Welcome to the Good News Roundup for November 11, 2024.
Vision Restored in World-first Treatment
Researchers in the US have revealed positive results following stem-cell transplants for four people living with limbal stem-cell deficiency (LSCD) – a condition that severely impairs vision and eventually leads to blindness.
The four underwent surgery between 2019-2020, with donor stem cells transplanted into the eye. All four reported immediate improvements in their vision, although one person did have a slight reversal after one year. Importantly, at the two year mark post-surgery, none had experienced side effects.
Researchers say the results are an exciting development and are now looking to get clinical trials underway in March. You can read the full story here.
Discount Dog wins National Working Dog Challenge
We do love a dog story, especially when it involves an underdog (see what we did there?!)
Six year old Kelpie Bear, from Dirranbandi, south-west of Brisbane, was recently crowned the winner of the National Working Dog Challenge, after clocking up 570kms in just two weeks.
Bear was purchased by his owner for just $200 after no one else wanted him, and as part of the challenge was fitted with a GPS collar to track distance, duration and speed as he went about mustering 3,500 sheep and cattle.
Sounds like he’s an impressive dog, you can learn a little more about his life (and see a cute pic!) on the ABC.
Paraglider Survives Being Sucked into a Storm
In what is an incredible story of a survival, a Canadian paraglider has been sucked into a storm in India, lifted well into the air before falling unconscious to the ground – and lived to tell the tale.
Ben Lewis was flying on his own in Bir, India, when he misread the signs of a brewing storm and was pulled into the cell, lifted higher and higher into the clouds amid hail and lightning, before he eventually passed out and fell to the ground.
He woke to find himself suspended in trees in the jungle, and after a bit of an ordeal was found by local paragliders, a local family and his two friends also in Bir.
His injuries were significant – including a broken neck – but it’s a remarkable story of survival that you can read more here.
Ring Reunited with Owner after Almost 50 Years Lost
And we love this reunion story out Barbados – a professional diver was combing through the seabed recently churned up by Hurricane Beryl when he came across a gold graduation ring featuring the inscription – McMaster University 1965 FMP.
Using that information, the diver contacted the University who went through old graduate records to find a match for the initials – tracking down the ring’s owner, Frederick Morgan Perigo.
The ring was returned to him a day before his 83rd birthday in what must have been an unexpected, but very welcome gift.
