A painter finds inspiration after a serious medical diagnosis, a teacher returns to school after a year battling leukemia and a family raises funds for cancer research after suffering a loss themselves.

<div class="block">A painter finds inspiration after a serious medical diagnosis, a teacher returns to school after a year battling leukemia and a family raises funds for cancer research after suffering a loss themselves.</div>

On a Positive Note

On a Positive Note: Pain Into Purpose

Hm. Coming up on a positive note where good news does exist. Those words of you may never walk again, just hit me like a punch in the stomach despite receiving a life changing diagnosis. This artist is finding purpose through painting over on Long Island. This one proves the power of community watches people of all ages, shave their heads to raise funds for little ones battling cancer. Plus you know him and you love them. We're not just football players, we're individuals, we're human beings and we have the intellect to go ahead and do great things. Now this Super Bowl champion is hitting the books for an important cause over in Connecticut, an animal rescue story that's almost too cute to handle today. Good news does exist and you've come to the right place to find it. It's time for on a positive note. The hm Hello, hello, I'm Jordan and you're watching on a positive note where good news does exist. So rest assured here on a positive note, you can be sure to find some of the most heartwarming stories from all around our communities. There's stories that will move you and inspire you. There's stories that will make your eyes water in a good way and who can use a little more of that? Well, thank you for tuning in. And on that note, let's jump right into our first story that I know will do all of that. We are shining a spotlight on one incredible woman who's using her art to overcome challenges, how she's finding purpose through painting. Take a look at this one. My favorite time to paint is first thing in the morning, bright and early Amy Hoffman begins each painting session. Like most artists, I wake up with a color palette in mind. I'm really inspired by the water. She sets up her studio today, we're going to start with some blues, creates the perfect color. I make my own fluid acrylics and the water helps me adjust the consistencies and puts paint to canvass. But her work is anything but traditional. Back in the year of 2006, I started losing sensation in my legs and it happened over the course of a few hours in one day. So I was rushed to the hospital and they diagnosed me with something called transverse myelitis. It's an inflammation in the spinal cord. The doctors told me there is a chance you may never walk again. I mean those words of you may never walk again, just hit me like a punch in the stomach during the difficult months that followed in the hospital, Amy was introduced to a therapeutic art program. I will never forget the first moment when the paint hit the canvas. When I started painting, I just felt a sense of peace just wash over right then. And there, at that moment, I knew that there was hope in the future. That hope is evident as she transforms her canvas with acrylic paint and her wheelchair. I roll over the canvas and I don't worry about it because this is my painting wheelchair and it just creates these natural track marks on the canvas. You'll see as the more and more we go on. There will be more and more track marks on the canvas as an Asian female with a disability. I'm in minority groups that have not always been seen or heard in the past or had a seat at the table. So using brighter color palettes is kind of my way of being seen. I encouraged the viewer to see the wheelchairs as tools as catalysts that can move things forward and moving forward. She is Amy is more than just an artist. She's also an athlete currently training for the New York City Marathon. The days that I train, I actually get up earlier than when I paint, which is five AM. And right now I'm training together with my husband. We're on team and we're doing it to raise money to find a cure for paralysis. See how moving was that? What an inspiration? Well, there is a major cause for celebration underway over on Long Island. We're heading to Westbury High School where students and staff are lining the halls all to welcome back. One very important fighter. Look at that beloved social studies teacher, Thomas Renner is returning to school after a year long battle with leukemia. You can see their students and staff lining the halls to welcome him back. They performed a flash mob dance for the beloved teacher and now Mr Renner has taught at the high school for get this almost 20 years. He says he was just blown away by his warm welcome back. Everybody here cares about each other, loves each other and wants to help each other all the time. So this was a great big effort and I know it took a lot of time to get all the dance moves down and do all that stuff. So I appreciate their time because I know how busy teachers are. Well, one of the greatest lessons those students tell us they've learned from Mr Renner resilience. They tell us that he's teaching them that while they will face difficulties in their lives, they must adapt to those challenges and remain grateful. A good reminder for all of us, stories of school spirit for a good cause are in no short supply. Here. On a positive note today, there's a 13 year long tradition underway over on Long Island. It's aimed at helping fund childhood cancer research and it's still going strong as ever. It's a sentence you don't ever want to hear. It's cliche, but your child has cancer. It upends your entire family. It changes your entire life in 2008. When Lisa Binkley son Aidan was eight years old, he was diagnosed with stage four cancer that spread to his lungs. He was very friendly. He was ridiculously smart. His IQ was genius level. He could have changed the world. A family has been trying to make changes in pediatric cancer research through their annual ST Baldrick's Foundation fundraising event in Floral Park, one by one kid after kid had no fear getting their head shaved. It's very awesome kids and adults got shaved in Aidan's memory and to support other kids in the community battling cancer. The shape of my head for Thomas. Why is that important to you? Because he's really um one of my best friends and he's on my soccer team. See, I warned you goose bumps and now it's time for today's. Did you know, did you know that there are ways for you to help little ones and their families fight the good fight and those resources are available right at your fingertips. Go ahead and check out your screen. Here are some funds you can give to. If you feel called, you've got American Cancer Society, Cancer Research Institute, National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. I mean, the good news is the list goes on and on and you can head to our website for even more. Your donations could save lives. There you go. My friend. That's today's. Did you know while some other young students on the island are doing their part to help keep those around them safe? You're looking at North Wall health physicians and nurses. They're at JFK high school, teaching students how to use, stop the bleed kits. These kits can help treat traumatic injuries in the case of an emergency at school. While our crew got to chat with one student, Sidney Brewer. She's raised over $3000 to bring in 60 kids to that school. Listen to this. I am the same age as the kids in the Sandy Hook shooting. I remember it very vividly when I was in first grade. Um, and I knew I had to do something ever since I was little. I knew I had to, like, put more effort, make people more aware of what goes on. Ok. My friend don't even think about touching that remote because after this break, we're bringing you some warm and fuzzy animal stories that are almost too cute to handle. I've got more to make you smile when we come back. Question. Hm.