Results: Sharing These Incredible Stories

One man has virtually memorialized his late father by creating a QR code for his gravestone, so people visiting the cemetery can learn more about his fascinating life. Michael Bourque, 55, an inventor and engineer from Melrose, Massachusetts, wanted to share his father's story, when he had a flash of inspiration about how to honor his legacy. Michael used a 3D printer to make the QR code medallion out of weatherproof plastic that glows in the dark before gluing it to his father's gravestone. When visitors scan the code, it goes to a website that tells the story of a fascinating life. Have you ever visited a graveyard, and wondered about the life of someone's grave you saw?

John, the youngest of five children, was born in Melrose during the Great Depression and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951 during the Korean War. The atomic veteran, who was a carpenter by trade, constructed homes that were blown up during the nuclear testing that took place at Camp Desert Rock in Nevada. 'He had to hide in a bunker on the ground while they blew off this atomic weapon,' his son explained. 'Then his job was to go back in and see the destruction that it had caused.' Michael shared that John was also a 'great dad' who helped fuel his interest in innovation and engineering. Do you think it is appropriate that this interest is now directly memorializing his dad in a very unique way?

Four years ago, Connecticut elementary school teacher Jenna Riccio was introduced to a new student named Nate who quickly left an impression on her. Nate who has sickle cell anemia, had a blood infection when he was younger and as a result, doctors had to amputate part of his legs, part of his left arm, three of his fingers and part of one ear. A few months after enrolling in school, Nate had been removed from his biological family's home and placed in foster care. When Nate ended up in the hospital, Riccio, his teacher went to visit him. Knowing his backstory, and seeing him go through all this alone, Riccio made the decision, to foster Nate. Have you ever fostered a child?

In the middle of everything, Riccio also became engaged to Tim Riccio, an art teacher who also worked as one of Nate's instructors at Walsh Elementary. When the couple married on May 15, 2021, Nate was there as their ringbearer. Now, four years after the little boy enrolled in their school, Nate's adoption was finalized on Nov. 18, 2022, which just so happened to be National Adoption Day. In addition to raising awareness about sickle cell disease, Riccio also hopes Nate and her family's story can inspire others to consider fostering and adopting. Do you find it admirable that these two teachers adopted this child?