Chilean Miners are Going Home!

UPDATE (10/10/10): Oh my Lord, they're gonna be home so very soon! :D  This story is finally coming to a joyful close, it's making my heart leap and cry happy tears at the same time :)

This is so beautiful:

Among the families is weeks-old infant Esperanza, or "Hope," whose father is trapped miner Ariel Ticona. Ticona's wife, Elizabeth, named the child after the makeshift camp erected at the mine.

Ticona saw the birth on a video sent down a narrow bore hole that served as an umbilical cord to pass water and food to keep the men alive during the ordeal, and yearns to hold his daughter for the first time. 

More related stories here:
Q&A: How did Chile's trapped miners survive?
U.S. drill operator a hero in Chile mine drama

I've been following this story ever since it broke.  It is way more intense and interesting than any of the suspense-thriller shows on TV now.  

Amazing things have happened since the 33 miners were found to be alive: 

(Wait, let's pause for a bit and just consider that last phrase -- they are ALIVE!  And it's been over 2 months that they've been trapped down there.  How freaking awesome is that?)

• The Chilean's government's all-out efforts to get these men out alive, and the compassion it has shown to the families.
• How a tense event has unified Chileans.  Remember that Chile was struck twice by strong earthquakes this year.  What a year!
• NASA astronauts came to share their expertise on surviving claustrophobic situations over a lengthy period of time.
• Different countries have come in to offer their support and technical expertise in planning the men's rescue.
• It's extraordinary that these men are trapped over 600m below the earth's surface at a time when technology has advanced enough to find ways to send food, medicine, communication lines down to where they are.
• This infographic blows my mind because it is remarkable how modern engineering is able to exact the location of the drill holes, as well as other things that need to be considered for the miners' safety.
• Instead of December, these men may already be back on top of the earth by next week.  Two months ahead of schedule!  Woot!

Well, here's a virtual toast to you, amigos.  Godspeed!