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As a parent I can tell you I would do anything for my son. We're talking walking on coals, swimming oceans, walking to the ends of the earth and back again DAILY if it were necessary. So while I do not understand the plight of parents fighting for the life of their child, I do understand the love behind it.

Chad Czapor is 17 years old. He is a junior in high school. He has tons of friends and can be found helping out at sporting events whether with coaching or cheering on his brothers.

Recently doctors told him he has a brain tumor. His parents, Stephani and John, are now crusading, along with their community, to raise money for a procedure that could save his life.

Stephani and John are searching endlessly to find a doctor to operate on Chad. It is a delicate operation. They found a surgeon in New York who specializes in this type of brain tumor, but unfortunately, their insurance will not pay for the surgery.

Perhaps the risks are too great, perhaps the insurance fears such an operation would be fruitless. I won't pretend to understand how any person or business can put a price on a life or some how calculate whether or not a patient deserves a chance to fight, but this is our world.

And so, even in a time of struggle when it is hard for anyone to meet ends meet, I am asking you to put some spare cash (or even change) aside and add it to the Czapor Family Fund.

You may not have healing hands or be able to fulfill wishes, but you do have the ability to put a $1 to a cause which could save a human life and that my friends is a priceless and selfless honor.

"You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." - Mahatma Gandhi

Labels: brain, cancer, funding, insurance

I know I do it. I itch my scalp without even thinking about it. Then I'll realize I'm doing it and be irritated with myself.

Atul Gawande says there are sensory neurons that are specialized for relaying itchy sensations to the brain, which appear to be distinct from the fibers involved in detecting hot and cold temperatures or mechanical pressure.

He explains how research into itching and phantom limb syndrome have led to a new theory of perception, according to which, the brain generates a "best guess" about the world around us and about the sensory information impinging upon us.

So what does this mean? Why do we itch? What could the cause be? Clearly we can't all just have bad and/or dry skin, right?

Other causes of the itchiness can be hyperthyroidism, iron deficiency, liver disease, and cancers like Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sometimes the syndrome is very specific. Persistent outer-arm itching that worsens in sunlight is known as brachioradial pruritus, and it's caused by a crimped nerve in the neck.

Though scratching can provide momentary relief, it often makes the itching worse. Dermatologists call this the itch-scratch cycle. Ah yes, the scratch cycle, I know about this.

How do you explain the "phantom itch" that amputees feel even though they know the limb is no longer there? Doctors will tell you there is nothing wrong. Some people are told they are OCD. Let me tell you right now, leave those idiots, they are throwing excuses out at you to get you to be quiet. They don't know what is wrong and "educated guessing" will not find the root of the problem, you will still be itchy.

I don't have the answers and as I have said before, I'm not a doctor. I do believe the mind is a powerful tool and manipulator. You can make yourself feel bad, you can make yourself feel itchy, this doesn't mean you're crazy. This means you need to find new ways to cope with these sensory feelings.

But how? This I don't know.

Labels: itch, neurology

He was fired because of a disability and then when he went to court he was told he does NOT have a disability? Why? Because he was able to do his job so well. Wait. What?

This morning on the news there was talk over yet another lawsuit being filed from an employee claiming their employer was unjust. I am sure many of these suits are filed every day. What makes this one different is that I actually agree with and support it.

This man left his job, moved his family from Georgia to Texas and all for his dream job with GM. However, when he got there they fired him.

The employee has muscular dystrophy. Due to the disability he does his work in an unorthodox manner at times, but he is efficient, productive and loves what he does. Carey McClure is a professional electrician and has been for most of his life. He is unable to raise his arms above his head. He has learned to compensate for this short coming by using other means of reaching high; like ladders.

He does good work and so GM hired him. It wasn't until after they found out how he does the work that they fired him. GM claimed Carey could not do the job due to his muscular dystrophy because insurance wouldn't cover him as being disabled and therefore they would be liable, etc etc. Carey then filed a lawsuit saying he is protected by the ADA and if he can perform the job he should be able to hold the job.

Carey was then forced to show how even with muscular dystrophy he is still able to do everything for himself. He learned how to overcome the disability and adapt.

Then GM argued that Carey did not have a "disability" and was not protected by the ADA.

What!?

Since Carey worked so hard to overcome his difficulties and adapt to change the courts ended up stating he was not disabled. Because the courts found that Carey did not have a "disability," GM's decision to revoke his offer because of limits resulting from his muscular dystrophy was never questioned.

And so, he has been disqualified for ADA Protection, his lawsuit was thrown out of the courts and he is out of a job.

Confused? So am I.

You can read Carey McClure's statement here.

As for you GM...all I have to say is what goes around, comes around my friend. There are always consequences and it is about time your failing company realizes a thing or two about karma.

Labels: ADA, muscular dystrophy

This morning's news around the country s sharing the same story. The "FDA Warns Consumers Nationwide Not to Eat Certain Types of Raw Red Tomatoes".

FDA recommends that consumers not eat raw red Roma, raw red plum, raw red round tomatoes, or products that contain these types of raw red tomatoes unless the tomatoes are from the sources listed below. If unsure of where tomatoes are grown or harvested, consumers are encouraged to contact the store where the tomato purchase was made.

Folks, this means you should NOT buy any sandwiches with tomatoes at any restaurant either. Ask them to remove that slice of tomato from your burger! Man, and burgers are half price at Deer Park on Tuesday. Bah! Bah humburger!

On June 5, using traceback and other distribution pattern information, FDA published a list of states, territories, and countries where tomatoes are grown and harvested which have not been associated with this outbreak. This updated list includes: Arkansas, California, Georgia, Hawaii, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Belgium, Canada, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Israel, Netherlands, and Puerto Rico. Be sure to keep checking back to the FDA site to see what has been added to the list.

Labels: FDA, recall, tomato

An ongoing battle in my marriage stems from my perception of myself; and sometimes vice versa. I know we're not the only couple like this, but somehow that doesn't help things does it?

This evening on msn.com there is an article about how men love a woman's body even if they don't love it.

Christine M. Coppa writes, "Tall, short, plump or petite, one thing is universal—no matter what a woman’s shape, there’s a man out there who’ll appreciate it! To prove our point, listen to what these guys have to say, and feel your confidence soar… no matter what your body type."

She goes on to share the opinions of several men. One guy talks about his plus-size wife and how it is a "plus" in every sense of the word. I'm not condoning being overweight because there are health concerns when you become obese, however, I do think it is wonderful to know a man feels that way about his wife.

I know my husband thinks I'm attractive. But I dislike my appearance so much that when he compliments me I'm almost turned off. Why am I this way? If someone tells me I am hot or pretty or whatever, why do I cringe?

Well the article doesn't dabble in crazy wives who have low self-esteem, but it does have many super sweet opinions from several different men. To the girls they speak about, be sure to give them a little bit of loving tonight. =o)

SOURCE

Labels: men, self image, weight gain, women

Yes, we know pesticides are harmful for a variety of reasons. But the National Institutes of Health have released a report which states people who use pesticides on more than 100 days in their lifetime were at greater risk of diabetes.

One alarming section of the report explained how pesticides which are now off the market can still be effecting the risk percentage. "For example, chlordane, which was used to treat homes for termites, has not been used since 1988, but can remain in treated homes for many decades."

Nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes. The exact cause of diabetes is unknown which is why research goes into looking at genetic and environmental links overtime.

Among the 50 different pesticides the researchers looked at, they found seven specific pesticides - aldrin, chlordane, heptachlor, dichlorvos, trichlorfon, alachlor and cynazine - that increased the likelihood of diabetes.

I believe this needs to be studied further due to the small group which participated. Only people in Iowa and North Carolina were included with the majority being Caucasian men.

FULL REPORT

Labels: diabetes, pesticides