The news these days is often depressing at worst and frustrating at best. It’s easy to get caught up in the spin cycle and let it get us down. Never fear… The News Blender has you covered. Once a week, we feature Something Good and, in return, all you have to do is tell us something good that has happened to you this week, something you are thankful for, a joke, a cute animal story, an inspiring tale of heroics, a Random Act of Kindness… SOMETHING good.
Today’s Something Good is Good Samaritans.
Mara Soriano, a Vancouver resident, was moving into a new apartment last week when the unthinkable happened. She was distracted when she received a call from a friend who had been hit by a car and dropped everything to rush to his side. In her panic, she forgot her backpack that contained an ipad and a teddy bear. While the ipad had monetary value, the teddy bear was irreplaceable because it had a recording of her deceased mother’s voice.
Marilyn Soriano was diagnosed with cancer about 10 years ago. She went to Build-A-Bear and made “Mama Bear” with a red and white dress, white jacket, and glasses to look like herself for her daughter. She recorded a message as well: “I love you. I’m proud of you. I’ll always be with you.”
Mara says that her mother’s voice changed through her battle with cancer and the message recorded her mom’s voice sounding like it did when she was growing up. Marilyn died last summer.
Mara’s plea for the bear to be returned went viral and rewards were offered for its safe return.
On Tuesday evening, Mara received an email from someone who said they had the bear. She had a member of the press accompany her to a public meeting spot because she was afraid the situation was a little sketchy. However, the Good Samaritans had the bear, which was in nearly perfect condition.
Mara was overjoyed at being able to hear her mother’s voice again. The two individuals said they recognized the person who took the backpack from the security footage that was released and forced him to give them the bear.
Mama Bear lost her glasses while she was gone but Mara said those can be replaced. The ipad had video of her mother but it was the bear that really mattered to Mara. She told CTV News, “I just wanted the bear. The bear is what’s the most important part. She made it herself.”
Mara says her mother would say “I told you so” if she could know what happened with the return of the bear and would remind her daughter to have faith. Mama Bear will be seated in the seat of Mother-of-the-Bride when Mara gets married next summer and will be kept close by in the meantime.
Good Samaritans are something to be thankful for and can take a terrible situation and turn it into a blessing.
Now it’s your turn… Tell me Something Good!
