5 Most Uplifting Stories of the Week

Two dramatic rescues of children are on the list this week:

• Firefighter's 3 Kids Rescued, by His Own Wife: A mother in Washington state rescued her three young children from a house fire before firefighters arrived at the scene. It's all the more remarkable because her husband was one of those firefighters rushing to get there.
• Drivers Help Save Unconscious Baby: A quick-thinking aunt and a group of Good Samaritans on a busy Miami expressway saved the life of a 5-month-old infant who had stopped breathing this week. And one of those helpers just happened to be a Miami Herald photographer who captured some amazing images.
• Couple Married 60 Years Die 36 Hours Apart: When Ed Hale asked his future wife's parents for her hand in marriage, she had just been in a car accident and a long journey to recovery was ahead. They said no, but he persisted, promising to care for her the rest of his life. Ed and Floreen Hale were married in 1953, and more than 60 years later, they both lay dying—in separate hospitals. Ed convinced the hospitals to pull some strings, and he ended up in a bed right next to hers, so close they could hold hands. Floreen died on February 7, followed less than 36 hours later by Ed.
• Homeless Guy Drops Last Cash on Lotto, Wins $2.8M: Reality doesn't really tend to work this way, but László Andraschek's tale is the stuff of fantasy: En route to a program for recovering alcoholics, the unemployed, indebted Hungarian man was down to his last few coins when he decided to buy a lottery ticket ...
• Female Running Back Makes History in Men's Pro League: The numbers may not be impressive on the stat sheet—three carries for a net loss of 1 yard—but it's historic nonetheless. Jennifer Welter became the first woman—not counting kickers or placekick holders—to play men's pro football when she took part in a game for the Texas Revolution in the Indoor Football League. She got hit hard on every play, and bounced up every time.

Click for more uplifting stories. (More uplifting news stories.)