❤️ Single Mom Gets Thousands of Cards

Good morning, and Merry Christmas Eve. Thousands of heartfelt Christmas cards uplift a single mom facing terminal cancer from around the world. Firefighters in Georgia bring holiday magic to young patients by rappelling down hospital windows in superhero costumes, and a little girl in the UK overcomes her fear of vegetables with the help of a caring specialist.

Our team will be off for the rest of the week due to the holidays. We’ll see you on Monday morning.

P.S. Still looking for the perfect gift? You can gift a Good News Break subscription and share a little more calm, hope, and perspective in someone’s mornings.

—Stephanie S

Single mom Heather Salazar, diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just 10 months to live, made a heartfelt request for Christmas cards to lift her spirits. Her story quickly spread, and thousands of people from around the world responded, sending cards filled with love, encouragement, and hope.

Heather was overwhelmed by the outpouring of kindness, which brought her and her family immense comfort during a difficult time. The cards arrived from strangers, schools, and even entire communities, each one a reminder that she was not alone.

The support extended beyond cards, with some people sending gifts and sharing their own stories of resilience. Heather’s children were especially touched by the generosity and found joy in reading the messages together.

This wave of compassion has given Heather renewed strength and a sense of connection, showing the power of simple acts of kindness to make a profound difference.

On a tiny Caribbean islet, the Critically Endangered Lesser Antillean iguana is making a comeback. Conservationists moved iguanas from Anguilla and Dominica to Prickly Pear East, creating a haven free from invasive species.

Thanks to this cross-island matchmaking, the population has soared from just 23 to over 300 in under five years.

Local communities played a key role, helping with sightings and care. This project is now inspiring new sanctuaries and hope for the species’ future.

The Merchants of Joy on Amazon Prime Video is a warm, grounded portrait of pride, grit, and joy: each winter in NYC, five families hustle to keep a holiday tradition alive, one tree, one customer, one season at a time.

Watch now on Amazon Prime Video.

Firefighters from Sandy Springs, Georgia, brought Christmas cheer to young patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta by rappelling down the hospital’s windows dressed as Santa, Superman, and Spiderman.

This heartwarming tradition, now in its third year, lets kids who can’t leave their rooms experience the magic of the season up close.

The event is a highlight for the firefighters, who cherish the chance to bring joy and hope to children and their families.

Gifts donated by the community make the day even more special, showing how small acts of kindness can make a lasting impact.

🍪 Massachusetts: Girl Scouts loaded 14,000 boxes of cookies to send to soldiers serving in the military.

🔒 Maryland: After losing a package to theft, a 22-year-old welder in Frederick built his own secure, keypad-locked delivery box to protect future deliveries from porch pirates.

🎓 Texas: Nurses and doctors at a Fort Worth hospital threw a surprise graduation ceremony for a high school senior who was too sick to attend her official commencement.

⚡ World: Renewable energy sources like solar and wind have surpassed coal to become the world's largest source of electricity for the first time.

🎖️ Pennsylvania: The dog tag of a World War II soldier from Philadelphia was returned to his family 80 years later thanks to a Facebook group.

57 years ago today, the Apollo 8 crew became the first humans to orbit the Moon. Astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders circled the Moon ten times over 20 hours, witnessing its far side and capturing the iconic Earthrise photograph. Taken on Christmas Eve, the image showed Earth rising above the lunar horizon and forever changed humanity's view of itself in the universe.

During a live Christmas Eve broadcast watched by millions, the astronauts read from the Book of Genesis as Earth drifted silently in the background. The mission marked a defining moment in space exploration, blending scientific achievement with a profound sense of shared humanity and planetary fragility.

Other notable December 24 events:

1818: Silent Night was first performed in Oberndorf, Austria.

1906: The first radio broadcast of a music program aired from Massachusetts.

1914: The Christmas Truce began during World War I, as opposing soldiers paused fighting to celebrate together.

1924: Albania officially became a republic.

— Robert Muller

Every day brings amazing advances and uplifting moments that remind us just how wonderful the world can be. Here are five reasons why today is the best time ever to be alive:

👓 Surgery Glasses: Smart glasses are assisting surgeons with real-time data overlays.

🩸 Anemia Apps: Diagnostic apps are helping detect anemia through smartphone cameras.

📘 Open Textbooks: Open-source textbooks are reducing education costs for students worldwide.

🌍 Soil Sensors: Soil sensors are reducing water usage and boosting agricultural productivity.

🤖 Online Makerspaces: Online makerspaces are providing free training in 3D printing and robotics to hobbyists.

Spread a little good news, and good things come back your way.

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