Goodable

Conservation organisation Aussie Ark announced the birth of its first koala joey since its sanctuary in Barrington Tops, New South Wales, was confirmed chlamydia-free.

In a press release issued on Monday, September 1, Aussie Ark said the seven-month-old koala joey was part of a “nation-leading pilot program striving to save the species from extinction.”

The joey’s existence was confirmed using “specialised radio tracking, which located the mother Banksia high in a tree”.

“This is the second joey for Banksia, who is one of eight original founding koala adults naturally occurring in the 400-hectare feral-proof sanctuary,” Aussie Ark said.

“Banksia first came into the limelight last year as part of Aussie Ark’s complex koala capture and care operation, when all eight koalas were located, sedated, and rigorously health tested.

“The focus of the testing was to determine if chlamydia was present in the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary… Sadly, five of Aussie Ark’s eight wild koalas were chlamydia positive and required treatment and surgery before re-release. They all made a full recovery and will live long lives.

“Incredibly, Banksia and joey Gymea were chlamydia-free (and fertile)! Banksia was fitted with a radio collar, and the pair was released immediately. Shortly afterwards, Gymea was independent … and Banksia was pregnant again!”

Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid said: “This is the first joey born in our confirmed chlamydia-free koala family. As such, it’s a symbol of hope, and testimony to how healthy our koalas are and how well Aussie Ark has done securing this healthy and happy insurance population.”

Conservation organisation Aussie Ark announced the birth of its first koala joey since its sanctuary in Barrington Tops, New South Wales, was confirmed chlamydia-free.In a press release issued on Monday, September 1, Aussie Ark said the seven-month-old koala joey was part of a “nation-leading pilot program striving to save the species from extinction.”The joey’s existence was confirmed using “specialised radio tracking, which located the mother Banksia high in a tree”.“This is the second joey for Banksia, who is one of eight original founding koala adults naturally occurring in the 400-hectare feral-proof sanctuary,” Aussie Ark said.“Banksia first came into the limelight last year as part of Aussie Ark’s complex koala capture and care operation, when all eight koalas were located, sedated, and rigorously health tested.“The focus of the testing was to determine if chlamydia was present in the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary… Sadly, five of Aussie Ark’s eight wild koalas were chlamydia positive and required treatment and surgery before re-release. They all made a full recovery and will live long lives.“Incredibly, Banksia and joey Gymea were chlamydia-free (and fertile)! Banksia was fitted with a radio collar, and the pair was released immediately. Shortly afterwards, Gymea was independent … and Banksia was pregnant again!”Aussie Ark Operations Manager Dean Reid said: “This is the first joey born in our confirmed chlamydia-free koala family. As such, it’s a symbol of hope, and testimony to how healthy our koalas are and how well Aussie Ark has done securing this healthy and happy insurance population.”

Meet The First Joey Born Into A Chlamydia-Free Koala Family At Aussie Ark

BBC News

At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Day, Jack Syder-Mills set off into the cold streets of Norwich. While most people were ringing in 2026 with fireworks or sleep, the 27-year-old was beginning an extraordinary challenge: six back-to-back runs, each just under a half-marathon, totalling more than 120km over the course of the day.

Nineteen hours and 52 minutes later, Jack crossed the final imaginary finish line on the Norfolk coast in Cromer.

“I wanted to do something sufficiently insane to inspire others that you can push yourself and go further than you think,” he said.

Each of Jack’s runs was 20.26 kilometres long — a nod to the new year — slightly shorter than a traditional half-marathon (21.1km). He rested and refuelled between legs, supported throughout by his mother Jane Syder, who helped with logistics and joined him for a short coastal walk near the end.

But the challenge wasn’t just about distance. It was personal.

Jack’s sister Ella was diagnosed with a brain tumour at age 22 while studying neuroscience at Keele University. Remarkably, she recognised the symptoms herself and sought help early — something Jack knows is a rare privilege.

“She was able to self-diagnose and get treatment early, but for a lot of people, that isn’t possible,” he said. “Brain tumours kill more adults and young people under 40 than any other cancer, but only receive 1% of national research funding.”

His run was in support of Brain Tumour Research, a UK charity that raises money to study what remains one of the deadliest and least understood forms of cancer.

Jack described the overnight hours of the run as the hardest, physically and mentally. The dark, the cold, and the silence made every step heavier. But things improved after sunrise, and support along the route kept him going.

“The pain I’m experiencing is very much temporary… but the pain for people with a brain tumour diagnosis, or their family, can last a lifetime,” he told the BBC during one of the runs. “I feel like the thing I’m doing is very much a minor thing.”

The final leg brought highs and lows. Jack admitted he felt emotional and exhausted but also overwhelmed by the support he received from friends, family, and strangers. Donations poured in throughout the day, along with messages of encouragement.

“It hasn’t really settled in yet, the scale of it,” he said after finishing. “But I have been really heart-warmed by messages and donations. I have no idea what is next, but I don’t think it will be the last challenge.”

His mother, Jane, recalled the wait for Ella’s diagnosis as the “worst time” of their lives. In the end, the tumour turned out to be benign — a relief, but not one they take for granted.

“This is a disease that can happen to anybody’s child at any time, and it’s devastating for the family,” she said. “Ella is very emotional and proud of Jack, but we are equally proud of her. Her journey over the past few years has been significantly harder.”

As for Ella, her brother’s New Year’s Day run was more than just a gesture. It was a show of solidarity, strength, and hope — and a reminder that even in the coldest, darkest hours, someone is still out there running for you.

He Ran Six Half Marathons on New Year's Day to Fund Brain Tumour Research

NBC News

The U.S. has hit a milestone in the fight against cancer: 70% of people now survive at least five years after a cancer diagnosis. That’s according to the latest annual report from the American Cancer Society, which shows steady progress after decades of investment in research, early detection, and treatment.

In the 1970s, that number was closer to 50%. By the mid-1990s, it had climbed to 63%. The new 70% figure, based on diagnoses from 2015 to 2021, marks the best outlook yet for cancer patients — and reflects how once-deadly diseases are increasingly being managed as chronic conditions.

“It takes decades for research to understand and develop these more effective treatments, and now we’re seeing the fruits of those investments,” said Rebecca Siegel, the report’s lead author and senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society.

Five-year survival is a standard benchmark in oncology. While not a guarantee of cure, it generally indicates that a cancer hasn’t returned and that the patient’s long-term outlook is significantly improved.

The report estimates that 4.8 million cancer deaths have been prevented in the U.S. since 1991, driven by advances in treatment, earlier detection, and lower smoking rates.

One of the biggest breakthroughs has come from immunotherapy, which trains the body’s own immune system to detect and attack cancer cells. Siegel described the impact as “game changing” — particularly for myeloma, a type of blood cancer that disproportionately affects Black Americans. The five-year survival rate for myeloma has nearly doubled, from 32% in the mid-1990s to 62% today.

Targeted therapies have also transformed treatment. These drugs home in on specific genes or proteins that help cancer cells grow, reducing harm to healthy cells and causing fewer side effects.

“Staying on treatment longer allows patients to live longer, and these less toxic treatments allow more sequences of therapy,” said Dr. Christopher Flowers, chair of cancer medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, who was not involved in the report.

Lung cancer, the deadliest cancer in the U.S., has also seen survival gains. The five-year survival rate for regional lung cancer — meaning it has spread to nearby structures or lymph nodes — is now 37%, up from just 20% three decades ago.

Despite the progress, researchers say there’s still work to do.

“Our country has an epidemic of obesity, and cancers follow that,” said Dr. Clark Gamblin, chief of surgical oncology at the University of Utah. Gamblin, who was not involved in the report, pointed to rising colorectal cancer rates in people under 50 and increasing breast cancer cases among women — both of which can be linked to obesity.

Access to care remains a major hurdle, especially for communities of color. Siegel noted that Native American and Black populations still carry a disproportionate share of the cancer burden, with gaps in screening, treatment access, and outcomes.

She also warned of potential setbacks due to cuts in cancer research funding. An analysis by Senate Democrats found a 31% drop in federal cancer research grants in the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period a year earlier. Siegel said these cuts — initiated during the Trump administration — could slow or stall momentum on new treatments and prevention strategies.

And while the pandemic may be over, its effects on cancer care are still playing out.

“The screening for [asymptomatic] cancer largely stopped during that time period, and I don’t know that we’ve seen the tail of that yet,” said Gamblin.

The American Cancer Society projects over 2.1 million new cancer cases in the U.S. this year, and more than 626,000 deaths.

Still, the growing survival rate is a reminder that progress is possible — and that research, early diagnosis, and equitable access to care can change lives.

U.S. Cancer Survival Rates Reach Historic High, Surpassing 70% Mark

A rescue dog that went missing in Metro Vancouver's North Shore has been found safe after surviving 54 days in the wilderness — a recovery that only happened thanks to persistence, teamwork, and a lot of community support.

Bami, a four-year-old rescue from Korea, slipped away from her leash near Lynn Valley Mall in late November. Her disappearance kicked off a two-month search that spanned forests, trails, and countless near-misses. Her owners, Yohan Kim and Yeni Ji, say they never gave up hope — even when the odds seemed stacked against them.

"She's more than family to me," Ji said. "Just as when she was missing, I felt that a part of me was missing."

The couple brought in Petsearchers, a professional pet rescue team, to help track Bami down. But even they weren’t expecting the hunt to last this long. Parker Mills, who runs the operation, said lost dogs usually fall into a pattern that eventually allows them to be found. That didn’t happen with Bami.

“She kept moving areas,” Mills said in an interview with CBC’s On The Coast. “She would be seen in one spot, and she'd take in a forest, and then she would take a trail.”

What followed was a frustrating series of sightings, drone flights, trap setups, and more sightings — with Bami continuing to elude capture every time. She was spotted all over the North Shore: caught on video by residents, captured on doorbell cameras, even reported on trails near Rice Lake and deep into the Seymour Valley. A WhatsApp group was set up with community members actively reporting leads.

Then, things got more urgent. Bami had been on the move for weeks, and rescuers started noticing her frame was thinning.

“She was covering so much ground still and clearly getting super skinny,” said Mills. “We kind of projected that she had about a week or two left before she ran out of energy.”

On Friday night, there was another tip — this time near Kenneth Gordon Maplewood Elementary School. Mills rushed to the area the next morning. That’s when he finally laid eyes on Bami himself, with the help of a thermal drone. The tiny heat signature showed Bami curled up, asleep in a bush.

He contacted Ji and Kim immediately. When Ji arrived, she approached quietly and called Bami’s name.

“Just like Parker predicted, she came to the direction where I was standing,” Ji said. “I called her. She immediately recognized me and came to me.”

It was the moment they had been hoping for. Bami was safe.

The couple said the rescue couldn’t have happened without the help of Petsearchers and the people of the North Shore.

“This experience reminded us how incredible a dog's survivor instinct can be,” said Kim. “Surviving for two months with very little food in the rainy winter forest feels most miraculous.”

For other pet owners going through the same ordeal, Kim had one message: “Please do not give up. Hold on to the belief that you can find your pet.”

Rescue Dog Found After 54 days in the Wilderness on Vancouver's North Shore

NASA

As NASA eyes longer stays on the Moon and eventual missions to Mars, it’s turning to U.S. industry, academia, and other government agencies to help decide which technologies should be developed first.

Through a new call-out from its Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), NASA is inviting external experts to weigh in on what it calls “technology shortfalls”—the critical gaps that need to be filled to support future science and exploration missions. These include big-picture needs like infrastructure for long-term lunar operations and systems that could eventually support human life on Mars.

“NASA wants to hear directly from the nation’s brightest minds to drive solutions for our greatest technology needs,” said Greg Stover, acting associate administrator for STMD. “Prioritizing NASA’s technology efforts ensures the most efficient and impactful progress for the agency and its stakeholders.”

The feedback window is open until Friday, February 20. During that time, members of the aerospace community can take part in virtual meetings, submit their ideas, and rank the importance of each technology shortfall. The initiative is part of a broader effort to make NASA’s tech development more agile and aligned with emerging needs.

This isn’t the first time NASA has tried to crowdsource its tech priorities. In 2024, the agency conducted a similar ranking exercise across 187 civil space shortfalls. That process helped identify gaps in areas like propulsion, power systems, and autonomous robotics. This time, NASA has narrowed the list down to 32 integrated categories to make it more accessible and easier for participants to provide targeted feedback.

Each category still covers substantial ground. From lunar surface mobility systems to radiation protection for astronauts, the categories represent a cross-section of the challenges NASA and its partners will face as human spaceflight extends beyond low Earth orbit.

Once submissions are in, NASA will analyze the rankings by stakeholder group—industry, academia, government—and make the results public. Those insights will help the agency adjust its current technology portfolios and guide where new investments or partnerships might be needed.

The goal, according to STMD, is not just to build better rockets and landers, but to create a more dynamic and responsive tech pipeline—one that reflects real-world constraints and taps into the full strength of the U.S. space economy.

It’s also part of a larger trend: NASA increasingly sees industry and academic institutions not just as contractors, but as collaborators. The agency is betting that by inviting these groups into its planning process early, it can identify the most promising paths forward and avoid wasting time or money on technologies that don’t match the moment.

The process could also help unlock new commercial opportunities. As NASA’s priorities shift, so do opportunities for startups, research labs, and established aerospace firms looking to contribute. With long-duration lunar missions on the horizon—and Mars in the longer-term plan—the stakes are high.

STMD plans to repeat the shortfall prioritization process every three years, maintaining an ongoing cycle of review, feedback, and recalibration. That continuous loop of engagement is designed to make NASA more nimble and keep it in step with the rapid pace of innovation in the private sector.

To view the full list of 32 technology shortfalls and submit input to NASA’s prioritization process, stakeholders can visit the STMD website.

As NASA pushes further into deep space, it’s clear the agency isn’t going it alone. The future of space exploration—on the Moon, Mars, and beyond—will be built by many hands.

NASA Taps Industry and Academia to Help Shape Tech Priorities for Moon and Mars Missions

Zoe Kampf thought she was walking into a normal school day. Instead, she was met with cookies, decorations, and a room full of preschoolers in floral tiaras and bow ties, ready to throw her a surprise bridal shower.

The Texas preschool teacher was caught completely off guard — and that was exactly the plan. Her fiancé, Sean Folloder, had teamed up with her students at Shlenker School to organize the December 12 celebration ahead of their January 2026 wedding.

“When I walked in, I was really surprised,” Kampf told the Jewish Herald-Voice. “They had cookies and decorated the classroom. They gave me a sash and a veil and crown. It was really cute.”

The surprise meant even more given the couple’s long history with the school. Both Kampf and Folloder attended Shlenker together as toddlers. Kampf’s grandfather, Rabbi Samuel Karff, actually founded the school back in 1967.

Folloder’s family has ties to the school, too. His grandmother, Barbie Freedman, is Shlenker’s longest-tenured teacher — now in her 41st year — and played a key role in bringing the couple together.

“I’ve been here a while and I taught Zoe when she was a toddler,” Freedman said. “Then in the summer of 2021, Zoe was working on one side of the building and Sean was volunteering with me on the other.”

As summer camp director, Freedman said she started sending Sean on errands to the other side of the building. “Zoe would need something, and I’d send him,” she recalled. “Then they just started hanging out together.”

It didn’t take long for her to play matchmaker. “I remember Barbie said, ‘You guys should really date,’” Kampf said. “We were like, ‘Okay.’ I guess we took her advice!”

Soon after, Folloder asked Kampf out for sushi. Three years later, the couple got engaged on December 23, 2024.

Now, with their wedding on the horizon, Folloder — a high school geometry teacher and football coach — wanted to do something special. So he turned to the people who see Zoe’s kindness and joy every day: her preschool students.

“It was great to surprise her at school,” Folloder said. “She is such a great teacher and everyone, from her kids to her kids’ parents to the staff, loves her.”

Freedman, who watched them grow up and fall in love, said the entire moment felt full circle. “They are a wonderful couple and really devoted to one another. It has been really fun to watch them grow up and grow together.”

As for whether she’ll still be teaching when the next generation of the family arrives at Shlenker?

“I don’t know about that,” she said with a laugh. “I’m going to be 82 soon. I’ll try and see how things go. Shlenker is such a wonderful school and that would be such an amazing thing.”

Texas Preschool Class Throws Sweet Surprise Bridal Shower for Beloved Teacher

inspiremore

Some friendships are just built to last — even in Hollywood.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon first met as kids in the early 1980s, thanks to their moms introducing them. Four decades later, they’re still inseparable, still working together, and still laughing about their shared past — including the time they opened a joint bank account to fund their acting dreams.

In a recent Netflix interview ahead of their new film The Rip, the longtime friends sat down to interview each other and reflect on a bond that has outlasted awards, fame, and personal setbacks.

Ben joked that their friendship has endured in part because there’s no rivalry. “The weird thing about us is that I don’t remember either of us really contemplating other careers,” he said. “Not because of some like arrogance thinking, ‘Oh, it’s gonna be successful.’ It just was like I felt like we kind of approached it like this is what we’re gonna do.”

Matt added that in the early days, their careers were full of rejection — and that just made them pull for each other even more. “We really rooted hard for each other,” he said.

That shared support would eventually lead to a massive breakthrough. In 1998, they won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Good Will Hunting, a film they wrote and starred in together. It launched their careers and cemented their place in film history — but their friendship remained the real constant.

Fans loved seeing the pair reminisce so openly. One viewer wrote, “Ben hasn’t had marriages work but his ‘marriage’ to Matt has ALWAYS been steady and secure. A good friendship goes a long way.”

Both actors have had high-profile ups and downs over the years, but their bond has remained a steady force in both of their lives — and by the looks of it, still full of laughter.

As Damon put it, as long as they could pay their bills, they were happy. Now, decades later, they’ve built a friendship — and a career — that feels almost scripted. Except it’s real.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Reflect on 40 Years of Friendship: “We Rooted Hard For Each Other”

The first time Mesfin Yana Dollar helped with open-heart surgery, he looked down at the patient — a teenage girl from Ethiopia — and saw himself.

She was scared and crying. So he leaned in, spoke to her in Amharic, and told her the truth: “I had the same surgery, and things are going to be just fine.”

Years earlier, he had been in her position. Born in a rural Ethiopian village in 1985 with no electricity or running water, Mesfin was a healthy, happy child — until, at age 10 or 11, his health began to fail. He struggled to breathe, couldn’t run, couldn’t sleep, and eventually couldn’t walk to school. His parents tried traditional medicine and local doctors, but nothing worked.

Eventually, Mesfin made the journey to Addis Ababa on his own, where he found his way to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. There, he met an American doctor, Rick Hodes — a man who had made it his life’s mission to help sick children in Ethiopia get treatment abroad.

Hodes diagnosed Mesfin with rheumatic heart disease, a life-threatening condition that had been quietly worsening for years. With no option for surgery in Ethiopia, Hodes began searching for a way to send him to the United States.

At age 15, Mesfin flew to Atlanta, Georgia, where cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jim Kauten repaired his mitral valve at Piedmont Heart Institute. The operation was a success. Mesfin recovered with a host family — a local dentist — and was preparing to return to Ethiopia when an infection in his jaw from wisdom tooth removal triggered endocarditis, a potentially fatal complication.

Once again, Mesfin was rushed to Atlanta. This time, doctors replaced his valve with a mechanical one, meaning he would need lifelong medication and follow-up care. Returning to rural Ethiopia was no longer an option.

That’s when his cardiologist, Dr. Allen Dollar, stepped in. He invited Mesfin to live with his family in Atlanta — and eventually adopted him.

“It kind of reminded me of home because I have 11 brothers and two sisters,” Mesfin said. “This is as large a family as I had back in Ethiopia.”

He quickly caught up in school, mastered English, and graduated from Georgia State University as a respiratory therapist. He met his wife, Iyerusalem, in college, and they now have two sons. Later, he trained to become a cardiac perfusionist — a highly specialized role operating the heart-lung machine during surgery — and now works at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. His wife works there too, as a cardiac sonographer.

Now 40, Mesfin spends his days in the same kind of operating rooms that once saved his life. He runs the heart-lung machine for some of the most complex open-heart procedures in the world.

But he hasn’t forgotten where he came from. With the same surgeon who operated on him decades ago, he returns to Ethiopia through the nonprofit Heart Attack Ethiopia, helping deliver life-saving surgeries to others who need them.

“He has retained this spirit of gratitude,” said Dr. Allen Dollar. “He has never lost sight of what his life could have been and all the people along the way.”

On one of their first mission trips, Dr. Kauten was surprised to see Mesfin show up, ready to join the team. “For him to be able to pay back to his community services that he received in the United States, and he was able to pay it back in Ethiopia — that was especially nice in my mind,” Kauten said.

In addition to assisting in surgeries, Mesfin acts as a translator, mentor, and guide for young Ethiopian students training to become perfusionists like him.

After years apart, he has now helped bring several members of his biological family, including his parents and siblings, to the United States.

“I’m always grateful,” Mesfin said. “It’s a resurrection for me. You know, I was once lost, dead, and I was resurrected and I’m living a new life.”

He Nearly Died From Heart Disease As a Teen — Now, He’s Saving Others in the Same Way He Was Saved

Keanu Reeves just added another reason to the long list of why fans adore him — and once again, it involved no fanfare, no entourage, and no PR team.

While filming The Matrix Resurrections in San Francisco, the actor quietly stopped by House of Nanking, a beloved local restaurant where he’d once taken a photo with a young fan back in 1997. That fan, Kathy Fang, is now the restaurant’s co-owner — and was stunned to see Reeves walk through the door unannounced.

“He dropped in unannounced, surprising owner Kathy Fang, and the two recreated a photo they’d taken years earlier,” Pubity shared on Instagram. “No press, no promo; just Keanu stopping by for the noodles and the memories.”

Back in the late ’90s, Reeves was already a major star when he visited the restaurant and posed for a photo with Fang, who was still a child. Neither of them expected a follow-up moment decades later.

But this time, the moment felt even more meaningful. There were no cameras rolling, no social media stunt. Just a humble return to a favorite spot — and a warm reunion over food and nostalgia.

Fans online couldn’t get enough.

“I love that 20 years later they still look the same,” one person commented. Another added, “Best human in Hollywood (I wish the others would take note).”

“Keanu one of those guys you just can’t hate on at all,” someone else wrote.

Even those who hadn’t been there in person felt the connection. One customer recalled visiting the restaurant during a layover in San Francisco and spotting the original photo on the wall. “We saw the original photo and were buzzing. To see he visited again is amazing. Also your food was top tier,” they wrote.

Reeves’ visit was brief and low-key, just like everything else fans have come to love about him. No spotlight. No show. Just kindness — and maybe some great noodles.

Keanu Reeves Surprises Restaurant Owner, Recreates Iconic Photo 25 Years Later

When Ben Morris was six months old, his parents noticed something wasn’t quite right. Other babies were kicking, crawling, exploring the world — but he was content sitting still, watching it go by.

Concerned, they took him to the GP. At first, the doctor wasn’t alarmed. Then came the test. The doctor sat Ben on the edge of the medical bed and let go. He toppled over without trying to catch himself. That moment changed everything.

On 15 October 2001, Ben was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type two (SMA2), a rare genetic condition that weakens the muscles, particularly those used for movement and breathing. His parents were told he might not live past his second birthday.

That was 23 years ago.

Today, Ben is 25, a BBC journalist, a university graduate, and living independently in London with the support of personal care assistants. He uses a powered wheelchair and a ventilator at night to help with breathing, but he’s thriving.

“My parents were told I may not live beyond two years old,” he said. “But when we returned for a check-up in early 2002, the neurologist remarked: ‘He’s a survivor.’”

The story resurfaced in the public spotlight this week after singer Jesy Nelson revealed that her twin daughters have been diagnosed with SMA type one — a more severe form of the disease. Ben decided to share his own experience to show what life with SMA can look like.

For Ben, that life has included racing on the track at London Stadium during a test event for the 2012 Olympics, meeting Samantha Cameron and Eddie Redmayne at 10 Downing Street, and earning a journalism degree from the University of Winchester.

He also credits SMA UK — the charity that supported his family — and a network of friends with the condition who help him feel less alone. “We share our common experiences and help each other know we’re not alone,” he said.

Advances in treatment are also changing the outlook for new patients. Ben takes a daily medication called Risdiplam, which helps stabilise his condition. Babies now also have access to a gene therapy called Zolgensma — a one-time infusion that delivers a healthy copy of the missing gene. It's only effective in early infancy, before irreversible damage occurs.

Newborn screening is also improving. Scotland is set to introduce routine SMA testing for babies this spring, and the UK’s National Screening Committee is reviewing whether to roll out the same heel-prick test nationwide.

SMA affects roughly one in 14,000 births worldwide. Around 47 babies were born with the condition in the UK last year — about 60% with type one. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that between 683 and 1,366 people currently live with SMA in the UK.

Ben’s own journey hasn’t been easy. SMA has affected his spine — surgery for scoliosis prevented him from growing taller — and he faces the everyday challenges of navigating life with a complex condition. But support, planning, and a determination to live fully have carried him through.

His parents played a huge role. His dad, a project manager by trade, approached Ben’s care the same way he would a job — pulling together physios, neurologists, and wheelchair services to work as a team. At school, Ben had a full-time teaching assistant and followed the same curriculum as everyone else.

“My sister Emily doesn’t have SMA, but may be a carrier,” he said. “She’s never treated me any differently — though she does like pointing out she’ll always be taller than me.”

Now, Ben hopes that by speaking up, he can offer a more hopeful narrative — especially for parents like Jesy Nelson, now navigating her twins’ diagnosis.

“There have been many success stories,” he said, naming Paralympian Sally Kidson, Balamory actress Kim Tserkezie, and US YouTuber Shane Burcaw among others.

“Hopefully, as I am showing, it’s possible to live a fulfilled and happy life if you have SMA.”

Doctors Said He Might Not Make His Second Birthday — Now I’m 25, Living With SMA and Thriving

For decades, varsity letters were only awarded to student-athletes. More recently, schools began offering them for theater, robotics, and academic achievements. But one major area was still missing — until two students in Snohomish, Washington, decided to change that.

Elizabeth Bogen and her classmate Remus Fox-Bailey, both students at Snohomish High School, successfully advocated for something never done before in Washington state: the chance to earn a varsity letter in skilled trades.

“I've always really liked working with my hands since I was really little,” said Bogen, who now spends part of her school day welding metal in class. She knew her work was just as demanding and valuable as what happens on the football field — but there was no way to be recognized in the same way.

“I thought it was interesting and something we should be able to do,” she said.

So the two students made their case to education officials. Now, thanks to their effort, Snohomish High has become the first school in the state to award varsity letters in skilled trades — and others are expected to follow.

“It feels really cool to be the person to bring it in and start this for our state and give other people the opportunity to letter,” Bogen said.

The timing couldn’t be better. The U.S. is facing a critical shortage of skilled trade workers. Over the next seven years, the country will need an additional 2 million workers in fields like welding, electrical work, and mechanical maintenance. The ongoing gap is projected to cost American businesses $1 trillion by 2030.

“There is a massive vacuum for anybody going out into skilled trades,” said Matt Johnson, a manufacturing instructor at Snohomish High.

Washington state is already feeling the impact. Nearly 80% of construction firms report trouble finding qualified workers, according to industry data. Even major employers like Boeing, which saw layoffs last year, are still actively hiring mechanics and technicians.

That’s where programs like this can help — not just to build skills, but to recognize the students putting in the work.

“This student should already have a leg up when it comes to work ethic, when it comes to drive, their ability to complete something and complete it on time,” Johnson said. “It’s about trade skills, but it’s also about life skills.”

In Bogen’s case, the benefits are already clear. She’s set to graduate this spring — and she already has a job lined up at Boeing.

“If you do put in the effort, and you put in the work, you can be rewarded for it,” she said.

Now, with a varsity letter in welding stitched to her jacket, Bogen is helping rewrite what success in high school looks like — and lighting the path for others to follow.

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