Nerds Republic

Last week, the world was shaken by brutal acts of terrorism in Paris. Over the weekend, many of us gathered in support of those victims, sending prayers and love from across the globe. But sadly, that heartwarming outpour of kindness has had one significant drawback: we have neglected to notice those who are also suffering in Beirut and Baghdad.

Both areas were targets of suicide bombing attacks just hours before the attacks in Paris occurred, but they’ve received little to no coverage in the press. Facebook isn’t offering to let us temporarily filter our profile pictures with their flags’ colors, even though their citizens have felt as much loss and pain as the people of France.

In Beirut, a marketplace erupted as two bombers made their way through the crowd. The blasts took 43 lives and wounded at least 239 others. But those numbers might have been even higher if it weren’t for the brave, split-second decision of one heroic man.

Adel Termos was at the marketplace with his daughter when he saw the first bomb go off.

Twitter / faketual

Chaos and debris flew everywhere as people panicked to find shelter. That’s when Termos noticed a second bomber preparing to attack.

Twitter / faketual

Instead of running in the other direction, Termos went straight for the man and tackled him. The bomb went off, killing both men. With his brave final act, Termos saved hundreds of lives.

Twitter / emilycmulligan

His daughter, shown here at her dad’s funeral, was one of the lucky people who was saved by his heroic actions.

Twitter / Datoism

(source: Pri)

We mourn each of these tragic acts of violence equally, and we urge you to keep all of those who are still suffering in your thoughts. Karuna Ezara Parikh, a blogger from India, shared this poignant image on Facebook in the aftermath of these attacks, which reminds us to not only mourn for Paris, but for the whole world.

Parents have one goal when it comes to sending their kids to daycare: to feel like the people they’ve trusted to care for their little ones are kind, competent, and caring.

But sometimes, proper daycare research can only do so much. If citations against facilities are kept out of public records, parents have no way of knowing the truth. This is something that one heartbroken family in Oklahoma learned the hard way.

When Derek and Ali Dodd — the wonderful parents of two young boys — dropped their youngest son off at daycare in April of this year, they had no idea that he would never come home.

Jess Grasse Photography via The Edmond Sun

One of the employees at the facility carelessly let little Shepard sleep in his carseat instead of putting him in a crib. She came to check on him two hours later, and when she touched his skin, he was ice cold. Although she called 911 immediately, the damage was already done. Sadly, the infant died from something called “positional asphyxiation.”

Essentially, the baby suffocated in his sleep because he wasn’t properly fastened into the seat.

KFOR News

At an early age, babies don’t have the strength to lift and support their own heads. If improperly fastened in a carseat, infants can become slumped over, which makes them unable to breathe. This act of laziness and disregard for Shepard’s safety on the part of the daycare employee is ultimately what took his life.

The most terrifying thing about the situation is that Shepard’s death doesn’t appear in public records.

KFOR News

Parents looking to keep their kids at this daycare center would then have no idea what happened. Fortunately, the facility has since shut down.

To help cope with their grief, Derek and Ali now work to raise awareness for positional asphyxiation so that parents and caretakers can avoid making this devastating mistake.

KFOR News

To learn more about their heartbreaking story, watch the video below:

(via Wimp)

No parent should ever have to endure the loss of their child, especially at the hands of someone else’s carelessness. If you want to learn more about the dangers of positional asphyxiation, check out this Facebook page, which was created in Shepard’s honor. This knowledge could save a child’s life.

No parent should ever have to bury a child. For most parents who experience that type of loss, the trauma is too much to bear.

Such was the case for Madosu Kanneh and Lancine Fofana, who lost their son Mohamed two years ago. The young boy died after part of a Mississippi River bluff collapsed on him during a fossil hunt. When the ten-year-old child and his friend met an untimely end, Mohamed’s parents had to face something that every parent fears.

Shortly after Mohamed’s funeral, however, the grieving parents discovered something truly remarkable. The discovery was so amazing that it helped them get through the hard times.

Lancine Fofana and Madosu Kanneh of St. Paul, Minnesota, lost their son on May 22, 2013.

Barn Raisings

Mohamed was searching the banks of the Mississippi River for fossils with his friend on a school trip when a bluff collapsed. The two boys were killed instantly.

Barn Raisings

After going through Mohamed’s possessions, Madosu discovered her son’s ultimate wish: to build a school in Guinea.

Barn Raisings

“I would do everything, and I would give money so school kids can read,” wrote Mohamed. “And I would give money to the poor people. I would build soccer fields for schools to play in.”

Mohamed visited Guinea, his father’s home country, in 2010.

Barn Raisings

It was there that he learned that parents had to send their children far from home if they wanted to get an education, as there were no schools in town.

Thanks to his loving parents, Mohamed’s dream is becoming a reality. The couple decided to use the settlement from Mohamed’s death to build a school in Guinea that will accommodate 400 students.

MPR News

This is the building’s first cornerstone. The school, which will benefit the town of Siguiri, will also give children access to a soccer field, a basketball court, and a library.

Mohamed’s parents are doing everything they can to honor their son’s wishes. By fulfilling his dreams, they keep his generous spirit alive.

Barn Raisings

His legacy will be one of compassion, warmth, and kindness.

(via MPR News, Barn Raisings)

Lancine and Madosu are still raising the necessary funds for the completion of Mohamed’s dream school. If you’d like to contribute to the project, visit the fundraising page to help keep this little boy’s dream alive.