Before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Tampa, Florida, officials there made an effort to help a man who went by the TikTok handle “Lieutenant Dan.” The man, whose true name is apparently Joseph Malinowski, defied their attempts to disembark from his 20-foot boat and chose instead to weather the storm.
Malinowski was filmed by Terrence Concannon, who uploaded the popular TikTok on October 8 and showed him justifying his choice. Malinowski, who was inspired by the Forrest Gump character, boldly declares his belief in God in the video, saying, “God told me to come out here and acquire a boat. I’m safe with him. We’re going to get through this. He brashly said, “Hell no,” when asked if he would be donning a life jacket, stating that his yacht was the safest place for him to be.
Around 43 million people had viewed the film as of October 9, garnering both local and national interest. Authorities in Tampa were worried about his safety, but Malinowski refused to leave despite multiple attempts to persuade him. The local police said that although they would have helped, they would eventually be unable to get to him due to the storm’s increasing conditions.
Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa first said that Malinowski had been rescued and taken to a shelter during a press conference. Brian Entin, a reporter for NewsNation, swiftly refuted this, posting a picture of Malinowski remaining on his boat as evidence that he had not departed. Later on, the mayor’s office stated that Malinowski had initially decided to depart but ended up staying.
Concannon, the person who first uploaded the popular video, launched a GoFundMe page in support of Malinowski, which raised almost $23,000. The money is meant to assist Malinowski—who has been called a “modern-day pirate”—in buying a new boat because his present one has “seen better days.”
With sustained winds of 120 mph, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, was predicted to make landfall on Florida’s west-central coast as of October 9. Malinowski made the decision to stay on his boat despite several orders for the locals to leave, putting his faith and the security of his craft at risk.
Determined Mom Sets Out to Show Her Child She’s Beautiful, Despite a Unique Birthmark
We are all born unique and beautiful, each one of us an individual expression of diversity. One of the most incredible aspects of being human is that no two people are exactly the same. Over time, society has made great strides in embracing and celebrating these differences.
Nicole Lucas Hall, a devoted mother, is raising her two children, Asher and Winry, with a mission to challenge the idea that imperfections define us. Nicole wants to reinforce the belief that her daughter Winry, who was born with a rare birthmark, is beautiful in her own right.
Winry was born with a condition known as congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN), an uncommon birthmark that covers about a quarter of her face. According to Good Morning America, Winry’s distinct appearance has made her stand out since her birth in February 2021, though her parents embrace and celebrate her uniqueness.
Determined Mom Sets Out to Show Her Child She’s Beautiful, Despite a Unique Birthmark
byBrowse Feed–October 14, 20240
We are all born unique and beautiful, each one of us an individual expression of diversity. One of the most incredible aspects of being human is that no two people are exactly the same. Over time, society has made great strides in embracing and celebrating these differences.
Nicole Lucas Hall, a devoted mother, is raising her two children, Asher and Winry, with a mission to challenge the idea that imperfections define us. Nicole wants to reinforce the belief that her daughter Winry, who was born with a rare birthmark, is beautiful in her own right.
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Winry was born with a condition known as congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN), an uncommon birthmark that covers about a quarter of her face. According to Good Morning America, Winry’s distinct appearance has made her stand out since her birth in February 2021, though her parents embrace and celebrate her uniqueness.
Nicole, a teacher, recalls being initially shocked when the nurses handed her Winry after delivery. Her pregnancy had been normal, so she wasn’t expecting anything unusual. “I had a typical pregnancy,” Nicole wrote on her blog. “After some early morning sickness, I felt great until the last month when fatigue kicked in.”
The medical team was the first to notice Winry’s CMN, but they offered congratulations for the easy birth and reassured Nicole that her baby’s vital signs were fine.
At first, Nicole mistook the large mark on Winry’s head for a bruise. “My husband and I quickly realized it wasn’t a bruise,” she said. “I thought it looked like a mole.” Concerned but unsure what to ask, Nicole held her baby close and showered her with love.
CMN can appear as dark or light brown patches on various parts of the body, and its size can vary, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
Now, Nicole and her partner are on a mission to show the world that differences should be celebrated, not hidden.
“I like sharing because, for many, this is the first time they’ve seen a birthmark like hers,” Nicole said. “Parents can have meaningful conversations with their children about how kids can look different, or they may see their own child reflected in Winry.”
Winry’s parents take extra care of her skin, as her birthmark may increase her risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. “Our main concern is her health,” Nicole explained. “We make sure to use sunscreen and keep her protected with hats.”
Beyond her birthmark, Winry is a joyful and spirited little girl who radiates happiness. “She’s the happiest baby I’ve ever seen,” Nicole said. “She’s always laughing and yelling, and she’s already showing signs of having quite the personality!”
Nicole hopes that by sharing Winry’s story, more people will embrace differences rather than mock or belittle them.
To her, Winry is not just a child with a unique appearance—she’s a truly special little girl with a beautiful spirit.
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