Breakthrough and Love #WATWB
In honor of the abundance of Thanksgiving, I’m offering two good news stories.
My first offering is a follow-up announcement to a previous story.
Seven months ago, in April of this year, I wrote a blogpost about 2018 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Jim Allison, an immunologist who discovered a cure for cancer. Back then, I watched a two-minute trailer for the upcoming, independent documentary titled, Jim Allison: Breakthrough. The trailer whetted my appetite, but left me hungry to watch the 90-minute film.
The good news is that, while the documentary is on a theatrical run right now only in select cities, it will be available on iTunes, Amazon and other streaming outlets on December 24th. Just in time for Christmas!
What a gift! The documentary is getting rave reviews. In the words of Ann Hornaday, writer for The Washington Post: “When people wake up every day wondering where hope can possibly be found, ‘Jim Allison: Breakthrough’ offers an inspiring and heartening retort. Check it out. Take the kids. Go twice. Just see the dang thing. You won’t regret it, and you’ll never forget it.”
My second offering is a touchy-feely good news story, especially because it’s about compassionate kids doing everything they can to help a fellow classmate who’s suffered a stunning loss.
If you’re like me, you’ll be reaching for a tissue or ten.
Visualize a third grade boy, Daniel Hunt, whose house burned down, whose family lost everything. Watch the video below as the young boy, speechless and stunned, opens his arms wide, curling his fingers in a beckoning gesture toward his thirty smiling classmates, who surge into Daniel’s arms, spilling over to his back and sides, surrounding him like a breaking wave of pure love. “I’ve got joy in my stomach,” Daniel later told his grandmother. Watching Daniel and his classmates surely put the joy in mine. You can watch the heart-warming video below.
You can read more about Daniel’s touching story here.
In this season of abundance, a reminder: it surrounds us, even in the toughest of times; we only need to be willing to look for it. Wishing you joy in your stomach and a very happy holiday season!
At the end of each month, we bloggers are given an opportunity to post good news, offering an antidote to bad news in our feeds. The talented co-hosts for this month are: Peter Nena, Shilpa Garg, Simon Falk, Damyanti Biswas, and myself, Lizbeth Hartz. Please check out the blogs and say hello.
Lizbeth Hartz is the author of the true crime, true love memoir Angel Hero, Murder in Hawaii, A True Story. Get it on Amazon or sign up to read the 1st chapter free.
Joy in my stomach – priceless, thanks Lizbeth! Have put Dr. Jim Allison on ‘watch later’, although I did watch Daniel’s one. Thanks for these stories and also for being co-host this month ..
Thanks for writing, Susan:) I’ll be watching Dr. Jim’s documentary in December, too. And you’re welcome; I’m delighted to be part of such positive postings by positive folks like you!
Both the stories give so much hope and happiness. So wonderful to see so much love, compassion and kindness shown by these 3rd graders. Wishing you joy in your stomach and a very happy holiday season too, Lizbeth ♥
Thanks very much for reading and commenting, Shilpa. I thought the same thing about these 3rd graders; how giving and kind they are! May your stomach be joyful as well:) and your holiday, too.
Hi Lizbeth – oddly enough I’ve just looked at Jim Allison’s trailer and immediately thought I need to see this – the trailer is just so brilliant – amazing man, no wonder he won the Nobel Prize. So great to see you endorsing it.
Aren’t those kids just so thoughtful for Daniel – and he looks so happy … a very generous gesture from his school friends and the school …
Both lovely stories for #WATWB … cheers Hilary
Hi Hillary — like you, I’m excited to watch the documentary. I so admire this man who responded to his and his family’s cancer tragedies by finding a cure for it! I agree, the children were so thoughtful and giving, how very touching, I’ll bet they come from loving homes to be so kind. Thank you for your kind words:)
An ‘inside edition’, indeed. It warms the inside of our heart. What his classmates did for Daniel is truly wonderful, Lizbeth. May the documentary on Dr Jim Allison’s truly great work reach many people. Thanks for co-hosting with us!
Hi Simon, yes, I agree, I love what you said, an “inside edition”:) and a wonderful gesture from his classmates. And yes, I hope the documentary reaches many people. I think it would be so great if people didn’t had less dire and invasive options that radiation and chemo. Thanks for writing and you’re welcome, and it’s an honor and a pleasure to be a co-host for inspiring and uplifting #WATWB.
So inspiring!
Thank you very much, Damyanti:)
I loved the way the kids display of generosity and love:) to Daniel, so thoughtful of them, kids teach us so much, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading and commenting:) Yes, wasn’t that heartwarming, how kind the children were, and how Daniel beckoned them all for a hug?