Who says there's no good news?

Babies (and puppies) aside, if there's a little critter any cuter than the axolotl, I don't know what it is. This pink salamander looks straight out of Pixar, but it does exist in real life. As well as in the videogame Minecraft. 

These Mexican amphibians have a lot more going for them than just their undeniable cuteness. Among other qualities: 

...axolotls have the remarkable ability to regenerate parts of their bodies. This includes limbs, eyes and even parts of their brains. Research labs around the world are trying to understand this incredible trait. (Source: Natural History Museum - UK)

One of those research labs is  the Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology. 

Harvard is, of course, both a major target of the type of personal animus that colors pretty much everything Trump does, and a victim of the profound research cuts his anti-science administration has aimed at researchers whether he harbors personal animus towards their organizations or not. 

Thanks largely to government cutbacks, Harvard is expected to cut its overall research initiatives by about 20%. But while donations may not cover the loss, Harvard is able to count on generous donors to help support its efforts. One of those is six-year-old Marianne Cullen of Springfield, Mass, who in September donated $1,000 to Harvard to use for axolotl research. 

“I knew they were trying to help the axolotls, that’s why I raised my money,” Marianne said during a special visit recently to the Harvard Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology lab. (Source: The Boston Globe)

Marianne learned about axolotls in kindergarten, and was drawn to them because they're "so cute."

But her reasons to support this Harvard lab went beyond the mere cuteness of axolotls. Marianne has a baby sister, Emmaline, who's been in and out of the hospital:

Doctors at Boston Children’s Hospital have treated Emmaline for immune and allergy response problems, and Marianne wonders if there could be a connection between axolotl regeneration and medical therapies for babies who suffer from autoimmune diseases.

So Marianne held a fundraising party, inviting family and friends to learn about axolotls. Then there was a Venmo fund-raiser via FB. And to top things off, Marianne chipped in $80 out of her own piggybank.

The timing of Marianne's donation was perfect, if only as a morale boost. It came in just as five of the lab's grants were being canceled. 

While the details are still being worked out, it’s possible Marianne’s donation could go directly to such a project at Harvard, linking axolotl findings to infant medical treatment.

As a benefactor, Marianne was recently invited to tour the lab, where she got to meet some axolotls up close and personal. Sounds like the lab was a fine place for a kiddo who's eyeing an eventual career as a scientist or NICU doctor. 

Who says there's no good news? That would be me, most of the time. So I was delighted to come across the news about Marianne Cullen's insight and generosity. What a great kid!

------------------------------------------------------------

Image Source: A-to-Z Animals