These 9 stories from 2020 touched our hearts

This year was rough.

But through it all, the human spirit shined. Stories of triumph, survival, victories and success emerged to give us all a reminder of the good in the world.

Here are some of the best and most inspirational stories that touched our hearts in 2020.

New Smyrna Beach man remembers playing middle school basketball with Kobe Bryant in Europe

Tadd Smith still remembers playing basketball in middle school.

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After all, it’s hard not to when those years were spent playing basketball with the late Kobe Bryant.

Read the full story here.

Angela Jacobs shares her breast cancer battle to explain how genetic testing is changing how doctors diagnose the disease

After a two-year fight, Channel 9 reporter Angela Jacobs is on the other side of her battle with a rare form of breast cancer.

And she knows she’s not alone.

READ: Here’s where to safely watch New Year’s Eve fireworks in Central Florida to ring in 2021

Angela is sharing her journey to help shed light on how geneticists are unraveling mysteries within DNA to stop breast cancer in its tracks.

Her mother is an 16-year breast cancer survivor. When doctors found a malignant tumor in Angela’s right breast, she said she said she figured she’d walk a similar path as her mother: surgery, no chemotherapy and no radiation.

Read the full story here.

Local Special Olympian becomes first person with Down Syndrome to complete IRONMAN triathlon

See the full story below:

WATCH: Local Special Olympian becomes first person with Down Syndrome to complete IRONMAN triathlon Already the first to finish a half-IRONMAN, Special Olympian Chris Nikic is now the first person with Down Syndrome ever to complete a full IRONMAN triathlon. (, /WFTV)

Christmas wish come true: NFL players cover cost of prosthetic legs, trip to Disney World for 8-year-old boy

An 8-year-old boy’s Christmas wish came true early thanks to the help of two Orlando natives who happen to be NFL players.

According to the Disney Parks blog, all Jackson DeLude, 8, who was born without fully developed legs, wanted for Christmas was to be able to run alongside his friends.

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Orlando natives Matt Milano and Gabriel Davis, both players on the Buffalo Bills, heard about the boy’s wish and decided to make it a reality along with a little extra Disney magic.

Read the full story here.

‘She is an inspiration’: Lightnin’ strikes 100 in Daytona Beach

If you’ve ever been to a race at Daytona International Speedway, you would have crossed paths with Juanita Epton. She’s worked at the speedway ticket office since the track opened.

In Daytona Beach, hundreds of Epton’s friends, family and coworkers surprised her for a very special birthday celebration as she struck 100.

A sleepy Woodland Avenue transformed into something you’d see in New York City on Thanksgiving.

Read the full story here.

“A holiday spectacular like no other:” Get a sneak peek at GKTW’s Night of a Million Lights event

Despite the pandemic, Give Kids the World was able to put on one amazing light show for the holidays this year.

Read the full story here.

Seminole County Super Mom

The selflessness from Kelly Steffee during a difficult time at home and a difficult time around the world is incredible to witness. She is the definition of Florida Strong.

See the full story below:

Central Florida Strong: Best friends

We could all use a friendship like the one between Jim Turrisi and Jim Spence.

READ: Nurse tests positive for COVID-19 week after getting vaccine; experts remind shot needs time to work

They are the two oldest living retirees from the Orlando Fire Department. Back in August, OFD celebrated Turrisi’s 90th birthday with a special drive-by that included a bagpiper and multiple fire trucks. Of course, Spence was right by his side.

See more of their story below:

‘Each light represents a life lost to COVID-19′: Orlando couple’s Christmas light display memorializes COVID-19 deaths

An Orlando couple decorated their home with hundreds of thousands of Christmas lights to memorialize those who lost their lives to COVID-19.

The display is impressive and dozens of people visit the home each night, but there’s a reason why they put up so many lights this year: each light represents someone lost to COVID-19.

Read the full story here.

Cox Media Group