Brodie the German Shepherd Border Collie cross was born in a rescue shelter but was attacked by his mom when he was only 13 days old.
She bit his head leaving him with severe cranial and facial injuries - but the resilient dog survived with a permanently slanted face.
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
The poor little pooch's jaw fused together as he grew but one side of his face got stunted which left him partially blind in one eye.
He'd been adopted as a puppy but was returned to the rescue shelter after just five months as the owner complained he was “too hyper."
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
But Amanda Richter, 30, and boyfriend Brad Ames, 23, spotted the popular pooch Brodie on a posting online but despite his unusual looks, said it was “love at first sight."
The pair traveled to the Old MacDonald Kennels in Alberta, Canada, in September last year and brought him home the very same day.
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
The shelter said they received hundreds of adoption requests for the "wonky" dog, but ultimately Richter and Ames were the perfect fit.
Amanda said she cried a few times after seeing his picture online but hopes the energetic pup can now help people with disabilities after training as a therapy dog.
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
She said:
"I looked at his photos every day and even cried a few times. We felt drawn to him for some reason. We met him, took him for a walk and hung out with him for a few hours and ended up bringing him home the same day because the rescue really felt we were a great fit."
"He's definitely hyper but he is so intelligent. His brain is perfectly fine and he learns tricks within 10 minutes usually which tells me he is a smart boy. He just needed patience and someone to be consistent. He gets better every week."
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
The brutal attack left Brodie partially blind in one eye and other complications may arise as he grows, but the couple hope this will only make their resilient pooch stronger.
They are hoping to train him as a therapy dog for disabled people while raising awareness for other dogs with disabilities.
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
Amanda said:
"There is a chance they as he gets bigger more issues can arise, but for now he is as healthy and happy as ever. It's actually funny because when we go to the dog park everyone notices how he is the happiest pup there and just wants to play and run."
"We hope to train him to be a therapy dog one day so he can help other people with disabilities. We also hope that we can raise awareness for other special needs dogs and show people that just because someone or something looks different, they can be perfectly imperfect in their own unique way."
"Dogs are resilient and he has no idea he looks different so he enjoys his life just the same as any other pup."
Amanda Richter/SWNS.COM
In a bizarre tweet, Trump bragged that the U.S. is apparently now:
"NUMBER ONE in the Universe, by FAR!!"
Heading to Davos, Switzerland, to meet with World and Business Leaders and bring Good Policy and additional Hundred… https://t.co/tEaLEQjFoD— Donald J. Trump (@Donald J. Trump) 1579568378.0
That's right.
Now that Trump's Space Force has officially launched (with some sweet camouflage uniforms to boot), he's no longer afraid to say what we all know: That the U.S. is number one in all of space...when it comes to economic policy.
Take THAT aliens!
Twitter, however was left scratching their heads at Trump's expansive assertion.
It's pretty cool being number one in the Universe but somehow the 27th best nation in healthcare and education— Jordan Perham (@Jordan Perham) 1579575424.0
Maybe he thinks we are NUMBER ONE in the Universe due to those Space Farce uniforms. https://t.co/CD4dzshcLm— Mimi (@Mimi) 1579577992.0
@realDonaldTrump do you have any idea just how ridiculous you sound— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich) 1579568461.0
In the universe? Damn space force works fast. https://t.co/pKYOsgVNo4— Small Town Moisture Farmer (@Small Town Moisture Farmer) 1579577037.0
@realDonaldTrump The universe?! You’re a space farce ! https://t.co/yaH230xEvr— Outspoken (@Outspoken) 1579569099.0
@realDonaldTrump oh no you’re going to anger the daleks and the klingons better get space force ready— Sarah Beattie (@Sarah Beattie) 1579572373.0
“NUMBER ONE in the Universe, by FAR!!” Has he even seen the first quarter numbers from the Klingons yet? My man is… https://t.co/qxGafk1qqs— NoelCaslerComedy (@NoelCaslerComedy) 1579571699.0
Brace yourself for impact, President Trump.
We're NUMBER ONE in the Universe, Y'all! And it's gonna keep on getting better! He's gonna bring Hundreds of Billio… https://t.co/DYPkEdOdz6— John Wheeler (@John Wheeler) 1579570327.0
... "WE ARE NOW NUMBER ONE IN THE UNIVERSE, BY FAR!!" https://t.co/KsxPxXBFwp— fake nick ramsey (@fake nick ramsey) 1579568879.0
Donald Trump just announced that “We are now NUMBER ONE in the Universe.” He’s right. Poll numbers in favor of his… https://t.co/UV5NZS9sL2— Palmer Report (@Palmer Report) 1579576352.0
@realDonaldTrump “In the universe”? What are you, an 8 year-old?— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) 1579568982.0
Trump: We are now NUMBER ONE in the Universe, by FAR!! The rest of the Universe: https://t.co/3IfO0oHcPf— Natasha Del Riego (@Natasha Del Riego) 1579576292.0
DT phone home. Please.
@realDonaldTrump dementia and delusions of grandeur are a hell of a cocktail— Jeff Tiedrich (@Jeff Tiedrich) 1579568494.0
Sara Farrow, 27, was scared of people seeing her newborn daughter Lacey-Dee Barrett in public because of the port-wine stain birthmark covering 90% of her body.
It was caused by the abnormal development of her blood vessels during pregnancy, and protective Sara was scared people would single out her daughter.
Tom Maddick/SWNS
So for the first six weeks of her life, single mom Sara covered her daughter's bright-colored skin and hid her away from strangers.
And when she posted photos of Lacey-Dee on Instagram, Sara said she used filters to mask the true color of her daughter's skin.
She only changed her ways when she became worried Lacey-Dee would look back on her baby photos when she is older and asked her mom if she was embarrassed.
But even when she finally plucked up the courage, Sara claims strangers told her her daughter looks “diseased" and "contagious."
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Sara, from Lincoln, England, said:
"Until she was six weeks old I covered her up whenever we went out in public. As her mom obviously I am not bothered about her appearance but I was scared about what other people would think."
"When she was first born she was very red and looked bruised. I've had people say lots of things when we are out. I was scared of what people would think of me as a mum."
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
She added:
"People have said she looks diseased and have asked what's wrong with her face. One person asked 'is she allergic to the washing powder I use' and people think there is something really wrong with her.
"She is completely unique and it's just how she is. It makes her who she is and for me now it would be strange to see her without the birthmarks. I think she is beautiful and love how she looks."
Lacey-Dee was born at Lincoln County Hospital in April and Sara said she realized something was different straight away.
She had darker patches on her chest and doctors thought she may have been bruised.
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Within hours, the birthmark appeared in full on the surface of Lacey-Dee's skin and Sara said initially it was "hard to come to terms with."
Former retail worker Sara said:
"It was only on her chest at first and we thought it might be bruising. But after a couple of hours her whole body turned purple and blue. It was a real shock to be honest and I was really worried because doctors weren't sure what was wrong."
She was referred to specialists and diagnosed with port wine stains in October.
Sara Farrow /SWNS.COM
Only three in every 1,000 babies are born with the condition which occurs during pregnancy, and usually only appear on one limb or area of the body.
Sara said she covered up as much of her daughter's skin with baby blankets, long sleeved clothing or hiding her away in her buggy.
"I just thought 'oh god' and it was hard for me to come to terms with," she said, adding:
"I was most worried about her face and I'm scared for her future. But it got to the point where I didn't want her to look back on baby photos and see I wasn't confident enough or I was embarrassed."
"I had to get brave for her sake as much as mine. I had to come to terms with it. I'm worried for when she goes to school. I don't want her to be called names or to be bullied."
Tom Maddick/SWNS
The condition comes with no other side effects, and Sara said Lacey-Dee is a “very happy" baby.
But she said when she is out and about she faces having to explain her daughter's discoloration.
Sara said:
"We went to the GP and a receptionist there said she should be kept in another room away from children playing in the waiting room in case she's contagious."
"It makes me feel bad but regardless of the birthmark, it doesn't change who she is. We have seen so many dermatologists and they all said this is the most extensive case of Port Wine Stains they have seen."
Tom Maddick/SWNS
Lacey-Dee will meet with specialists next month to see if she is eligible for color-corrective treatment.
*Just a warning for anyone with seizure disorders, this video has a lot of fast-moving parts.
Matt MacMillan compiled clips of little Ryan making noises before splicing them together in time with the music.
Angus Young's iconic guitar riff from 1990 is instantly recognizable as the video begins - with the one-year-old also providing several other parts as song progresses.
AC/DC (SWNS)
Matt, from New Jersey, manually sorted 83 clips according to pitch then organized each according to note to create the track.
He found 21 notes in total - enough to carry the tune.
Matt MacMillan /SWNS
Angus then listened to the AC/DC track over and over again, figuring out the notes by ear.
He also used his son's sneeze as a cymbal, a clip of Ryan hitting a sofa with his hand for the drum and the child slapping the floor for the snare.
McMillan recently shared the video to YouTube, where it has already racked up over 25,000 views.
Adam Martin, 41, was “on death's door" after the deadly infection attacked his heart and left him fighting for his life.
He contracted an infection called endocarditis after he struggled to dislodge the piece of popcorn stuck between his teeth.
SWNS
Endocarditis occurs when germs from another part of your body, such as the mouth, spread through the bloodstream and damage areas of the heart.
Doctors quizzed him about a possible cause and the only thing Adam could think might have caused the infection was his constant wiggling and poking at the food lodged in his teeth.
Adam said he stuck everything from a pen lid, tooth pick, a piece of wire, and even a metal nail in his mouth in a desperate attempt to remove the popcorn.
SWNS
The constant playing around with his mouth caused toothache after he damaged his gum, but instead of going to the dentist, he did nothing.
A week later Adam developed night sweats, fatigue, headaches and eventually a heart murmur, which are all signs of the infection.
SWNS
Father-of-three Adam, from Coverack, Cornwall, England, said:
“The doctors told me if I hadn't gone to the GP when I did then I could have been dead in three days."
“Most people die when they are at 350 on an infection scale and I was at 340. The infection had eaten my heart valves completely."
“If I had gone to the dentist in the first place then none of this would have happened. At one point it was quite touch and go. It was the worst experience of my life."
“I wasn't far off death's door and I am extremely lucky. The popcorn stuck in my teeth is the only possible cause I can think of. I am never eating popcorn again that's for sure."
SWNS
Adam's life-threatening ordeal started when he shared a bag of popcorn while watching a film with his wife, Helen, 38, at the end of September.
The popcorn stuck in a tooth in the back left of his mouth, drove him crazy for three days, and, no matter how hard he tried, he could not dislodge it.
Adam admits he played around with his gums using random things he found lying around to dislodge it.
A week later Adam developed what appeared to be a cold, which then turned into what was assumed to be flu, and on October 7 he went to his doctor.
SWNS
The doctors diagnosed a mild heart murmur and sent him for blood tests and x-rays, which came back showing nothing more significant than slightly raised inflammation markers.
Adam was sent home with medication to recover under his own steam, but a few days later, he was still experiencing flu-like symptoms.
He also developed a blood blister on his toe - which was later diagnosed as a Janeway lesion, an external indication of infective endocarditis.
SWNS
Endocarditis is an infection of the endocardium, which is the inner lining of the heart chambers and heart valves.
It can lead to bacteria spreading through the bloodstream and damaging areas in the heart. If it's not treated quickly, endocarditis can damage or destroy heart valves.
Worried about his worsening current condition, Adam went to the Royal Cornwall Hospital on October 18.
SWNS
He said:
“I had a feeling there was something seriously wrong. I was sleeping an awful lot and I felt terrible.
“I had aches and pains in my legs and I just did not feel right at all. I was admitted to hospital the same day for tests. By this point I was very worried."
“I felt quite ill and I knew I was not right at all."
The muscle ache in his leg turned out to be an infected clot, wedged in his femoral artery which required a five-hour operation to clear.
SWNS
Adam was being treated with medication to fight the infection, but chest scans revealed his heart had been severely damaged - and would need an urgent operation.
He was transferred to Derriford Hospital on October 21 and had a seven-hour open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve and repair his mitral valve, damaged by the infection.
Adam said:
“My heart was not properly working anymore. It was essentially wrecked. The infection had eaten the valves away."
“I should have just gone to the dentist in the first place. I don't want anyone to go through what I have done."
“It all happened so quickly and it did get sketchy. I won't be going near popcorn again, that's for sure."
“It's crazy to think all this happened because of that. It was something so trivial."
Adam made a quick recovery following surgery and returned home to his wife, Helen, and three children Megan, 15, Holly, 14 and George, seven, at the end of October.
SWNS
Teaching assistant Helen said:
“Any sign of toothache, bleeding gums, abscess–get it checked out!"
“It is also well worth noting the date in case you get 'flu like symptoms.' If Adam's infection was caught earlier it could have been treated with antibiotics."
“Your gums are a bacterial highway to your heart."
*A version of this article orginally appeared on SWNS, and was written by Jack Longstaff and Emma Ferguson