Memorial sloankettering after a two week stay and is seeing her new bedroom in her new home for the very first time. Now open your eyes. Wow [laughter] do you like . Its beautiful. Caseys room is perfectly pink with hello kitty and princesses, but as of last month, tracy and her daughters were homeless. After our original story, the support poured in. If it wasnt for the donations, i do not know where i would be. Enough money was raised to help tracy pay rent for this twobedroom apartment in valley stream, long island. Now casey can cruise around with her sister lily, a major upgrade from the new york city shelter they once lived in. No roaches, very clean building. The tenants are very friendly. Its beautiful. I feel at home. Relief as she watches her daughters play in their room in a place they can really call home. Its good to have a home, really good. And i would like to say thank you to everyone. From valley stream, long island, liz dahlem, fox 5 news. Of us struggle with finding our true identities. At sea john camp in bulls bearstown, new jersey blarestown, new jersey, korean adoptees come together to feel a oneness that cant be found anywhere else. Christina park has that story. Of these children are on a very important journey, discovering who they are. The camp in blarestown, new jersey, is a National Camp where korean adoptees can do just that and feel a oneness with kids just like themselves. A lot of these kids talk about feeling like camp is the and to think that only happens for one week out of an entire year, it can be kind of emotional. A former camper and now counselor says the camp helps fill a place in his heart where something was always missing. I didnt find my way until my late teens, but once i did, it helped me become more whole about who i am. We talked about adoption and stuff like that, so, yeah, that was cool. It gives me a nice chance to see that theres a lot more people like me, and im really happy about that. Its a place where children can take their masks off, be real, be vulnerable, be supportive. This camp dance mixes traditional korean costumes in a dance that symbolizes two worlds becomes one. A reality these children face every day. Its a complicated yet beautiful dance many adoptees say theyve taken to heart. Many children tired of fighting stereotypes are channeling that energy in a positive way. [cheers and applause] parents here couldnt be prouder, many wearing their hearts on their sleeve, or in davids case, on his arm. A korean tattoo that reads father. He and wiz wife martha his wife martha couldnt be prouder of their two beautiful children, ely and louis cyst lucy. Everyone bonded over korean food, filling bellies and hearts with love and friendship to last a lifetime. A High School Senior has spent the last few years bouncing between city homeless shelters and is now live anything a housing complex in east harlem. As zachary quiche shows us, the teen is using these experiences as inspiration in his College Admission essays. This is an accurate description of what its like to with nowhere to stay in new york city. A young man, the raw truth about homelessness and the kids caught in the middle told in a College Entrance essay. We were living in a tiny apartment in queens, and my father was off on alcohol binges every couple days. Basketball has been sebastians escape as long as he can remember; a dribbling ball, the physics, a metaphor for his life. When thrown down, the resilience to bounce back. I hadnt the slightest idea where i was going to be. Sebastian, a 17yearold senior, sees light at the end of the tunnel, a chance at stability, and its college. In my mind i was saying how am i going to explain eight years in 650 words . How many people are homeless in new york city . Hundreds, no, maybe thousands. Sebastian is just one. The numbers can tell you how many people are homeless, but they dont tell you what those people actually go through. Homelessness like an outofbody experience, a shock to the system, unnatural. For the last year and change, he and his mother has been here at the carver houses. I want to go to american university. Itd literally be a dream come true, because when youre somebody who is used to having nothing, unfortunately, it becomes your standard. You expect to just continue having little to nothing. A major and International Relation in International Relations, he tells me, is his way out. Hes got a b average in the classroom and a nice shot on the court. To make sure less and less people have to go through what i went through for eight years of my life. Reporting in manhattan, zachary quiche, fox 5 news. And when we return, helping the families of two Fallen Police officers when our inspirational stor now to extraordinary acts of kindness we saw this past year, including the generosity of one long island man who traveled others. Jodi goldberg tells us what inspired his volunteering mission. Come on. Its a bucket list kind of trip that chris made a reality, a hundred days of volunteering in all 50 states. Its been an extremely special experience in every state, but to walk back in here in huntington, i mean, this is it, you know . This is love. This is everything. Cheese we caught up with chris on his 43rd stop, project play camp in his hometown, huntington, long island. That was me 20 years ago, in programs like this during the summer. I graduated from this school, fifth and sixth grade. Like, this is my life. This is where i come from. Oh, youre out. [laughter] it shows the kids that theres a lot of good in the world and that they too can come back in the future and be great role models like chris is trying to do. He says no matter what state, even if he beats them in four square. Aside from small donations, the trip is selffunded. His goal is to inspire people across the country to volunteer and give back. With more than 13,000 new miles hotel. He has signatures and advice as reminders of the work he says is priceless. If you can make a positive difference in the life of one kid, its worth it. Charles straub says like father, like son. He hopes chris got some of his passion from him and couldnt be more proud. My emotions just flow when i look at him, know what hes doing. And it was a community that came together for the families of two Fallen Police officers. Liz dahlem was there for what was a very emotional event. The young widows of officers rafael ramos and Wynn June Lou fought backing tears as they accepted a generous gift from what these letters say are, one, were going to pay off your mortgages immediately [applause] in less than two weeks, 10,000 donations came in from all 50 states. In wisconsin sisters gretchen and victoria gave all of their Christmas Money after hearing their parents talk about the slain officers. More than 1 million has been raised for the families, 800,000 will pay off their mortgages and 200,000 will go towards repairing the homes. You decide how were going to help you fix up the house in any which way that you want it fixed up. Officer ramos wife tells me of support. It has been amazing. Everyones been totally amazing. Nothing will ever bring my brother back. But just to know that my sisterinlaw and the boys can amidst this tragedy fills a little bit of that gap. Officer lius wife of just three weeks expressed her appreciation and prayers for all of the members of the nypd. To all my extended blue family, be safe out there and appreciate life each day. The largest donation was about 50,000 from anonymous donor. Former mayor Rudy Julianny pitched in 20,000 and promised the families everlasting support. We love them because both families brought up men that were willing to sacrifice their lives to keep us safe. My home sweet home. From battery park city, liz dahlem, fox 5 news. Next, miniature horses on a mission. Meet the special animals and stay tuned. There were some amazing animals that inspired us in this past year, especially miniature horses with a mission. They were trained to bring comfort to people recovering from both physical and emotional traumas. Jennifer la mers continues our look back. When you hear that clip crop of a small horse walking into a classroom or a hospital room, theres a magical experience. If you didnt believe in magic, maybe you will now. At just over two feet tall, magic is a sheriffs deputy, a crisis counselor, a goodwill ambassador and regarded around the world as a hero animal. In her eight years, magic has traveled all over the country. In newtown, connecticut, one day after the shootings at sandy hook elementary. It was amazing to see how she interacted with some of the children that were at the scene and also the first responders, around a small, docile, seems to be an understanding animal. Shes comforted the sick, the heart broken, the young and the old. Magic is one of gentle carousels 24 miniature therapy horses, but its their youngest one that holds a special place for lori who lost her brother, a Port Authority police officer, on 9 11. I was on facebook one day and looking at horses which is my love, and i saw gentle carousel miniature therapy horses, and they were asking for a name for their newestborn foal, and she was born on the 4th of july. Just being silly, i said id like for her to be named after my brother who shares the same birthday. A few days later, i received a call that they wanted to name her in honor of my brother. She says by following valors travels, she realized that a birthday isnt the only thing every time she goes out on a call, she has my brothers badge on her and, you know, they explain the connection with my brother. So its been really incredible to know that his story is continuing to be out there and that this amazing, beautiful horse is working in his honor. And a dog found abandoned in a long island apartment is now making himself at home with his new family. Matt king shows us how he won their hearts. A couple of weeks ago someone abandoned brooklyn, the dog, in an apartment near long island. When i met the dog, he was a little scared but quite friendly. This officer received a call from the buildings landlord after finding him alone in the downstairs apartment. He drove the dog to a shelter. He hopped right in the car like he was ready to go on a trip. This cop, with no connection to the canine beyond chaufferring him, returned several times to visit and play with brooklyn. Hes an animal lover, its quite obvious. You kind of feel bad, came out he told his family about adopting another dog. My brotherinlaw said, hey, if you love that dog this much, we might adopt it. Yes. This does complete the family. So we got a few house, and now its going to be filled with everybody, the kids, the dog and people playing around, so so its going to be good. His brotherinlaw, brian upton, drove his family of six from the albany area to meet brooklyn, and then after conferencing, drove them back on monday to bring brooklyn home. Youre going to be home with me. Dont worry, theyre going to school. I get to visit him now as well, along with my nieces and nephews. Im matt king, fox 5 news. And finally, to an adorable but unlikely friendship. Audrey puente explains how a cheetah and a dog have become inseparable. Meet a cheetah and her best friend, a dog. These two are the africa and frack of the Consolation Center in greenwich, connecticut. Recordwreaking litter of about eight of eight cubs. Her mother was overwhelmed, so three of them were hand raised. At seven weeks, she was paired up with a rambunctious australian shepherd. According to Conservation Center director, this is a positive matchmaking practice. And the job of a dog, a companion dog to a cheetah as an animal ambassador is to make that animal feel relaxed. These bffs have become inseparable. They are together 24 7, napping, playing and exploring. But its splitsville for these two at meal time. Odie will gobble up his food and then he goes to eat hers, which makes him sick. There are 50 kinds of rare and endangered species across this center. One of the missions is breeding, and theres also an Ambassador Outreach Program that both there are only 7,500 cheetahs left in africa. These two have upcoming appearances at fundraisers and museums to to enlighten the public on how threatened this population is. When you get around in this animal, how can you not want to save every cheetah thats out there and preserve an environment that they can thrive in Going Forward into the future . Next, a lesson in never giving up on your dream. How a unique program is giving kids with special needs a chance to dance. Finally today, we want to salute those who continue to overcome enormous obstacles this past year. In the world of Childhood Cancer, liz dahlem gave us an inside look at the struggle many children and the people who care for them face each and every day. Do you want to push it . At two and a half, sally hasnt taken her first steps yet. Instead, sallys mother holds her close while she pushes the cart carrying her chemotherapy treatment. Sally has infant leukemia, a rare form of cancer or, and is being treated at memorial sloankettering. She was ten months when she was diagnosed. 26 months long, and she is 20 months into her treatment. Nicole says there have been some major setbacks because of the chemo. Sally had seizures, mouth sores and four months of broken bones from weakening of her bones from being on steroids on a regular basis which is part of her treatment protocol. Sally is one of the 150 outpatients at memorial sloankettering. Theres also a 36bed inpatient unit for those who have to stay at hospital. Dr. Paul meyers is the vice chairman of pediatrics at the worldrenowned Cancer Treatment center. We have access to the best science, and we get that science to the patients very, very quickly. Sloan questionserring institute Kettering Institute has been a partnership that has resulted in dramatic improvements across the board for Childhood Cancer. Many sloan patients also take part in successful clinical trials. Dr. Meyers has seen improvements work to be done. The treatments that were currently using which is chemotherapy, surgery and Radiation Therapy are quite harsh, and they have significant risk for patients both acutely during the phase of treatment and in terms of longterm consequences of therapy. Good to see you. Its something this mother has been fighting for. I first met nicole last summer when she joined other parents in asking buildings around the city to light up gold in september month. She is still fighting for more awareness and wants the government to provide more than 4 of funding for Childhood Cancer research. Im still on in this this mission. On this mission. You know, the National Cancer institute and the federal government has not raised their 4 , and 4 is still not enough for the children. Its not enough to help sloankettering make the difference that they could make if they had the funding. Until we can say to a family that theres 100 chance of cure is 0 side effects, we have to and what happens when experienced dancers team up with special needs students . As antwan lewis shows us, you get a performance that leaves a lasting impression. Dance performances always present the heart of the person dancing. Nowhere was that more evident than in harlem friday afternoon. These kids, they dont really always get opportunities like this, and knowing that im helping them, it gives me a really good feeling inside. Youre seeing the conclusion of a weeklong workshop put on by new yorks National Dance institute known as the dream project, a recital that pairs dancers from the institute with special needs students, some learning to dance for the very first time. I think its important that we address that, because to be whole individuals, we immediate to cultivate empathy we need to cultivate empathy, we need to cultivate kindness. This is the mother of 12yearold rihanna. She expresses what watching her daughter shine in front of the whole team is wonderful. How to make those kids smile, you see the smile . Theyre so happy, from the heart. Is it tough not to cry when you come i cry. Its hard to say goodbye too. The focus here not on limitations, but imagination and understanding. These kids have a story behind them, and, like, i want to somehow help them in a way, so its kind of changed me in a way that im more giving now. [applause] from harlem, antwan lewis, fox 5 news. Thats all for todays look back at the past years most inspirational stories. For everyone here at fox 5, im carrie drew x well see you next