Carlo Arco was born Giancarlo Lavi in 1952 in Turin, Italy, where he was abandoned. For the first five years of his life, he lived in a religious institution. At six years old, he was flown alone to the United States where he was adopted by an American family. Arco grew up knowing very little about his birth family. But when his health began to deteriorate following a stroke, he embarked on an exhaustive search with the help of his wife Debra to find his biological relatives. The search was successful: after taking a MyHeritage DNA test, he found over 50 family members in Italy—including a sibling—he never knew existed before his death November 2022. “Carlo’s Italian family showed him extraordinary love, right until his final breath,” his wife Debra tells Upworthy. Carlo’s passport from Italy.Photo Courtesy: Debra Arco Carlo searches for his family Arco met his wife Debra in 1995. She tells Upworthy that he never spoke about his biological mother, particularly not while his adoptive father, Sam, was alive. “He loved his father deeply and would never have wanted him to feel that he was being replaced or betrayed,” she says. But after Sam passed away, Debra began thinking more about her husband’s biological family—particularly due to health concerns. Arco had suffered a heart attack at 35 and later experienced a massive stroke that left him paralyzed on his right side. “I felt it was important for Carlo and his daughters to understand their medical and genetic history,” she shared. One day, she asked him whether he ever thought about his biological mother. “He quickly replied, ‘Why should I? She gave me up for adoption.’ I explained that in Italy in 1952, an unmarried pregnant woman might have been sent away until her baby was born. I told him that she may have thought about him every day of her life,” she says. Debra promised Arco that if he ever wanted to find his biological mother, she would do everything possible to help. “Two weeks later, he told me, ‘I’ve thought about what you asked, and I want to look for my mother,'” she shares. MyHeritage DNA test confirms Carlo and Angelo are half brothers.Image Courtesy: Debra Arco The DNA test From then on, Debra researched every evening after dinner. “I located the orphanage in Turin and connected with a researcher who helped us petition the Italian courts. The process was extremely difficult and took almost a year,” she says. Eventually, she suggested that Arco take a DNA test in 2019. The results were shocking: he learned he had a half-brother, Angelo. “Carlo was in heaven. I had never seen him so happy,” Debra says. “He had always proudly told everyone that he came from Turin, so when we discovered that his biological family was actually from Sicily, I teased him that he would have to record a new version of the story. We laughed about that together.” He also learned more about his mother, and how losing him had deeply affected her life. “She reportedly told her niece that she never had other children because she feared she would not be a good mother,” she shares. “We also discovered that Carlo’s mother and grandmother had held him during his baptism before he was taken to the orphanage. Her signature appeared on his baptism record as a witness. I cannot imagine what it must have been like for her to hold her baby and then have to let him go.” Reuniting with his brother, Angelo In Sicily, Arco’s half-brother Angelo had previously taken a MyHeritage DNA test. When Arco took his, he was notified of the results. My first reaction was complete disbelief,” Angelo tells Upworthy. “It was early in the morning, and I was sitting alone in my kitchen in Sicily with a cup of coffee. I had taken a MyHeritage DNA test simply out of curiosity about my ancestry, expecting to discover something about my distant origins. I never imagined for a second that it would reveal a brother.” The brothers connected first on a video call. “In that instant, I forgot every question I had prepared. None of them mattered anymore. I simply looked at him—almost as a mother looks at her newborn child for the first time—with wonder, tenderness and the immediate recognition of a bond that needed no explanation,” Angelo says. Arco was crying. “He whispered, ‘I love you… I love you, my brother,’ and something shifted forever inside me. In that precise moment, he became my brother,” he adds. “We simply looked at each other and cried. Although separated by an ocean, it felt as though two lives kept apart for decades were finally touching.” Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the two were not able to meet in person until 2021. Angelo and his son Marco traveled to Arco’s home in Highland, New York, where they were all able to meet and hug each other. “That embrace contained everything: the years we had lost, the unanswered questions and the profound joy of having found each other,” Angelo says. “Through Carlo, I also gained Debra, his daughter Dana and his granddaughter Jada. We did not just discover a missing brother; we discovered an entire branch of our family that had been severed from us.” They were able to have a second reunion in 2022. Carlo and his wife Debra met Angelo in person for the first time.Photo Courtesy: Debra Arco Carlo’s legacy Carlo passed away on November 11, 2022. “Shortly before Carlo passed away, his daughter held the phone close to him so that we could say goodbye from Italy,” Angelo shares. “He was extremely weak, but when he heard our voices, he seemed to return to us for a moment. He tried to sit up, smiled and whispered, ‘I love you, my brother.'” Arco was never able to travel to Italy to meet his extended family, but in September 2023, Debra and their daughter Dana went to Sicily for 10 days—and could feel Arco with them the entire time. “It was incredibly emotional. Angelo and his family could not have been more loving or gracious. Every day, they had something planned for us, from places to visit to family meals,” she says. “Dana learned family recipes, we went out on a boat, and the girls swam in the sea. We visited vineyards and tasted a wine Angelo had named in Carlo’s honor.” Angelo also published a book about Carlo’s story titled LAVI: Nobody’s child. “My greatest hope is not simply to share a book, but to ensure that Carlo’s voice, his original name and his truth are never forgotten,” Angelo tells Upworthy. The post He spent 60 years looking for his birth family. Shortly before he died, a DNA test reunited them. appeared first on Upworthy.

America recently celebrated its 250th anniversary. To commemorate the patriotic milestone, 11-year-old Greyson Moore decided to crochet a one-of-a-kind American flag blanket. Greyson impressively crocheted the 6-foot-by-8-foot blanket in record time—less than two weeks. He began working on it June 13 and finished it Friday, June 26. “I wanted to make the flag because Fourth of July was a really big deal this year, and I wanted to honor our country and contribute something to the celebrations—and make something special for our family to remember,” Greyson told Upworthy. View this post on Instagram Crocheting the American flag On Instagram, Greyson documented the process of making the red, white, and blue blanket, which required a whopping 60 skeins of yarn. “My Dad took me shopping for all the supplies. But we didn’t have enough yarn, so we went to three Hobby Lobbys,” he said in the video. “Once we had all the supplies, I started with a big blue rectangle.” Greyson also explained that he worked on the blanket between tennis camps and baseball games—with a little “help” from the family’s dog, Penny. After finishing the blanket’s blue section, he moved on to the stripes. “I didn’t use a pattern, so we had to lay it out to see if the stripes would be long enough,” he said. Once the stripes were done, he attached them to the blue section—a step that took multiple tries, but he finally got it. Finally, he stitched the stars and sewed them on. Greyson said he decided to make America’s original flag with 13 stars in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. “It was exciting to see it all come together,” he said. Greyson Moore stands with his yarn at Hobby Lobby.Photo credit: sinclairandmoore/Instagram Learning to crochet Not many boys his age consider crocheting a hobby. But for Greyson, it all started with a classmate. “I had a friend at school (also named Greyson) who had learned how to crochet and was making some pretty cool things, so I wanted to learn as well,” he said. While his friend shared some helpful tips, he turned to the internet to refine his technique. “Neither of my parents know how to crochet, so I watched a few YouTube tutorials that taught me everything I needed to know and shared helpful pointers,” he said. Greyson said he watched the YouTube channel B.Hooked Crochet to learn how to crochet the blanket. He also shared that he loves to crochet for its therapeutic effects. “It can be really relaxing once you get the hang of it, as you can tune out and just let your hands do the work,” he said. Greyson Moore poses with the American flag he crocheted.Photo credit: Jenny Quicksall (used with permission) The flag’s overwhelming response His dad, Steve Moore, told Upworthy that he knew Greyson’s crocheting process should be documented. “I knew this blanket was going to be special and so started documenting the process of making the blanket for my own memory—and so no one could ever say that he hadn’t been the one to make it,” he said.   After sharing a few videos on social media, he realized that thousands of people were invested in Greyson’s creation. “I think his blanket has had a significant impact on people and that it’s built a sort of bridge between what feels like a very divided nation,” Steve said. “No matter what side you fall on politically, I think that seeing the innocence of a kid diligently working on a project to honor his country brought a lot of hope to everyone.” Seeing Greyson crochet has also inspired people young and old to try crocheting themselves. “I’ve also heard from so many people (adults and other kids) who were inspired to get their crochet hooks out and start creating,” he added. “There is a lot of joy to be discovered and satisfaction to be felt when we put down our screens and create something with our own hands.” The post 11-year-old boy shows his American pride by crocheting 8-foot flag using 60 skeins of yarn appeared first on Upworthy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle do their best to keep their private lives quiet, but a recent trip to the United Kingdom dominated the media for weeks. The royal family had a long-awaited reunion with King Charles that many hope was just the beginning of a healed relationship for all parties. Prince Harry traveled to his home country alone, but Meghan Markle joined him later during the trip. On July 23, she shared a collection of photos on Instagram captioned, “Summer holiday.” The photos included a rare shot of Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet at Althorp, the Spencer family’s ancestral estate where Princess Diana grew up. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (@meghan) Insiders Believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Visited Princess Diana’s Grave with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet According to People, insiders think Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit included taking Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to visit the Spencers. Princess Diana’s grave is on Althorp’s Oval Lake, which is not accessible to the public. Her brother, Charles Spencer, said the location of Diana’s resting place was intentional. The Spencer family wanted those who loved Diana most to have the opportunity to visit her privately. “I think it’s very important for them to be there with her,” Charles Spencer once told People. “It is, luckily, very tranquil here, and they can come and go as they wish whenever they want. And that’s very lovely for me to know that.” Prince Harry has spoken often about his love for Princess Diana, and it’s no surprise he wanted his children to meet her family. Hopefully this trip was nothing but wonderful memories for the entire family. This story’s featured image is by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

When a sweet little kitten named Gelato showed up at Cincinnati Animal CARE, a spinal injury left his back legs too weak to support his weight. But the little fella could still move his legs and retained bowel and bladder function, leaving the vet “optimistic” about his recovery.  Sure enough, Gelato’s curiosity and playfulness were unfazed. He still very much “wanted to play and walk around,” Medical Director Dr. Amanda Gilbert told LOCAL 12 News.  The only problem was he physically couldn’t walk around. And while the facility had animal wheelchairs, they were all too big for this tiny little patient.  An unexpected solution That’s when Veterinary Assistant Lead Mallory Smith and Cincinnati Animal CARE’s medical team decided to get creative. They rummaged through what they had lying around, and Frankensteined together a perfectly Gelato-sized wheelchair.  The makeshift chair included: wooden rulers, zip ties, tape, and perhaps most important: a set of Hot Wheels. View this post on Instagram The DIY project worked like a charm, turning Gelato into the most adorable kitty Transformer you’ve ever seen.  It wasn’t long before Smith and the CARE team got praise for the ingenuity.  “Necessity is the mother of invention. Well done, and thank you for caring,” one person commented. Another shared, “This is the best problem-solving I have ever seen!!! Great job!” “Great job MacGyver,” quipped another. “Creativity at its best!!” “As a former clinic cat, I can confirm: sometimes the most important medical equipment begins with a few rulers, zip ties, a Hot Wheels car, and a team that refuses to give up. Gelato, you are in wonderful hands,” wrote the Instagram account of “Retired Veterinary Clinic Cat” Sir Maximillian Tux. What’s more, Smith was happy to report that the pint-sized patient has already begun gaining enough strength in his own legs to bear his full weight.  Creativity can change an animal’s future Homemade mobility carts have been helping injured and disabled animals for years. Rescue organizations, veterinarians, and pet owners have fashioned custom wheelchairs from PVC pipe, stroller wheels, bicycle parts, and other readily available materials when commercial carts weren’t the right fit. Some animals use them while recovering from surgery or injury, while others rely on them long-term as they continue running, playing, and exploring. Corgi in wheelchair. Canva Gelato’s unique Hot Wheels wheelchair is another reminder that a little resourcefulness can have a big impact, especially when it helps an animal get back to doing what it loves.  As Cincinnati Animal CARE perfectly summed it up on Instagram: “Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity, a lot of heart, and someone who refuses to give up.” The post Paralyzed kitten was too small for a wheelchair. So the shelter made one out of random junk. appeared first on Upworthy.

Doomscrolling, short-form videos, digital notifications…it can feel like social media dominates the way we consume information. We skim, we swipe, and we digest bite-sized snippets of news and knowledge at lightning-fast speed. Screens have the advantage of keeping us instantly updated anytime, anywhere. Neuroscience research, however, reveals that nothing rivals the classic, deep-dive experience of getting lost in a good book.  @siroqthedragon Most people think reading is just entertainment. But every time you open a book, your brain is rewiring itself—strengthening memory, building empathy, improving focus, and creating new neural connections. The question isn’t whether books change us. The question is how much. What’s a book that changed the way you think? #BookTokContest #BookTok #ReadingTok #BookFacts #BrainFacts ♬ Sci-fi ambient with a desolate and lonely atmosphere(1418505) – harryfaoki According to an exciting new study highlighted by Psycholinguist Dr. Falk Huettig, reading isn’t just a pleasant pastime. Diving into a book is a powerful “neurological catalyst” that fundamentally rewires the human brain. Far beyond simply acquiring facts, cracking open a long-form novel or a work of non-fiction acts as the ultimate cognitive enhancer. A gym workout for the brain right in your hands Believe it or not, reading is a relatively recent cultural invention. According to a featured article on Neuroscience News entitled “Reading is the Ultimate Cognitive Enhancer,” scientists believed that our brains had to “steal” neural space from other visual systems—like face recognition—to be able to process written words. This is now known as “The Visual Recycling Myth.”   However, recent research in Dr. Huettig’s newly released book The Perks of Being a Bookworm: The Science of the Benefits of Reading challenges this idea of neural competition. Studies comparing literate and illiterate adults reveal that learning to read doesn’t crowd out older brain functions. Instead, it triggers a fine-tuning effect that acts like an intensive gym workout for your visual cortex pathways. In fact, avid readers demonstrate an enhanced ability to process complex visual information and are better at recognizing faces compared to non-readers.  Beyond visual sharpening, reading literally rewires our cognitive architecture. The act of reading elongates our attention spans. This makes executive reasoning and critical thinking easier. It also expands your working memory, helping you understand spoken language faster. Reading also makes your brain more flexible. The more sophisticated your reading diet is, the more your brain automates lower-level processing and elevates higher-level reasoning.  How lo-fi beats Wi-Fi in reading comprehension  The question remains: why doesn’t all the text we read online count as much as that novel sitting next to your bed? Social media threads or quick online articles contain plenty of information, after all, so why don’t they deliver the same brain-boosting power?  Basically, it’s all in your head. Psychologists believe it’s connected to self-regulation, or how we evaluate and apply what we learn. When we read print or engage with immersive books, our brains view that text as “serious.” This prompts our minds to exert greater cognitive effort. While reading, your brain must conjure all sorts of images, characters, and situations in order to take everything in. Instead of working through a single cognitive pathway, reading books engages multiple systems at once. Digital scrolling, on the other hand, relies on shallower processing.  So, if you’ve been feeling guilty about ignoring your latest news notifications to spend an afternoon lost in a compelling narrative from your local library, consider this your scientific permission slip. You aren’t just escaping reality—you’re upgrading your brain.  The post Book lovers will be happy to learn that reading is the greatest ‘cognitive enhancer’ known to man. appeared first on Upworthy.