Woman with rare spinal condition walks for the first time thanks to pioneering op
By Adam Dutton
A brave disabled woman who lived lying down to avoid being internally decapitated walks for the first time thanks to pioneering surgery.
Melanie Hartshorn was filmed standing up and taking several steps before being embraced by her thrilled team of physios.
The 34-year-old, who has spent most of her life on her back, has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which caused her skull to dislocate from her spine.
She was forced to live with a halo brace 24/7 to keep her in a fixed position to stop her suffering violent seizures which risked her being internally decapitated.
Melanie was just weeks from death before she became the first patient in the world to undergo surgery in October 2022 to have her neck and spine fused together.
It was the only chance she had of survival and she managed to raise nearly £100,000 for the operation which is not available on the NHS.
Melanie spent months in hospital and underwent a second operation last February before flying home to the UK.
Just over a year later, Melanie, from Cramlington, Northumberland, has taken her first steps and hopes in time she will be able to live a normal life.
She said: “It was a very wonderful and weird feeling to stand up on my own for the first time.
“I could only shuffle a few steps but I have to teach my legs, feet and ankles how to walk.”
Footage taken at North Tyneside Hospital last month shows Melanie standing proudly for the first time.
Melanie, who is volunteering at a primary school to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher, added: "My surgeon is really pleased with how everything has gone because they didn't know if it was going to work.
“In fact it's going a lot better than anyone thought and I have done really well.
"After the operations I had problems swallowing and I had a feeding tube.
"It's only three months ago that I stopped having to use it and swallow normally.
"I was in a normal wheelchair but it didn't offer much support to I still had to lie down for long periods.
"Now I have a much better chair now which allows me sit for four hours at a time.
“I do physio once a week at the hospital but every day I do my own routine at home
strengthening my legs and feet.
“I still wear my back brace but I’ve come this far I’m not going to stop. I want my life back.”
Melanie is the first patient in the world to have her neck and spine fused through her mouth after surgeon Dr Vicenç Gilete performed two operations in Barcelona.
She is now having regular injections to help her bones fuse better and is preparing to start a teaching course and move into her own home.
Standing unaided for the first time marks a landmark moment for Melanie who feared she would spend the rest of her life lying down after previous operations failed.
Despite her condition, she still managed to complete a biology degree at Newcastle University and collected her certificate lying flat on a medical trolley stretcher.
Melanie, who is now recovering at home with mum Molly, 72, said: "When I was in the halo it was just so awful. I was in a really desperate position.
“There was just no end in sight and there was no way out of it. The operation gave me a chance and I’m going to seize it with both hands.”
Melanie has so far raised £151,000 on her GoFundMe page but needs a total of £165,000 to cover her medical bills.
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"I was born without a uterus - my gym buddy had my baby"
By Amy Reast
A woman born without a uterus had twins after her gym buddy became her surrogate.
Brooke Smith-Sanders, 39, found out she was born without a uterus aged 17 when her periods never started.
It meant she'd never carry children so when she and husband, Walt Sanders, 42, were ready to become parents they went straight for IVF with a surrogate.
It fell through and after hearing about their heartbreak, Brooke's CrossFit buddy Dawn Crawley, 47, a pharmaceutical product provider, agreed to become their surrogate instead.
She fell pregnant with twins and Maverick and Shepherd were born at 33 weeks.
Brooke said they feel "so blessed" - and wants to share their story to give other families hope when going through infertility.
The mum-of-two, a farmer, from Bell Buckle, Tennessee, US, said: "When I first found out I didn't have a uterus, I was scared and shocked.
"We started looking into surrogacy and found a surrogate - until she called and couldn't go ahead.
"Then Dawn offered to help and it just fell into place for us - she is a member of our family now.
"Becoming a mum was amazing - every day I look at my children and can't believe how lucky we are.
"It was a hard journey but it was so worth it - and I'd do it again every day of my life to get what I have now."
Dawn added: "I am adopted - someone gave me a chance from birth.
"I wanted to repay that any way that I could. Something just said to me 'I need to help them'.
"Knowing that I was able to help them makes me so happy, not just for the parents, for those babies too.
"They're growing up to be such great kids.
"I know how badly Brooke and Walt wanted this.
"It was an honour to help Brooke and be considered a part of her family now is a joy. I think the world of her."
Brooke said she "never got over the sadness" of knowing she couldn't carry her own children.
The started surrogacy in 2018 but it fell through at the last minute when the local woman discovered she was already pregnant.
Brooke said: "It was such a heartbreaking disappointment because we had finally got to the point of starting and it just fell apart."
Brooke went ahead with her own egg retrieval anyway in November 2018, but it failed when they were "exposed to too much carbon dioxide" and all died.
Then gym buddy Dawn offered to help.
A second egg retrieval in December 2018 resulted in 22 eggs - with three fertilised eggs making it to day five.
In April 2019, two eggs were implanted and Brooke and Walt were soon being told they were expecting twins.
Brooke and Walk attended Dawn's scans with her, and they grew close.
Dawn was rushed to hospital on October 31, at 33 weeks, due to pre-eclampsia - which causes high blood pressure in later-stage pregnancies.
Their twins - daughter Maverick, 5lb, and son Shepherd, 4.5lb - were born on November 1, and were small but healthy.
They stayed in the NICU for three weeks with oxygen and feeding tubes until they were strong enough to go home.
Brooke said: "Nothing can prepare you for bringing babies home.
"I remember when we were leaving the hospital I was like 'oh my God, we don't know what we’re doing' but it's been a really fun process."
On November 23, the tots were finally strong enough to come home - and doting parents Brooke and Walt have loved every moment since.
Now four, they start kindergarten next year - and the parents feel as "blessed and lucky" as ever.
Brooke said: "Becoming a mum, it was amazing. I am still amazed to this day.
"Every day I look at them and it's like seeing them for the first time.
"And Dawn - we love her dearly and she is a member of our family. She is a very special person to us."
Brooke wants to give hope to other women facing infertility - and show it can work out in the end.
She added: "I think when you realise you have to do IVF, it's scary and hard.
"A lot of people shut down because they don't know who to talk to or what to do - I felt like that at times.
"In the movies and TV shows it all looks so wonderful and easy, when it's the furthest thing from that.
"But it's important to show you can get through it, no matter how hard it gets.
"For a long time I was sad I couldn't carry them, but I did my part to bring them into this world.
"Sometimes you just need a bit of extra help.
"I want to tell people you're not alone, you're very valuable no matter what road you have to take."
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Otter super-fan treated to her dream day out to meet the UK's only sea otters
By Samuel Wightwick
An otter superfan has had her decade-long dream come true when she took a trip to meet the only sea ones in the UK.
Mary Heathcote, 70, has been a self-confessed "otter-holic" for over 60 years and even has over 500 pieces of memorabilia dedicated to them in her house.
But her biggest dream, to meet a sea otter, finally came true when she visited the SEA LIFE Centre in Birmingham and met Ozzy and Ola.
Mary was able to get up close with the pair - even feeding and shaking paws with them.
Mary, who lives in Somerset, said: “I honestly can’t believe this has actually happened. it’s like all my Christmases and birthdays have come at once.
"I’ve been all over the world to look for sea otters and I never dreamed I would be able to see one in real life.
"The first time I saw any species of otter was in 1991 and I was in tears.
"I’ve been in love with the animals ever since I was young.
"I’ve got so many different otter items in my house. My husband David said around 20 years ago if I buy one more otter he’s leaving me. We’re still together so I guess I called his bluff."
Mary is so dedicated to the species, that she has spent much of her life working alongside wildlife academics to help with river surveys and conservation of otters.
In her lifetime, she has seen the otter population in the UK go from endangered to flourishing.
Amy Langham, General Manager at SEA LIFE Birmingham, said: “It was incredible to witness Mary meeting our sea otters for the very first time.
"She’s dedicated her life to these animals so it’s amazing to be able to give her something she’s dreamt of for such a long time."
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Ex-marine who lost arm in Afghanistan gets superhero-like prosthetic
By Leo Black
An ex-marine who lost his arm in Afghanistan has got a custom superhero-like prosthetic replacement - which allows him to lift up to 400 lbs.
Cpl. Sebastian Guadalupe Gallegos, 32, came up with the idea of an aluminum and carbon-fiber arm after he broke 15 conventional prosthetic ones.
Sebastian had his friend George Schroeder, an engineer, manufacture the custom arm a year and half ago.
Now, Sebastian is able to box, lift weights and even care for his son better.
Sebastian, of San Antonio, Texas, USA, said: "It's the only prosthetic that I can do things with and trust it."
Sebastian is outdoorsy and independent, so he struggled to adapt after losing his arm in Afghanistan in 2010 after being hit by improvised explosive device (IED).
He has since had a total 15 prosthetic arms, which broke during simple, everyday tasks such as carrying groceries.
Sebastian says that ordinary prosthetics suffer from being designed to look like human limbs, which makes them fragile.
He said: My new arm doesn't look like an arm. A lot of prosthetics look natural and that's why they're so fragile. They're so small.
"Grocery bags will break them. It's the torque motion when they swing back and forth or carrying water jugs."
His new arm is made entirely from aluminum and carbon-fibre and has abandoned looking like a human arm for durability.
It outperforms his older ones in every way.
He can now lift weights as heavy as 180 kg (400 lbs) when before his arms struggled with 2 kgs (5 lbs).
Sebastian said: "The most I've dead-lifted was 400 lbs, 75 pounds is what I've pulled safely.
"The other prosthetics would be able to lift maybe three to five pounds. It's a different stratosphere strength-wise."
Besides being able to lift heavier goods, Sebastian's new arms have made a huge difference with one-year-old son Xolo Gallegos.
Sebastian said: "Being a dad is the actual reason I'm most grateful for the prosthetic. When I carry my son I'm almost exclusively using the prosthetic.
"He loves it. It's really cute. He thinks people with both arms are the weirder ones. He even fist-bumps me with it."
Sebastian's new arm has also earned him a lot of unexpected attention on social-media app TikTok and viewers often compare him to The Winter Soldier, a Marvel superhero.
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Police launch daring rescue to save man clinging onto cliff face after falling more than 50ft
By Samuel Wightwick
Police launched a daring rescue to save a man clinging onto a cliff face after he fell more than 50ft.
A dramatic video shows the intense rescue by the Sonoma County Sheriffs helicopter.
Thermal imaging footage shows the man clinging onto the cliff face in desperation as a rescuer is heard telling the man to "not let go" before placing him into a rescue device.
Police were alerted to the incident in the area of the Alexander Battery in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in California, on March 31 at around 7.40pm
The victim was then flown to the top of the cliff and delivered to fire personnel for medical evaluation.
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"Doctors found cancer during my abdominal surgery, just like Kate - it can happen to anyone"
By Amy Reast
A woman went through a similar cancer journey at the same time as Princess Kate - and warned "it can happen to anyone".
Maia Kennedy, 38, began suffering with nausea in December 2023 and was called for an emergency colonoscopy.
Doctors found a tumour in her colon which they believed was pre-cancerous.
Maia, from Hackney, London, had surgery to remove part of her colon in a routine procedure in February 2024 - but to her shock learned it had been cancerous.
Because it was stage one, she didn't need chemotherapy and is now in remission - but sees parallels between her experience and that of the Princess of Wales'.
Maia, who is close in age to the 42-year-old future Queen, said: "As a young healthy woman, you never think it will happen to you.
"But it can happen to anyone - even royalty, with the best medical care in the world.
"I have a lot of empathy for what Kate is going through, it's a tough time - never mind when you're in the public eye.
"When I heard about her surgery my thoughts went out to her - and it was a strange experience finding out my journey was similar to hers.
"With everyone talking about her, it brings up a lot of thoughts of what I've been through too."
Maia first experienced nausea and a change of bowel habits in December 2023, which her GP first put down to acid reflux.
But later that month they ran some tests and she was called in for an emergency colonoscopy in January during which they found a tumour.
Maia said: "I knew something wasn't right, but you don't go into it expecting them to find something like that - it was a huge shock for me."
Specialists thought Maia's was non-cancerous originally - just as they had thought with Princess Kate's at the time of her "planned abdominal surgery" in January.
Maia was booked in for surgery to remove part of her colon in February, and stayed in hospital a week.
She was recovering when she got a call weeks later saying a biopsy of the tumour removed in the surgery showed it had been cancerous.
Because the biopsy showed it was stage one bowel cancer, she didn't need any chemotherapy, and is now declared cancer-free.
She said: "It all happened so quickly from December to March.
"It's taken over my life but its been such a short period of time.
"It's very surreal to say I had cancer."
Maia is now seeking therapy to help her process the traumas she has experienced.
She said learning about the Princess' cancer journey revealed many parallels to her own.
She said: "When I heard about her abdominal surgery, my thoughts went out to her.
"I thought it sounds similar to me.
"At the time they weren't saying mine was cancer, just like they said hers wasn't at first."
Maia is now going through NHS physical rehabilitation sessions to build her strength back up.
While she has been left struggling emotionally, she wants to warn other people to look out for the symptoms - and not to assume it won't happen to you.
She added: "It has been the most difficult thing I've had to go through.
"You need to be aware of the symptoms, because it can happen to anyone - even royalty.
"The sooner you catch it, the better.
"As a young healthy woman, you never think it will happen to you. I never thought it would.
"Hearing of Catherine's story, my emotions were up and down - it brings up the 'what if' feelings.
"What if I had left it or hadn't caught it, or had to have chemo like she did?
"I have a lot of empathy for her and what she's going through - it's a tough time, never mind doing it while being in the public eye."
Maia is now fundraising for Cancer Research: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/maias-race-for-life-2076
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Giant panda gets spooked by bamboo mat
By Safia Azizi
This is the adorable moment a giant panda got frightened by a bamboo mat.
The sweet moment was captured on camera at Beijing Zoo on March 17.
It shows giant panda Meng Er watching a bamboo mat being blown about in the wind.
As the mat begins to fall toward the panda, it suddenly jolts backwards in surprise - triggering laughs from zoo visitors.
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"My twin daughters were born with albinism - people gawk at them in the street"
By Ben Barry
A mum whose twin daughters were born with albinism said people "gawk" at them in the street.
Alex Burnham, 31, gave birth to her twins, Aubrie and Andie, 10 months, in April 2023.
Alex and her husband, Joshua Burnham, 33, a transportation manager, say they didn't realise their daughters had albinism until they were born as it was not picked up during the pregnancy.
Alex said a doctor came into the room looking concerned and she thought there was something wrong with the tots.
The doctor told the worried parents that Aubrie and Andie had albinism and Alex said she was "relieved".
Alex said the twins have issues with their vision so require special glasses, and have fair skin and bright blonde hair.
She said she would often be stopped in the street so people can comment on the twins.
Alex, a marketing manager, from Charlotte, North Carolina, US, said: "Every time we go out people will see the twins and go 'oh my god'.
"Adding the fact that they have bright hair people are fascinated.
"I choose who I tell they have albinism to - I just let people gawk at them.
"I don't have the patience or time to correct people."
Alex found out she was pregnant in September 2022, but didn't discover she was expecting twins until October.
She said: "I was shocked and a little anxious, I have always been the person to say I wanted two kids.
"When I got pregnant with their big sister, Averie, three, I would say how I would love to have twins with her so I was one and done with the pregnancy.
"I went through my feelings, I was nervous about all those things but they have been the biggest blessing to my family.
"I love my girls more than anything in the world."
Alex said she had a "completely normal" pregnancy despite being high-risk because she was carrying twins.
The girls were born on April 27, 2023, via c-section at 37 weeks, just two minutes apart weighing 6lbs 11oz and 7lbs 1oz.
Alex said: "As soon as I got to hold them any worry I had was completely diminished.
"I felt so confident and I was ready to tackle this new venture and being a twin mum."
Alex said when the twins were held up she was shocked to see their bright blonde hair but didn't suspect anything abnormal.
She said: "I did all the genetic testing you have during the pregnancy.
"Nothing was flagged on my tests.
"I remember them being held up for me to see, I commented saying they're toe heads.
"Because they had super bright blonde hair.
"When I was born I had super blonde hair and my family called me a toe head."
A few hours after the pregnancy, Alex and Joshua were visited by a doctor who looked concerned.
She said: "The paediatrician came in with a pack of paper, I thought there was something wrong with the kids.
"They had very fair skin, their eyes were pink and she said she suspected albinism.
"To me when I got the news, I was like 'oh my god, they're fine'.
"I expected such a bad diagnosis."
Alex said the twins are thriving at home but have issues with their vision.
She said: "The big one we have noticed is their vision, we're still navigating what this means for Aubrie and Andie.
"We have special glasses for them but trying to keep them on them is like and Olympic sport.
"I haven't noticed any other issues with their skin or anything like that."
Ten months on from their birth, Alex says Aubrie and Andie have developed very different personalities.
She said: "Aubrie is fearless, independent and such a confident girl.
"She is not scared of anything and she will go anywhere and climb on anything - she is a huge daddy girl.
"Andie is my girl, she is cautious but curious and very careful with what she is doing.
"When they were younger they were similar in personality but as they have got older they're so different - it is fun to watch their personalities develop."
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Love floods in for dog with no eyes who needed forever home
By Adam Dutton
A blind dog that captured the hearts of animal lovers when a cute video of him went viral is searching for a forever home.
Three-year-old Benedict lost his sight when he developed an infection and vets had no choice but to remove his eyes to save his life.
The adorable German Shepherd is now being cared for by Immingham Dogs Home in north east Lincolnshire.
Centre owner Kelly Magee posted a heartwarming video of Benedict on Facebook showing him jumping up and hugging her.
Despite racking up more than 70,000 views, Kelly says the charity has not received a single application to adopt Benedict.
He is currently staying with a temporary foster family but Kelly and her team are desperate to find him a forever home.
Mum-of-two Kelly, 46, said: “He’s only been with us since November and he went into foster care in January.
“We thought within three months he would be adopted but he hasn’t been.
“I think it’s because how often do you see a dog with no eyes.
“There’s blind dogs all over the place, but I guess it’s very unusual to see them without
eyes.
“As a dog, he’s just a very normal dog.
“He’s had his eyes removed as there was so much pressure on them, pushing them out of his head.
“He had an infection and the pressure was building. They removed one and then the pressure was too much for the other.
“It was just a year-and-a-half ago that he had the operation.”
Since losing his sight, Benedict has learned to follow people’s voices or a bell which helpers ring to guide him.
Kelly, who cares for 36 dogs at the centre, added: “It’s very sad that he hasn’t been adopted yet.
“He deserves a home and has done so well with adapting.
"You can't meet him and not fall in love with him.
“He’s quite small, he’s more collie size.
“When we first started walking him we noticed he would follow the voices of the people.
“We’ve trained him to follow the bell instead of voices. He’s off the lead with his fosterers now, he’s amazing.
“He’s literally like any other dog, he’s incredible.”
Benedict has not met any cats and would prefer children over 12 years old as he would need a quieter home.
Anyone interested in offering Benedict a forever home can contact Immingham Dogs Home on Facebook.
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“I will laugh at you when you’re sad” - Moment groom mixes up vows on wedding day
By George Mathias
A nervous groom mixed up his words at the altar – and said to his bride he would "laugh at you when you’re sad".
Robert Thomson, 36, inadvertently brought the house down after confusing the phrase “comfort you when you’re sad”.
Bride Amy, 33, and Robert had their big day on April 13, 2023 at the Reid Rooms in Essex.
The couple, from Hadleigh, Essex, said the gaffe was a “moment to remember.”
Robert, a construction worker, said: “It was such a lovely day. I was full of nerves hence me stumbling on my vows.
“I was waiting for Amy for nearly 45 minutes as she was running late - which made me even more nervous!
“I did see the funny side of it. It's a moment no one can forget or live down - and our family and friends definitely saw the funny side of it too!
Amy, a learning support assistant said: “It was like a Carry On film! I don't think he realised until the reaction. We’ll never forget it.”
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