“I am a single mum sharing a duplex with a single dad – we help each other out”
A single mum who shares a duplex with a single dad says they have the benefits of roommates without having to live together.
Kelsey Will, 32, moved into the duplex, in Cleveland, Ohio, US, in June 2024 – after her relationship with the father of her daughter ended in December 2021.
She was greeted by her friendly neighbour, Tom, 34, who left a note on her door saying he was looking forward to meeting her.
A few days later, Tom – who is also a single parent – was playing soccer outside with his children so Kelsey and her daughter went out to join them and they got chatting.
Kelsey says she Tom hit it off so well they’ve become “roommates that don’t live together”.
Tom will often help out with any DIY that needs doing, take the bins out and Kelsey will help with his daughter’s hair and even pop her pimples.
Kelsey, a social media management business owner, said: “I found this duplex, it was affordable and great.
“I didn’t know anything about Tom – it was a complete chance that we become such great friends.
“I knew he was going to be great when I came home and I had a welcome note on my door saying he was looking forward to meeting us.
“When I first found this duplex, I couldn’t have predicted that I’d be sharing it with another single parent and that he’d become such a meaningful friend in my life
“Tom and I are duplex housemates and built-in best friends. We have a strong bond and we look out for each other as single parents”
Kelsey introduced herself to Tom and started making small talk – before they realised they have lots in common – including sense of humour and parenting styles.
She said: “Our children were in the garden playing soccer and then we were making small talk.
“We all then went to the park together and we had a great time.
“After that, we haven’t necessarily made time to hang out but we will catch each other coming and going.
“If one of us needs help or is doing a shop we are always thinking about one another.”
Kelsey says their friendship blossomed after they both bonded over their parenting styles and similar humour.
She insists that their relationship is strictly platonic and says they have more of a brother and sister bond.
She said: “We have very similar personalities and humour – that is the hallmark of our friendship.
“To me, it feels like a sibling relationship and it is very natural and comfortable.
“From my point of view, the relationship is platonic and it is not romantic.
“That is not the vibe, I have never thought that he is catching feelings or anything like that.”
Kelsey says Tom will help out with any DIY, they share bin duties and will pick up each other’s groceries if needed.
She said: “He will help out with any DIY that needs doing.
“If the kids want to hang out together we will all hang out together while the kids play.
“Other than that, we don’t hang out so much – we are there when we need each other,
“We text a lot and whenever I am coming in I will talk to him if he is sat out having a smoke.”
Kelsey says her friendship with Tom gives her the benefits of having a roommate without having a roommate and it is a great “life hack”.
She said: “We do things for each other as if we are roommates – we are built-in neighbour besties.
“If one of us needs, the other person is right there – we are always doing favours for each other.
“If my stuff breaks I can use his, if he needs milk or eggs or something I got him.
“One morning he had his daughter and it was picture day at her school.
“He didn’t know how to do her hair so she came over to my place at 7am so I did her hair.”
“I refuse to leave my kids’ inheritance – my hard-earned cash is for me”
A mum refuses to leave a penny of her kids’ inheritance – instead using her “hard-earned” cash to further her own career and buy clothes to perform in.
Janey Kirk, 60, says her children, Carla, 30, and Adam, 26, are “in the same mind frame” and stand by her controversial choices – wanting their mum to enjoy herself.
Despite cash being off the cards, Janey will leave her house, car and Airbnb business to her kids – but wants to make sure they work hard themselves to understand the value of money.
Janey suggests parents with “idiot” kids shouldn’t leave money to them – as she believes they’ll “waste it and squander it”.
Janey spends what she needs “when needed” and says her children need to work “all their days” to be in the same position.
Believing inheritance money is more of a “modern thing”, Janey says she was never left money by her mum and dad.
Janey, a singer, from Fife, Scotland, said: “I’ve always believed that your house is good enough to leave.
“If you’re a young 60 like I am, I don’t feel that I should have to be putting money away from my kids when I could be using it to further mine and Carla’s career, go on working holidays and buy new clothes to work in.
“If I didn’t have to look after my mother than I’d probably be in Greece every month.
“I don’t put money away, I spend it as I need it and I use it as I need it.
“When I die if there’s anything left, then it’s theirs of course.
“I’m quite old fashioned that I’ve had to work all my days to be in that position, so they need to as well.
“It’s their life to make of it – I’m here for advice and things like that.
“I have a good insurance on my death, and my house and all I own will be theirs, but I’m not going anywhere fast and they may be well into their 70s or 80s by the time I kick the bucket!
“Safeguarding MY future comes first I’m afraid.”
Janey says she did give them some money – around £3000 – when they were younger, but that’s now gone.
She said: “They’ve spent it all on holidays etc.
“So once that was used, I’ve never bothered to add more.”
Carla is following in the same footsteps as her mum – taking up a life in the arts and they often perform as duo on TV together.
Janey said: “Carla doesn’t need it, she’s singing and earning well.
“She has a song that has gone viral called ‘If You Love Me Let Me Know’ with 19M views.”
“When we’re on TV shows when we both sing that generates an income from people Googling you and buying our CDs and DVDs that we have made.
“It’s all being used to further mine and her career.
“I never ask Carla to pay – when songs are ready, I make a music video which again generates a forever income I will leave to Carla.
“There’s a method to my madness of not putting money aside for them.”
Despite her polarising beliefs, Janey says her children are fully on board.
She added: “Their thoughts are the same as mine – they’re in the same mind frame.
“They encourage me to enjoy things.
“I give to them all the time now and I’d rather give them little bits while I’m alive when they need it and see what they’re getting for it.”
In terms of other people, Janey believes it’s a circumstantial decision but says parents with “idiot” kids shouldn’t leave any behind.
She said: “It all depends on the kids you’ve got.
“Some people have got idiots as kids and I don’t think they deserve it.
“If you’ve got studious children then I do believe it would be a good idea if you can afford it to put money aside – I’ve just not got that kind of kids.
“If I had a studious family and they needed it for college and university then that’s a different situation and I’d look at it – it all depends on the kids.
“But most of them are just idiots.
“Adam is a great guy and as long as he’s happy doing what he does, then I’m happy.
“Carla has her singing career.
“Adam has a never ending pot of cash especially for him for if he ever is stuck.
“He never abuses that and often a twenty pounds note will sit for a few weeks.
“This is much better than saving it up for him, knowing he is never stuck for cash.”
Janey’s TV show can be seen every Saturday evening at 10:30pm on Sky on Channel 588.
“I’m a pro highliner walking on wires 400ft in air but I’m scared of heights”
Meet the professional highliner who walks wires 400ft in the air despite having a fear of heights.
Taylor St Germain, 25, got into the sport through an ex-boyfriend who was a keen slackliner – balancing on a suspended length of flat webbing that is tensioned between two anchors.
Taylor would force herself to sit on the line to try and conquer her fear of heights.
In February 2021, her then-boyfriend entered an online competition called the Pandemic Open where freestyle high-line walkers submitted videos of their best tricks.
But he dislocated his elbow elbow and wasn’t able to compete – so Taylor took his place and came fourth.
Since then, Taylor has overcome her fear, entered four competitions – winning two – and is due to compete in the Highline World Championships in Laax, Switzerland later this month.
Taylor, a saleswoman and athlete, from Toronto, Canada, said: “I started working at a rock climbing gym.
“I was terrified of heights and I was looking at the top, wondering how people go up to the top.
“Working there I slowly overcame my fear of heights.
“I was introduced to slacklining and through that I found highlining.
“One of the highest lines I have done is in Canada and it is 400 metres from the ground.
“I haven’t completely overcome my fears and sometimes can get nervous before I go across.”
Taylor’s then-boyfriend was really into slacklining and Taylor would watch him.
She tried going onto the lines then gained the confidence to go highlining – the sport of walking across rope or wire between two high points.
She said: “I thought it was so cool, after watching my boyfriend do it I eventually wanted to do it and thought I should do it.
“Little by little I was forcing myself to go out onto the line.
“Most of the time I would spend time on the line just sitting there and feeling comfortable with the line.
“I started getting more and more comfortable, I am definitely not over the fear but it has helped.
“On the weekend I was on a line 100 metre from the ground and I was scared.”
During lockdown, her then-partner entered an online competition called the Pandemic Open.
People would submit videos of their best trick and a winner would be chosen.
Taylor’s boyfriend at the time broke his elbow and wasn’t able to compete but suggested she should.
Taylor said: “He ended up taking me out and teaching me how to bounce and do basic tricks.
“I competed in that competition and came fourth.”
Since then, Taylor has competed in four competitions, coming first in two of them and is competing in the Highline World Championships later this month.
Now, Taylor has started freestyle highlining and incorporated skills and tricks while crossing the wire.
She said: “The reason I started in the sport was to overcome the mental challenge, with free styling, I wasn’t just walking I was doing tricks too.
“Even after the tricks became less scary, I was doing it in front of a crowd and that was scary.
“I am still in the pursuit of driving myself out of my comfort zone – that keeps me going but the sport is also enjoyable to me.”
Taylor is ranked number two in the world on the International Slackline Association and wants to encourage more women to get involved in the sport.
She said: “A lot of people will presume that I don’t do the sport.
“When I am highlining with my friends, people walk by so many people will ask if we all do this.
“I say yes and they look at me and go ‘even you?’.
“I wanted to encourage more women to do this and push their limits.”
Man spends $17k travelling to 55 countries in bid to tick off every one in world
A backpacker has spent $17k (£14k) travelling to 55 countries in a bid to tick off every country in the world.
Connor Michalek, 33, has been on a mission to see the world since he was 18 years old.
He has so far travelled to 55 countries – including Bolivia, Australia, Mauritania, Iraq and Colombia.
In January 2023, Connor lost his corporate tech job and set about travelling the world.
He travelled to Mexico to experience the different cultures, he travelled to Thailand where he taught English to students and headed to Nepal where he spent 40 days hiking.
Over the last 11 months, Connor’s love of travel has reignited and he is aiming to travel to all 195 countries.
Connor, a blogger, from from Chicago, Illinois, US, said: “I decided to take a break from school and I booked a trip to Bolivia and spent three months there and staying with families.
“I really caught the travel bug from there really. It’s all about meeting new people and doing something out of your comfort zone.
“I always had a draw for human connection and relationships.
“At that point, it was one of my lowest points and I needed to do something, so I turned to travel as an escape and I immediately loved it.
“The Bolivia trip really opened my eyes that we are all human and that we all care about the same thing.”
Connor has been a fan of travelling since he left Texas Christian University where he studied economics and business.
After leaving university he headed to Bolivia where he caught the travel bug.
Connor said: “Bolivia is one of the poorest countries and it was such an eye-opening experience. That put me on a path to places where many people wouldn’t go to.
“I booked a one-way trip to Bolivia. They organised homestays and Spanish classes. I did volunteer work as well.
“Typically, when I was younger, I was working in these countries and I would be working and living with families.”
After losing his job in December, 2022, Connor headed to Morocco which kicked off his journey around the world.
He said: “I have always had a love for travel.
“It has always been a dream to travel the world, I flew into Morocco as it was a starting point where I could travel East around the world.
“Morocco kicked everything off for me – I enjoyed the food and the people are incredible.”
He then headed to Mauritania, Senegal and then flew up to Tunisia before starting his journey around Europe.
Connor said that things have not been “smooth sailing” on the trip and he has put himself in “dodgy situations”.
Connor said: “I’m 33 years old, I’ve built up careers and I’ve saved a lot of money and sold a lot of things such as cars and little bits to fund all these trips.”
“Not necessarily, everything has been smooth sailing on these trips. I have put myself in dodgy situations.
“In Senegal, we had problems at border control but that was the only incident we ever had that was a problem for us.”
He said he has fallen in love with Africa and has been to 22 countries in the continent over the last year and loved every moment of it.
Connor said: “I’ve gradually moved to love the continent of Africa, and I love Malawi. The people don’t have a lot, but they are definitely rich in some respects.
“What I did in Malawi was raise awareness of HIV and then bought a load of pigs and necessities for the farm.
“I also loved Mauritania which is one of the least visited countries in the world. I thought it was awesome.”
Connor has plenty of trips lined up in the upcoming months as he looks to return to Africa as he says he would ‘love’ to take his wife, Espoir, 25, there.
He said: “I’m planning a trip to French Polynesia and we are going to western Australia.
“We’ve got a one-way to Nairobi, Kenya doing some volunteer work in Uganda. The African rawness isn’t seen anywhere else.
“My partner hasn’t been to been to Africa yet and I would love to take her there.”
All of the 55 countries:
Belize
Mexico
British Virgin Islands
Cayman Islands
South America
Bolivia
Peru
Colombia
Argentina
Chile
Europe
Albania
Austria
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatia
Czech Republic
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Montenegro
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
England
Vatican City
Cambodia
India
Indonesia
Iraq
Israel
Japan
Jordan
Laos
Myanmar
Nepal
Pakistan
Singapore
Thailand
Turkey
Vietnam
Egypt
Malawi
Morocco
Mauritania
Mauritius
Tanzania
Senegal
Tunisia
Mozambique
South Africa
Australia
French Polynesia
“I listened to music while awake and undergoing brain surgery”
A young woman was awake and able to listen to music – while undergoing a brain surgery to remove a tumour.
Brooke MacFadyen, 24, underwent Awake Craniotomy – a procedure to remove primary brain tumours which is being pioneered by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Brooke from Coatbridge in Scotland was kept conscious during parts of the seven-hour operation to ensure it went to plan.
During the surgery she remained awake, listened to music and chatted with the medical team.
Brooke said: “The surgery was definitely scary. I started having hallucinations because of the amount of anastatic that they had to put me on.
“I don’t drink anymore but it felt like I was really drunk – and I have not drunk in a couple of years now.”
Brooke’s tumour was discovered earlier this year after she went to her GP following a seizure in October last year.
She said the run-up to the operation was difficult, with a lot of ‘what-ifs’ circling in her head.
She said: “When I heard about the awake craniotomy, it took me a couple of weeks to get over the shock, but then I decided ‘I’m going to do this’.”
But the support she received from the entire medical team was critical to her, and her whole family – mum Kelly, dad Graham, brothers Harry and Jack, boyfriend Dillon, and best friend Robyn.
During the entire procedure Dr Sharon Mulhern, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Lead for Regional Neuropsychology Services, was there to support her – holding her hand and keeping her calm during the awake phase of the procedure.
“I’ll never forget Sharon,” Brooke said.
“She’s been amazing throughout this whole process, and I have such a clear memory of seeing her there with me during the operation.
“I’d like to thank the whole team for looking after me, but especially Sharon – in fact she was like a second mum to me.”
The low-grade tumour was close to the part of her brain that controls her speech.
Awake craniotomy is performed while a patient is conscious and alert to evaluate and protect brain functions.
Brooke was awake while the surgeon used a probe and, with an electrical pulse, switched off areas of the brain for a few seconds to identify which tumour tissue to remove.
She listened to a worship song chosen by her mother – King of Kings, Majesty by Spring Harvest.
She said: “My clinical psychologist had suggested my friends and family putting together a new playlist for me. I put the headphones in at the beginning but the drill started and I freaked out and I pull them out.
“I listened to the first song and it was the song that was chosen by my mum, and it reminded me of her.
“I listened to the whole playlist after the surgery when I got to the room and I think it was even better then and the songs were beautiful and funny put in there by my friends.”
In Brooke’s case, the procedure was a success – and it has left her looking forward to life with a new confidence and focus.
She has said that after the brain surgery her mental health has ‘massively improved’ – and is now hoping to become a primary teacher, travel the world and see her brothers growing up.
“Strangely it’s been a really positive experience. I’ve been through life-changing surgery and now feel completely different.
“Before I doubted myself so much – I’d get into my own head with things, talk myself out of things. But not now – I now know I’m a really strong person, and super-independent.
“Making this decision – something I was so scared of – I’m going to use it as a positive from now on.
“I’ve already booked a holiday to Tenerife with Robyn, and this experience has made it so clear to me that I want to follow my dream to work with children.
“I’ve decided I want to be a primary school teacher. I don’t know when – and I’ll need to get a qualification in maths first – but I’m determined to get there.”
Britain’s luckiest turkey survives Christmas Day chop – by going on Parkrun
Britain’s luckiest turkey has survived the Christmas Day chop – for going on a 5k Parkrun.
Dave Brooker, 58, takes his beloved pet turkey Trouble Version Two, or T2 for short, everywhere with him – including to the pub and dentist.
Locals in Maidstone, Kent are often baffled as they see Mr Brooker sat alongside T2 in his car when they stop at traffic lights, or when he feeds her her favourite snack – the meat from a scotch egg – in the middle of a Tesco’s car park.
The turkey can also often be seen casually sitting in the town’s White Horse pub with a packet of cheese & onion crisps.
She has had such an effect on her owner over their three years together that he has now turned fully vegetarian.
And this year he took T2 on a Parkrun on Christmas Day to make people think twice about eating turkey.
“It just felt like a really fun idea,” Mr Brooker said.
“It might also make people think twice about eating turkey.
“I think they’re lovely animals. They’re very intelligent and sentient.
“It’s also a nice way to show her off.
“People love her. She stood outside Tesco with me yesterday and one little girl couldn’t believe she was seeing an actual turkey.
“People are always shocked to see a real turkey walking around.”
The unlikely duo’s story began when Mr Brooker, who keeps turkeys for their eggs, was forced to care for newborn T2 before she could return to her mother, Trouble.
“Her mum was sitting on a dozen eggs and the weather turned awful,” he explained.
“The first two that hatched died, so I set up a brooder to get the turkeys strong enough to go back under their mum.
“T2 was the first one out and I fed her for 10 or 11 hours.
“She was on her own with me checking on her and must have thought I was her parent.
“The others all went back underneath the mother quite easily, but not T2.
“Ever since, she literally goes everywhere with me. She’s like my child.
“There’s a mutual bond. She’s good company and entertaining – sometimes I even think she’s part human.”
Mr Brooker says he stopped eating turkey for Christmas dinner after his bond with T2 developed.
But for the past year the animal lover has gone fully vegetarian, referring euphemistically to December as the time of year when all the turkeys ‘go on holiday’.
“I don’t eat turkey anymore,” he said. “I used to, but I couldn’t now. Not with a pet turkey. It would be like someone eating dog.
“When you keep an animal it’s quite hard… Maybe if you’re a farmer you can switch off to it, but I’m a bit of a softy.
“Last year made me think about not eating meat at all.
“My relationship with T2 has definitely had a part to play in that.
“If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have gone vegetarian.
“You start realising just how intelligent these animals are.
“But people have to make their own choice about eating them.”
Keen runner Mr Brooker is convinced his Christmas Day foray – with T2 nestled in a pram borrowed from a friend – will surely be the first Parkrun to ever be completed by a turkey.
“This will be the first time she’s done a Parkrun, and I’m sure there’s no turkey in the world who has been pushed 5km in a pram on Christmas Day before.
“It’s going to be quite funny. People are going to go home to eat Christmas dinner after running alongside a turkey.
“A lot of people will probably go, ‘Is she for dinner?’… You’ll get some people ask that and it’s like, ‘No, she’s a pet’.
“I know a lot of people do Parkrun with their dogs, so why not with a turkey?”
On the menu for December 25 this year, Mr Brooker added: “I’ll have the normal roast, just with a veggie burger or something.
“My family will be having turkey. T2 will have cheese and biscuits because that’s one of her favourites these days.”
Though some people find the pair’s undeniably strong bond a little unorthodox, the pair are inseparable and even sleep in the same room together at their home in the village of Wouldham, Kent.
One of T2’s favourite outings is to the car park of the Tesco store in Tovil, Kent, where she feasts on her favourite snack – the meat from a scotch egg.
The only time the pair are separated is when Mr Brooker goes to work as an online order picker for Tesco.
T2 is such a feature in her owner’s life she even accompanies him to the dentist.
“I was at the dentist and I asked the receptionist if she could turkey-sit for me,” Mr Brooker said.
“She thought it was a joke, but then I brought T2 in. They all loved it.
“Most people think it’s really strange, but it’s actually a really good talking point.”
T2 is fast becoming a normal sight amongst locals, who frequently spot her sat alongside her owner in his car at traffic lights or at the pub for a pint.
“She draws quite a fair bit of attention from people,” Mr Brooker admitted.
“But she’s very well-behaved. At the pub, she sits on her blanket and stays there.
“Unlike most dogs who would run around, you sit her down with a pack of cheese & onion crisps and she’s happy.
“She’s very tame, very sociable and well-behaved. She doesn’t wander off and she lets people pet her.
“It just helps people think about turkeys in a different way, because most people actually haven’t seen a live turkey.”
Mr Brooker added he sometimes gifts people turkey eggs to let them try them, as he still keeps a flock of eight at the home of a friend.
But T2 is the only one who lives in his home with him and even shares his bedroom.
Mr Brooker added that his bond with T2 is as important as dogs and their owners, saying: “Some people might find it very strange, but some people have 70 cats and they don’t even clean up after them.
“I went through a bad spell of anxiety and depression back in 2014, and it’s helpful to have a bond like this with an animal.
“People are worried she’ll run away when I feed her in the Tesco car park – but she’d never do that.
“If we were all the same the world would be boring, and there’s a lot weirder things that happen than a man keeping a turkey.
“She just makes people smile, which I think is fantastic.”
Family can spend first Christmas at home with tiny premature son in festive miracle
A little boy born nine weeks early is spending his first Christmas at home – with his family calling it the “best present we could possibly wish for”.
Chellsy Manning, 36, gave birth to son Isaac Manning-Young in February – nine weeks before his due date and weighing just 3lbs 1oz.
The tot, from Southend, Essex, was seriously ill with a number of complex conditions due to being born so early.
The family went through countless hospital stays and transfers in the first few months of Isaac’s life.
Isaac also underwent a surgery to repair a double hernia at five months – adding more stress to the lives of Chellsy and her partner, Simon Young, 34, a product development manager.
Against the odds, resilient Isaac is now home in time for his first Christmas.
Chellsy, a stay-at-home mum, said: “Every day, he surprises us with his strength.
“We feel deeply grateful for the support we received along the way, which helped us get to this point.
“We are so excited about spending Christmas together as a family.”
Isaac’s tough start in life began when mum Chellsy was admitted to hospital for severe pre-eclampsia when she was 29 weeks pregnant.
Concerned doctors quickly transferred her to Broomfield Hospital, where Isaac was delivered three days later.
Tiny Isaac was immediately taken to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Over the next year, the family would undergo countless hospital stays and transfers.
They were supported throughout by The Sick Children’s Trust – a charity providing support to families of seriously ill children.
Throughout Isaac’s intense medical journey, his family were fortunate enough to be given accommodation in two of the charity’s “homes from home”.
This gave them a comfortable and private space close to the hospitals where Isaac was being treated.
Chellsy said: “Looking back, we genuinely don’t know how we would have managed without The Sick Children’s Trust.
“They gave us a stable, supportive environment where we could be present for Isaac, even when everything felt out of control, which was crucial for our mental wellbeing.
“We were helped by the charity twice during Isaac’s first weeks of life and we will forever be grateful to them”.
With Isaac doing well and as resilient as ever, the family is now looking forward to their first Christmas together.
Chellsy said: “We know there are far more babies out there that have had worse journeys than Isaac.
“Without The Sick Children’s Trust, god knows what we would have done.
“I cannot put it into words about how incredibly grateful and happy we both are about celebrating his first Christmas, especially the fact that he is healthy.”
She added: “It is the best present we could possibly wish for.”
Gay man who spent $125K to become a dad shares life update
A gay single dad who spent $125k to “fulfil” his dream of having a baby has found love and plans to have a second child.
Matt Bonnen, 32, had always dreamed of being a parent and when his relationship of four years broke down he worried it wouldn’t be possible.
But after a cancer scare and losing his brother, Christopher, 31, in a drowning accident, Matt realized life was too short and decided to go it alone.
Matt found a surrogate – a 30-year-old woman – and she fell pregnant in February 2023.
He witnessed the birth of his son, Noah Christopher, now 14 months old, on October 14, 2023, and feels so “grateful” to have him.
Matt has since found love with a new partner, but doesn’t regret doing it by himself – saying it’s the “best decision” he’s ever made – and he plans to give Noah a sibling in the not too distant future.
Matt, who owns a restoration company, and lives between Miami, Florida and New York, US, said: “He’s so big. He’s 14 months old now and walking and talking.
“I want to invest in my happiness.
“Noah was so wanted. I feel that is beautiful.
“It’s the best decision I have made.”
Although Noah has been a “huge joy” for Matt, the dad-of-one says he’s been having “health problems” since June.
“I’m taking time off from work,” he said.
“It’s been really, really difficult. I have kidney failure, so I’m on dialysis as we speak.”
Since Noah’s arrival, Matt has found love with Thomas Bloecker – a TikToker and real estate agent.
“Once I get all this situated with my transplant, then I’ll have another kid,” Matt said.
“We’re going to do the surrogate option.
“I already have embryos created and am going to do it with my sperm and then, hopefully in the next couple of years, Thomas can have his own embryos and we could expand the family.”
Matt always wanted to be a dad, but when his long-term relationship of four years fell apart, he almost lost hope.
He began researching agencies to assist with surrogacy and selected an egg donor who shared similar physical characteristics with him.
After an initial unsuccessful attempt, Matt learned in February 2023 that his surrogate was expecting.
He was able to attend all the scans, either in person or via FaceTime.
“All my life I had this idea of having a family,” he said at the time.
“I played with Barbie and made them have kids. I always aspired to be a parent.
“I thought ‘why can’t I do this by myself?’.
“Why do you have to wait for someone else to fulfil your dream?”
In December 2018, Matt was unexpectedly diagnosed with astroblastoma — a rare brain tumor — but underwent surgery to have it removed that same month.
“Three years later when I was ready – I knew I wanted to be a parent,” he said.
“I didn’t find another person but I thought ‘I think I can do this by myself’.
“I was missing that one thing.”
Before donating his sperm, Matt underwent six months of psychological testing to ensure he was “fit to be a parent.”
After choosing an egg donor that looked similar to him, he knew he was on his way.
“It’s like a catalogue,” he explained.
“I felt most comfortable with how my family looks.”
The agency froze eight embryos, and Matt selected a surrogate through them to carry his child.
After some initial struggles with the pregnancy — which “devastated” him — Matt received good news he would become a father and stayed along for the whole journey.
“It was amazing,” he said of Noah’s birth.
“It was a beautiful experience. As soon as he came out I saw myself in him.”
Care home gets special Christmas visit from alpacas dressed as reindeer
Alpacas dressed as reindeer have been bringing Christmas joy to care home residents in animal therapy sessions.
Alpacas Luke and King Kong received a warm welcome earlier this month after paying a special visit to residents of Grange Court Care Home, in Baildon, West Yorkshire.
The visit came following an invite from the home’s activities coordinator Sue Sroka, 50.
Sue said: “They came dressed up with antlers on, the residents couldn’t believe an alpaca had walked through the door.
“Their faces lit up with joy, everyone had a stroke of their necks, they felt very soft. The staff and residents all thoroughly enjoyed their visit.
“It was good for everyone, but particularly those living with dementia.
“One of the residents reminisced about being brought up on a farm and having horses, it helped her remember things that perhaps she hadn’t thought about for years.”
The former radiotherapist – who has been working in care homes for six years – added: “I’ve always enjoyed working with people and looking after people.
“It’s a brilliant job, and it’s really good satisfaction.
“At the end of the day, when you’ve made people smile – even if someone with dementia has just remembered something for 10 minutes – it’s just lovely.
“It’s just lovely making people smile and happy.”
Danielle Knowd, 40, set up AlTreka – a family-run alpaca trekking centre – four years ago.
The company offers alpaca treks at the weekend and undertakes alpaca therapy visits during the week.
Danielle said: “Animal therapy is good for all sorts of people, the residents at the care home were following them around in the corridors.
“Animals can make a big impact on people’s lives.”
She added: “The treks – which are a full hour’s walk – fund the animals that we rescue.
“We have a total of 70 animals – 10 alpacas, one llama, as well as sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, cats and dogs.”
“I’m living in abandoned barn in -20 temperatures while renovating my dream ranch”
A woman is living in a “drafty” abandoned barn in -20 degree temperatures so she can have financial freedom while renovating her $610k ranch.
Amanda Schmidt, 31, has been living in the 50ft by 100ft building for the last six months.
She bought the 72 acre ranch with an old abandoned dairy barn and main house with the dream of creating a horse training facility.
To make her dream a reality Amanda has been renting out the main house so she can put that money into renovating the barn – which has cost her $56k so far.
Amanda is surviving the winter by wrapping up in blankets and heating up a hot bag to keep warm.
She hopes living uncomfortably for six months will be worth to see her dream come to life.
Amanda, a horse trainer, from Alberta, Canada, said: “It’s an old abandoned dairy barn – it hasn’t been used in decades.
“There were snakes living in the walls and pigeons in the barn.
“It’s really drafty. When it gets down to minus 20 it is really cold in here.
“If you sleep with enough blankets it’s OK. I used a hot bag and heat it up a couple of times a night.
“I make do with very little and don’t mind uncomfortable living situations in the name of keeping living expenses and my overhead low.”
Amanda grew up in the city but had always wanted to pursue ranch life.
She is used to “living uncomfortably” after spending a year living and travelling in a horse trailer from July 2021 to July 2022.
She said: “I had renters and instead of kicking them out and losing income I decided to travel.
“I was living like a gypsy – the cowgirl experience.
“The trailer had no water at all. It had a bed, mini fridge and microwave.
“I showered in buckets.”
Amanda sold her old home with five acres of land in June 2024 DO WE MEAN? AND PAID? for $725,000 for the new 72 acre plot.
She said: “I wanted to transform it into a training facility.
“I had to raise the roof. It was 9ft before and IS now 20ft.”
Amanda decided to rent out the main house – which was in a good condition – so she could make a a couple of grand a month to put towards her renovation.
She is living in the freezing barn – where the box stalls would have been – while her new home is worked on.
Amanda has power to the barn so she can have an air fryer, microwave and fridge and cook.
She uses an outhouse with a toilet and goes into the main house if she needs a shower. DO HER TENANTS NOT MIND?
But Amanda feels it will all be worth it and is hoping she can move in by Christmas or New Year.
She said: “I’m most excited for the arena riding space.
“I want it to be a place where people can bring out their colts that they wouldn’t have had the confidence to ride elsewhere.
“I want it to be a horse camp for women.”
