Baby Your Blog

Well, this past week has been a lesson on nurturing my blog.  This past week was a week out of the ordinary and I was not able to nurture my blog in the way that I normally do.  I began to think on that thought.  A blog is a bit like a baby…it needs to be nurtured to grow and prosper.

How do you nurture a blog, you ask?  First things first, if you have a blog already you need to evaluate it’s well-being.  If you do not have a blog…begin one.  You need to think about what your blog is intended to accomplish.  Mine was initially set up to develop some discipline, commitment, and to help improve my writing.  As it evolved, I learned more…and therefore; I have discovered what I want and need.  Some of those things have changed with time; and now, I know that  my blog needs some adjustments.   That is ok, it is called growing pains; things that don’t grow become stagnant…they wither and die.  If your goals change for your blog, then you must make changes.  That knowledge requires some re-evaluation. 

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Which Came First The Abortion Or The Birth?

       Grrrr…I am a bit torn on this news item; whether to feel more anger or sadness.  It seems that a young 18 year old woman found out that she was pregnant.  She went to a clinic to have an abortion and was given medicine to dialate her cervix to prepare for an abortion procedure.  Before the doctor could perform the abortion…the medication caused her to deliver her baby daughter at just 23weeks of pregnancy.

       A clinic owner allegedly came in and cut the umblical cord and put the child who was struggling to breathe into a red plastic biohazard bag and threw the child in the trash…all as the mother watched in horror.  Allegedly a doctor came in and gave her some medicine to calm her down and sent her home in shock.  The police were called and the child’s remains were identified by DNA as being related to the mother.  Now the mother has sued the doctor and the clinic where the delivery/abortion took place; the doctor has allegedly lost his license.

         This procedure took the life of a human baby almost three years ago.  That child would be walking, talking, singing it’s abc’s , potty training…and maybe even going to pre-school now.  She would be making her mother or another mother figure (she could have been adopted by another mother) mother’s day cards in May…she was not a blob of flesh like so many of these clinics try to tell young women.  She would be a daughter, and a granddaughter; if she could.

        The mother allegedly has said that she changed her mind about the abortion, once she saw her daughter  alive; now she is traumatized by the memory of watching her child struggle for breathe and being tossed away like a bag of garbage.   I am sure that the legal question was did the abortion come first/or the birth…was the child actually born alive?  Testing supposedly revealed that the child did actually breathe, so that means that she was born alive.

        So, who is to blame for this child’s death?  Is it the clinic owner, who by the way did not have a license to practice medicine allegedly?  Or was it the doctor who was not present?  Was it the mother who went in for an abortion in the first place?  Is it society who allows abortion in the first place?  Do we blame the makers of contraception for possibly having failed the mother and father of the child?  Who exactly is at fault?  I say, it is all of the above; at least morally, if not legally. 

        First of all, I believe that abortion is wrong.  I think that if it is true that a clinic owner, who was not a medical doctor, did what has been alledged, then they are also at fault.  I think if the doctor perscribed the medication that caused her to go into labor and deliver a live child that was indeed tossed away in a plastic bag when it was struggling to breath…they that doctor is also wrong.  Was there contraception used in the first place?  I dont know.  I do know that if the teenaged mother was having sex..she should have understood the consequences of her actions that resulted in a pregnancy and that by going to have an abortion…that that child’s death was a direct result of having medication that was designed to result in the death of the child; it should not have shocked her that the child died as a result of taking medication designed to cause said abortion.  Is society at fault here?  Yes, because we allow these things to happen …because we don’t stand up and scream bloody murder that it happens every day around the world. 

        Which came first, the  abortion or the birth?  Does it really matter at this point regarding this particular child?  No, it died needlessly.  If that mother was truly horrified by this situation…then maybe some good can come out of it by her lawsuit, by her speaking out…maybe even by doing a special service announcement on television or in the schools. 

         It is outrageous.  Yes, that child was only 23weeks in the womb of it’s mother…and yes, it may not have survived even had the clinic called for medical help or intervention for that baby…it was pre-mature…not by nature’s designs but by mankinds design.  However, it may have had a fighting chance if it had not been aborted or if it had been taken to a neo-natal unit.  Life is precious…dont abort.  That mother will relive those moments for the rest of her life.  The child didn’t get to have a rest of it’s life. 

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Between Fear and Faith

     As a Christian I am struggling with the line between fear and faith.  My parents are both cancer survivors.  However, right before Christmas they both had tests done that have come back with suspicious results.

       I listen to my mother say that she is not going to get worked up until she talks with the doctor about the results.  In general, I agree with that.   My mother is pretty much a positive thinker, which is a great thing.

         My father is cut out of a different cloth.  He automatically thinks negatively; he can’t seem to help it.  His mind goes to the worst case scenerio.  It is experience related…he has had the worst case scenerio happen to him before…so he just expects that to be his luck.   Both mom and dad will be meeting up with their respective cancer doctors before the first week of January is over.

          I am a product of both of my parents.  I am at times a positive thinker….and at times, automatically hit the negativity zone.  I don’t like it that that is true; but, it is honest.  I work hard attempting to focus on the positives.

           The problem is…fear.  I fear hearing the situations that they are facing will possibly return them to the medical world of tests, surgeries, treatments, complications, and hospitalizations.  This is a world that is both isolating and overwhelming, with people.  🙂  I realize that that sounds contrary….but, it isn’t.  

     You are surrounded with people in the medical field….this specialist, that oncologist, the anestesiologist (sp?), the radiologist, the pharmacist, the dietician, the family doctor, the nurses, the insurance company…the list goes on and on.  The isolation comes when you must seperate yourself from the general population because of the possibility of infection.  The isolation that the patient feels when heading in for the surgery or the treatment…no-one else can do those things for them.  It is in isolation that fear takes root and does it’s dirty work.  Discouragement can set in…thwarting all of the good and positive things that are at work in the healing process.

     The thing is, once you have been a survivor…your history can limit treatments.  It can also be eye opening to the types of situations you may be facing this time around.  My mother has  developed conditions that can be life threatening, since the last time around.  Both my mother and father had difficult side effects and complications from their various treatments, in the past.

     I am a firm believer that God is in control of everything.  I don’t claim to understand the mind of God.  But, i know that he allows things to happen that are very difficult to go through.  If left to our own devices…most human beings would opt out of the difficult things and shoot straight for the easy path…myself included.  My head knows that much can be learned during these hard moments in life…that God has things for us to gain in those moments.  I know he has things to be accomplished during those moments…he puts people in our path for us to connect with and to share with.  We will do our best to bring glory to his name throughout.  For he is worthy of praise in all things.

        So, I will work at praying that God will have mercy…that he will guide and direct us as we face these additional challenges.  I will ask for wisdom, clarity, patience, faith, courage, strength, healing, financial blessings, and any area of lacking; that we may need to overcome in the face of these trials.  

       What i am thankful for, is that we don’t have to pray for love or sharing; or, willing family members to help out.  We are blessed in those areas.  We are a family that knows how to support one another; and, whoever is in need around us, at the time.   Roomates have often been the recipients of the overflow of our big family.  There have been roomates that had no one to look out for them…they were alone in their journey.  My family is nurturing in nature.   I am thankful for that compassionate part of our family. 

     I am thankful for those in the medical community who also have compassion, skill, knowledge and who are sensitive in the way that they go about promoting healing to their patients and their family members.  They are our allies in the war that has been declared on our loved ones..they are on the front lines of battle trying to help our loved ones to have a full and healthy life; so we pray for all of them who will have contact with us.  We respect their skill and dedication.

     We have so much to be thankful for…and, we are.  Are we greedy to wish for health and financial blessings to meet the demands put on the family as we go thru these things?  I don’t think so.   I know that God has a purpose; I pray that we realize it and make the most of it as he would desire us to do.  I am just selfish enough to wish, as Jesus did on the cross, that this cup would pass from out of our hands; if God so desires. 

         Again…the line blurrs between faith and fear that these medical challenges may not pass from us!

           

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Suicide Prevention

          Suicide is not a pleasant subject.  It is a word that makes most people cringe.  People who have lost a loved one to suicide cringe too; they have more of a reason to be disturbed by the word.  Most of us don’t stop to think about suicide death on a daily basis…but maybe we should.  For those directly affected by a suicide…it is an especially difficult thing, to grieve…because there are so many added things to work through. 

          Loss is one thing; that is bad enough…but, add to that… justifiable feelings of abandonment, anger, denial, financial distress, shame, isolation, shock and even rage for being rejected by the loved one; for something as unknown and final as death, many times without any warning that suicide was being considered. 

           It is a hard subject to talk about because studies often have shown a correlation to discussions about suicide and the rates of suicides that have increased after say a media interview or article that is published in a large viewership.  So how do you address such a terrible thing as suicide without taking the risk of an outbreak of suicides?  I am not sure…but i do know…that listing some of the signs or risk factors is important…because it is possible to at least become aware of some signals that may alert friends or family to a person who is contemplating taking their own life. 

            Some of the obvious signs are:  sudden changes in personality or behaviors, drug or alcohol use, life changes such as loss of job or marriage, verbal comments such as life isn’t worth living…, depression, neglecting personal well-being or appearance, loss of interest in things the person previously enjoyed, extreme mood swings, sleeping excessively, giving away precious things, avoiding close friends or family, isolating themselves, gaining or loosing noticeable weight without trying, lack of effort at school or job, listless, a feeling of hopelessness or failure, lots of negative or sad comments, focussing on negative circumstances and obsessing about them.

             There are times when people are more at risk than others, for some it is during their teenaged years if they struggle with acceptance and sometimes depression, for others it is in middle age when possible sudden life changes are perceived as failures or loss such as divorce or forclosure, the elderly are often at risk of suicide because of health issues, isolation from friends and family and many times because of financial issues.   It is important to remember that some medications carry the risk of increased thoughts of suicide…so talk to your doctor about these issues if there is any concern at all.

            All ages and sexes are at risk of a potential suicide.  People must get better at listening to each other; and, they need to stay connected by communication on a regular basis.  No one wants to think of friends or family doing the unthinkable; but, it can happen to anyone. 

            Many people try to respect people’s privacy and back off when in fact, it is at these times that they are needed more than ever.  Fear of not knowing what to say or do is common.  When in doubt…it is always best to contact a professional.    Here is a national hotline to contact if you or someone you know is dealing with the idea or fear of suicide:   1-800-273-TALK.
www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

                The impact of suicide is long lasting on those survivors who are left behind.  Every life that can be saved is a gift…every person has value.  We must begin to find ways to open the opportunities to share with one another the hurts and disappointments in life and find ways of overcoming the effects of those things in our lives and in the lives of people that we care about.  Do you know someone who was able to turn the corner and avoid the tempation of suicide?  How did they do it?  Do they share with others about their experience?  Many people in schools, nursing homes, and professionals in your local communities could benefit from that knowledge so that they can help others.  How can those experiences benefit others?

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How Much Is A Life Worth?

        Ok, I want to know…who gets to decide how much a life is worth in an insurance agency?  I read about a woman in Oregon who has lung cancer.  It was treated in the past and she was in remission; and then, it came back.  Her doctor recommended a course of drug treatment that would cost around $4,000.00 a month to treat it.  Her insurance refused to pay. However, they had an alternative suggestion.

        There was another drug that they WERE willing to pay for…it was medicine that cost a mere $50.00…it was for a physician assisted suicide. 

         The first medicine would have extended her life for approximately another 4 to 6 months…therefore costing a maximum of $24,000.00; compare that to a $50.00 death sentence; and, you will see that a life is worth somewhere in the middle; if it were up to that particular insurance company.  If the medication would have helped her to survive for 5 years or more they would have probably covered it; according to their 5 year, 5% survival rate after the five years.  It may be helpful to remind yourself that insurance is a booming business…you have to have it; and yet, basically you are gambling with the money that you pay in for premiums…they may or may not choose to cover you.

         So now you know how much a life is worth in case you need to know.  This woman was blessed to have a caring doctor who was somehow able to get the medication from the pharmaceutical company for her.  Hopefully, the medication will give her additional time with her friends and family. 

        However, she is not alone in this experience…it happens every day.  You may want to check your insurance coverage to see where you stand and how much value your insurance company places on your life!  Isn’t it outrageous that you are only valuable to your insurance company when you are healthy and paying your premiums…not when you need them to cover you, like they are supposed to do? 

       

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Asthma Sufferers In Distress

         I just read something that is going to make asthma sufferers very distressed and somewhat fearful.  The Federal Drug Administration has said that by the end of the year that inhalers made with CFC’s will be banned.  CFC is Chlorofluorocarbons; and, they deplete the protective ozone layer around the earth.  So, by December 31st of 2008 the inhalers, that operate by using CFC’s to push the medication out of an inhaler and into the lungs of a patient, will no longer be available.  These inhalers are life savers.  Without an effective way of getting the medication into the lungs of a person with asthma they could suffer ill health or die.

         There are new inhalers that use hydrofluoroalkanes to administer the medicine.  The new inhalers don’t have damaging chemicals to hurt the earth’s ozone layer.  The ozone layer is important because it protects earth and it’s people from harmful ultraviolet radiation.  Green practices in our everyday lives is important…but it seems to me that there could be other areas of cutting back that don’t endanger people’s lives.

         It is important to protect the ozone…but, not at the risk of individual asthma sufferers well-being.  Most asthma patients know that changing medicines take time for the body to adjust…this could mean more trips to the doctor or the hospital while their bodies adjust to the new inhaler.  They will want to discuss this issue of inhalers with their doctor soon…so that they can find an effective treatment that works for them.

          The problem here, is that the new inhalers don’t work in the same way.  Therefore, many people are concerned about the health of the people they love being able to breathe the way they need to.  The medicine is not delivered efficiently through the new inhalers.  It seems that they tend to clog up more and the cost is higher for the new inhalers.  People need to learn the new way of using the inhalers, to get the best results.  This could be dangerous if not done properly.  People do die from asthma if it isn’t properly managed.  Patients will need to talk to their pharmacist and/or physicians to get accurate information.

          Many are feeling a bit of panic about this because it is going to happen no matter what.  This is about people’s life and health.  There is no room for error when it comes to asthma.  It is distressing to think that these inhalers are being forced on patients when the asthma sufferers aren’t sure that they will work just as well as the old inhalers for them.  What do you think about this issue? 

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Breasts, Women Are Dying For Lack Of D’s

Breaking news today regarding the level of vitamin D for women with breast cancer…it seems that women with breast cancer, who have low levels of vitamin D, are more likely to have aggressive forms of cancer and are more likely to die from it.  This is staggering news.  Women are dying not for the cup size of their breasts; but, from POSSIBLY, something as simple as a vitamin deficiency.   For premium breast health women may want to add a blood test to their yearly mammogram.

Could it really be true that a woman’s survival chances could depend on how much vitamin D she has in her blood stream?  Yes, it appears that it is true.  Now, it is a little bit more complicated than swallowing a couple of supplemental vitamins.  My multi-vitamin has 400 IU’s or international units of vitamin D in it.  I have read that for women deficient in vitamin D …adding 800 IU’s can raise the blood level of the vitamin to a middle range.

Vitamin D is a vitamin that is produced in the body by a combination of the sun and a person’s skin.  The skin manufactures vitamin D when exposed to the sun.  However, as we all know, too much sun can also cause cancer, skin cancer.  It is important to note that, a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer should work closely, with her doctor; to evaluate all of the medical information that she needs to make informed decisions regarding her treatment.

Statistics can be overwhelming…but, it is interesting to know that women who were low in vitamin D at the time of their diagnosis were much more likely to have their cancer spread and it also increased the likelyhood of death than women who were not low in vitamin D at the time of their diagnosis.  So what does this mean?

Breast cancer cells have vitamin D receptors.  If vitamin D can inhibit or slow down the cancer cell’s aggressive tendencies, it may give a woman an effective tool to use; to help have a more positive outcome during her treatment.  Increasing some short term time in the sun may be beneficial; people who live in the northern hemisphere are have a higher incidence of cancer.  This may be in relation to being farther away from the sun and it’s effects on the body.

Can the idea of vitamin D levels prevent cancer?  Hmmmm…it is like anything else…you must have balance.  Just as low levels of vitamin D can allow the cancer to grow and spread; too much vitamin D can also have devastating effects.  Blood tests are going to become more crucial to understanding the effects of vitamin D on cancer cells.

Milk in the United States is vitamin D fortified.  Many juices and cereals are also fortified with vitamin D.  Increasing sun exposure safely will also raise the blood level of vitamin D.  If we are wise, this new information on the importance of blood levels of vitamin D can be used to improve the statistics of cancer and recovery.

Some experts say that vitamin D levels can improve the statistics on prostrate, breast and colon cancer.  It is somewhat exciting to think that something naturally occuring in the body can help defend it against cancer.  Of course, as always…a follow up with your doctor is your best source of information regarding your health issues.  See possibly related information here on Triple Negative Breast Cancer: https://writeasrain.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/triple-negative-breast-cancer/
I have moved my site to a new Url: WriteWhereYouAre if you are interested in reading more blog posts!

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The Morning After

         It is the morning after; Shannon Elizabeth from Dancing With The Stars was let go from the competition.  It was sort of one of those shows where one minute it looked certain that one thing would happen and then something completely different changed the course.

          I was thinking that Shannon would be the one to go until Christian de la Fuente was injured; and then, i thought…well, maybe it was exactly what they said at first…a pulled/strained muscle.  Then when the show started up….the drama increased; and i second guessed myself. Ooops…they were building up the tension, insinuating that maybe the injury would put him out of the running.

      Finally, it was revealed that Christian had spoken to the doctors after an MRI and he needs to have surgery on his arm as he has a ruptured tendon in his bicep.  However, just when the audience thought…he was leaving…Christian announced that the doctor gave an ok to continue with the competition if he had been voted to stay. 

          Wow…i can’t imagine a doctor saying…it would be ok to continue to put that kind of strain on the arm if he was injured that badly.  Truthfully, why would someone want to risk permanent damage?  I mean, sure…Christian has worked hard to stay in the competition…but, please…this seems a bit serious.

       In any case, there it is…Christian was voted to stay and that meant that the bottom two competitiors were Shannon/Derek and my long shot Marissa/Tony.  I felt bad for Shannon she is mourning her loss.  She said that she made a lifelong friendship with Derek.   She seemed pretty sad…but, i also rejoiced that Marissa and Tony were given another week to display their wonderful teamwork.  Gotta love this show, dont ya think?

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Kissing is Dangerous

         You really might want to think twice about kissing that guy or gal on the first date.  You may even want to think twice about kissing someone you’ve know for a long time after you read this.  Get real ya say?  

           Well, are you aware that about 95 % of the adult population (over the age of 20) has been exposed to the Epstein Barr Virus?  Never heard of it…..join the club…lots of people haven’t. 

        It is an infectious disease…it is transmitted through the saliva of an infected person.  Even someone who is healthy and doesn’t exhibit symptoms of the disease can pass it on.  Once a person is infected with EBV, they carry it for life…it may be dormant, but they still have it.  It can flare up at any time, stress and other illnesses can trigger an outbreak.

        My sister has just been diagnosed with it.  This is after a couple of weeks of extreme illness,tiredness, and weakness.  The doctors that she saw in her family practice as well as in the emergency room did not know what was wrong with her.  It took my sister being proactive to get results…she went to a specialist who did some major tests and procedures before she got the results.

        The epstein barr virus is an illness that attacks the immune system.  It can cause many problems such as fevers,sore throat, headaches, weakness, diarreaha, pain, swelling of the spleen, liver and other organs.  It can even get more complicated than that; as in some rare cases, it can evolve into some cancers and it can also affect the central nervous system or the heart. 

           Doctors are the only ones who can diagnose this or any serious illness.  It is important to seek medical care whenever an illness attacks because you just can’t know for sure if it is something simple or a very serious illness.

          There really is no cure for EBV.  There are a couple of medications that may help …but, they also can attack healthy dna in a person, as well as the virus.  The best thing a person can do is to rest, drink lots of fluids and build up the immune system with a healthy diet. 

         Any information we have been able to find on the subject of EBV is somewhat vague and discouraging.  Even after recovery, you need to  remember that this is a virus that stays with you and can reappear in your future.  You must follow up with your doctor anytime that you think the virus is active again.

          It is important to find a doctor who will listen to you, and who will do the appropriate testing.  You must listen to your own body(follow your instincts) and not let anyone tell you that it is all in your head or that you “probably” just have the flu.  

           No one knows your body as well as you do!   Push, push, push for the doctor to follow up with the blood work…and the ultra- sounds and whatever else it takes to get the care that you need. 

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Cold Medicine for Children

           When you have a sick young child all you want is, for them to feel better.  That is why over the last year or so…alarms have been raised that giving cold medications to children under the age of two is too risky.

            So, when i caught the morning news that says that they are now recommending that parents do NOT give cold medications to children under the age of SIX; i took notice.

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