10 Stories That Made Us Smile, Brought Us Together In 2020
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- It's no secret 2020 was a rough year for Marylanders. The COVID-19 upended nearly every aspect of peoples' daily lives, from the way people work and learn to how they socialize and spend time with loved ones.
There were stories of heartbreak and loss as well as love and survival. There were moments that brought us together and made us smile despite adversity.
Here are ten of those moments.
1. Pierre Gibbons, Man Who Ran Into Burning Home In SE Baltimore To Save Neighbor, Discharged From Hospital
Pierre Gibbons' heroism has been the subject of numerous stories on WJZ, but in June, more than nine months after running into his neighbor's burning home in southeast Baltimore, he was discharged from the hospital and given a hero's welcome home.
Gibbons fought back after being given just a 10% survival rate. His actions led to him being proclaimed a hero.
His recovery continues.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- Two People Seriously Injured, 4 Homes Damaged After Fire In Patterson Park
- Pierre Gibbons Is Fighting For His Life After Trying To Save Neighbor From Burning Patterson Park Home
- Pierre Gibbons On Full Life Support After Trying To Save Neighbor From House Fire In Patterson Park
- Pierre Gibbons Who Ran Into Burning Patterson Park Home Proclaimed A Hero
- Pierre Gibbons Faces Years Of Recovery After Trying To Save Neighbor From Burning Patterson Park Home
- 'He's a Miracle' | Pierre Gibbons, Man Who Ran Into Burning Home To Save Neighbor, Continues To Recover
- Pierre Gibbons Says 'Instinct' Made Him Try To Save Neighbor From Burning Patterson Park Home
- 'Welcome Home Hero!' Pierre Gibbons, Man Who Ran Into Burning Home In SE Baltimore To Save Neighbor, Discharged From Hospital
2. Baltimore Comes Together To Remember Mo Gaba
Longtime listeners of 105.7 The Fan quickly grew to love young sports superfan Mo Gaba. His knowledge of the Ravens and Orioles made him a mainstay caller and his spirit despite adversity captured hearts in Baltimore and beyond.
Sadly, Mo died in July at age 14 after his fourth battle with cancer. Before he died, he set a number of records, including getting elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame as the second-ever recipient of The Wild Bill Hagy Award and becoming the first person to announce an NFL Draft pick while reading it in Braille.
Following his death, the community showed their love for him and his family by filling M&T Bank Stadium with cardboard cutouts of him and renaming a street near the stadiums as well.
His legacy surely will not be forgotten any time soon.
REMEMBERING MO GABA:
- Mo Gaba Way Unveiled In Memory Of Late 14-Year-Old Ravens, Orioles Superfan
- Ravens Honor Mo Gaba With Special Tribute In End Zone
- 'Mo's Rows' To Fill Section Of M&T Bank Stadium With Cardboard Cutouts Of Superfan Mo Gaba
- Orioles Recognize Mo Gaba As Honorary 10th Man Before Home Opener
- 'We Love You, Mo' | Tributes From Orioles, Ravens Coaches & Players Pour In For Baltimore Sports Superfan Mo Gaba
- Mo Gaba Elected To Orioles Hall Of Fame, Honored As Second-Ever Recipient Of The Wild Bill Hagy Award
- Ravens Superfan Mo Gaba Spends Time At Practice With Lamar Jackson
- Baltimore Sports Superfan Mo Gaba, 14, Dies After Battle With Cancer
- 'Exactly What This World Needed' | Friends, Teachers Reflect On The Life Of Beloved Baltimore Sports Superfan Mo Gaba
3. Orioles Outfielder Trey Mancini Finishes Chemotherapy After Colon Cancer Diagnosis
In March, Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini was diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. He began chemotherapy, which he wrapped up six months later.
His teammates had his back the entire time, surprising him with a video message of support and, once he finished chemo, a team photo with words of encouragement.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- "TREY DID IT!!!!" | Orioles' Mancini Finishes Chemotherapy Following Colon Cancer Diagnosis
- Orioles Outfielder Trey Mancini Has Stage 3 Colon Cancer, Undergoing Chemotherapy
- 'F16HT': Teammates Surprise Orioles Outfielder Trey Mancini With Message Of Support Amid His Cancer Battle
- Orioles Star Trey Mancini Promises To Keep Fans Updated After Leaving Team Due To Medical Issue
- Baltimore Orioles Trey Mancini Had Malignant Tumor Removed, Lab Results, Recovery Timetable Unknown
- 'I'm Really Thankful' | Orioles Star Trey Mancini Thanks Fans For Support After Undergoing Surgery To Remove Malignant Tumor
4. DJ Kopec's Virtual Dance Parties
The COVID-19 pandemic hit the entertainment and tourism industry particularly hard, with large events of all varieties canceled for the foreseeable future.
That didn't stop an Ellicott City man from doing what he loves while helping countless others in his community.
In March, WJZ first shared the story of Chris Kopec, a part-time DJ and father of three who turned to Facebook Live to hold virtual dance parties. When he realized just how big the audience was, he turned the events into fundraisers.
Since then, he has raised more than $1 million for charity and held events to benefit the United Way and the Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital.
This holiday season, he collected more than 29,000 toys to give to kids in need.
"Music always brought people together," he told WJZ in November.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- DJ Kopec Collects Over 29K Toys For Children This Holiday Season
- DJ Kopec Raises $75K For Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital
- Ellicott City's DJ Kopec Hosting Another Virtual Dance Party To Raise Money For Mount Washington Pediatric Hospital
- 'Sweetest Ending Possible': Ellicott City's DJ Kopec Reaches Goal Of $1M For Charity Through Virtual Dance Parties
- Ellicott City DJ Kopec Aims To Cross The $1M Mark For Baltimore Child Abuse Center With Virtual Fundraiser
- DJ Kopec's Live Party Leads To 60K Pound-Chicken Donation To United Way
- Ellicott City DJ Kopec Hosts Virtual Charity Event To Collect Food For Those In Need
- Coronavirus Latest: Bars, Clubs Are Shut Down, So These Maryland DJs Are Throwing Virtual Dance Parties On Facebook
5. Teen Uses Training Flights To Deliver PPE To Hospitals
A teenager and aspiring pilot decided to use his training flights to deliver personal protective equipment to rural hospitals across Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
T.J. Kim's efforts caught the attention of President Donald Trump, who honored Kim at a ceremony at the White House.
As of September, Kim had completed 17 missions, delivering 58,000 items to hospitals in need.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- TJ Kim, Teen Delivering PPE To Rural Hospitals By Plane, Honored By White House
- 16-Year-Old Aspiring Pilot Uses Training Flights To Deliver PPE To Rural Hospitals
6. American Flag Found Along Interstate 83 Returned To Grateful Owner
In June, Eileen Snyder was driving down Interstate 83 in Baltimore with an American flag honoring her mother's longtime friend, World War II veteran Harry Moftich, when the flag somehow disappeared from her trunk and ended up on the side of the highway.
It ended up in Tamara Morris' hands, and thanks to the internet, Morris was able to find Snyder and return it.
7. Servers Get 4-Figure Tips
Servers have been hit particularly hard by the pandemic and restrictions on indoor and outdoor dining, but some generous customers have taken it upon themselves to spread some cheer.
In March, a customer left a $1,000 tip on a $68 order at the Mount Airy Inn as restaurants prepared to close due to the pandemic.
In December, a regular customer at Evelyn's Restaurant in Annapolis left an even bigger tip: $2,020! It came the weekend before stricter rules on restaurants in the county were set to take effect.
Those rules were ultimately temporarily blocked by a judge.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- 'Until We See You Again' | Customer Leaves $1,000 Tip At Mount Airy Inn On Day Maryland Restaurants Closed Due To Coronavirus
- Server Gets $2,020 Tip At Evelyn's Restaurant In Annapolis Days Before COVID Restrictions Pause Regular Dining
8. 'Wino Dog' Delivers Wine To Customers At Maryland Winery
A very good dog, fittingly named Soda, became a booze runner of sorts at a Maryland winery in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When customers weren't allowed inside Stone House Urban Winery in Hagerstown, Soda, sporting a special pouch, delivered wine to waiting customers outside the winery.
READ: Truly Man's Best Friend: 'Wino Dog' Delivers Wine To Customers At Maryland Winery
9. John Krasinski Officiates Maryland Couple's Wedding Over Zoom Along With 'The Office' Cast As Guests
One thing many people did during the pandemic was binge episodes of "The Office" on Netflix. A Maryland couple, though, got to basically be in their own episode.
John Krasinski, who played Jim in the hit show, helped the couple, John and Susan, get married over Zoom.
They were joined by a number of special guests: members of the show's cast.
10. Triumph Over COVID-19
There have been countless stories of heartbreak and loss due to the pandemic, but also stories of triumph and survival.
Among those survival stories was then-104-year-old Vivian Myers, a resident of the hard-hit Carroll Luthern Village nursing home in Westminster.
Caretakers said Myers' tenacious spirit helped her beat the virus.
Another survival story happened in October. Thirty-five-year-old Claudia Solorzano from Annapolis survived a battle with COVID-19 that left her hospitalized for a night.
When she was discharged, staff at the Anne Arundel Medical Center formed a clap line to celebrate. She was the 1,000th COVID-19 patient to be discharged from the facility.
Months prior, Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital staffers formed a human tunnel to celebrate as their 100th recovered COVID-19 patient was discharged.
RELATED COVERAGE:
- 104-Year-Old Resident At Carroll Lutheran Village In Westminster Defeats Coronavirus
- Staff Forms 'Clap Line' As Anne Arundel Medical Center Discharges 1,000th COVID-19 Patient
- Saint Agnes Hospital Discharges 100th Recovered COVID-19 Patient
Bonus: A WJZ Baby Boom
The WJZ family grew quickly in the final months of the year, with a number of on-air and behind-the-scenes staff members welcoming new bundles of joy.
Among them were: