AFTER LIFE - A retired model is hoping her body will continue to help when she has gone by donating it to science - after posing in the nude while well into her seventies
Image by: KM Group
A retired model is hoping her body will continue to help when she has gone by donating it to science - after posing in the nude while well into her seventies.
Yvonne Vinall spent more than 30 years undressing as a nude life model, "wearing nothing but a choker and a smile."
But now the 86-year-old has vowed to continue helping people well after she has gone, by donating her body to the London Anatomy Office.
A risque portrait of Yvonne is said to have been mounted in Clarence House, home to the late Queen Mother.
The widow, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, said: "I did a lot of work over the years, and towards the end much of it was private, where I wouldn't get paid in cash but I'd get the painting itself, which was much more valuable.
"Artists don't look for superficial beauty - they might focus on a particular body part such as a hand or a foot.
"Ultimately though, it's in the eye of the beholder, as they say.
"Eventually I became a bit bored of doing the same thing and I wanted to quit while I was on top."
Image by: KM Group
In future, her body is going to be used to help educate medical students, after she received a certificate confirming her donation to the London Anatomy Office.
She said: "How on Earth are students going to learn and pass their exams unless they have a human body to look at?
"I might still feel like a mischievous 18-year-old inside, but I have a pacemaker, I've had my cataracts done, and I have false knees, hips and shoulders.
"When they get me on the slab, they will have an awful lot to work with."
Kings College London says anyone older than 17 can donate their body, and while there is no upper age limit, there is no guarantee a donation will be accepted.
Yvonne, who was 40 when she first started life modelling, added: "I think people are frightened of talking about death and scared of dying itself.
"I'm not at all scared, although all my friends say God will probably keep me down here for as long as possible."
TRANSPLANT HEARTBREAK - Devoted young mum is training to become a transplant nurse - after her husband tragically died from heart transplant complications
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
A devoted young widow has started training to become a transplant nurse - after her beloved husband tragically died from heart transplant complications.
Brave Louise Hughes, 26, was heartbroken in May 2018 when Dave, 32, the father of her baby boy, passed away 11 weeks after getting a new heart.
Employed as a nursery worker at the time, Louise was inspired to embark on her new career after being overwhelmed by the "amazing" nurses who cared for her husband.
The mum-of-one started an access course at college just four months after Dave's death and started a three year adult nursing degree last month.
When she qualifies Louise wants to specialise as a transplant nurse and work at Wythenshawe Hospital, where her husband received much of his care.
Louise, from Wigan, said her and Dave's son George, now three, knows all about his daddy and is aware of the journey his mum has embarked on.
The University of Salford undergraduate said: "Losing Dave was the hardest thing George and I will ever go through.
"Even though it was so painful it was amazing to see the way the nurses cared for him and also dealt with us.
"I developed such a close bond with them.
"At the time I did think to myself that I'd like to be involved in helping people somehow.
"But I never thought I would be clever or brave enough to become a nurse."
Just a month after Dave passed away, while Louise was still grieving the tragic loss, she decided she wanted to become a transplant nurse.
She applied to get on to an access course and within just a few months had begun attending classes.
Louise said: "I decided that I could make a difference and help people in the same way I was helped.
"As the family member of a transplant patient I'll know exactly what people are going through.
"I feel like I'm in a perfect position to do the job well."
Her husband Dave, a trainee mechanic, had fought serious health problems since birth because of a congenital heart defect meaning his main arteries were the wrong way round.
In 2013, one year after he met Louise, Dave's condition deteriorated to the point doctors told him he would eventually need a heart transplant to survive.
In February 2018, as Dave’s health was beginning to decline, the family received the life-changing call they had been waiting for and travelled the Newcastle Freeman Hospital to undergo the gruelling 12 hour surgery.
He was unconscious for two and a half weeks after the op, and Louise arranged for their wedding to take place in hospital on March 23, once he woke.
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Louise Hughes
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Matthew Newby SWNS
The ceremony, with only nine close family members and friends including baby George, was arranged by hospital staff.
Just six weeks after their marriage, while Dave was still at Newcastle Freeman, his health took a drastic downturn as it emerged his donated heart was failing.
In order to have another heart transplant he would have had to regained enough strength to undergo a significantly more risky procedure.
The suffering dad was also told that this might not be possible until at least the end of the year, in order to give his body the maximum chance of recovery.
But Dave did not want to put his family and friends through any more pain and he broke the news to his heartbroken family that he was going to die.
He passed away in Louise's arms on May 1, 2018,
Louise and her family now host a memorial fundraising event on February 22 every year, which was the day in 2018 Dave got his heart transplant.
The drive is to raise money for the Freeman Heart and Lung Transplant Association (FHLTA), which supported the family throughout their ordeal.
"The FHLTA were absolutely incredible throughout Dave's illness," Louise said.
"I had to give up work because I was missing so many days and they stepped into help.
"We were given accommodation at the hospital so we could stay over and they even said they would pay for my petrol between there and Wigan.
"When you're in that situation the last thing you want to worry about is money.
"Raising money for them now to say thank you is the least we can do."
Within the past 18 months Louise and her family have raised a whopping £21,000 for the FHLTA.
Their events, which also pay tribute to Dave's donor, include raffles, prizes and donation boxes.
A spokesman for the Newcastle Freeman Hospital, where Dave was treated, has this afternoon thanked Louise for her tireless fundraising.
They said: "We never fail to be humbled by the people who support us and Louise has been an inspiration both in terms of campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation and in raising funds.
"We are really grateful for her support."
One of Louise's main goals is to have people arrange for their organs to be donated before they pass away.
You can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fhlta?utm_id=66&utm_term=xk68YzkZV
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Bizarre footage shows a collection of kitties that appear to have HUMAN faces
Image by: Tatiana Rastorguev
This bizarre footage shows a collection of cats that appear to have - HUMAN faces.
The unsettling yet still incredibly adorable kittens are the result of painstaking selective breeding.
Tatyana Rastorgueva, a 44-year-old felinologist and animal lover, has been breeding cats since 2002.
The unusual Maine Coons are the result of breeding father cat Vatican and mother cat Lucien.
All of the kittens in her care have a recognisable ‘face’ and piercing eyes.
Tantyana manages the Instagram account @catsvill_county and regularly takes videos of the unique cats to share with her eighty-thousand followers as well as the rest of the Internet.
Image by: Tatiana Rastorguev
Image by: Tatiana Rastorguev
Image by: Tatiana Rastorguev
Image by: Tatiana Rastorguev
Tatyana from Moscow, Russia said: “I really love animals, cats have always been a part of my life.
''But I began to professionally breed cats in 2002, I have been working directly with Maine Coons since 2004. I like what I do, I can say that cats are my calling.
“Each breeder has his own vision of the breed and selects individuals for further selection according to those traits that are important to him.
''I can say that while working with the breed, I focused on the type of Maine Coon that I like, that's why I now have a recognizable ‘face’ type of kittens in my nursery.
''This is just a long painstaking work of the breeder.I love all animals, especially cats. Maine Coons captured my heart completely.''
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Pregnant mum suffering from the same extreme morning sickness as Kate Middleton claims she has cured her chronic vomiting by smoking CANNABIS
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
A pregnant mum suffering from the same extreme morning sickness as Kate Middleton claims she has cured her chronic vomiting by - smoking CANNABIS.
Sammy Warnes, 30, said her hyperemesis gravidarum was so bad when she was ten weeks pregnant with daughter Arabella, now three, she considered an abortion.
Strong medication from her doctor didn't work, so she turned to cannabis, having a puff or two on a joint, until the symptoms disappeared at 25 weeks.
She said her daughter was born fit and healthy, so when she experienced the same symptoms with her current pregnancy, she once again ignored expert advice.
Now 15-weeks pregnant with her second child, Sammy said she she has had no choice but to resort to smoking cannabis a few times a week to alleviate her symptoms.
She spends £10 every three weeks, and gets her supply from the internet.
Former catering worker Sammy said she got the idea after she came across an online forum about severe morning sickness which included messages from other mums-to-be using the Class B drug.
Sammy, from Leeds, said: "The thing is the prescription drugs do more damage.
"There's risk of birth defects so they're quite scary to be fair.
"One of them was making my body do random movements. That stuff panics me.
"It's actually saved both me and my baby's life.
"This time round has been ten times worse.
"I've had to give my job up because I just couldn't do anything.
"With just two puffs I'm able to be a parent to my daughter.
"I only do it a few times a week.
"I can do normal things like go to the shops, take her to nursery and just be a mum.
"Beforehand I was just being sick or waiting around to be sick.
"I was just knackered.
"People will say 'Oh she just wants to be a druggie' but it's not that at all.
"But I don't get high off it.
"It's a couple of puffs with a minimum bit of baccy.
"There needs to be a conversation about this so other women know there's something out there that can help them.
"Unless you've been through it you don't really get it."
After experimenting with cannabis a couple of times in her teenage years, Sammy decided to use the drug again when she was ten weeks pregnant with her third child in 2015.
Doctors had prescribed her Domperidone - a drug is used to relieve nausea and vomiting - but she claims the symptoms only temporarily disappeared for 20 minutes.
After weeks of sleepless nights and chronic vomiting, she decided to Google any alternative ways to combat her illness.
She discovered several forums suggesting cannabis as a solution, she claims.
She said: "I decided to do my own bit of research.
"It was all getting too much.
"I wanted to see if there were any old-wives tales or 'old fashioned tips' that would help me out.
"Then I found quite a few forums on women using cannabis to stop their morning sickness.
"I was so desperate I thought I'd give it a go.
"I was a bit nervous when I first did it but I was reassured by all the things I read on the forums.
"I think anyone would be at first.
"It was to medicate my body, not to get stoned.
"I'm not abusing it or trying to get blazed.
"Some days I have good days and don't need it.
"Other days I am throwing my guts up and need a couple of puffs.
"I got some a few days later and as soon as I took it the symptoms just went away.
"It wasn't just a case of me feeling sick the whole time. I couldn't do anything at all.
"It was amazing - it helped me get out of bed in the morning.
"It literally worked straight away.
"I just couldn't believe it.
"I didn't tell my midwife as to be honest I didn't want to cause unnecessary stress."
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
Image by: Dan Rowlands SWNS
NHS guidelines say using cannabis regularly during pregnancy could affect a baby's brain development and smoking with tobacco increases the risk of the baby being born small or premature.
But Sammy claims her daughter, who arrived in June 2016, weighing a healthy 6lb 2oz, is healthy both mentally and physically", and she stopped taking the drug,
After discovering she was pregnant again in August this year, Sammy was hoping her chronic morning sickness wouldn't make a return.
But she returned to her doctors to complain her hyperemesis gravidarum had returned when she was six weeks pregnant and she was signed off work.
Sammy said: "I was put on the tables again but the same thing happened.
"The sickness would disappear for about 20 minutes but then I'll be back to hugging the toilet all day.
"I've had no choice but to take it.
"It worked so well last time.
"This time the sickness was ten times worse and I was considering having a termination."
Despite the taboo surrounding smoking cannabis, Sammy said she has both the support of her friends and family.
She said: "I smoke it in my back garden in the mornings.
"My family are very anti-drugs and when I told them they initially kicked off.
"But when I told them the full story, they were like 'if it works for you that's fine'.
"My partner is really supportive. He noticed the difference straight away.
"My half-siblings are supportive too. They have family members who use it to treat cerebral palsy and cancer.
"I've never told a midwife because I know I'll get stick."
"Now I can do a food shop, do the house cleaning and take my little girl to nursery," she said.
"When you can't do that and you have that extreme sickness it's just awful.
"The tablets have side effects of birth defects. That is known.
"My little girl is fit and healthy and is getting along fine at nursery.
"I'd rather just take a couple of puffs of weed.
"There are thousands of women doing the same.
"But there isn't a conversation about it because they are scared their midwives will grass them up to social services.
"I want to speak out because there is something out there which can help other women.
"There's chat about cannabis being used as medicine for chronic illnesses.
"I just want to help and tell other women."
As many as eight in every ten women experiencing morning sickness as a side effect of pregnancy with symptoms improving or disappearing around 14 weeks.
But those who experience hyperemesis gravidarum can see symptoms last for half fo their pregnancy.
NHS guidelines advise those who experience severe symptoms to contact their midwife, doctor or hospital to seek treatment.
Sammy and partner Gav, 32, are expected to welcome their first child together in May 2020.
WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE - A dog walker was left stunned after seeing this massive RHEA in a forest already known as the capital of Britain's booming wild boar population
Image by: Jason Burford
A dog walker was left stunned after seeing this massive RHEA bird - in a forest already known as the capital of Britain's booming wild boar population.
Shocked Jason Burford was out walking his dog Molly in the Forest of Dean when he stumbled upon the huge 6ft avian.
The 48-year-old was stopped in his tracks by the sight of the bird rounding a corner.
He then advanced towards creature and filmed it on his phone before it eventually ran off into the distance.
An animal expert has confirmed it is likely the bird escaped from a local collection.
Jason has already seen wild boar in the area which is currently one of the centres of the UK's booming population.
Boars there have attacked animals, people, dug up gardens and playing fields and have even learned when bin day is so they can rummage in them for food.
British woodlands are increasingly populated with exotics species - including parrots, wallabies and big cats.
Jason, who keeps chickens and bantams at home, said: "I hadn't been there for years but I went on a whim as I used to live there.
"I just rounded the corner and there it was. I'm used to it though, living in the forest. I wasn't worried.
"The dog is good around other animals. But, for someone else, it could have been a shock.
"It could have done an untrained dog some damage. Some don't even come back to their owners in the garden.
"It's a funny story but it could have been nasty. I was just trying to get it off the track."
Image by: Jason Burford
Image by: Jason Burford
Retired Jason, from Cinderford, Glos., said the bird was almost six feet tall from where he was standing - making for an imposing sight.
He added: "I stopped videoing but you want to see it with its feathers fully stretched out!"
Mr Burford claims that the bird escaped from a nearby field where some animals had been abandoned.
He said: "I've since discovered where it came from. It's been reported to the RSPCA."
Rheas are not the only large animals to be running free in the Forest of Dean.
The area has also suffered problems with aggressive wild boars in recent years - something Mr Burford has experienced firsthand.
He said: "I have had them run at me and chase the dog. You don't want that happening. They really frighten you.
"Once the dog ran off into the bushes and a huge boar suddenly appeared. Well the dog came straight at me - so the boar came too!
"I'd watched a film about bears the night before and it said what you have to do is make yourself big and scream 'AAAARGH' so I thought I'd do that.
"The boar just stopped in its tracks and left! They're a pain in the a**."
A spokeswoman for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds confirmed the bird was a rhea yesterday (Tues).
She added that is had likely escaped from a local collection.
Jason spotted the bird on November 3 in the area of Drybrook, Glos. Molly is a cross between a Border Collie and a Labrador.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
Family bring Christmas forward so terminally ill son can celebrate it with them
Image by: Simon Galloway
The family of a terminally ill boy who is the only one in Britain with a rare disease are celebrating Christmas months early amid fears he might not live to the end of the year.
Oliver Brown, 11, suffers from an extremely rare disease called Myelodysplastic Syndrome - a blood cancer affecting just four children per million worldwide.
He is the 'only boy in Britain' with the disease and at the time of his diagnosis at the age of eight.
Now his family have brought forward Christmas in case Oliver, from Plymouth, Devon, doesn't make it to December.
Over the last three years, Oliver has undergone two bone marrow transplants, and until very recently was at home recovering with his dad, Mike, and mum Nicola.
Sadly, Oliver's condition has worsened in recent weeks and the family fear their hopes of him enjoying a proper Christmas may be dashed.
They've put up their decorations and tree inside their home, donned their festive jumpers and even put lights outside their home, so he can celebrate with his brother.
Dad Mike, 39, said: "We have the lights up, the tree is up inside, we have the Lego winter village all made.
"The only thing missing is a real Christmas tree but the place we always buy it from doesn't start selling them until November 17.
"We're using a live tree at the moment and a fake one in the lounge - but everything else is up like it's Christmas. The Christmas movies are on, the Christmas songs are playing."
The Brown's family home has become a typically festive scene with an array of lights strung outside while inside they have a festive tunes, films and Christmas presents.
Mike continued: "I'm sure there's been a few people driving past thinking, 'but it's October'. It is - but we're having Christmas now."
Mike said it's accepted that it is unlikely Oliver will see Christmas which is, like for most children, his favourite time of year.
Image by: Simon Galloway
Image by: TM Plymouth Herald
Image by: TM Plymouth Herald
Image by: Steve Chatterley
The family would usually put up the decorations on December 1 and get "a good run" for Oliver and his brother, Benjamin.
He added: "We decided to bring it forward for him and Benjamin, to enjoy together. In our minds he made it to Christmas 2019.
"He loves Christmas, so it's the right thing for us all."
Oliver developed Myelodysplastic Syndrome aged eight, as a result of a complicated genetic disorder relating to his GATA2 gene, which also resulted in Oliver being born deaf.
However, after two rounds of tortuous treatment, including two bone marrow transplants, he was told in May there was no further curative options available.
The family say they are now spending whatever time he has left making precious memories.
Earlier this year Oliver fulfilled a dying wish of being a police officer for a day when kind-hearted cops pulled out all the stops to make it happen.
Oliver and his eight-year-old brother Benjamin, together with his mum and dad, were invited for a special VIP day at the force's headquarters in Middlemoor, Exeter.
He took part in a range of training experiences and many officers came in on their rest days to ensure Oliver's wish became reality.
He was shown specialist equipment and vehicles, including Armed Response Vehicles, traffic motorcycles, drones and weapons.
Both Oliver and Ben also enjoyed taking part in a simulated rescue of a hostage before they met police dog Boris.
Meet Denzel the house duck - a lost and lonely duckling hand-reared by a cleaner who brought him in from the rain
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
A kind womans adopted a lost duckling which turned up on her front doorstep in a rain storm - and now it barely leaves her side.
Jessica Clewes, 24, hand-reared Denzel the duck after her dad Michael Clewes, 70, opened his front door when he heard chirping outside.
She nursed the tiny shivering bird back to health - warming him up under a heat lamp and feeding him worms.
But when he was big enough to fly the nest, pampered Denzel didn't want to leave, so she built him a duck pond and outdoor house, but he prefers to be indoors.
Four months since he waddled into their lives, Denzel loves watching TV from his favourite spot in front of the fire.
He follows Jessica and partner, Adam Oliver, 38, around the house in Smallwood, Cheshire, and even sits on their shoulders and nestles into her hair.
Cleaner Jessica, who has experience as a game keeper, said: "We love him to bits. He sees us as parents and we have hand-reared him since he was a baby.
"He sits on my knee at night whilst I watch TV and now it’s cold outside he likes to sit in front of the log burner.
“He’s never ever tried to fly away and he could do at any point really, but this is all he has ever known.
“I’m not sure he would survive in the wild now. I’m not even sure he knows how to be a proper duck.
“He must have only been a couple of days own when he turned up on my dad’s door in the rain.
“I want to keep him forever now. We both have an affection for him.
“He must be happy otherwise he would just fly off. He could do if he wanted to but has never even tried.
"'Gamekeepers, farmers and country people aren't all about killing animals. We are all massive conservationists too."
Denzel, a mallard drake, showed up at Jessica’s dad’s front door during a rainy day in the middle of July.
Former game-keeper, Michael Clewes, 70, opened the door to bring him inside and gave him some TLC.
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Image by: Jessica Clewes
Image by: Jessica Clewes
Image by: Lee Mclean SWNS
Jessica lives next door and took over from her dad later that day and has fed, cared for and nurtured Denzel every day since.
She built him an incubator and bought a heat-lamp for when he was young, which Denzel eventually grew out of at the end of August.
Jessica and plasterer Adam chose not to clip his wings and built Denzel a pond and shelter outside and let him roam around the garden for fun.
He spends his days outdoors - like every other duck - but unlike the rest of his breed sleeps in the warmth and comfort of a house.
Denzel typically snoozes wherever he likes at home but his two favourite places to take a nap are in front of the log burner or on the sofa.
Jessica said: “He has a duck house outside with a pen and a little pond. We feed him corn and occasionally give him meal worms as a treat.
“One of his favourite things to do with us is sit in the garden and dig up mealworms.
“He will sit on my shoulder too and I can walk around the house with him on there. When he was young he used to sit on my head. I think he might have seen it as a bird’s nest.
“My boyfriend is obsessed with him and they have a special connection for sure. He pecks me sometimes but follows Adam around wherever he goes.”
Unfortunately for Jessica and Adam, ducks are not the easiest animals to toilet train and they do find themselves cleaning up after Denzel around the house.
Jessica said the couple are now looking to adopt a female duck so Denzel can start a family.
She’s hopeful of one day having her very own duck nursery in her back garden.
Video by: Gabriella Petty
A 'social' robot recently on the cover of Time Magazine held BINGO lessons for OAPs in a care home
Image by: Jon Mills
This is the hilarious moment a 'social' robot recently on the cover of Time Magazine held BINGO lessons for OAPs in a care home.
Stevie the robot was designed to keep people company and is so advanced he was named one of the inventions of 2019.
Now the robot designed by a team from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, has visited Reflections day centre in Camborne, Cornwall.
He has already been keeping the elderly company and hosting bingo sessions to keep the residents entertained.
Recently back from a visit to the States, Stevie has been placed into the care of experts from the University of Plymouth’s Centre for Health Technology.
Dr Conor McGinn, assistant professor at Trinity College Dublin, said: “This pilot is the start of an exciting new relationship with the University of Plymouth.
"Two things particularly excite me: a chance to link up with Plymouth in the field of robotics, and the potential to test Stevie in Plymouth and Cornwall for his very first UK pilot.”
"The aim with Stevie was to create something that empowers people to use it, whether that is service users or patients.
"We want people to like Stevie, and so he is deliberately not intimidating and non-judgmental. "
His creators describe Stevie as “the world's most advanced social robot”, and he has recently been named among Time’s 100 best inventions of 2019.
Dr McGinn continued: "People have a very subtle ability to pick up social clues, so he has to be really finely tuned.
"We haven’t had anyone who hates him yet, although some take longer than others to get used to him.
“Some older people actually find it easier to open up and talk to a robot than a person.
"Running a game of bingo might seem frivolous, but if he can increase happiness and reduce loneliness, both of which have significant health implications, Stevie will be proving his value.”
Image by: Steve Chatterley
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
Image by: Jon Mills
During the two weeks Stevie is spending at Reflections, he will carry out a range of activities - including leading a game of bingo.
He will also spend time with clients of the centre, and researchers will monitor his performance and gather feedback from staff.
And Stevie is already proving a hit.
A spokesperson for the care home said: "He has arrived at Reflections. His 1st shift was a success and we are all looking forward to having his help and company over next 2 weeks.
"He has been taking a group for musical bingo, dancing and falling in love. All in a days work for Stevie."
A key test will be whether Stevie can successfully keep people engaged.
It is hoped Stevie’s presence will boost wellbeing and social interaction, while freeing up human staff to work with individuals needing more attention.
Researchers from two EU-funded projects in the Centre for Health Technology are involved with the Stevie trial.
Professor Ray Jones leads the eHealth Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (EPIC) project.
Professor Jones said: “It is an honour to have hosted Stevie at the University and to work with him in a care setting, and it shows the idea of ‘Testbed Cornwall’ already has the clout to attract world-leading technology.
“However, Conor and his team are only one of the many we are helping to test ideas, products and technology in Cornwall.
"EPIC aims to develop and use eHealth – things like websites and apps as well as robots – to improve health and wellbeing in Cornwall.
"In addition, we want to create highly skilled jobs in Cornwall to boost the economy.”
Video by: Ashley Moran
THE LAUGH JEDI – This is the adorable moment that the tiniest little Star Wars fan couldn’t contain his happiness at meeting his hero, Chewbacca in person.
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
The LAUGH Jedi – This is the adorable moment that the tiniest little Star Wars fan couldn’t contain his happiness at meeting his hero, Chewbacca in person.
The footage shows an 8-month-old babies’ priceless reaction as he giggles his head off after he meets a Disney World character actor dressed as everyone’s favourite Millennium Falcon Co-pilot, Chewbacca.
“Lil Chewie” the 8-month-old baby boy was visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Disney World Resort, Florida with his grandparents Rachel and Eric Herrholz.
The lifelong force fanatics had taken their grandson to the ‘Star Wars launch bay’ section of the tour when the wholesome events were captured on film.
The actor dressed as Chewie begins investigating the baby completely in character, gently poking at him and tickling his belly.
The tickling and Wookie roar sound effects prompt ‘Lil Chewy’ to let out giggles and squeaks of the purest kind of joy.
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
Image by: Rachel Herrholz
The video has since been viewed more than 2 million times on Rachel’s Facebook page.
Rachel said: “This was Lil Chewie’s first visit with Chewbacca. We dressed him in a Chewbacca outfit, and Eric wore a Han Solo shirt.”
“We were not expecting him to react the way he did. Chewbacca came over to get us.”
“Next thing I know I heard him Laughing. I looked up and he was belly laughing.
Chewbacca was just as excited. I started to record. I was amazed and I wished his Mom and Dad were with us.”
“I am in awe with the reaction to the video. We originally shared it so friends and family can see it. Last Sunday all of a sudden, it took off.”
“I am blessed, that my grandson can make people smile and bring them happiness in this world we live in.”
Video by: Rachel Herrholz
Mum forced to choose between letting her son's brain die or leaving him PARALYSED from surgery
Image by: Tristan Potter SWNS
A mum faced the choice of leaving her son to battle life-threatening seizures or risk paralysing him - by removing part of his brain.
For the past seven years, Stephanie Bailey, 32, has done everything she can to help her son Gabriel, seven, in his battle with epilepsy.
But his condition just got worse, until he was having up to 70 seizures a day and couldn't go anywhere or do anything alone.
Doctors eventually said the only possible cure from life-threatening seizures was a risky operation to remove part of his brain.
But they said the op might not work, and doctors warned his mum Stephanie that even if it did, he could be paralysed permanently on his left side.
She agonised over the decision for a week - and woke up from the nine-hour operation unable to move the entire left side of his body.
Thankfully Gabriel's paralysis was not permanent and Stephanie's little fighter is already back on his feet just four months after surgery.
Gabriel has left side weakness that is slowly improving and he is even practising for a dance competition in Germany - something unimaginable before.
Teaching assistant Stephanie from Oxford said: "Choosing to send my son for brain surgery that could leave him paralysed forever was the most difficult decision of my life.
"If we didn't have the surgery, the doctors said he wouldn't be able to do much as he gets older - he'd be in a vegetative state by the time he was a teenager.
"Gabriel is the most amazing little boy and I couldn't bear the thought of his condition destroying him like that over time so I chose the surgery.
"The doctors couldn't predict if the paralysis would be permanent or not, so we took the risk that he could be paralysed forever from the surgery.
"By some miracle, my brave little boy is back on his feet already, running and dancing, just four months after surgery.
"He's only had ten seizures since the surgery, and I'm just so happy that the hardest decision I've ever made was the right one."
Stephanie, who is a teaching assistant for a special needs school in Oxford, welcomed her only son Gabriel in April 2012 with her then partner handyman Jose Pestana, 51.
Gabriel was a healthy and happy baby until he started having seizures when he was 7 months old.
With Gabriel suffering with up to 70 seizures per day, doctors suspected a brain tumour, so rushed him for an emergency MRI and he was diagnosed him with a cortical dysplasia.
Cortical dysplasia occurs when the top layer of the brain doesn't form properly and it is one of the most common causes of epilepsy.
Gabriel started taking daily anticolvulsant medication in January 2013 and he was seizure free until his first birthday - when he had a seizure while blowing out his birthday candle.
From then on, he was only ever seizure free for a maximum of two weeks.
Unsuccessful medicine changes meant Gabriel's epilepsy had become intractable and he was subject to anywhere from 10 to 40 seizures per day.
Stephanie said: "I felt so sad for Gabriel - he had to have 100% supervision and needed assistance to go to the toilet.
"I had to go everywhere with him, even around the house, because his seizures were so frequent and spontaneous.
"He couldn't play in the park without me holding his hand, and he had to bed fed because he'd have seizures mid meal with food in his mouth.
"He had seizures during the night which meant we never got much sleep and he was usually too tired to go to school so he'd stay at home with my twin sister whilst I went to work.
"It was so hard, especially because he just wanted to play like any other little boy and have some independence.
"Gabriel discovered a passion for dance, and joined KC's School of Dance in Oxford with when he was 4, with his teachers being very understanding of his condition, just taking him to the back of the class when a seizure struck and then letting him join back in.
"We learned to cope with Gabriel's seizures because we didn't have another option.
"Gabriel's father Jose and I split up a few years ago but Jose is amazing with Gabriel, he's very much still involved and is always in the family home so that Gabriel has two consistent parents.
"Gabriel is my first child so I knew no different but as he grew older, I learned to live on auto-pilot - going to work, caring for Gabriel and making life as fun as possible for him."
Gabriel's medication dosage was slowly increased over the years until December 2018 when he underwent a stereo EEG at Bristol Children's Hospital.
Stereoelectroencephalography (commonly known as stereo EEG) is a minimally invasive procedure where electrodes detect the origins of seizures in the brain.
Some 14 wired rods were bolted into the six year old boy's skull with multiple wires entering his brain in order to perform brain mapping.
Doctors stimulated Gabriel's brain by sending electrical impulses to parts of the brain where seizures were surfacing.
Seizures do not always originate from the area of the brain where they surface, so doctors triggered seizures to see how much of the motor area of the brain would be affected.
Findings from the EEG showed the seizures were coming from Gabriel's cortical dysplasia, and that removing the undeveloped part of the brain would give the young boy a 50% chance at seizure freedom.
However, the activation of certain rods saw Gabriel unable to use his left hand or foot, meaning he could be left paralysed on his left side by the removal of that part of the brain.
Stephanie was left with a choice no mother should have to make - leave her son's brain to slowly die with constant epileptic seizures, or paralyse her boy through brain surgery.
Image by: Stephanie Bailey
Image by: Stephanie Bailey
Image by: Stephanie Bailey
Image by: Tristan Potter SWNS
Image by: Stephanie Bailey
She said: "We were told that if Gabe were to have surgery, he would suffer left side paralysis that could be permanent, but he would have 50% chance of seizure freedom.
"If we didn't take the surgery option then Gabriel was likely to deteriorate, making life very limited as he grew up.
"Without surgery, there'd be a high chance of the seizures spreading to other parts of his brain and his future would be uncertain.
"It took me about a week to make the decision to go for surgery as I thought we'd rather take left sided paralysis over life threatening seizures.
"I went for the 'glass half full' approach when looking at the 50% chance of seizure freedom but I felt sick at the time and so lost, because whatever the outcome, this was on my hands.
"Gabriel loved to dance and wore his seizure helmet during lessons at his dance school, and surgery could put a stop to that forever.
"I thought how can I choose what's best for my little boy when I don't even know what that is?"
Gabriel underwent resection surgery on 7 June 2019 where doctors worked hard to remove the cortical dysplasia.
He was on the operating table for nine hours as doctors removed part of his brain with Stephanie waiting anxiously outside theatre.
The surgery was a success with doctors able to remove the undeveloped area of Gabriel's brain and greatly reducing his risk of seizures.
But when Gabriel woke up from surgery, he found he was unable to move the entire left side of his body and doctors could not determine if the paralysis would be permanent.
Unfortunately, surgery had left Gabriel with an air pocket trapped inside his brain and the little boy had to be given oxygen for 48 hours after surgery.
Stephanie said: "When Gabriel was paralysed on his left side, I was in two minds over it.
"I was so sad for him, that he couldn't move, and I was scared that I'd made the wrong decision, but those feelings were soon suppressed by the worry over an air pocket in Gabe's brain from surgery leaving him oxygen dependant for two days.
"My main concern was with what I couldn't see - the brain - rather than the physical impairments as I couldn't let myself think more than a day at a time.
"Gabriel was so happy that he wasn't having seizures - even though he couldn't move his left side, he'd wake up every morning and say 'I didn't have any seizures!'
"At the end of each day, he's say 'They must have taken all the seizures because I haven't had any today!'
"We had brought a sentimental box of happy memories with us to the hospital, and he wore the party hat from his 7th birthday to celebrate having the surgery because he was so happy to not have seizures any more.
"I thought he may not dance again, which broke my heart, but his teacher Kelly assured me that even though paralysed, Gabriel could always be a member of KC's.
"He wasn't really upset that he couldn't move his left side because his physio doctor came round everyday and gave such positive encouragement that Gabriel felt completely confident and looked forward to her daily visits.
Five days after surgery, Gabriel started to get significant movement back on his left side.
His leg progressed quicker than his arm and hand, and the brave boy was able to take his first steps just two and a half weeks after surgery.
Just over five weeks following the procedure, Gabriel managed to start independently moving his fingers on his left hand.
Gabriel was discharged from hospital on 9 July 2019, and since the surgery, he has only endured 10 small seizures lasting around 8 seconds at a time.
His brain is still healing, but four months after surgery, Gabriel is more active than ever and is even flying to Germany this month for a dance competition.
Stephanie said: "It was only after surgery that I have managed to see that I only knew half of Gabriel before.
"He's now more alert, he's clever and funny and just so full of energy.
"Gabriel has always appreciated his life even with the seizures, and is always saying things like 'I love my life' and 'my life is amazing'.
"Just a month after surgery, he took part in a dance competition in Kent and qualified in the para section, guaranteeing him a place in the IDO world championships in Germany later this month, which is just amazing.
"We are still going through uncharted waters because his brain hasn't fully healed yet, as that can take up to a year to heal, so we're just taking things as they come at the moment.
"This means that I spend my days appreciating life with him and fewer seizures, but I'm also nervous and anxious in case things change.
"I didn't realise how down and on edge I have been for the last seven years until I look back on life before surgery.
"Gabriel is my whole entire world and so much more and the thought that I could have lost him to epilepsy makes me sick but at the moment I'm euphoric that we've come this far."
Video by: Stephanie Bailey
