4 trending stories you may have missed this week

From a wife's trip to Mars to a puppy's amazing transformation, there was no shortage of attention-grabbing stories this week. In case you fell off the grid a bit, here are a few that made waves.

1. One Tough Grandma

You usually hear about monsters under the bed, not monsters in the bed beside you.

According to WTVR, 82-year-old grandmother Reba Shook felt someone in the bed beside her. At first, she thought her dog had jumped into the bed with her -- but when she realized the body was of the human variety, she started kicking. Shook must have gotten the better of him, because the man ran off.

She told reporters she's not going to move out of her home, but she's going "shopping for a gun."

2. "Bye, Honey. I'm Going To Mars"

"Honeymooners" character Ralph Kramden always threatened to send his wife, Alice, to the moon -- but he would have been heartbroken to lose her to outer space. However, one Virginia woman has volunteered to take a one-way mission to Mars, and her husband is totally cool with it.

Jason Standford defends his wife's decision to take part in the first settlement on Mars. His wife, 36 year old Sonia Van Meter, has been selected as one of the 100 candidates to go the red planet in 2024 as a participant in the privately funded Mars One Project. Eventually only 24 of the original 200 thousand plus candidates will be picked.

They've both received a fair share of backlash -- especially because she's the stepmom to children. However, Standford sees the Mars mission as a decision to benefit humanity, comparing his wife to Christopher Columbus and Magellan.

3. Rescued Pup Makes Unrecognizable Recovery

A puppy with severe skin infection, intestinal parasites, and fleas had all but given up on life. Even the dog shelter had given up on her and was set on euthanizing her. However, a veterinarian from Vet Ranch Rescue thought she could be saved.

Dr. Karri nicknamed the pup Crusty Kristy because of her appearance, but after a number of baths and medical treatments she had to start calling her simply Kristy.

Just three weeks after being rescued, Kristy looks like a whole new dog. All she needs now is a home.

4. Hateful Note Left On Handicap Student's Car

Arkansas college student Julie McGovern found a note with the word "FAKER" left on her car in reference to her handicapped placard.

Now, she's firing back. In a letter titled "My Fear Came True Today," McGovern explains how she was diagnosed with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and went from a healthy athlete to a chronically ill young adult.

"People think I look fine, so I am not sick. It isn't that I'm looking for sympathy, but respect and compassion...I am unable to keep up with my friends and my pride often keeps me from asking for help. [...] This person doesn't know me or my struggles. They don't know what this illness has taken from me."

The response was shared all over social media and covered by news sites all over the world.

That's our roundup for the week. Check back next week for a new batch of stories you may have missed.

Before you go, be sure to check out our photos of the week: