the gun to another teacher, and wrapped the student in an embrace. For that bravery and compassion, Lowe is now being honored with the Congressional Medal of Honor, which is awarded for exemplifying values like courage. “In that time, I felt compassion for him,” explained Lowe after the incident. “A lot of times, especially when you’re young, you don’t realize what you’re doing until it’s over.”

Four-Year-Old Found Lost In Woods Was Protected By Pet Dog 

Four-year-old Evelyn Sides was found after she spent two days lost in the woods. When she was separated from her 70-year-old caretaker during a walk in the woods, her hound dog, Lucy, stayed by her side. It was this same dog that started barking when rescue teams were close to Lucy’s location, and a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office stated, “The dog was with her protecting her the whole time.” It wasn’t just Lucy though; little Evelyn made sure folks knew, “I was brave.” 

New Blood Test First-Of-Its-Kind In Early Cancer Detection 

Early detection of cancer is so important in having a better chance at beating it, and a first-of-its-kind blood test is providing that early advantage. The test can detect the signs of 50 different kinds of cancer and locate which tissue it is originating in often before symptoms even begin to show. The false positive rate is under one percent; in comparison, current tests for breast cancer have a false positive rate closer to 10 percent. This type of test has the potential to change cancer diagnosis as we know it. 

We’re Coming Together

And while there isn’t one single news story that points to this, America is coming together even as we stay apart. Our nation is one with a history of weathering storms hand-in-hand, and this isn’t an exception. While we may not physically be together, the spirit of America and community togetherness is being displayed in remarkable ways. What better good news could you ask for as we walk through a time like this?

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