ATLANTA — As 2023 comes to a close, 11Alive wants to remind its readers and viewers of all the touching stories covered this year in the metro Atlanta community and sometimes beyond.
Here's a list of the most popular heartwarming stories covered this year.
New Mexico woman gets surprise of a lifetime when dog missing for 7 years is found in South Carolina
The most popular story that touched Atlanta's hearts in 2023 is about a reunion between a beloved senior dog and their New Mexico owner after seven years. Nugget was found across the country in South Carolina. When his owner showed up at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport in South Carolina, there wasn't a dry eye in the entire airport.
Sadly, a couple of months following the initial report, 11Alive learned that Nugget had crossed the rainbow bridge.
Jacki Flournoy's garden in Luthersville, Georgia, was a history lesson, with one plant, a century plant, being able to tell decades of stories. She previously told 11Alive that she didn't have a secret; she just planted the seed and let it grow.
"I guess it's like waiting for Christmas," she said previously. "You just have to sit back and wait to see what you're going to get."
The century plant, with its common name Agave Americana, was a showstopper with stalks that grew 25 feet over the city.
'Hugging my kids tighter' | Metro Atlanta mom finds Chick-fil-A worker who saved her daughter's life
Liliana Leahy called it a "miracle" that she had stopped at her local Chick-fil-A on her way to the grocery store. Her daughter, Theia, had started choking in the drive-thru, and Mia, a Chick-fil-A worker, had jumped into action to save her. Mia performed the Heimlich maneuver on Theia, dislodging a coin from her throat.
After the incident, Theia was given ice cream, and Liliana later contacted Mia to thank her again for her heroic actions. The family expressed gratitude for Mia's quick and decisive response, considering it a miracle that they had stopped at Chick-fil-A for lunch, as it would have taken longer to call for help elsewhere.
High school football recruit Sacovie White, who has committed to the University of Georgia, is not only gaining attention for his on-field talent but also for his profound impact on his adoptive family. Having moved in with the Helton family in 8th grade, Sacovie formed a special bond with their oldest daughter, Caroline, who has a physical disability and uses a wheelchair.
A 73-year-old woman with cognitive impairments drove 40 miles from home, causing concern for her family. When she ran out of gas, Xavier Fair, a man from metro Atlanta, came to her aid. He found her at a tire alignment shop, noticed her confusion, and helped her contact her daughter.
Emma Brittian, an employee at a McDonald's in East Athens, has dedicated 50 years to the restaurant. She is described as the heartbeat of the establishment, a leader, and a stabilizing force. Despite being 68 years old, she is determined to continue working, considering it a privilege to be respected and have a job. In honor of her service, the restaurant has dedicated a parking space to her.
Tanesha and Preston Cobb's enduring love led them to get married in an Augusta burn unit after Preston suffered chemical burns just before their wedding. Despite the challenging circumstances, the couple was determined to exchange vows, holding true to their commitment to stand by each other in sickness and in health.
A year after giving birth to her daughter, "Little Nugget," in a Fulton County McDonald's, Alandria Worthy invited the community to celebrate her daughter's first birthday at the same location where the now-one-year-old received a college fund from the establishment.
Joey Watkins, who was wrongly convicted of murder in 2001, was officially exonerated over 20 years later. New evidence, including suppressed cell phone records, led to the dismissal of the case by Floyd County Superior Court Judge Bryan Johnson. Watkins, who had spent over two decades in prison, was released on bond in January while awaiting the District Attorney’s decision on a retrial.
United by a heartbeat: After her son's death, Georgia mom hears his heart inside man who received it
Leah Ozment, a Georgia mother, embarked on a poignant journey to hear her son’s heartbeat a year after his tragic death in a motorcycle accident. Following her son Thomas’s passing, she selflessly chose to donate his organs, and one recipient was Jason Summers, who received Thomas’s heart. The two met on what would have been Thomas’s 20th birthday.
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