A dad's heart almost burst. His son's diagnosis saved him.

Southern California dries out and cleans up. Smudge the cat, fitness icon. August 22, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY August 22, 2023 | [VIEW IN BROWSER]( This is TODAY Southern California begins its recovery after record rainfall and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Hilary, and family and friends remember a California business owner who was fatally shot by a man who took issue with a Pride flag displayed at her store. Plus, a dad's potentially fatal heart condition is discovered after his son's diagnosis with a rare genetic disorder. The Latest   [Southern California begins recovery after record rainfall and flooding from Tropical Storm Hilary.]( Southern California is beginning a cleanup after the first tropical storm to hit the area in 84 years, which particularly [swamped the Coachella Valley](. Tropical Storm Hilary caused floodwaters, mudflow and a sinkhole that forced first responders [to rescue dozens of people](, officials in Cathedral City and Palm Springs said. No fatalities were reported, and the area's major freeway reopened yesterday afternoon, officials said. The flooding has also [left farmworkers in the region in dire straits]( without work. The damage from the storm comes as wildfires rage in the Pacific Northwest, the latest in [extreme weather hitting the U.S. from all sides](. [The killing of a California woman over a Pride flag displayed at her store is being investigated as a hate crime.]( Tributes from Jamie Lee Curtis, director Paul Feig and others have poured in for California business owner [Laura Ann Carleton](, 66, who police say was shot and killed by a man on Aug. 18 after he [allegedly took issue with a Pride flag]( she displayed at her clothing store. Police identified the man yesterday as Travis Ikeguchi, 27, who fled Carleton's store and was later killed by deputies after firing at multiple patrol vehicles. Officials said yesterday that Ikeguchi had a history of making posts criticizing the LGBTQ community on social media. The sheriff's office told NBC News the case is being investigated as a hate crime. Meanwhile, Carleton's daughter said, "We will continue to steer the narrative away from him and towards my mother and honoring her. He is irrelevant." [Read more here](. [He didn't know his aorta was about to burst. His son's diagnosis with a rare disease saved his life.]( Wisconsin dad Evan Anderson found out he had [Marfan syndrome]( only after his son Parker was diagnosed with the rare genetic condition following years of medical issues. Evan had been relatively healthy his whole life, but tests revealed he had a ticking time bomb in his chest. The syndrome had [weakened the aorta in his heart](, and doctors told him it probably would have burst in two months. Evan says without his son's diagnosis, he could've died. "If it weren’t for him being here, and going through all the struggles he’s gone through," Evan said. [Read more here](. [👟 The winners of Self's 2023 Sneaker Awards are perfect for running, the gym or just lounging in style.]( Whether you're looking for new sneakers to go with your wardrobe or your favorite kicks are looking worn out, the winners of [SELF magazine's 2023 Sneaker Awards]( can make picking out your next pair a breeze. SELF selected 13 winners for everything from the best sneakers to wear to the gym to the top everyday running shoes, and you can [shop them all right here](. Start TODAY   Achieve your life and health goals with easy tips. All it takes is a jump rope and 15 minutes for you to burn fat, build muscle and improve your agility with this [jump rope routine for beginners]( from TODAY fitness contributor Stephanie Mansour. You can even do one round of the exercises in only 8 minutes, and Stephanie incorporates multiple calorie-burning moves that can be done with or without the rope in your hands. [See them all here](. What's for dessert?   Allow us to do the meal-planning for you. Dylan Dreyer grew up helping her mother make this creamy [caramel coconut flan,]( and now she makes it with her own kids. The TODAY meteorologist shared the family recipe that uses only five ingredients. Your kids will love watching the sugar melt into a liquid and how it creates its own sauce when you flip the dish over. [Get the recipe](. Daily Delight   A little pick-me-up before you go. [Smudge the cat]( deserves a little breather after inspiring thousands of others through her fitness journey. The 18-year-old feline weighed 23 pounds when she was adopted three years ago, which is about double the ideal weight for British shorthair cats. A veterinarian encouraged Smudge's owners to get her more active, so they started sharing her daily strolls on [TikTok]( to the delight of her new fans cheering her on. Smudge's regular walks have helped her get down to 18 pounds and [inspired plenty of humans to get moving](. "We see people saying 'Oh, I went on my daily walk today,' or 'I didn’t want to go for a swim today, but I thought if Smudge can do her daily exercise I can,' and that is just so lovely," her own told us. [See more photos of Smudge here](.   Thanks for letting us in your inbox! See you again tomorrow morning. Written by Scott Stump | Edited by Philip Caulfield Want to refer a friend?[Subscribe here]( Send us Feedback Follow us on Facebook More TODAY Newsletters 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10112 [Manage Subscriptions]( | [Unsubscribe](listvar=sub_today) | [Privacy]( | [Contact]( [MANAGE SUBSCRIPTION]( | [UNSUBSCRIBE](listvar=sub_today) | [PRIVACY]( | [CONTACT](