The gift of life came in the nick of time for an Ohio man.

WLWT, a Hearst station, first interviewed Mark Plummer in April 2022.

He was suffering from interstitial lung disease, an incurable lung disease that causes stiffening of the lungs, and his insurance would not cover the transplant he needed.

Less than a year later, he has a new set of lungs.

Doctors still don't know what caused him to develop the disease, but Mark Plummer said he is eternally grateful to the person who saved his life by being an organ donor.

"It is absolutely a second chance at life," he said. "We started calling it the gift."

Mark Plummer was admitted to a hospital in Columbus, Ohio, in early April. Family, friends and complete strangers helped pay the bill.

"I got donations from all over the country. We were amazed. Your story got picked up by stations all over the place," Mark Plummer said.

Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center covered the rest through financial aid.

Mark Plummer received his life-saving transplant on April 19.

"I was very, very, very sick, so my recovery was much rougher than most people," he said.

After the surgery, his kidneys went into shock. He was on dialysis for a month and spent a total of eight weeks in the intensive care unit. Then he spent time in rehab and another three weeks in Columbus for observation before heading home to Cincinnati.

"I knew he had it in him, but it was scary," Mark's wife, Linda Plummer, said. "I don't have to worry about him as much anymore. I don't wake up and — how loud is he breathing, is he breathing OK, checking his numbers."

He is now healthy enough to return to work and started a new job with Capabilities Driving School, teaching teens and young adults with disabilities how to drive. He is back to playing with his grandkids, including an adorable new grandson, and walking his two dogs around the neighborhood.

"I can pretty much do what anyone else can do, up to — I'm not ready to run a marathon yet," he joked. "Organ donation does save lives, and I'm sitting here talking to you as living proof that it really does save lives. And I'm looking forward to hopefully living at least another fifteen to twenty years because of that gift."

Now he plans to pay that generous gift forward.

"Why not? Why not pay it forward and help somebody?" Mark Plummer said. "Somebody helped me."

Several weeks ago, Mark Plummer saw a post on Nextdoor by a young woman named Bra'Naye Willis. She and her boyfriend rent an apartment at the Williamsburg Apartments of Cincinnati, and she was looking for advice. She said their apartment had no heat, there were leaks and air quality issues, among other problems.

"I had an asthma attack most recently in December because I couldn't breathe because of the air quality conditions," Bra'Naye Willis said. "It hurts me that people just really don't care about any of us."

The apartment complex has been in the news for months for a series of health and safety violations. The city of Cincinnati filed a lawsuit against the owners in January.

"Both her and her boyfriend, they suffer from lung issues, so that made a connection with me immediately," Mark Plummer said. "Someone who has asthma doesn't need to be in an environment like that."

He started a GoFundMe page for the couple to help them move somewhere else before their lease is up. He also made the first donation.

He is determined not to take his second chance at life for granted and said he is "eternally grateful" to the donor's family.

"On the worst day of their lives, they lost a loved one. That became the best day of my life," he said.

DES MOINES, Iowa —

A Drake University dining hall cashier is discovering just how much her student customers love her.

“Brian, how are you?” shouts Marietta Jackson to a student heading in for lunch.

When was the last time a lunch lady greeted you by name?

“Hi, Anthony. How are you?” as another favorite student enters the dining hall.

Jackson is no ordinary lunch lady. For 15 years, she's been a powerful light that brightens the Hubbell Dining Hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on the campus of Drake University. She makes everybody that passes her cashier station feel right at home.

“She is an amazing woman. She is always so kind. She takes care of us and always makes you feel special,” said Drake student Chris Davis.

Jackson says with a laugh, “They love me. I love them. I'm their mom away from home.”

“She knows everybody’s name. She lights up your day. Makes you feel welcome. You would never guess she is going through what she is going through,” said Okay Djamouz, a Drake basketball player.

What she is going through might wipe that smile away. But not Jackson.

“I have ovarian cancer, which has not been pleasant at all,” she said.

Jackson has been on and off the job and in the hospital, dealing with scary health issues. That's when Drake basketball player Maggie Bair opened a GoFundMe account for her. It's raised more than $18,000 for medical expenses.

“I feel surrounded with love,” said Jackson.

And that love is mutual.

“To have that level of warmth and comfort and joy come from this one little body is something that I feel everybody looks forward to. I know I look forward to it," said former Drake University staffer Keesha Ward.

Jackson says she is trying to work as much as she can through her diagnosis. She asked us to let her send a message.

“I feel their prayers, and I am truly blessed. Thank you so much. I don't even know how to say thank you. Thank you,” Jackson said with a giggle.

Jackson says the GoFundMe gift will help pay some medical expenses not covered by her insurance.

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Police Officer Herbert Davis III, who was shot multiple times on Jan. 27 while responding to a welfare check and is a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan, has been surprised with Super Bowl tickets.

WTMJ-AM and Good Karma Brands surprised the officer on live radio. They bought him two Super Bowl tickets, two plane tickets, a hotel room, and are giving him a couple thousand dollars in spending money to use while at the game. Originally, a GoFundMe was set up to get Officer Davis to the Super Bowl. But then WTMJ-AM stepped in to get him to Los Angeles.

Station Vice President Steve Wexler made the announcement live on the air.

“It's just a token of our appreciation for your service, your commitment, and your inspiration that you've brought to all of us," said Wexler.

Davis remained speechless for a few moments, thanking the station and staff for the trip.

Davis said he plans to take his dad to the game. That is where he got his love for the team.

“My dad is my best friend. As much as I am happy and excited for this, this would mean the world to him,” said Davis.

Right after Officer Davis heard the good news he said that he wants to give recognition to the other officers who were also shot in the line of duty in the past few weeks: Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy Christian Almonte and Milwaukee Police Detective Andrew Wilkiewicz. Now, Officer Davis wants to use the money from his GoFundMe to get Almonte and Wilkiewicz to the Super Bowl as well.

“Whatever money that we got donations from, anything that we were able to do, I wanted to share that with them. Football fans or not, if they wanna come I wanted to be able to get them there. If they are not football fans, I would love the opportunity to donate to a cause they would want," Davis said.

The Super Bowl between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams will take place on Feb.13 in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium.

On Jan. 30, Officer Davis went viral as video showed him reacting emotionally to the news that Cincinnati was going to the Super Bowl.

While the news of him going to the Super Bowl and beginning the recovery process is great, it was all born out of tragedy.

The shooting happened around 5:53 p.m near 2101 W. St. Paul Ave on Jan. 27. Officer Davis was responding to a welfare check of a slumped over who turned out to be 22-year-old Jetrin Rodthong.

When Rodthong exited the car, he tried to run away. A brief struggle ensued. The officer moved away from Rodthong but Rodthong walked up to him and shot Officer Davis. Then Rodthong ran to the officer's squad car, got in, and drove off, prosecutors say.

Rodthong drove to the area of Clybourn Street and 17th Street when he crashed into another vehicle. Rodthong fled that scene on foot. That's when he was arrested by responding officers. According to the complaint he had multiple gunshot wounds.

Police found several items in his pocket which tested positive for opiates, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. According to the complaint, Rodthong then admitted to using meth and heroin before his altercation with the officer.

He also admitted to having a pink 9mm in his waist prior to the exchange.

Rodthong went on to tell police he got out of the car when asked because he did not want to go to jail again. But, when the officer was going to put his hands behind his back, all Rodthong could think about was getting away.

When asked what happened next, Rodthong just repeated that he wanted to get away, according to the complaint.

Rodthong's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9. A cash bond has been set for $1 million. He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and use of a dangerous weapon.

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Milwaukee police Officer Herbert Davis was shot by a suspect Thursday night.

Now, his family has started fundraising to send him to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.

It's no secret he's a big Cincinnati Bengals fan.

Davis, 26, wore his gear when he was released from the hospital Friday.

His family shared video with WISN 12 showing Davis watch the end of the Bengals-Chiefs game Sunday night.

We all know the Bengals kicked a last-minute field goal to give them the victory and send them to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989.

Davis got emotional watching the kick and score.

His family started a GoFundMe page to help raise the money needed.

Their goal is $25,000.

"Physically, he will heal," his sister wrote on the page. "Our family knows the healing process doesn't end with physical capabilities. He has a long haul ahead. He started as a police aide at 19 years old and has 7 years of service. Herb is a hero. He will forever hold that title."

The page said Davis' fiancee is also part of the MPD family.

Funds raised will also help with family travel and medical expenses.

"Go Bengals!!! Thank you for all the love and support he's been given," Davis' sister wrote.

Super Bowl LVI is Feb. 13. The Bengals will play the San Francisco 49ers.

The suspect charged with shooting Davis remains in the Milwaukee County Jail on $1 million cash bail.

GLENWOOD, Iowa —

An Iowa teenager is turning to surgery, hoping an expensive procedure will give her a new smile.

Since she was a little girl, Liberty Williams’ mouth curved a bit different than those around her. Now after years of bullying, she said she doesn't feel free to smile wide.

"Do I have a crooked smile?"

At 4 years old, Liberty asked her mom that question.

Dusty Williams said her daughter's preschool teacher had brought it up to her.

It broke her heart, so they tried to find a fix.

"There was nothing, we had no diagnosis at all,” Dusty Williams said.

So for 15 years, Liberty lived with one side of her mouth being different. And bullies have always noticed.

"It was hard because I know I’m different from other people and people would just see me differently than I do, so I just want to be seen as normal and have a normal mouth but it’s hard when people keep saying things,” Liberty said.

This past year the bullying took a big turn.

Liberty got an anonymous text message calling her names and saying, "You have no point in life and nobody wants you here. I don’t know how you get friends with that messed up mouth."

"It didn’t have a phone number or anything, I didn’t know what to do. I went straight to my mom,” Liberty said.

"She was just sobbing in a ball on her bed, just sobbing and I was angry,” Dusty Williams said.

After calls to the police, the school, the phone provider and the county attorney with no answers, the Williams family felt at a loss.

But, that reignited their search for a doctor who could help.

A surgeon in Omaha, Nebraska, tried, but once Liberty was under anesthesia, Williams said the doctor came out with bad news.

"This surgery was unsuccessful. We went in, we cut her open we dug around and there’s actually no nerves or muscles in the entire side of her face,” Dusty Williams said.

He was able to place gold in her eye, which allowed her to finally close her eyes completely.

That doctor referred them all the way to a surgeon in Beverly Hills. They believe he can do a facial reanimation.

"They can’t fix anything internally but on the outside, they can make her smile a little more symmetrical and change some of the things about her that she's uncomfortable with,” Dusty Williams said.

A GoFundMe will pay for the expensive surgery.

A friend is offering photoshoots, with the proceeds going to the Williams family.

Money is also being raised by the sale of anti-bullying T-shirts in Liberty’s name.

“That’s what’s more important is that they stop treating her that way to me than fixing who she is, like that’s who she is,” Dusty Williams said.

In the end, it’s Liberty's choice.

"I think if I got the surgery I’d be happier with my smile but I feel like other people are winning if I do. So, I don’t know what to do,” Liberty said.

A Massachusetts community is coming together to help two young children after their parents' sudden deaths just days after Christmas.Chris and Michelle King both died unexpectedly, leaving behind their two children: 6-year-old Josephina, known as JoJo, and 1-year-old Miles.The Sagamore, Massachusetts, couple was beloved. Michelle King was a high school math teacher and Chris King was an engineer. Bourne Police say the tragic deaths are not under investigation. Family members said the deaths were due to medical conditions. In just a couple days, an online fundraiser to support the King children has raised more than $69,000. The family says that money will be put into a trust for the kids.

MADISON, Wis. —

University of Wisconsin basketball senior Chris Vogt went to bed early Friday night to prepare for the team's game in Columbus, Ohio.

He woke up to heartbreak.

"I woke up Saturday morning to a text from a former coach... and all it said was 'Are your parents okay?' And I had no idea what he was talking about," said Vogt.

He told sister station WISN his first thought was that his parents were in a car accident on their way to Ohio from Mayfield, Kentucky, his hometown.

“My heart was kind of racing, I started to look for stuff that possibly could have happened and that’s when I started seeing the news about the tornado," he explained. "And I see all the pictures, all the videos and I was kind of just in awe.”

Mayfield was in shambles following devastating, deadly tornadoes that ripped through parts of the Midwest and the southeastern U.S.

His parents are OK and were already in Ohio when the storms back at home hit.

Vogt said his small town of about 10,000 people is close-knit.

“It’s just kind of like a classic small town. I loved growing up there," he said. “It was heartbreaking... Being able to pick out landmarks and stuff in the video and knowing how they should look, and seeing them completely dismembered is really tough to see.”

Vogt texted everyone he could to check in before taking the court.

He put up seven points against the Buckeyes to help his team. After the game, though, he knew he needed to help his hometown.

He set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds for relief efforts.

"Just kind of reading through the comments on each and every donation there's been a lot of 'go Badgers' or 'I love this team, keep up the good work' and so it just means a lot knowing the fanbase has our back," he said.

Vogt plans to split the donations between several recovery efforts including the American Red Cross and Mayfield High School resource offices.

You can also help the relief efforts by donating here.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — A woman who died in a crash in Boone County on Monday is being remembered for her friendship, humor and dedication to her craft this week.

Twenty-one-year-old Allyson Davis, who hailed from Floyd County, Kentucky and was a senior musical theatre student at Northern Kentucky University, died Monday morning in a crash on I-75 near Walton.

"She was a wonderful young lady and it is an understatement that we will miss her greatly," NKU School of the Arts leaders said in an online statement.

Davis was recently the lead in “Tick Tick Boom!” and played Little Buttercup in “HMS Pinafore” at NKU.

“Her talent was only matched by the size of her heart and her infectious smile, which could light up any room. Ally was loved by her classmates and a true friend through the best and hardest of times. The dedication to which she pursued her craft was an inspiration to all of us,” the statement continued.

“In class, on stage, or passing in the hallways, Ally made you feel as if you'd been friends for a lifetime. She represents the best in all of us, and we will forever be lucky to have enjoyed her artistry, friendship, and love of life.”

A GoFundMe set up by students for a memorial for Davis and to support her family has already raised over $8,300 as of Wednesday afternoon. To donate to the GoFundMe, click here.

A visitation for Davis will be held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.

DENVER — Seventeen years ago, 15-year-old Bianca Acosta couldn’t look her mother in the eyes as she bid goodbye to her family and Mexico, seeking safety, security, and a career in the United States.

Acosta was born and raised in a small village in Zacatecas, Mexico.

“No one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark,” Acosta said, quoting poet Warsan Shire.

Acosta embarked on a journey to the U.S. with a group of 15 people guided by a "coyote," a smuggler.

Only five people, including herself, made it through the two-month journey. Tapping into those memories is emotionally tolling.

“I was 15, and it was scary,” Acosta said. “I have PTSD.”

Acosta moved in with her family in Colorado. Her decision to pack up and leave opened doors to a career out of reach in her homeland. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and pursued a job in education.

Her schooling and safety came with many sacrifices.

“My grandfather passed in 2017, and I couldn’t see him,” Acosta said. “I have two siblings that I don’t know in person.”

Her immigration status as a DACA recipient prevented her from traveling outside the United States. DACA recipients can only travel if they can prove it’s for education, employment, or a humanitarian reason like a funeral or a sick family member.

Acosta did not qualify for any categories until last year, when her mother’s heart problems worsened. Fearful of her mother’s health, Acosta applied for "advanced parole," which allows immigrants to travel outside of the U.S. and return lawfully.

Still, it comes with risks, including the possibility of getting stuck outside of the United States.

Acosta went to the immigration office in Colorado to help expedite her application process, but she said she was told it would take eight to nine months unless her mother died. Determined, Acosta pushed forward and prayed to her ancestors. She was eventually approved for a three-month visit to Mexico.

“I was like, 'I’m going to see my mom, I am going to be able to tell her like, here is your runaway child; I’m here I’m home, I’m home,'” Acosta said.

For nearly two decades, she’s held on to childhood memories and phone calls. Technology in her small village is behind, video calls aren’t an option, and phone lines are sometimes down for weeks.

“My mom doesn’t know I’m coming, it’s going to be a surprise,” Acosta said. “I want to say, 'I’m sorry I couldn’t come before, sorry I couldn’t be there when she was sick, and to see my siblings grow up.'”

It’s an unexpected gift heavy with emotion. Acosta worries she may not recognize her mother after 17 years.

To help fund Acosta's extended trip to Mexico, a mentor launched a GoFundMe.

Acosta hopes to raise $5,000 to cover her rent and other expenses in the United States while she’s gone. Her 14-year-old daughter is in high school and will stay with a family member while she’s gone.

“I don’t think nothing that I ever do will give me back those 17 years that I missed, walking alongside my family, my land, my people,” Acosta said.

While it’s been challenging, she doesn’t regret her decision to leave. Over the years, their bond has grown stronger, and Acosta can't wait to make corn tortillas with her mother next to her.

The excitement to reunite with her mom steals her sleep as she inches closer to Saturday, the day she plans to begin her journey back home. Acosta says if she has to, she will sell her call to cover her expenses.

Adi Guajardo at KMGH first reported this story.

CINCINNATI — Naima Jackson stood outside her Avondale home on a recent Friday, bathed in sunshine and flanked by people who have pledged to help save her family’s legacy.

Not long ago, Amy Goodman and David Noe were complete strangers to Jackson.

Now they’re part of a team helping her to preserve her home with a new roof and extensive interior renovations and repairs.

All told, the work could be worth as much as $60,000.

“I didn’t ever think in a million lifetimes would somebody step forward to help a person like me,” Jackson said, her voice cracking with emotion. “I’m grateful.”

WCPO 9 told Jackson’s story Feb. 2. She described her home on Alaska Court as “everything” to her. Her great-grandparents bought the house 53 years ago after moving from Mississippi to Cincinnati and becoming some of the first Black homeowners on the street.

RELATED: Avondale homeowner struggles to save her family’s legacy

Her father, Nathaniel Jackson, inherited the home and lived there until he died in 2015. Jackson cared for him in his final years and lived in the house with her dad when his Alzheimer’s disease made it unsafe for him to live alone.

Courtesy of Naima Jackson

The brick two-story now belongs to Jackson outright — with no mortgage hanging over her head. But it needs extensive repairs, and Jackson said her monthly Social Security disability checks can’t cover the costs. She sought help from churches and more nonprofit organizations than she could count but said she kept hitting dead ends.

Offers to help came almost as soon as WCPO 9’s story published online.

Tracey McCullough, whose own family moved from Mississippi to Cincinnati many years ago, started a GoFundMe campaign.

An office manager with Deer Park Roofing, where Noe is the director of human resources, emailed to ask if the company could help.

Then Goodman, a local real estate agent and fair housing officer, and her husband, Rich, a project manager with NorthPoint Development, both emailed to ask if WCPO 9 could connect them with Jackson so they could figure out whether they could help, too.

By early March, the GoFundMe had raised $5,250 toward its $10,000 goal, and the Goodmans and Deer Park Roofing had visited Jackson’s home to assess how much work it needs.

Courtesy of Naima Jackson

“I’m pleasantly surprised and happy at the same time,” Jackson said, as she laughed and wiped away tears. “Surprised more so than anything that people still care.”

A call to action

Jackson’s situation highlights a problem that is much bigger than one house or one homeowner.

Nationwide, homeowners with limited incomes struggle to keep their properties maintained, said Rick Williams, president and CEO of the Home Ownership Center of Greater Cincinnati.

“There will never be enough money to support existing homeowners who find themselves in a situation where their home is in disrepair and their incomes are limited to address that,” Williams told WCPO 9 for the story in February. “It is an extraordinarily common phenomenon across the country. And, of course, like most issues, they impact lower wage, middle- to lower-income families more than they do anyone else, and, of course, those families tend to be minority families.”

About 69% of white households owned their homes in Hamilton County in 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimates based on data collected between 2014 and 2018. During that same time, only 32% of Black households owned their homes, according to the data analyzed by the Local Initiatives Support Corp., or LISC, of Greater Cincinnati.

That information read like a call to action to McCullough, she said.

Courtesy of Tracey McCullough

“I just felt like now’s the time to show love for each other,” she said. “I saw her story, and it made me realize how much we were alike.”

After McCullough and Jackson connected, that feeling grew.

“The more I got to know Naima, the more I realized how we are kind of the same, and that we both have had obstacles to overcome, and I really wanted to do something to make her family and Naima thrive,” McCullough said. “And Naima is just a great pleasure. She’s an awesome lady – funny and resilient, and I love those qualities. So that’s what made me want to try to help.”

Deer Park Roofing picks a charitable project each year to celebrate during National Roofing Week in June, Noe said. And when a company office manager in Louisville saw Jackson’s story and forwarded it to Deer Park’s leadership team, executives there quickly decided Jackson’s home would be a good project for 2021, he said.

An estimator visited Jackson’s home in February and determined that it needs a new roof, which Noe said could cost anywhere from $9,000 to $10,000.

Courtesy of Deer Park Roofing

“We’re definitely going to make sure that she is not going to be seeing any kind of cost with that,” he said. “We will have one of our roofing professional crews out here with the entire project to make sure that it’s installed properly, make sure that it’s going to last as long as we can with the kind of roof that we will put on.”

The Goodmans will focus their efforts on interior repairs and renovations, Amy Goodman said.

She read about Jackson on WCPO 9’s app and forwarded the story to her husband.

“I just wanted someone to complain to about how ridiculous it was that someone might not be able to stay in their house that they own free and clear,” Goodman said. “And he forwarded it to his company, within NorthPoint Development, called Live Generously, and it’s part of the NorthPoint foundation. And he instantly got hits of, What can we do? How can we help?”

New hope for the future

The Goodmans visited Jackson at her house on Valentine’s Day to get a close-up look at the home’s problems and talk with Jackson about her vision for the property.

“We’ve now spoken to a general contractor who has committed to coming out, and once we get that quote then we’ll be able to go back to the Live Generously Foundation and start raising money internally and partner with the person that put together the GoFundMe,” Goodman said. “Ours will primarily be inside. So the basement, some of the upstairs ductwork, AC, furnace, waterproofing, getting the garage door fixed, getting mold remediation done.”

Goodman said her husband estimates the interior repairs and remodeling could cost as much as $50,000.

“Our goal is to not put any of that cost on her,” she said. “We are really going to try hard to do whatever we need to do from a fundraising perspective to get that covered for her.”

Courtesy of Amy Goodman

Goodman said the goal is for Jackson to be able to keep the money that the GoFundMe raises for ongoing maintenance and repairs.

A WCPO.com reader who wanted to remain anonymous added to total funds raised with a $900 donation that WCPO 9 delivered to Jackson on March 12.

“We’re really excited to get started and see where this all ends up,” Goodman said.

Jackson said she’s excited, too, and overwhelmed by the offers of help – especially during the COVID-19 crisis that has taken a toll on so many.

“I’m still processing that somebody would even care during this time, when there are many other things going on in the world, to help out just a regular person like me,” she said. “I’m blown away.”

Having the repairs and renovations done will allow Jackson’s family legacy to continue on Alaska Court, she said.

“My children will be able to inherit something from me,” she said. “My mom will have a place to reside and not have to pay rent anymore.”

Lucy May | WCPO

Jackson said she mourned for two years after her father died and struggled to jump back into her “regular life.”

Once she worked through the legal aspects of inheriting the house, she said, “I could see the light, but I just couldn’t see a life.”

By the time she reached out to WCPO 9, Jackson said she didn’t know where else to turn. She was reluctant to be on the news, she said, and still wishes it hadn’t come to that.

But having people step forward to help in such a meaningful way, she said, has given her new hope.

“There was a time I didn’t have the faith. So it definitely restored my faith,” she said. “I know there’s people in the world that really, truly care.”

Lucy May | WCPO

The GoFundMe campaign to help Naima Jackson still is accepting donations. Click here for more information. Donations also can be directed to The Jackson Home Fund at any WesBanco Bank branch.

Lucy May writes about the people, places and issues that define our region – to celebrate what makes the Tri-State great and shine a spotlight on issues we need to address. To reach Lucy, email lucy.may@wcpo.com. Follow her on Twitter @LucyMayCincy.

SCOTTSBURG, Ind. —

Kayden Bibb and his father Brent were doing the one thing they love to do Wednesday evening: fishing.

They were fishing out in Scottsburg, Indiana. A few fish and a couple of laughs later, it was time to go home, but as Kayden attempted to cross the street to go to his father, the unthinkable happened.

"I was just in shock," said Brent Bibb. "I couldn't believe my little boy was just laying there, bleeding out. Multiple times we've been fishing here, and nothing like that ever happened. I never thought it would happen."

Kayden was struck by a vehicle, making him airborne before landing in the water. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The person behind the wheel was a 17-year-old.

Scott County Sheriff Jerry Goodin calls it the worst-case scenario for a parent.

"Who would've thought a little fishing day out with dad would cause this tragedy?" said Tina Gladden, Kayden's grandmother.

Although the incident is still under investigation, Goodin said no charges are expected.

"We have no reason to believe whatsoever she did it on purpose," said Goodin. "We've got to figure out what happened. There is a reason why it happened, and that's why they call them crashes. They don't call them accidents anymore."

For now, the family is hoping this incident serves a lesson for parents everywhere, that even on the best of days, tomorrow is never promised.

"He was a fun, caring, laughing, loving little boy and he was a very good fisherman," said Gladden. "We got to keep our faith in God, and we have to remember that he had better plans for Kayden than we did. That's why he took him home."

The family has set up a GoFundMe for anyone interested in helping them pay for the funeral. Sheriff Goodin said the investigation is still ongoing.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — After a year of economic hardship, some aspiring business owners say they're thinking twice before taking out loans. In hopes to avoid debt, they're using non-traditional methods to fund their dreams.

Married nearly 25 years, Erik and Geraldine Arreaga are using the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to bring their comic-book-themed coffee shop to life in downtown San Diego.

“This is not going to be, 'come get your coffee.' This is going to be an experience," said Erik, a freelance comic book illustrator and longtime barista.

A comic fanatic, Erik has attended San Diego Comic-Con since 1991, a tradition broken by the pandemic.

“We only get this convention once a year, and it’s for a week. My attitude for the shop is once the show is over, you can come to our shop and continue that fun," said Erik. “Just in case Comic-Con doesn’t happen, we can still bring a little piece of it to the city.”

When customers walk into Pow Coffee Shop, the couple wants it to feel as if they're walking into a comic book.

“Our shop will have its own characters, and within those characters, they have certain character traits," says Geraldine. "Inclusion, safety, unity, empathy – we brought all of that to our characters so that the community can see themselves reflected within these characters. Make it feel like a welcoming environment and a safe environment. A place for the community to come together.”

Seeking $100,000 on Kickstarter, the community can donate to the couple's dream. If the project is ultimately funded, backers are thanked in return with everything from discount cards to a personal tile in the shop.

"For one, we can see if we can raise it without getting a loan. Second, we actually are getting the word out in general, regardless of if it's funded or not," said Erik.

First-time business owners, the couple says it's a safety net. While they don't anticipate reaching their goal with the current campaign, they'll continue seeking alternative options, keeping supporters updated on their website throughout the process.

“I think you’re going to see more and more of that, even as we come out of the pandemic," said Dan Roccato, clinical professor of finance at the University of San Diego School of Business.

Roccato says nonprofit lenders are also growing in popularity.

“Something like Kiva is a very powerful upstart that is designed to basically lend to small business startups," said Roccato.

Loans are crowdfunded, and borrowers pay the money back over time, interest-free.

"It's designed, really, for those businesses that can't access capital in traditional ways," said Roccato.

Another nonprofit lender, Accessity, supports entrepreneurs of color, women, and immigrant entrepreneurs in Southern California.

“Investors want their money to align with their values more and more. We’re much more aware of that than we were just a generation ago," said Roccato.

But with historic low-interest rates, traditional bank loans could also be the right fit. Roccato says qualified borrowers have easier access to money that’s cheap to borrow.

“It’s really kindling wood for the economy," said Roccato. "The federal reserve is trying to jump-start the economy and create this virtuous cycle where business owners are expanding or starting new enterprises, that sort of thing.”

While Erik and Geraldine may consider a loan down the line, they're hoping enough people will channel their inner nerd and help bring their vision to life.

“We believe in it. It’s a dream that we want to become reality," said Geraldine. "I think nothing at this point can hold us back.”

Some generous donors have helped a Brooklyn mom out of a jam after her 4-year-old son ordered more than $2,600 worth of popsicles on Amazon.Noah Bryant managed to order 51 cases of SpongeBob SquarePants popsicles with 918 popsicles inside.Amazon won’t take them back, and Noah’s mom, a social work student at New York University and mother of three boys, couldn’t afford to pay for them.A family friend created a GoFundMe, and donors paid off the massive popsicle bill and then some. Noah’s mom says any extra cash will help pay for his special needs schooling."As a parent to a child living with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), all additional donations will go toward Noah's education and additional supports," Jennifer Bryant wrote on the GoFundMe page. "We cannot thank you enough. Truly."Watch the video above to learn more about this story.