MS Maze

Let’s presume you want to donate your organs. It’s very generous of you. Unless you don’t.

Members of the New York assembly are hoping to change the state’s organ donation system to increase the number of organs available for transplant, and are currently working on two separate bills to that end.

One bill seeks to move to “presumed consent.”

Read this post in its entirety:

Presumed Consent for Organ Donation: Smart Move or Orwellian Prophecy Come True?

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/803695

Change is in the air, but Americans are still flocking to free health clinics and flying overseas to avail themselves of needed health care.

While some provisions of the bill will come into play before the end of this year, the full roll-out will take until 2018. In the meantime, people are still facing a lack of access to needed medical care and the threat of medical bankruptcy.

Find out what’s going on between the signing of the bill and it’s full roll-out:

You didn’t think the health care crisis was over, did you?

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/673854

Spring is in full bloom and summer is beckoning. It’s a lovely and uplifting time of year, but for people with multiple sclerosis, summer’s heat and humidity can cause symptoms to become more extreme. These temporary flare-ups are called pseudo-exacerbations and they pack a powerful punch.

They are common enough that before the introduction of MRI and other modern testing, the ‘hot bath test’ was sometimes used to diagnose MS. Doctors would observe people who were immersed in hot water and watch for neurological impairment that improved after cooling.

Read this post in its entirety:

Surviving Summer with MS

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1244029

What comes to mind when you think about Mother’s Day? Most of us think about flowers and gifts, family gatherings and brunches, hugs and kisses, loved ones all around… but for some moms, Mother’s Day will be spent alone behind closed doors.

Modern life doesn’t always lend itself to family togetherness, and many seniors must live alone. The elderly who have health problems, and especially those who are homebound, face a particularly lonely existence, despite having raised children and grandchildren. It is not always possible to share special holidays with them.

Read this post in its entirety:

Homebound and Lonely on Mother’s Day: How You Can Make Her Day

Photo: Flicker via: Schristia (CC 2.0)

Perennial high school student Archie has spent decades trying to decide between Betty and Veronica. Some things never change in Riverdale. But some things do.

In a press release issued a few days ago, Archie Comics announced the introduction of the first openly gay character to join the student body of Riverdale High School. Archie, Betty, Veronica, Reggie, and Jughead are about to meet the new kid in town, Kevin Keller.

Jon Goldwater, CEO of Archie Comics put it this way, “The introduction of Kevin is just about keeping the world of Archie Comics current and inclusive. Archie’s hometown of Riverdale has always been a safe world for everyone. It just makes sense to have an openly gay character in Archie comic books.”

Read this post in its entirety:

Archie, Betty, Veronica… and Kevin: The New Kid in School is Gay

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1193101

More than 100 million women around the world begin their day by taking a birth control pill.

I was born in 1959, the same year that G.D. Searle & Co. applied for approval of “the pill.” The FDA gave that approval in May of 1960. Little did this tail-end baby boomer know that she was born into times of such historical significance for women’s reproductive health.

By the time birth control became a significant issue in my life, the Pill was readily available by prescription; all it took was a visit to the doctor. That little Pill gave me, and millions of women the world over, the freedom to choose when and how many children we might like to have. Nature is a fickle thing and there are no guarantees, but we had more control over our reproductive lives than any generation that came before us — enabling us to take advantage of unprecedented freedoms.

Read this post in its entirety:

50 Years on the Pill: Our Bodies, Our Choices, Our Lives

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/349767

On Writing

I write in my sleep, and I’m not kidding. Sometimes I go weeks at a time struggling to find my way in my manuscript, every word an excruciating reach. Then there are those days — and nights — when I can’t stop the train of thought. Last night I must have written 20 pages but, alas, they were only in my thoughts. Let’s call that Phase I. Phase II will be to get them written and Phase III to get them re-written, of course. It’s a process and I’m all in.

As of this moment, 42,039 words have made it from my head onto the manuscript, but my end-of-week goal remains to be completed. I’m quite confident that it shall be done.

In the past several weeks I’ve come to realize that the process is more important than the end result. I started this thing with the goal of getting it published. Now don’t get me wrong, that’s still something I strongly desire, but I’m learning along the way that there are more important things to consider. I want it done right. I want it to mean something. I want my husband and the people who care about me to approve, and I especially want it to have my own seal of approval. Then I’ll know I’ve completed something meaningful. Scoring an agent and a publishing deal would be the icing on the cake.

This Week on Care2

The Care2 Causes Weekly Wrap up: Every Day Is Earth Day, and Every Friday We Give You The Friday Wrap! by Suzi Parrasch

And my humble contributions for the week:

50 Years on the Pill: Our Bodies, Our Choices, Our Lives: Did the Pill cause the cause the sweeping sexual, gender, and societal shifts of the 60’s and 70’s… or was it simply one wave in a sea of revolutionary changes? One could ask the same question about The Beatles. War; civil rights; the women’s liberation movement, as it was called then; the smashing of gender and sexual stereotypes; rock ’n roll… oh, the times they were a-changin’.

If laughter is the best medicine, I’ll be fine: I don’t know if laughter is the best medicine, but it is certainly good medicine.The ability to laugh at our own foibles and missteps is sometimes just the tonic we need, like the time when having MS became the excuse that got me out of an absurdly awkward situation worthy of a sitcom.

The Rush of the Tanning Bed Do you feel a rush when you get a tan? Do you feel anxious when you don’t? If you need a tanning booth fix, those could be warning signs that you are addicted to tanning… but is that such a big deal?

School Lunches and Childhood Obesity and a Military at Risk: “Being overweight or obese turns out to be the leading medical reason why applicants fail to qualify for military service. Today, otherwise excellent recruit prospects, some of them with generations of sterling military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too overweight.”

2010 Intent Web Awards: Care2 has been nominated for “Best Sustainability Site.” If you are so inclined, please click on over and cast your vote for Care2 — VOTE HERE – Thank you.

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Care2 Healthy & Green Living
Care2 Causes

Connect: Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter

Contact: writer@webcampone.com

WebCamp One, LLC: Full-service website design, management, and development company with clients throughout the USA and Canada. Expert in standards compliant website design. From website management to freelance writing, we’ve got the web covered. Visit: WebCamp One on Facebook.

At least nine million 17 – 24 year-olds in the United States are too big to serve in the military — that’s 27 percent of all young adults, putting the future of our military force in jeopardy. The stern warning comes from a group of America’s retired generals, admirals, and civilian military leaders:

“Being overweight or obese turns out to be the leading medical reason why applicants fail to qualify for military service. Today, otherwise excellent recruit prospects, some of them with generations of sterling military service in their family history, are being turned away because they are just too overweight.”

Read this post in its entirety:

School Lunches and Childhood Obesity and a Military at Risk

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/89045

Do you feel a rush when you get a tan? Do you feel anxious when you don’t? If you need a tanning booth fix, those could be warning signs that you are addicted to tanning…

Read this post in its entirety and check out the poll:

The Rush of the Tanning Bed

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/whatshername/2369269277

I don’t know if laughter is the best medicine, but it is certainly good medicine.

There is a lot of talk these days about positive attitude and how essential it is to coping with chronic illness. That is true, but I would add that a sense of humor may be just as important. The ability to laugh at our own foibles and missteps is sometimes just the tonic we need.

I can come up with dozens of examples of multiple sclerosis imposing on my life in a frustrating way, and quite a few instances where strangers have had a laugh at my expense. That’s no fun but, hey, that’s life.

The good-natured ribbing of friends is another matter. That kind of humor lets you know that you are still one of the gang, and not so pathetic that you can’t take a joke.

Then there’s the time when having MS became the excuse that got me out of an absurdly awkward situation worthy of a sitcom.

Read this post in its entirety:

If laughter is the best medicine, I’ll be fine

http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1200965

It is a form of genetic engineering, a subject long on controversy and rife with ethical dilemma.

Scientists have developed a technique which enables them to successfully transfer DNA between two human eggs. The resulting embryos would contain the genes from both parents and a tiny amount from the donor egg — that’s three genetic parents.

The legal, medical, and ethical questions are mind boggling.

Read the post and get in on the comments:

One Embryo + Three Parents = Ethical Dilemma

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/696381

On Writing

The first draft is the hardest. That blank screen can suck every last thought out of your head. Rather than fear it, I’ve learned to just do it… just start writing anything at all, let my fingers do the walking and see where they go. It doesn’t have to be good, grammatically correct, or in an order that makes sense. The second draft is bliss. Playing editor and making that mess into a cohesive blog post or memoir chapter is where I get my kicks. Apparently, I’m not alone in my madness:

“Writing the last page of the first draft is the most enjoyable moment in writing. It’s one of the most enjoyable moments in life, period.” – Nicholas Sparks

Random Rumination

My contact lens boxes are labeled L and R. In order to differentiate which lens belongs in which eye, they circle either the L or the R… however the L on the right side and the R on the left side… like this: R L. Are they trying to mess with my head?

This Week On Care2

Care2 Causes Weekly Wrap-Up: It’s Time For The Friday Wrap of Vital and Sometimes Bizarre News by Sharon Seltzer

And My Contributions for the Week:

Loneliness Harms Health: Why You Need Friends: Even as modern technology increases our access to other people, our intimate relationships are becoming more scarce. Families are smaller and relatives don’t always live in close proximity anymore. More people work from home, and busy schedules and “to do” lists keep us from connecting in a meaningful way. Studies show that loneliness can harm your health… what defines loneliness, anyway?

One Year Later: Assessing the H1N1 Pandemic Response: What went right? What went wrong? The process of reviewing the world’s reaction to the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic is officially underway, with no shortage of controversy. Will the panel selected by WHO be biased? How we handle future global health concerns is at stake.

What You Don’t Know About Your Bladder Can Hurt You: Nobody wants to talk about bladders… but if you are one of the millions of people living with a painful bladder disorder, it is unavoidable.

One Embryo + Three Parents = Ethical Dilemma: It is a form of genetic engineering, a subject long on controversy and rife with ethical dilemma. Scientists have developed a technique which enables them to successfully transfer DNA between two human eggs. The resulting embryos would contain the genes from both parents and a tiny amount from the donor egg — that’s three genetic parents.

Read More
Care2 Healthy & Green Living
Care2 Causes

Connect: Facebook – LinkedIn – Twitter

Contact: writer@webcampone.com

WebCamp One, LLC: Full-service website design, management, and development company with clients throughout the USA and Canada. Expert in standards compliant website design. From website management to freelance writing, we’ve got the web covered. Visit: WebCamp One on Facebook.

Nobody wants to talk about bladders… but if you are one of the millions of people living with a painful bladder disorder, it is unavoidable.

If you’ve never heard of interstitial cystitis, you are not alone. It’s IC for sort. Between three and eight million women, and one to three million men in the United States have it. That’s a lot of people, but exact numbers are hard to come by because there is no single definitive test and it is often mistaken for other disorders. Diagnosis is made only after excluding other urinary/bladder conditions. The cause is not known.

IC is a chronic and painful condition involving…

Read the rest of this post… watch the video… take action:

What You Don’t Know About Your Bladder Can Hurt You

Photo: National Institutes of Health

The process of reviewing the world’s reaction to the 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic is officially underway.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced an assessment of global response to the pandemic and to identify lessons for the future. The Review Committee, made up of 29 members who are experts in scientific fields or with practical experience in public health, both in developing and developed countries, will also be examining the functioning of the International Health Regulations (IHR).

None of the Review Committee members are WHO staff, nor do they receive funding from WHO for their contributions to the review process…

Read the rest of this post:

One Year Later: Assessing the H1N1 Pandemic Response

Photo: CDC

Can loneliness hurt your health? And what defines loneliness?

Even as modern technology increases our access to other people, our intimate relationships are becoming more scarce. Families are smaller and relatives don’t always live in close proximity anymore. More people work from home, and busy schedules and “to do” lists keep us from connecting in a meaningful way.

That same modern technology that permits us to easily connect with people from all over the world also tends to get in the way of time spent in real face-to-face relationships. Our inborn desire for intimate relationships with other human beings is, for many of us, not being met.

Read the rest of this post:

Loneliness Harms Health: Why You Need Friends

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1215912