Pictured above (l-r): Chelsey Hooton, Don Hooton, Jr., Don Hooton, Sr., Gwen Hooton, Aidan Mikulas, Mackenzie Mikulas, Avery Mikulas, and, Kylee (dog) By Alicia Wanek The course of your life can change directions in an instant. In July 2003 and in his senior year of college, Donald Hooton, Jr. was preparing…
By Deb Silverthorn According to Elyse Barnard’s daughter Hallie Bea, the “I” in VIP stands for Inspiring, as GLF would have it, but also Important, Incredible and Intelligent. The 10-year-old pixie could go on and on about her mother, who has fought her disease alongside her. “This journey means lots of questions, but God…
By Deb Silverthorn Hallie Bea Barnard was just five pounds at birth and at 13 months old a blood test provided a diagnosis of Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA). Now at 10 years old, she is fierce and to see her playing piano or selling Girl Scout cookies, you wouldn’t know that she…
How one mom took her greatest pain and turned it into her life message BY KARYN BRODSKY When it comes to the death of a loved one, the loss of a child is possibly the most devastating. If one of the hardest parts of losing a child is living every…
An epiphany that inspired leadership, lifelong learning and a commitment to literacy BY KARYN BRODSKY Raising oneself up from extreme poverty is a major challenge for anyone to conquer, but it was Jeff Willie’s revelation at age 19 that would forever change his life. The current Allen, TX resident was…
How an intervention by Plano parents saved their daughter’s life BY KARYN BRODSKY What if you learned that your teen planned to run away to a foreign country to marry someone she met in an Internet chat room? For John and Stephanie Baldwin of Plano, TX, the threat was very…
Accomplished physician proves that brains triumph over bigotry BY KARYN BRODSKY How would it feel to be incredibly intelligent and dedicated, yet delegitimized by peers as a young person, simply because of the color of one’s skin? Just ask Dr. Kwabena Blankson. Dr. Blankson, lovingly referred to as…
Tackling Personal Obstacles To Reach Her Goals Personal obstacles can take a toll on an individual, especially if that individual grew up with limited resources. It takes someone with enormous determination and inner strength to transform those experiences into positive assets and use them to help others. by…
Don Hooton’s Mission: Keeping Kids Safe from Steroids by Kristin Ciccarelli When he isn’t on the road, spreading the word on the dangers of Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (APEDs), Don Hooton says he enjoys the twenty-foot commute to his home office, cup of coffee in hand. But as founder…