When 8-year-old Guilherme caught a common cold, no one could have imagined that he would soon be fighting for his life.

What started as a simple cold quickly spiraled into something much more serious. Suddenly, he was in a coma for 16 days, with no one knowing if he would ever wake up.

But when he finally opened his eyes, he had one special wish that is now melting hearts all over the world.

In 2023, little Guilherme Gandra Moura’s life took a sudden and terrifying turn when a common cold spiraled into severe pneumonia.

The little Brazilian boy was no stranger to hospitals, as he suffers from a rare genetic condition called epidermolysis bullosa (EB). This hereditary disease encompasses around 30 different disorders that cause the skin to form blisters at the slightest touch.

EB is an incredibly rare condition, with an incidence of just 8.2 per million live births in the U.S. Those with milder forms may not experience symptoms until they start crawling or walking. For Guilherme, even the smallest touch could cause painful blisters, turning everyday activities into a daily battle requiring immense care.

Feared that she was losing her son

Despite the challenges, Guilherme’s courage and joyful spirit have always shone brightly. His resilience has inspired everyone around him. But as he lay in the hospital, his parents feared the worst. As doctors fought to save him, the young boy was placed in a coma for 16 excruciating days.

”I was very afraid that he wouldn’t come back,” his mother Tayane Granda Orrinco said, according to The Mirror.

During Guilherme’s fight, his mother never left his side at the hospital. Desperate, she prayed for a miracle. Despite doctors urging her to allow a tracheostomy, an opening in his throat to help him breathe, Tayane clung to her faith, knowing her son would pull through without it.

As days turned to weeks, the unthinkable happened. In a twist of fate, on a day when Tayane finally decided to take a break from the hospital, the phone call she feared yet longed for arrived.

One wish

Guilherme had woken up.

Tayane rushed back to the hospital, hoping she wouldn’t be too late.

”I was desperate,” Tayane shared and added: ”I wanted to teleport myself to the hospital. I came running. I did everything to get here as quickly as possible.”

The first words that came out of Guilherme’s mouth were not about the pain or his long struggle. No, his first wish was a simple, pure one: ”I want to hug my mom.” He had fought for 16 days in a coma, and now, his heart was yearning for the one person who never left him.

The reunion between mother and son was beyond emotional. Tayane was overcome with relief and gratitude, rushing into the room, and there he was — her son, alive, his face lighting up with joy the moment he saw her.

”It was incredible,” she recalled, tears welling up. ”When I entered the room, I just couldn’t believe it.”

The heartwarming video

Even Guilherme’s father, Estevao, couldn’t hold back tears. Watching the bond between his wife and son was too much for him to handle. ”It was very emotional. Even I got emotional while filming. I felt a little envious, but a mother is a mother.”

As the video of their reunion went viral, people around the world were touched not just by the depth of their love, but by the courageous spirit of little Guilherme.

His story also shone a spotlight on epidermolysis bullosa, a rare and devastating condition that requires extraordinary care.

Today, at just eight years old, Guilherme has already undergone eight surgeries and been hospitalized 23 times, but his joyful spirit remains unbroken.

”The first thing I asked was: where’s my mobile phone? Where’s my mum?” he said in a message to his well-wishers. ”Thank you so much. I loved that you prayed for me. God bless you!”

Every moment spent with Guilherme is a gift and Tayane knows this better than anyone — she has witnessed her son fight a battle that few could ever imagine, and each day with him is a blessing beyond words.

Guilherme’s story is one of strength, love, and resilience. His journey continues, but his mother’s belief in miracles never wavers.

Owning a car means freedom, flexibility, and convenience — but also a fair share of headaches.

One problem that comes up every winter, with a few possible solutions, is when your car gets covered in snow — or even worse, when frost builds up on the windows.

I’ve tried just about every trick in the book to clear the windshield, but when I came across this one, I was pleasantly surprised. Why? It’s not only inexpensive, but it’s also incredibly easy!

There are definitely more enjoyable ways to start your day than scraping ice off your windshield. Sure, winter landscapes are beautiful, but they’re not always kind to your car.

Nothing ruins a morning faster than dealing with a frosted windshield. You’re already running late, and now you’re faced with a frozen, foggy window that takes forever to clear. It’s one of those annoying, time-consuming tasks that just makes everything feel more stressful, right?

Luckily, I recently came across a trick that could make life a lot easier for anyone who dreads scraping the windshield as much as I do.

Defrost car windows fast

All you need to prepare this trick are two simple ingredients: water and rubbing alcohol. Yep, you heard that right—it’s that easy to work some magic!

Just mix one-third water with two-thirds rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle, then keep it in your car so it’s always on hand.

I know there are plenty of pricey products out there designed to spray off ice and snow from your windshield, but this budget-friendly method often delivers the same results.

Why does it work so well? Rubbing alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water (it freezes at -128°F), so it helps melt the ice faster and keeps your windshield from frosting up in the future.

How to prevent frost from car

If you want to prevent frost from forming in the first place and don’t have a garage, there’s another tip that many swear by. It’s a bit unconventional, but if you’ve got it at home, it can’t hurt to give it a try.

Try using kitty litter. Yes, you read that correctly! If you fill a sock with kitty litter and leave it on your dashboard, it will absorb any moisture and prevent frost from forming on your windshield.

If you’ve tried this trick and know it works, don’t keep it to yourself — share it so others can discover just how easy it is to get rid of frost on their windshield! Let’s help everyone make their mornings a little less stressful.

For me, Trading Places is the greatest and one of the most underrated Christmas movies of all time.

It’s almost criminal we never got to see more of Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd working together, they had such great chemistry. And let’s not forget 25-year-old Jamie Lee Curtis — the smoking hot and a phenomenal actress delivered some unforgettable scenes.

But did you know that several hilarious moments in the film happened completely by accident?

If any other actors had been cast in Trading Places, it simply wouldn’t have worked. It’s like a rare alignment of the planets — everything came together perfectly. From Eddie Murphy’s comedic genius to Dan Aykroyd’s sharp performance and Jamie Lee Curtis’s unforgettable presence at just 25 years old (yes, she was smokin’ hot), this movie is nothing short of brilliant.

Released nearly 40 years ago, it remains a timeless classic. Can you believe that? Four decades later, you’d think a movie of that age would feel dated, yet Trading Places still feels fresh every time. Many fans even make it a Christmas tradition, proving its enduring charm.

Stay tuned as we dive into behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected bloopers, and little-known facts that make Trading Places the comedy masterpiece it is today.

The deeper message of the movie

If you haven’t seen Trading Places, it’s a classic comedy from 1983 about a wild social experiment. Two rich brothers, Randolph and Mortimer Duke, make a bet to see if a person’s success is based on their environment or their personality.

To test their theory, they swap the lives of their spoiled, wealthy employee, Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd), with a fast-talking street hustler, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy).

The Dukes completely wreck Louis’s life — taking away his money, job, and status — and hand it all to Billy Ray. But when Louis and Billy Ray figure out they’re being played, they join forces with a clever woman named Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis) to get back at the Dukes and teach them a lesson they’ll never forget.

It’s a sharp, funny movie about class, greed, and what really makes a person who they are. One of its deeper messages — being careful about judging others —resonates just as much today.

A tennis game inspired the screenwriters

Trading Places was written by Timothy Harris and Herschel Weingrod, and the idea came to life in the early 1980s when Harris met two wealthy (and incredibly cheap) brothers who couldn’t stop competing with each other.

Screenwriter Timothy Harris shared that he used to play tennis with two brothers who were both doctors. They were incredibly annoying to play with because they constantly argued, not just about the game, but about everything.

Harris got the idea to turn this dynamic into a story and pitched the concept of brothers arguing over the “nature versus nurture” debate to his writing partner, Herschel Weingrod. The rest, as they say, is comedy gold.

A bikini picture changed everything

The story was originally meant to star comedy legends Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.

When that didn’t work out, director John Landis brought in Dan Aykroyd, who he’d worked with before, and Eddie Murphy, who was just starting to make waves in Hollywood with this being only his second movie.

”The only character in the script I had a problem with, because she’s such a fantasy, is Ophelia. The classic ‘hooker with a heart of gold’  — she’s such a fantasy that I thought how the fuck am I going to get away with this?’,” Landis said.

John Landis made a daring move when he approached Jamie Lee Curtis for Ophelia. He had her in mind for the role, but the studio wasn’t on board at first. Back then, Curtis was primarily known for her scream-queen roles in horror films.

It would be Curtis’ first major big-budget film, a real A-list opportunity that gave her the chance to show she could do more than just outrun a slasher in a hockey mask.

“Nobody else wanted me. I guarantee you, John Landis was the only person who said, ‘She’s going to play this part.’ And without that moment I wouldn’t have now the career that I get to have,” Curtis shared.

John Landis later admitted that Curtis’ decision to do a topless scene helped change the minds of the Paramount executives. After seeing a photo of her in a bikini, they were convinced it would help make the movie more marketable.

John Landis didn’t know who Eddie Murphy was

When the movie was being cast, director John Landis didn’t even know who Eddie Murphy was yet. Murphy’s breakout film 48 Hours (1982) hadn’t been released, but the studio had already previewed it and knew he was a star in the making.

Landis recalls being asked, “What do you think about Eddie Murphy for the role of Billy Ray Valentine?” To which he humorously responded, “Who’s Eddie Murphy?”

The movie played a huge role in making Eddie Murphy one of the highest-paid and most sought-after comedians in Hollywood. Murphy mentioned that he was paid $350,000 for his role, though some reports claimed it was as high as $1 million.

He also said that making Trading Places was the most fun he’d ever had on a movie set. He joked that every film after that felt more like ”work.”

Ever heard this classic Eddie Murphy joke?

Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche were absolutely spot-on as the Duke brothers, Randolph and Mortimer, in Trading Places. These two wealthy and clueless elites drive the movie’s infamous social experiment with their scheming and arrogance, making them the perfect villains you love to watch get what they deserve.

Interestingly, Bellamy and Ameche reprised their roles as the Dukes in Eddie Murphy’s Coming to America (1988), where they make a hilarious cameo as homeless men. In a full-circle moment, Murphy’s character, Prince Akeem, gives them a generous sum of money to help them get back on their feet.

Oh, and here’s a fun tidbit: Trading Places was Bellamy’s 99th film and Ameche’s 100th. Eddie Murphy couldn’t resist joking, “Between the three of us, we’ve made 201 movies!” Classic Murphy humor!

A neat detail after 3 minutes

Comedies like Trading Places, especially from the ’80s, are a rare find these days. That perfect mix of humor and heart just hasn’t been replicated in decades. And here’s a fun twist: unlike most ’80s comedies, which are set in New York, this one takes place in Philadelphia.

There was actually a reason they chose to film in Philadelphia. The city had a strong connection to the founding of the country, the Constitution, and the idea that everyone is entitled to the pursuit of happiness — everything that embodies the idealism of America.

”I thought it was a good way to highlight that, especially in the opening scene when you see the legless black guy,” screenwriter Timothy Harris told Business Insider.

For the sharp-eyed viewer, there’s also another neat Easter egg in the opening montage.

If you look closely at around the 3-minute mark, you’ll spot the iconic Rocky statue. It was first seen in Rocky III (1982) in front of the Philadelphia Spectrum arena. These days, it’s hanging out at the bottom of the museum steps, where it’s become a huge part of Philly’s tourist scene.

The weather mystery in Trading Places

During the first fifteen days of filming in Philadelphia, the weather was so freezing that they had to shoot in a snow-covered city.

In one scene where Randolph and Mortimer pick up Valentine from jail, director John Landis had to sit in a towing truck, pulling the Rolls-Royce with Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, and Eddie Murphy inside.

Landis wore a thick parka to stay warm while the actors had a space heater to keep cozy. And here’s the kicker — Landis was listening to their dialogue through a radio!

But, fast-forward to later scenes, and you’d think they filmed in a completely different place. Suddenly, Philadelphia’s streets were dry and snow-free.

One overhead shot of Constitution Hall even shows lush green grass and trees with leaves. Oops! Looks like the weather in Trading Places was as unpredictable as the plot twists…

The Eddie Murphy rule

In 2010, a rule was added to the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act, aimed at regulating financial markets and preventing people from using insider information to manipulate the market — kind of like what the Duke brothers tried to pull off in Trading Places. Since the movie played a role in inspiring this rule, it’s now known as the ”Eddie Murphy Rule.”

Funny enough, Eddie Murphy admitted that during the chaotic commodities exchange scene in the film, he was just following the script. He had no clue what was going on because, as he put it, commodities trading was way too confusing for him. So, in a way, Eddie helped teach the world about market manipulation… without really understanding it himself!

A Hollywood legend’s comeback

Don Ameche, a Hollywood icon since the 1930s, usually starred as the dapper, mustached leading man. But did you know that the veteran actor had taken a 13-year break from acting before appearing in Trading Places?

When John Landis found out that Don Ameche hadn’t made a film in thirteen years, his first reaction was to ask, “Has he passed away?”

Landis specifically wanted Ameche for the film because he’d never played a villain before, and Trading Places offered the perfect opportunity for that. Despite being such a big name in Hollywood, Ameche admitted he wasn’t familiar with Eddie Murphy or Dan Aykroyd — two of the hottest comedians at the time.

The feeling was mutual, as both Murphy and Aykroyd confessed they didn’t know much about Ameche either! It’s a fun little piece of Hollywood history that shows the blending of generations and talents.

Religious beliefs made one scene hard

Don Ameche, a devout Roman Catholic and loyal Republican, had strong religious convictions that made him uncomfortable with swearing.

This became a challenge during the scene at the end of the movie, where he had to shout, “F**k him!” at a group of Wall Street executives. True to his principles, Ameche insisted on doing the scene in one take, refusing to repeat the line for a second shot.

One line almost got cut

Eddie Murphy didn’t like some of the stereotypical lines in the original Trading Places script. He thought lines like ”jive turkey” and ”sucker” weren’t realistic. He explained that a white writer writing for a black person would use stereotypical dialogue. So, he changed many of his lines to make them sound more natural.

But one line almost got cut — Murphy’s line, “Who put their Kools out on my Persian rug?” The studio thought it could be seen as racist since Kool cigarettes were mostly marketed to African Americans, but Murphy kept it in anyway.

Hair switches sides

In Trading Places, several hilarious moments came about by accident, and it’s no surprise considering Eddie Murphy’s knack for improvisation.

For instance, Mortimer Duke (Don Ameche) having trouble catching the money clip wasn’t part of the plan, but the actors just rolled with it, staying in character, and it made it into the movie.

Here’s another fun detail: When Mortimer Duke is signing the paychecks, one of the shots is actually flipped horizontally. At first, he signs with his left hand, then switches to his right, and then back to his left. Oh, and his part in his hair switches sides too! Has anyone else caught this little mix-up?

The truth about Inga from Sweden

Remember when Jamie Lee Curtis’ character, Ophelia, introduces herself as ”Inga from Sveden”? Well, there was some behind-the-scenes confusion. Her co-stars noticed she was wearing lederhosen, which is actually traditional in German-speaking countries, and thought it was a little odd for a ”Swedish” character!

The whole ”Swedish” disguise came about because Jamie Lee Curtis had trouble nailing the Austrian accent, so they decided to go with a Swedish twist instead.

How Jamie Lee Curtis felt about nude scene

The comedy marked Jamie Lee Curtis’ first nude scene, and she actually went on to do another topless scene later that same year in Love Letters (1983).

In a 1990 interview, Jamie Lee Curtis was pretty confident about her topless scene.

She even said, “My breasts are beautiful, and I gotta tell you, they’ve gotten a lot of attention for what is relatively short screen time,” when speaking to the Chicago Tribune.

But fast forward to 2022, and her perspective had changed a bit. Looking back, Curtis admitted, ”I was 21 years old and the part required Ophelia to take off her dress,” in an interview with People. ”Did I like doing it? No. Did I feel embarrassed that I was doing it? Yes.”

Now, at her current age, she couldn’t imagine doing a nude scene again: “I also am married for 37 years, I wasn’t married then. I’m a mother of children. Absolutely not,” Curtis.

Family ties and fashion fumbles

At around 58 minutes in the film, when Ophelia takes Louis to her apartment, you can spot that she’s wearing pantyhose. But later, when she removes her dress, she’s only in panties.

Also, did you know that Penelope’s (Kristin Holby) friend Muffy is actually played by Jamie Lee Curtis’ sister, Kelly Curtis? And her future brother-in-law, Nicholas Guest, makes an appearance as Harry! Pretty cool family connection!

The quiet tribute to John Belushi

The number on Dan Aykroyd’s mug shot, 74745058, is the same one given to John Belushi in The Blues Brothers (1980).

Aykroyd included this as a heartfelt homage to his late comedy partner who had passed away the year before. Additionally, Jim Belushi, John’s brother, made a cameo in the film as a circus performer dressed in an ape suit.

The scene that didn’t make the theatrical cut

I thought I’d seen it all when it comes to Trading Places, but turns out there’s a little hidden gem that didn’t make the original theatrical cut! There’s a scene that often pops up when the movie is shown on TV, probably to fill in that extra time between commercials.

So, after Clarence Beeks (Paul Gleason) chats with the Dukes on the phone, and Billy Ray (Eddie Murphy) eavesdrops on their scheme, things take a turn. In the original version, Beeks heads straight from the phone booth to the Amtrak platform with the crop report briefcase in hand.

But in the added scene, we get a behind-the-scenes look where Beeks is off to a secured vault, where he knocks out a security guard and cracks open a safe deposit box to get those reports. I mean, talk about some extra shady business going on behind the curtain…

Trading Places really was one of a kind, wasn’t it? Movies like this, filled with unforgettable characters, hilarious moments, and a perfect mix of humor and social commentary, seem like a thing of the past. It’s a shame we don’t get that same magic today. But hey, thank goodness for the 80s and 90s!

Let’s keep the Trading Places spirit alive, because, let’s face it, it’s a classic we’ll always treasure.