Pure Coconut Oil has been found helpful for people suffering with:
1. Alzheimer's Disease
2. Parkinson's Disease
3. Dementia
4. Schizophrenia
5. ALS
6. Epilepsy
7. Autism
"Researchers say the ketones found in coconut oil have slowed the progression of Alzheimer's disease in some people and may actually prevent it" (CBNTV).
"Coconut Oil is a natural antibiotic that helps kills viruses" (CBNTV).
"Raises HDL cholesterol" (CBNTV).
"Helps the brain" (CBNTV).
"Coconut Oil Touted as Alzheimer's Remedy." CBNTV. Web. 6 February 2012. http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS.
Watch the video: http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS.
Health Benefits of Coconut Oil: http://www.organicfacts.net/organic-oils/organic-coconut-oil/health-benefits-of-coconut-oil.html.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
My Nanny
At the beginning of January, we received a saddening phone call that my Nanny was in the ER, had a stroke, and may have damaged the part of her brain that controls balance and memory. My parents, sister, boyfriend, and I left the next day and drove to Alabama to see her. When I finally saw her, she looked like her old self but had lost weight and appeared very weak. I hugged and kissed her and told her that I loved her.
We soon heard that her doctors discovered cancer in her esophagus (near her stomach) and brain. I immediately felt sick and weak myself. She is my only grandparent left. My Dad and his brother were raised by her alone and are very close to her. Death and age are so difficult to bear. Especially when it is a loved one. She is now using oxygen and has to lay down every three hours from being so tired and to relieve her constant headaches. They called in hospice three weeks ago.
Please keep her and our family in your prayers. She is a great and strong woman who has been an inspiration to me throughout my life. Father, I pray for your will to be done in this situation. I lift up my Nanny and I pray God that she will be strengthened where she is weak, held when she cannot hold up anymore, comforted, and continued to be used for your purposes till her last breath. Father, please bring health to her body and nourishment to her bones. God, please use this situation for good. I pray God that we will lean to you for understanding. Please heal the broken relationships and hardened angry hearts in this family. I pray that your Holy presence be felt. Please allow her to eat and keep her food down and surround her with love. May she know you are with her. I pray for the salvation of those in this family that do not know you Jesus. May your love feel ever more real to them. I pray all of this in your Holy and Mighty name Jesus, Amen. Thank you Jesus.
5 Surprising Reasons to Drink Water
Of all the food and beverage choices you face every day, what's calorie-free, virtually cost-free, and, oh yes, essential to keeping you alive? Plain ol' water. But those aren't the only reasons to drink it.
"Water drives basic body performance," says Beth Reardon, director of nutrition for Duke Integrative Medicine, part of the Duke University Health System. "All of the systems in the body require water for proper functioning, and so do 90 percent of all chemical reactions in the body."
Here are the top five reasons to quench your thirst with water.
1. It will help you de-stress.
Why: Being sure to sip water throughout a stressful day can soothe stress-induced symptoms as diverse as headaches, tense muscles, fuzzy thinking, a pounding heart, and low energy. That's because stress taxes all your basic body systems -- and when you're dehydrated, the effects are magnified.
Given that more than half your body weight is water, Reardon says, "just a 2-percent reduction in hydration has a dramatic impact on energy levels and cognitive function." And dehydration further raises levels of cortisol -- the "stress hormone."
Water won't wash your stressors away. But it can provide you with more energy, ease tension, slow breathing, and reduce the strain on your heart.
Water-drinking tip: "Eight by eight -- eight 8-ounce glasses a day -- is a good general rule of thumb," Reardon says, "but it's a myth that's the magic amount for everyone, because there are so many variables." The "right" amount for you depends on factors including your age, your activity level, your health level, medications you're taking, and the weather. So how do you know if you're drinking enough? Follow your thirst, and know that you're on the right track if you have straw-colored urine, Reardon says.
2. You'll lose weight.
Why: In a 2010 study of adults aged 55 to 75, drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water before meals was associated with almost four pounds more weight loss in 12 weeks than in a control group who ate a similar diet but didn't have the pre-meal H20. Participants drank an average of 1.5 cups of water a day before the study.
In part, the Virginia Tech researchers say, water is filling, so you feel fuller and eat less. An earlier study found those who drink water before meals consume an average of 75 fewer calories per meal. (Make that twice a day over a year, and that could add up to 14 pounds!) The Virginia Tech scientists also believe the water drinkers began swapping this zero-calorie beverage for sodas and other caloric beverages.
What's more, when you're well hydrated, your body is working closer to maximum efficiency -- enhancing aspects of weight loss, like digestion and muscle function, when you exercise.
Water-drinking tip: For variety's sake, try flavoring your water. Drop some fruit into a pitcher and let it sit a few minutes -- lemons, oranges, watermelon, and berries all work well. Or let an herbal or flavored green tea bag steep in unheated water to accent the taste.
3. You'll be less apt to get sick.
Why: Hydration keeps your mucus membranes in top working order -- they're gatekeepers to the natural defense system that helps keep out germs such as cold and flu viruses. When these tissues dry out, germs can more easily penetrate to the nasopharynx, where the nasal passages and mouth meet. And if you catch a bug anyway, the severity of your illness is more likely to be lower if you've been drinking a lot of water.
Water is an especially smart health move when you're traveling. Most commercial planes fly at elevations between 30,000 and 35,000 feet, where humidity is 10 percent or lower. That means you're breathing dry air in a tight space filled with germs from dozens of people. Water keeps your mucus membranes moist -- and your defenses high -- even in that challenging situation.
Water-drinking tip: Bring an empty water bottle with you to the airport that you can fill for free once you're past security. Or buy the biggest bottle you can right before you board, and aim to finish it by flight's end. Don't hesitate to ask the flight attendant for refills while you're in the air.
4. You'll be more comfortable.
Why: It doesn't matter if the water you sip is hot or ice-cold. The act of drinking it will keep you warmer on a cold day -- and cool you off on a hot one.
"Your internal thermostat works better when you're well hydrated," Duke nutritionist Beth Reardon says. "Water helps regulate body temperature."
The body's temperature-regulating system, governed by the hypothalamus in the brain, is constantly picking up information that allows it to make adjustments to maintain a fairly steady core temperature. Hot sun? You'll sweat to cool down. Hatless in snow? The hypothalamus will know you're losing heat through your head and work to produce extra energy, such as shivering.
But these mechanisms work less well if you're dehydrated – and dehydration is a common risk for people of all ages, in winter as well as summer. In cold weather, for example, you lose water vapor through your breath. And many people tend to drink less water in cold weather because they don't think they need it as much as on hot, sunny days.
Water-drinking tip: Start by swapping out one soda, cup of coffee, or high-calorie hot chocolate a day with an equal amount of water. Carry a bottle of water with you all day long as a visual reminder to pause and sip. Sip more when you're physically active, whether in water, snow, or any weather condition.
5. It will help regulate your blood pressure.
Why: In 2010, the American Red Cross discovered that when blood donors were given 16 ounces of water to drink before giving blood, there was a 20 percent drop in fainting after the procedure. That was an important finding for them, given that many of those who faint then chalk blood donation up as a bad experience and never return to give again.
It's not entirely clear what mechanism is at work. But the Red Cross was inspired to conduct a study after researchers at Vanderbilt University noticed that drinking water activated the parasympathetic nervous system -- related to the "fight or flight" system that makes you more alert, elevates blood pressure momentarily, and boosts energy. Fainting after donating blood is often connected to a drop in blood pressure, and they theorized that the water would counter that effect.
(Not drinking enough water on a regular basis can also raise blood pressure. That's because dehydration causes blood vessels to constrict as the body strives to conserve water that it loses through perspiration, urination, and breathing. When blood vessels constrict, however, the heart pumps harder, bringing blood pressure up.)
Water-drinking tip: Start your day with a glass of water for a simple energy boost that remedies any dehydration that may have occurred overnight. Keep a filled glass or bottle on your nightstand or an empty one next to the bathroom sink.
---------------------------------------------------
Scott, Paula. "5 Surprising Reasons to Drink Water." Yahoo! Health. 25 January 2012. Web. 3 February 2012. http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/5-best-reasons-drink-water#0.
"Water drives basic body performance," says Beth Reardon, director of nutrition for Duke Integrative Medicine, part of the Duke University Health System. "All of the systems in the body require water for proper functioning, and so do 90 percent of all chemical reactions in the body."
Here are the top five reasons to quench your thirst with water.
1. It will help you de-stress.
Why: Being sure to sip water throughout a stressful day can soothe stress-induced symptoms as diverse as headaches, tense muscles, fuzzy thinking, a pounding heart, and low energy. That's because stress taxes all your basic body systems -- and when you're dehydrated, the effects are magnified.
Given that more than half your body weight is water, Reardon says, "just a 2-percent reduction in hydration has a dramatic impact on energy levels and cognitive function." And dehydration further raises levels of cortisol -- the "stress hormone."
Water won't wash your stressors away. But it can provide you with more energy, ease tension, slow breathing, and reduce the strain on your heart.
Water-drinking tip: "Eight by eight -- eight 8-ounce glasses a day -- is a good general rule of thumb," Reardon says, "but it's a myth that's the magic amount for everyone, because there are so many variables." The "right" amount for you depends on factors including your age, your activity level, your health level, medications you're taking, and the weather. So how do you know if you're drinking enough? Follow your thirst, and know that you're on the right track if you have straw-colored urine, Reardon says.
2. You'll lose weight.
Why: In a 2010 study of adults aged 55 to 75, drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water before meals was associated with almost four pounds more weight loss in 12 weeks than in a control group who ate a similar diet but didn't have the pre-meal H20. Participants drank an average of 1.5 cups of water a day before the study.
In part, the Virginia Tech researchers say, water is filling, so you feel fuller and eat less. An earlier study found those who drink water before meals consume an average of 75 fewer calories per meal. (Make that twice a day over a year, and that could add up to 14 pounds!) The Virginia Tech scientists also believe the water drinkers began swapping this zero-calorie beverage for sodas and other caloric beverages.
What's more, when you're well hydrated, your body is working closer to maximum efficiency -- enhancing aspects of weight loss, like digestion and muscle function, when you exercise.
Water-drinking tip: For variety's sake, try flavoring your water. Drop some fruit into a pitcher and let it sit a few minutes -- lemons, oranges, watermelon, and berries all work well. Or let an herbal or flavored green tea bag steep in unheated water to accent the taste.
3. You'll be less apt to get sick.
Why: Hydration keeps your mucus membranes in top working order -- they're gatekeepers to the natural defense system that helps keep out germs such as cold and flu viruses. When these tissues dry out, germs can more easily penetrate to the nasopharynx, where the nasal passages and mouth meet. And if you catch a bug anyway, the severity of your illness is more likely to be lower if you've been drinking a lot of water.
Water is an especially smart health move when you're traveling. Most commercial planes fly at elevations between 30,000 and 35,000 feet, where humidity is 10 percent or lower. That means you're breathing dry air in a tight space filled with germs from dozens of people. Water keeps your mucus membranes moist -- and your defenses high -- even in that challenging situation.
Water-drinking tip: Bring an empty water bottle with you to the airport that you can fill for free once you're past security. Or buy the biggest bottle you can right before you board, and aim to finish it by flight's end. Don't hesitate to ask the flight attendant for refills while you're in the air.
4. You'll be more comfortable.
Why: It doesn't matter if the water you sip is hot or ice-cold. The act of drinking it will keep you warmer on a cold day -- and cool you off on a hot one.
"Your internal thermostat works better when you're well hydrated," Duke nutritionist Beth Reardon says. "Water helps regulate body temperature."
The body's temperature-regulating system, governed by the hypothalamus in the brain, is constantly picking up information that allows it to make adjustments to maintain a fairly steady core temperature. Hot sun? You'll sweat to cool down. Hatless in snow? The hypothalamus will know you're losing heat through your head and work to produce extra energy, such as shivering.
But these mechanisms work less well if you're dehydrated – and dehydration is a common risk for people of all ages, in winter as well as summer. In cold weather, for example, you lose water vapor through your breath. And many people tend to drink less water in cold weather because they don't think they need it as much as on hot, sunny days.
Water-drinking tip: Start by swapping out one soda, cup of coffee, or high-calorie hot chocolate a day with an equal amount of water. Carry a bottle of water with you all day long as a visual reminder to pause and sip. Sip more when you're physically active, whether in water, snow, or any weather condition.
5. It will help regulate your blood pressure.
Why: In 2010, the American Red Cross discovered that when blood donors were given 16 ounces of water to drink before giving blood, there was a 20 percent drop in fainting after the procedure. That was an important finding for them, given that many of those who faint then chalk blood donation up as a bad experience and never return to give again.
It's not entirely clear what mechanism is at work. But the Red Cross was inspired to conduct a study after researchers at Vanderbilt University noticed that drinking water activated the parasympathetic nervous system -- related to the "fight or flight" system that makes you more alert, elevates blood pressure momentarily, and boosts energy. Fainting after donating blood is often connected to a drop in blood pressure, and they theorized that the water would counter that effect.
(Not drinking enough water on a regular basis can also raise blood pressure. That's because dehydration causes blood vessels to constrict as the body strives to conserve water that it loses through perspiration, urination, and breathing. When blood vessels constrict, however, the heart pumps harder, bringing blood pressure up.)
Water-drinking tip: Start your day with a glass of water for a simple energy boost that remedies any dehydration that may have occurred overnight. Keep a filled glass or bottle on your nightstand or an empty one next to the bathroom sink.
---------------------------------------------------
Scott, Paula. "5 Surprising Reasons to Drink Water." Yahoo! Health. 25 January 2012. Web. 3 February 2012. http://health.yahoo.net/articles/nutrition/photos/5-best-reasons-drink-water#0.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Paralyzed Carolina Bride Still Hopes to Walk Again
..RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina woman who got married last summer after a poolside accident left her paralyzed isn't walking yet, but she hasn't given up on learning to move on her own again.
Rachelle Friedman Chapman is stronger after training for almost three weeks in October at Project Walk, a spinal cord injury recovery center in Carlsbad, Calif. And the 26-year-old from Knightdale, near Raleigh, hopes to return for more training that could help her walk for the first time since the accident just weeks before her original wedding date.
"You see people standing up out of their wheelchair, people who are relearning how to walk," Chapman said in a recent phone interview.
It was on May 23, 2010, that Chapman was pushed into a pool by a friend at her bachelorette party in Virginia Beach, Va. She fell into the shallow end and awkwardly hit the cement bottom. The injury to her vertebra left her with no feeling from the chest down and feeling on the inside of her arms but not the outside. Her wedding had been scheduled for a few weeks after the party, but she and her fiance postponed it by more than a year.
She has never revealed the name of the friend, who was a bridesmaid when the wedding was finally held in July 2011. The cruel timing of her injury and her enduring positivity landed her story in newspapers, websites and television reports around the world.
Chapman got one round of rehabilitation therapy after her accident and tried to exercise on her own. Now she works out on a table that her husband, Chris, and his father built for her and does weight-bearing exercises on a home gym.
Her balance is better because her core is stronger, as are her arms.
When Chapman arrived at Project Walk, she was weak, says Kimberly Davis, an instructor there. Her blood pressure was low because her muscles had atrophied and she didn't have the muscle contractions necessary to move the blood, Davis says.
"Mornings would be difficult for her," Davis says. "We wouldn't even be able to get her into a seated position without her passing out."
She also was suffering from bone loss because she's not standing or bearing weight. By the end of her treatment, Chapman was able to move for 30 minutes on a machine similar to an elliptical trainer that takes clients through the walking process while supporting their legs and body with a harness.
She also was able to get upright in a frame that uses hydraulics to move clients to a standing position.
"I was pretty impressed with her progress," Davis says. "She didn't leave here walking, but she increased her strength tremendously."
While she describes Chapman's condition as severe, Davis says it's still possible she will walk again. "With this injury, it's unpredictable," she says.
Chapman, whose California rehab was funded by an organization called Walking With Anthony, hopes to return in 2012. "I want to go back more than anything," she says.
Davis wants her to return as well. "If I could have her back in here tomorrow, I would," she says. "She needs to be back in here as soon as possible. There's really no duplication of the program."
Meanwhile, Chapman is taking care of other business. As promised, the Beatles fan got a tattoo of the peace sign drawn on the back of her neck, at the center, marking her injury. Underneath is inked, "Let It Be."
It was, she said, the most painful thing she's ever experienced — the fall in the pool didn't hurt.
She also learning to drive again and thinking of trying to find a job or getting a master's degree in a subject such as school counseling. And she's started writing a book.
She and her husband are considering having a child, but she has to get off the blood pressure and pain medications to do that.
"It's not going to be a fun pregnancy," she said. "I'll probably be dizzy and in pain all the time. It will be nine months of sacrifice. ... But we would love to have our own child."
..
Waggoner, Martha. "Paralyzed Carolina Bride Still Hopes to Walk Again." Yahoo! News. Associated Press, 2 January 2012. Web. 31 January 2012. http://news.yahoo.com/paralyzed-carolina-bride-still-hopes-walk-again-144836646.html.
Rachelle Friedman Chapman is stronger after training for almost three weeks in October at Project Walk, a spinal cord injury recovery center in Carlsbad, Calif. And the 26-year-old from Knightdale, near Raleigh, hopes to return for more training that could help her walk for the first time since the accident just weeks before her original wedding date.
"You see people standing up out of their wheelchair, people who are relearning how to walk," Chapman said in a recent phone interview.
It was on May 23, 2010, that Chapman was pushed into a pool by a friend at her bachelorette party in Virginia Beach, Va. She fell into the shallow end and awkwardly hit the cement bottom. The injury to her vertebra left her with no feeling from the chest down and feeling on the inside of her arms but not the outside. Her wedding had been scheduled for a few weeks after the party, but she and her fiance postponed it by more than a year.
She has never revealed the name of the friend, who was a bridesmaid when the wedding was finally held in July 2011. The cruel timing of her injury and her enduring positivity landed her story in newspapers, websites and television reports around the world.
Chapman got one round of rehabilitation therapy after her accident and tried to exercise on her own. Now she works out on a table that her husband, Chris, and his father built for her and does weight-bearing exercises on a home gym.
Her balance is better because her core is stronger, as are her arms.
When Chapman arrived at Project Walk, she was weak, says Kimberly Davis, an instructor there. Her blood pressure was low because her muscles had atrophied and she didn't have the muscle contractions necessary to move the blood, Davis says.
"Mornings would be difficult for her," Davis says. "We wouldn't even be able to get her into a seated position without her passing out."
She also was suffering from bone loss because she's not standing or bearing weight. By the end of her treatment, Chapman was able to move for 30 minutes on a machine similar to an elliptical trainer that takes clients through the walking process while supporting their legs and body with a harness.
She also was able to get upright in a frame that uses hydraulics to move clients to a standing position.
"I was pretty impressed with her progress," Davis says. "She didn't leave here walking, but she increased her strength tremendously."
While she describes Chapman's condition as severe, Davis says it's still possible she will walk again. "With this injury, it's unpredictable," she says.
Chapman, whose California rehab was funded by an organization called Walking With Anthony, hopes to return in 2012. "I want to go back more than anything," she says.
Davis wants her to return as well. "If I could have her back in here tomorrow, I would," she says. "She needs to be back in here as soon as possible. There's really no duplication of the program."
Meanwhile, Chapman is taking care of other business. As promised, the Beatles fan got a tattoo of the peace sign drawn on the back of her neck, at the center, marking her injury. Underneath is inked, "Let It Be."
It was, she said, the most painful thing she's ever experienced — the fall in the pool didn't hurt.
She also learning to drive again and thinking of trying to find a job or getting a master's degree in a subject such as school counseling. And she's started writing a book.
She and her husband are considering having a child, but she has to get off the blood pressure and pain medications to do that.
"It's not going to be a fun pregnancy," she said. "I'll probably be dizzy and in pain all the time. It will be nine months of sacrifice. ... But we would love to have our own child."
..
Waggoner, Martha. "Paralyzed Carolina Bride Still Hopes to Walk Again." Yahoo! News. Associated Press, 2 January 2012. Web. 31 January 2012. http://news.yahoo.com/paralyzed-carolina-bride-still-hopes-walk-again-144836646.html.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Upcoming Speech in January
January 18, 2012 - I will be speaking at MADD's McKinney Adult Victim Impact Panel located at 1800 N Graves St, McKinney 75069 at 6:00 pm.
High School Hockey Player Paralyzed After Hit Into Boards
Less than a period after scoring his team's first goal on Friday, a Minnesota high school hockey player was tragically paralyzed in a holiday tournament hockey game.
As first reported by MnHockeyHub.com and the Benilde-St. Margaret's (Minn.) High boys hockey site, and later confirmed by the Associated Press, Red Knights junior varsity star Jack Jablonski was paralyzed when he was accidentally checked from behind into the end boards during a Holiday Hockey Classic Tournament game against Wayzata (Minn.) High on Friday night. The 16-year-old sophomore reportedly collapsed motionless on the ice immediately after the hit, and was carted off the ice and immediately sent to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Benilde-St. Margaret's junior varsity hockey coach Chris McGowan said that Jablonski has been unable to move his legs and has experienced only slight movement in his hands and fingers since the on-ice injury.
Smith, Cameron. "High School Hockey Player Paralyzed After Hit Into Boards." Yahoo! 2 January 2012. Web. 3 January 2012. http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-hockey-player-paralyzed-after-hit-in?urn=highschool-wp10640.
------------------------------------------
Visit story to watch a video: http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-hockey-player-paralyzed-after-hit-in?urn=highschool-wp10640.
Please say a prayer for him and his family.
As first reported by MnHockeyHub.com and the Benilde-St. Margaret's (Minn.) High boys hockey site, and later confirmed by the Associated Press, Red Knights junior varsity star Jack Jablonski was paralyzed when he was accidentally checked from behind into the end boards during a Holiday Hockey Classic Tournament game against Wayzata (Minn.) High on Friday night. The 16-year-old sophomore reportedly collapsed motionless on the ice immediately after the hit, and was carted off the ice and immediately sent to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
Benilde-St. Margaret's junior varsity hockey coach Chris McGowan said that Jablonski has been unable to move his legs and has experienced only slight movement in his hands and fingers since the on-ice injury.
Smith, Cameron. "High School Hockey Player Paralyzed After Hit Into Boards." Yahoo! 2 January 2012. Web. 3 January 2012. http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-hockey-player-paralyzed-after-hit-in?urn=highschool-wp10640.
------------------------------------------
Visit story to watch a video: http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/High-school-hockey-player-paralyzed-after-hit-in?urn=highschool-wp10640.
Please say a prayer for him and his family.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Police Arrest Suspect in US Soldier Shooting (Led to Paralysis)
SAN BERNARDINO, California (AP) — Police on Monday arrested a suspect in a shooting that critically wounded a soldier at his Southern California homecoming party after he survived a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan.
Police said Ruben Ray Jurado turned himself in to authorities in Chino Hills, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. The 19-year-old had been sought in the attempted murder of 22-year-old Christopher Sullivan.
Authorities allege Jurado shot Sullivan at the party Friday night after getting into an argument with the soldier's brother over football teams.
Jurado, who had played football with Sullivan in high school, punched Sullivan's brother and Sullivan intervened. Jurado then pulled a gun and fired multiple shots, hitting Sullivan in the neck, San Bernardino police Sgt. Gary Robertson said.
Sullivan's relatives said the recipient of the Purple Heart medal — awarded to those wounded in combat — was hit twice by gunfire, which shattered his spine and left him paralyzed.
His mother, Suzanne Sullivan, told the Los Angeles Times that doctors believe her son will be paralyzed from the neck down.
"I don't have any emotions. My emotions are none," she said. "He didn't deserve it. He's an excellent son and an excellent man."
Jurado has been transferred to the custody of the San Bernardino Police Department where he will be booked, officials said Monday.
Police said Jurado had an attorney but officials couldn't immediately provide the lawyer's name. It wasn't immediately possible to locate a number for Jurado.
Sullivan was wounded in a suicide bombing attack last year in Kandahar province while serving with the 101st Infantry Division. He suffered a cracked collarbone and brain damage in the attack and had been recovering in Kentucky, where he is stationed.
He was home on leave when the shooting occurred.
The Times reported that Sullivan joined the military in 2009.
Fabian Salazar, a soldier who served with Sullivan in Afghanistan, said Sullivan rushed back to try to rescue other soldiers after the bomb blast propelled him several feet, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
"I know he would take a bullet for his brother," Salazar told the newspaper. "And if you asked him again after all this... if he would take a bullet for him again, he would say yes. That's the type of person he is."
"Police Arrest Suspect in US Soldier Shooting." Yahoo! News. 26 Dcember 2011. Web. 28 December 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/police-arrest-suspect-us-soldier-shooting-022822105.html.
Police said Ruben Ray Jurado turned himself in to authorities in Chino Hills, about 35 miles (55 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. The 19-year-old had been sought in the attempted murder of 22-year-old Christopher Sullivan.
Authorities allege Jurado shot Sullivan at the party Friday night after getting into an argument with the soldier's brother over football teams.
Jurado, who had played football with Sullivan in high school, punched Sullivan's brother and Sullivan intervened. Jurado then pulled a gun and fired multiple shots, hitting Sullivan in the neck, San Bernardino police Sgt. Gary Robertson said.
Sullivan's relatives said the recipient of the Purple Heart medal — awarded to those wounded in combat — was hit twice by gunfire, which shattered his spine and left him paralyzed.
His mother, Suzanne Sullivan, told the Los Angeles Times that doctors believe her son will be paralyzed from the neck down.
"I don't have any emotions. My emotions are none," she said. "He didn't deserve it. He's an excellent son and an excellent man."
Jurado has been transferred to the custody of the San Bernardino Police Department where he will be booked, officials said Monday.
Police said Jurado had an attorney but officials couldn't immediately provide the lawyer's name. It wasn't immediately possible to locate a number for Jurado.
Sullivan was wounded in a suicide bombing attack last year in Kandahar province while serving with the 101st Infantry Division. He suffered a cracked collarbone and brain damage in the attack and had been recovering in Kentucky, where he is stationed.
He was home on leave when the shooting occurred.
The Times reported that Sullivan joined the military in 2009.
Fabian Salazar, a soldier who served with Sullivan in Afghanistan, said Sullivan rushed back to try to rescue other soldiers after the bomb blast propelled him several feet, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
"I know he would take a bullet for his brother," Salazar told the newspaper. "And if you asked him again after all this... if he would take a bullet for him again, he would say yes. That's the type of person he is."
"Police Arrest Suspect in US Soldier Shooting." Yahoo! News. 26 Dcember 2011. Web. 28 December 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/police-arrest-suspect-us-soldier-shooting-022822105.html.
Teen's Final YouTube Message Inspiring Millions
By the age of 18, Ben Breedlove had survived three heart attacks. The teenager from Austin, Texas had a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but he didn’t let that stop him from living the life he wanted. He even started a YouTube channel offering advice to fellow teens.
But it was the last video he made that has touched so many people.
Ben passed away on Christmas Day. HLN affiliate KXAN reports he and his family had just finished opening presents. Ben's final two-part video was posted a week before he died.
"One of the things I noticed about that video is he was very confident in what he was sharing that day," Shawn Breedlove, Ben’s dad, told KXAN. "And he wasn't sad when he made that video."
In the video, Ben described one of his near-death experiences. He says in it, he saw rapper Kid Cudi standing along side him. When Kid Cudi heard about Ben's death, he said he "broke down."
Gonzalez, Anna. "Teen's Final YouTube Message Inspiring Millions." HLN. 28 December 2011. Web. 28 December 2011. http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/27/christmas-inspiration-last-words.
Visit article to watch video: http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/27/christmas-inspiration-last-words.
But it was the last video he made that has touched so many people.
Ben passed away on Christmas Day. HLN affiliate KXAN reports he and his family had just finished opening presents. Ben's final two-part video was posted a week before he died.
"One of the things I noticed about that video is he was very confident in what he was sharing that day," Shawn Breedlove, Ben’s dad, told KXAN. "And he wasn't sad when he made that video."
In the video, Ben described one of his near-death experiences. He says in it, he saw rapper Kid Cudi standing along side him. When Kid Cudi heard about Ben's death, he said he "broke down."
Gonzalez, Anna. "Teen's Final YouTube Message Inspiring Millions." HLN. 28 December 2011. Web. 28 December 2011. http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/27/christmas-inspiration-last-words.
Visit article to watch video: http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/12/27/christmas-inspiration-last-words.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Finished With Fall 2011 Semester
I am officially finished with my fall semester and college study at Collin College with an end GPA of 3.915. I plan to obtain the remainder of my undergraduate degree in Social Work at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. I have signed up for two classes: Human Diversity for the Helping Professions and Policies, Issues and Programs in Social Welfare. I am sad to leave Collin College because I have been taking classes with them since 2004. I know the buildings, the classrooms, the professors and faculty, and the atmosphere. It feels that a part of me will always remain there.
Maggots Quickly Clean Up Wounds, Study Shows
TUESDAY, Dec. 20 (HealthDay News) -- The surgeons' scalpel may have new (and wriggling) competition in cleaning troublesome wounds: maggots.
To the uninitiated the treatment may seem strange. But new French research suggests that bagging up live, sterile fly larvae in tightly meshed dressing packs and applying them to open sores can be a quick, safe and effective way to clear away dead tissue.
Actually, "maggot debridement therapy" (MDT) has a long history in medicine. And the new investigation suggests that this approach -- traditionally reserved for more severe wounds -- can be a quick, first-line therapy for less severe lesions.
"Twenty years ago, maggot therapy was performed mostly as a 'last resort' prior to amputation," for the treatment of non-healing wounds, explained Dr. Ronald A. Sherman, a "biotherapeutics" researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and the Los Angeles and Orange County health departments. He was not involved in the new study.
Sherman noted that past studies found that when used as a last resort (after antibiotics and surgery failed), maggot therapy eliminated the need for amputations in an estimated 40 to 60 percent of cases.
The treatment has gained ever-broader acceptance in recent years, with studies touting its safety record and effectiveness in less severe, non-emergency situations.
Mozes, Alan. "Maggots Quickly Clean Up Wounds, Study Shows." Yahoo! News. 20 December 2011. Web. 21 December 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/maggots-quickly-clean-wounds-study-shows-190409435.html.
Visit article to read about study with maggots.
To the uninitiated the treatment may seem strange. But new French research suggests that bagging up live, sterile fly larvae in tightly meshed dressing packs and applying them to open sores can be a quick, safe and effective way to clear away dead tissue.
Actually, "maggot debridement therapy" (MDT) has a long history in medicine. And the new investigation suggests that this approach -- traditionally reserved for more severe wounds -- can be a quick, first-line therapy for less severe lesions.
"Twenty years ago, maggot therapy was performed mostly as a 'last resort' prior to amputation," for the treatment of non-healing wounds, explained Dr. Ronald A. Sherman, a "biotherapeutics" researcher at the University of California, Irvine, and the Los Angeles and Orange County health departments. He was not involved in the new study.
Sherman noted that past studies found that when used as a last resort (after antibiotics and surgery failed), maggot therapy eliminated the need for amputations in an estimated 40 to 60 percent of cases.
The treatment has gained ever-broader acceptance in recent years, with studies touting its safety record and effectiveness in less severe, non-emergency situations.
Mozes, Alan. "Maggots Quickly Clean Up Wounds, Study Shows." Yahoo! News. 20 December 2011. Web. 21 December 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/maggots-quickly-clean-wounds-study-shows-190409435.html.
Visit article to read about study with maggots.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Upcoming Speech in December
December 21, 2011 - I will be speaking at the MADD's McKinney Adult Victim Impact Panel located at 1800 N Graves St, McKinney 75069 at 6:00 pm.
Princeton Police Detail Violent Road Rage Incident
My best friend's cousin was a victim of a near fatal road rage incident yesterday in McKinney, Texas. He was shot in the head. He is recovering at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Please keep him in your prayers. Thank you.
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PRINCETON (CBSDFW.COM) – Police say Justin Brazile, 24, was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle on his way home from work when he became the unsuspecting victim of violent road rage Friday night.
According to Princeton Police Chief James Waters, the incident began just a mile outside his town, in McKinney. Waters says 47-year old Bobby Schule, cut-off a vehicle Brazile was riding in. That started a sequence of confrontations that ended in a violent spray of gunfire at about 8:30 p.m.
Waters says the driver of the vehicle and Schule exchanged words, and both parties threw cans at eachother’s vehicles. The confrontaion continued down US Highway 380 East, into Princeton. That’s when, police say, Schule pulled out a handgun and opened fire. Schule admitted to police he shot the victims. Investigators believe no less than seven bullets hit that car.
One struck Brazile in the head.
The young father of four was critically wonded and taken to Parkland Hospital where he is recovering. Brazile is a fullback and linebacker for the newly formed league, The North Texas Lightning . . .
The tough, exuberant player is fighting through his recovery – with his close friends, family and teammates by his side.
“Everyone is just praying for him – that’s all you can do is pray,” Ballew said. “Justin will pull through, he’s a fighter and the doctors say he’s fighting and we know he’s going to pull thru.”
Schule remains jailed in Collin County, charged with aggrevated assault with a deadly weapon.
Hernandez, Selena. "Princeton Police Detail Violent Road Rage Incident." CBS 11 News. 18 December 2011. Web. 19 December 2011. http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/12/18/princeton-police-detail-violent-road-rage-incident.
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PRINCETON (CBSDFW.COM) – Police say Justin Brazile, 24, was sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle on his way home from work when he became the unsuspecting victim of violent road rage Friday night.
According to Princeton Police Chief James Waters, the incident began just a mile outside his town, in McKinney. Waters says 47-year old Bobby Schule, cut-off a vehicle Brazile was riding in. That started a sequence of confrontations that ended in a violent spray of gunfire at about 8:30 p.m.
Waters says the driver of the vehicle and Schule exchanged words, and both parties threw cans at eachother’s vehicles. The confrontaion continued down US Highway 380 East, into Princeton. That’s when, police say, Schule pulled out a handgun and opened fire. Schule admitted to police he shot the victims. Investigators believe no less than seven bullets hit that car.
One struck Brazile in the head.
The young father of four was critically wonded and taken to Parkland Hospital where he is recovering. Brazile is a fullback and linebacker for the newly formed league, The North Texas Lightning . . .
The tough, exuberant player is fighting through his recovery – with his close friends, family and teammates by his side.
“Everyone is just praying for him – that’s all you can do is pray,” Ballew said. “Justin will pull through, he’s a fighter and the doctors say he’s fighting and we know he’s going to pull thru.”
Schule remains jailed in Collin County, charged with aggrevated assault with a deadly weapon.
Hernandez, Selena. "Princeton Police Detail Violent Road Rage Incident." CBS 11 News. 18 December 2011. Web. 19 December 2011. http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/12/18/princeton-police-detail-violent-road-rage-incident.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
God Wired Us to Be on Mission by Rick Warren
"Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” (Mark 8:35 TLB)
Why don’t we feel more fulfilled? Far too many people are asking themselves that question. We’re not happy, we’re not satisfied — in fact, we’re miserable.
Why? In his book Rich, Free, and Miserable, sociologist John Brueggemann shared a great story that illustrated why. Climbing Mount Everest is one of the challenges that inspire people to do something big. Lots of people try, even though nearly 10 percent of the people who do, die in the process. Many of the corpses still line the path up the mountain. Yet people still want to climb the mountain — though it has no real redeeming social value.
A few years back one climber, David Sharp, was clearly in trouble on the mountain. There were 40 climbers who noticed his obvious need but passed him that day. He died on Mount Everest because none of the other climbers were willing to put their personal goal on hold to help him.
That’s us. Our own personal drive to have more, be more, and do more causes us to lose sight of what really matters. But that isn’t how God wired us. Life isn’t about what you make, who you know, or what you do. Life is all about love — loving God and loving others.
Jesus tells us in Mark 8:35, "Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB). God wired you in a way that you’ll never be happy unless you’re giving your life away in his work. You were made for something greater than yourself. The Bible calls this your mission in life. Significance doesn’t come from status, salary, or sex. It comes from service. Only by giving your life away can you feel that your life has significance.
Warren, Rick. "God Wired Us to Be on Mission." Daily Hope. 13 December 2011. Web. 13 December 13. http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=9604.
Why don’t we feel more fulfilled? Far too many people are asking themselves that question. We’re not happy, we’re not satisfied — in fact, we’re miserable.
Why? In his book Rich, Free, and Miserable, sociologist John Brueggemann shared a great story that illustrated why. Climbing Mount Everest is one of the challenges that inspire people to do something big. Lots of people try, even though nearly 10 percent of the people who do, die in the process. Many of the corpses still line the path up the mountain. Yet people still want to climb the mountain — though it has no real redeeming social value.
A few years back one climber, David Sharp, was clearly in trouble on the mountain. There were 40 climbers who noticed his obvious need but passed him that day. He died on Mount Everest because none of the other climbers were willing to put their personal goal on hold to help him.
That’s us. Our own personal drive to have more, be more, and do more causes us to lose sight of what really matters. But that isn’t how God wired us. Life isn’t about what you make, who you know, or what you do. Life is all about love — loving God and loving others.
Jesus tells us in Mark 8:35, "Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live” (TLB). God wired you in a way that you’ll never be happy unless you’re giving your life away in his work. You were made for something greater than yourself. The Bible calls this your mission in life. Significance doesn’t come from status, salary, or sex. It comes from service. Only by giving your life away can you feel that your life has significance.
Warren, Rick. "God Wired Us to Be on Mission." Daily Hope. 13 December 2011. Web. 13 December 13. http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=9604.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
James 3 (CEV)
James 3: The Tongue
My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right. Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? 12Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
"James 3 (Contemporary English Version)." BibleGateway.com. 1995. Web. 11 December 2011. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3&version=CEV.
My friends, we should not all try to become teachers. In fact, teachers will be judged more strictly than others. All of us do many wrong things. But if you can control your tongue, you are mature and able to control your whole body.
By putting a bit into the mouth of a horse, we can turn the horse in different directions. It takes strong winds to move a large sailing ship, but the captain uses only a small rudder to make it go in any direction. Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things.
It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person's entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison.
My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn't right. Can clean water and dirty water both flow from the same spring? 12Can a fig tree produce olives or a grapevine produce figs? Does fresh water come from a well full of salt water?
"James 3 (Contemporary English Version)." BibleGateway.com. 1995. Web. 11 December 2011. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3&version=CEV.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Paralympian, Un-Paralyzed By Crash, Now Eyes Olympics
UTRECHT, The Netherlands - Paralympic silver medalist Monique van der Vorst has miraculously become an able-bodied Olympic hopeful after a crash reversed her paralysis.
Paralyzed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women's professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.
While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst's feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs.
When she was 13, van der Vorst — good at tennis and hockey — suffered nerve damage during a routine ankle operation and was paralyzed from the hip down, according to the U.K. Telegraph.
She also sustained a spinal cord injury in 2008, when she was struck by a car while hand cycling through Amsterdam, the Telegraph added.
She told Reuters that when she took her first steps again in July 2010, she felt just like a child learning to walk.
"I wanted to jump in the air for joy," van der Vorst said this week, and recalled how great and surprising it was to look at herself standing in front of a mirror.
Doctors have no explanation for her amazing recovery. Some believe the trauma of her last accident may have jolted her body back into activity.
But the realities of her new-found joy also put an immediate end to a successful athletic career.
"Although walking is the best thing you could do in life, I immediately missed the sport, the people and the challenges," van der Vorst said.
Rehabilitation and physiotherapy with an athletic focus strengthened her and as soon as she sat on a bike she again wanted to give it a try.
"The spirit is in my body," she said.
Despite a near-crash the first time she cautiously climbed aboard a racing bicycle for able-bodied athletes, van der Vorst got back on her bike and carried on to complete a painful and slow 30 km training route and has not looked back since.
Although she is not on the same cycling level as the other women on the Rabobank cycling team, her willpower is enormous and the team is confident van der Vorst will quickly catch up.
When you consider van der Vorst won two silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, was elected Dutch disabled athlete of the year in 2009, was the first handcycle athlete to win the 2009 Ironman world championship in Hawaii, her goal of riding in the 2016 Rio Olympics does not appear unrealistic.
"Paralympian, Un-Paralyzed By Crash, Now Eyes Olympics." NBC Sports. 8 December 2011. Web. 9 December 2011. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45597247/ns/sports-other_sports/.
Paralyzed from the hip down since she was 13, the 27-year-old handcyclist, who has just signed with the Rabobank women's professional cycling team to compete as a top-class able-bodied athlete, was hit by a bicycle last year while training in her wheelchair for the 2012 London Paralympics.
While recovering from the trauma, van der Vorst's feet started to tingle and miraculously she began to move them again. From that point on she spent months in the hospital and in the rehabilitation centre trying to regain the use of her legs.
When she was 13, van der Vorst — good at tennis and hockey — suffered nerve damage during a routine ankle operation and was paralyzed from the hip down, according to the U.K. Telegraph.
She also sustained a spinal cord injury in 2008, when she was struck by a car while hand cycling through Amsterdam, the Telegraph added.
She told Reuters that when she took her first steps again in July 2010, she felt just like a child learning to walk.
"I wanted to jump in the air for joy," van der Vorst said this week, and recalled how great and surprising it was to look at herself standing in front of a mirror.
Doctors have no explanation for her amazing recovery. Some believe the trauma of her last accident may have jolted her body back into activity.
But the realities of her new-found joy also put an immediate end to a successful athletic career.
"Although walking is the best thing you could do in life, I immediately missed the sport, the people and the challenges," van der Vorst said.
Rehabilitation and physiotherapy with an athletic focus strengthened her and as soon as she sat on a bike she again wanted to give it a try.
"The spirit is in my body," she said.
Despite a near-crash the first time she cautiously climbed aboard a racing bicycle for able-bodied athletes, van der Vorst got back on her bike and carried on to complete a painful and slow 30 km training route and has not looked back since.
Although she is not on the same cycling level as the other women on the Rabobank cycling team, her willpower is enormous and the team is confident van der Vorst will quickly catch up.
When you consider van der Vorst won two silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, was elected Dutch disabled athlete of the year in 2009, was the first handcycle athlete to win the 2009 Ironman world championship in Hawaii, her goal of riding in the 2016 Rio Olympics does not appear unrealistic.
"Paralympian, Un-Paralyzed By Crash, Now Eyes Olympics." NBC Sports. 8 December 2011. Web. 9 December 2011. http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/45597247/ns/sports-other_sports/.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Top-ranked North Carolina Wrestler Paralyzed During Match
Luke Hampton knew he was taking a risk every time he stepped on the wrestling mat. However, the Alleghany (N.C.) High senior, who was the top-ranked Class 1A wrestler in the state, never thought the sport he loved would leave him paralyzed.
As the Winston-Salem Journal and other news outlets throughout the state of North Carolina reported, Hampton's match on Saturday took a horrible turn when he tried to charge his opponent and take him to the mat. In the midst of going for the pin, Hampton lost his grip and went head-first into a padded wall.
"When I saw it, I thought maybe a concussion or he just hit his head," Alleghany High wrestling coach Derrick Calloway told the Winston-Salem Journal. "Right when I got to him, I knew immediately it wasn't good."
The sheer force of the collision broke Calloway's C5 and C6 vertebrae. After being rushed rushed to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, it was confirmed that Calloway's injuries had left him paralyzed from the neck down.
The entire Alleghany community has rallied around Hampton following his injuries, holding prayer vigils and setting up a fund to help the family pay for medical costs. As the Associated Press reported, the goal is for the Alleghany High senior to increase his strength before heading to Shepherd Center, a hospital located in Atlanta, Ga., that specializes in spinal cord injuries.
The hope is that the hospital in Atlanta will give Hampton the best possible chance to regain full movement. Despite the awful situation, Calloway said Hampton's strong work ethic makes him believe he will walk again.
"You don't tell that to anybody in Alleghany or around here because we all know he's going to walk again," Calloway told the Winston-Salem Journal. "Just because they told him he can't do it, he'll do it."
Hopefully he's right. Despite the advancements in injury prevention on the field, wrestling remains one of the few sports that hasn't changed much in the last 20-plus years. While injuries can occur, what happened to Hampton is a rarity in the sport.
You just hope and pray that, like Calloway said, Luke Hampton works hard and finds a way to walk in the future. Based on what coaches and members of the community said about him in recent articles, it sounds like he has a great chance to defy the odds.
Wall, Johnathan. "Top-ranked North Carolina Wrestler Paralyzed During Match
." Yahoo! 8 December 2011. Web. 8 December 2011. http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Top-ranked-North-Carolina-wrestler-paralyzed-dur?urn=highschool-wp9664.
As the Winston-Salem Journal and other news outlets throughout the state of North Carolina reported, Hampton's match on Saturday took a horrible turn when he tried to charge his opponent and take him to the mat. In the midst of going for the pin, Hampton lost his grip and went head-first into a padded wall.
"When I saw it, I thought maybe a concussion or he just hit his head," Alleghany High wrestling coach Derrick Calloway told the Winston-Salem Journal. "Right when I got to him, I knew immediately it wasn't good."
The sheer force of the collision broke Calloway's C5 and C6 vertebrae. After being rushed rushed to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, it was confirmed that Calloway's injuries had left him paralyzed from the neck down.
The entire Alleghany community has rallied around Hampton following his injuries, holding prayer vigils and setting up a fund to help the family pay for medical costs. As the Associated Press reported, the goal is for the Alleghany High senior to increase his strength before heading to Shepherd Center, a hospital located in Atlanta, Ga., that specializes in spinal cord injuries.
The hope is that the hospital in Atlanta will give Hampton the best possible chance to regain full movement. Despite the awful situation, Calloway said Hampton's strong work ethic makes him believe he will walk again.
"You don't tell that to anybody in Alleghany or around here because we all know he's going to walk again," Calloway told the Winston-Salem Journal. "Just because they told him he can't do it, he'll do it."
Hopefully he's right. Despite the advancements in injury prevention on the field, wrestling remains one of the few sports that hasn't changed much in the last 20-plus years. While injuries can occur, what happened to Hampton is a rarity in the sport.
You just hope and pray that, like Calloway said, Luke Hampton works hard and finds a way to walk in the future. Based on what coaches and members of the community said about him in recent articles, it sounds like he has a great chance to defy the odds.
Wall, Johnathan. "Top-ranked North Carolina Wrestler Paralyzed During Match
." Yahoo! 8 December 2011. Web. 8 December 2011. http://rivals.yahoo.com/highschool/blog/prep_rally/post/Top-ranked-North-Carolina-wrestler-paralyzed-dur?urn=highschool-wp9664.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Rick Warren's Daily Devotional
“Some men arrived carrying a paraplegic on a stretcher. They were looking for a way to get into the house and set him before Jesus. When they couldn't find a way in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof, removed some tiles, and let him down in the middle of everyone, right in front of Jesus. Impressed by their bold belief, he said, ‘Friend, I forgive your sins.’” (Luke 5:18-20 MSG)
You must believe God can work through you to reach people for Jesus.
No one is hopeless. When the four friends looked at the paralytic’s condition, they could have responded in doubt: What could Jesus do? Instead, they believed God could heal him — they had faith. The Bible said the paralytic’s sins were forgiven when Jesus saw the faith of the four friends.
There are people all around us who are paralyzed this Christmas season — not necessarily physically paralyzed, but a paralyzed faith. Whether they’re paralyzed by doubts, loneliness, fear, or anything else, the result is the same: They need the faith of the others.
Warren, Rick. "Your Faith Will Bring Them to Jesus." Daily Hope. 6 December 2011. Web. 6 December 2011. http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=9549.
You must believe God can work through you to reach people for Jesus.
No one is hopeless. When the four friends looked at the paralytic’s condition, they could have responded in doubt: What could Jesus do? Instead, they believed God could heal him — they had faith. The Bible said the paralytic’s sins were forgiven when Jesus saw the faith of the four friends.
There are people all around us who are paralyzed this Christmas season — not necessarily physically paralyzed, but a paralyzed faith. Whether they’re paralyzed by doubts, loneliness, fear, or anything else, the result is the same: They need the faith of the others.
Warren, Rick. "Your Faith Will Bring Them to Jesus." Daily Hope. 6 December 2011. Web. 6 December 2011. http://purposedriven.com/blogs/dailyhope/index.html?contentid=9549.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Wintley Phipps Sings Amazing Grace and Teaches
Wintley Phipps sings Amazing Grace and teaches that "all Negro spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano." This is very inspiring and brought tears to my eyes. Please watch.
Video from KarmaTube
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=1312Saturday, October 29, 2011
Kabul suicide bomb kills 13 U.S. troops - Today
"Excluding aircraft crashes, it was the deadliest single incident for foreign troops since the war began in 2001."
Shalizi, Hamid. "Kabul suicide bomb kills 13 U.S. troops." Yahoo! News. 29 October 2011. Web. 29 October 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-attacks-foreign-troops-kabul-police-075637391.html
Shalizi, Hamid. "Kabul suicide bomb kills 13 U.S. troops." Yahoo! News. 29 October 2011. Web. 29 October 2011. http://news.yahoo.com/suicide-bomber-attacks-foreign-troops-kabul-police-075637391.html
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Anniversary #9
Tuesday was mine and my boyfriend Billy's 9th anniversary! We planned on going to dinner and a movie Friday night until the Rangers decided not to win Game 6. We decided to eat at Texas Roadhouse and then come home to watch Game 7 (Rangers vs. Cardinals). I really thought the Rangers could pull it out this year but I guess not. On a happy note, our meals at Texas Roadhouse were AMAZING! I ordered the salmon (and tartar sauce), seasoned rice, and garden salad and Billy ordered the 11 oz steak, loaded mashed potatoes, and garden salad! I also highly recommend the caramel marshmellow sweet potato! Roadhouse is my mother-in-law's favorite restaurant. Now I see why!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
My Sister & Her Boyfriend Are In Town From Chicago
My sister and her boyfriend came in town this week from Chicago! I haven't seen her since July and this was my first time meeting her boyfriend. I have been praying for a couple of years that she'd be blessed with "the one" so maybe he is an answered prayer!? I enjoyed spending time with them but hate to see them go. He is the lead singer for a band and came into town because his brother is headed overseas to fight in the war with Afghanistan and Joey was performing a "going away" gig at the Dirty Rooster (last night). It was fun. A bit smoky, but definitely fun. It was nice to see all of our family friends that came out.
Good luck to you Brian! You remain in my prayers.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Social Security recipients to get 3.6 percent COLA
WASHINGTON (AP) — Some 55 million Social Security recipients will get a 3.6 percent increase in benefits next year, their first raise since 2009, the government announced Wednesday.
The increase, which starts in January, is tied to a measure of inflation released Wednesday morning.
About 8 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income will also receive the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, meaning the announcement will affect about one in five U.S. residents.
There was no COLA in 2010 or 2011 because inflation was too low. Those were the first two years without a COLA since automatic increases were adopted in 1975.
Monthly Social Security payments average $1,082, or about $13,000 a year. A 3.6 percent increase will amount to about $39 a month, or just over $467 a year, on average.
Advocates for seniors said the raise will provide a much-needed boost to the millions of retirees and disabled people who have seen retirement accounts dwindle and home values drop during the economic downturn. Economists say the increase should provide a modest boost to consumer spending, which should help the economy.
Still, many seniors feel like they have been falling behind.
Nancy Altman, co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, said she is pleased Social Security recipients will get a raise next year. But, she added, "The COLA is still not enough to keep up with health care costs."
"Despite the absence of a Social Security COLA, over the last two years out-of-pocket health care costs rose 14.1 percent for seniors and people with disabilities, effectively reducing the value of Social Security benefits," Altman said.
Some of the increase in January will be lost to higher Medicare premiums, which are deducted from Social Security payments. Medicare Part B premiums for 2012 are expected to be announced next week, and the trustees who oversee the program are projecting an increase.
Most retirees rely on Social Security for a majority of their income, according to the Social Security Administration. Many rely on it for more than 90 percent of their income.
"For people at that income level every dollar makes a difference, particularly coming in this economic downtown," said David Certner, legislative policy director for AARP. "None of them feel as if their cost of living was not increasing in the last couple of years."
Federal law requires the program to base annual payment increases on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Officials compare inflation in the third quarter of each year — the months of July, August and September — with the same months in the previous year.
If consumer prices increase from year to year, Social Security recipients automatically get higher payments, starting the following January. If price changes are negative, the payments stay unchanged.
Social Security payments increased by 5.8 percent in 2009, the largest increase in 27 years, after energy prices spiked in 2008. But energy prices quickly dropped and home prices became soft in markets across the country, contributing to lower inflation in the past two years.
As a result, Social Security recipients got an increase that was far larger than actual overall inflation. However, they can't get another increase until consumer prices exceed the levels measured in 2008. Wednesday's announcement shows that prices have exceeded those measured in 2008, said Polina Vlasenko, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, based in Great Barrington, Mass.
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Associated Press reporter Chris Rugaber contributed to this report.
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Online:
Social Security Administration's COLA site: http://www.ssa.gov/cola/
Ohlemacher, Stephen. "Social Security recipients to get 3.6 percent COLA." Yahoo! News. 19 October 2011. Associated Press. Web. 19 October 2011.
The increase, which starts in January, is tied to a measure of inflation released Wednesday morning.
About 8 million people who receive Supplemental Security Income will also receive the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, meaning the announcement will affect about one in five U.S. residents.
There was no COLA in 2010 or 2011 because inflation was too low. Those were the first two years without a COLA since automatic increases were adopted in 1975.
Monthly Social Security payments average $1,082, or about $13,000 a year. A 3.6 percent increase will amount to about $39 a month, or just over $467 a year, on average.
Advocates for seniors said the raise will provide a much-needed boost to the millions of retirees and disabled people who have seen retirement accounts dwindle and home values drop during the economic downturn. Economists say the increase should provide a modest boost to consumer spending, which should help the economy.
Still, many seniors feel like they have been falling behind.
Nancy Altman, co-chair of the Strengthen Social Security Campaign, said she is pleased Social Security recipients will get a raise next year. But, she added, "The COLA is still not enough to keep up with health care costs."
"Despite the absence of a Social Security COLA, over the last two years out-of-pocket health care costs rose 14.1 percent for seniors and people with disabilities, effectively reducing the value of Social Security benefits," Altman said.
Some of the increase in January will be lost to higher Medicare premiums, which are deducted from Social Security payments. Medicare Part B premiums for 2012 are expected to be announced next week, and the trustees who oversee the program are projecting an increase.
Most retirees rely on Social Security for a majority of their income, according to the Social Security Administration. Many rely on it for more than 90 percent of their income.
"For people at that income level every dollar makes a difference, particularly coming in this economic downtown," said David Certner, legislative policy director for AARP. "None of them feel as if their cost of living was not increasing in the last couple of years."
Federal law requires the program to base annual payment increases on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). Officials compare inflation in the third quarter of each year — the months of July, August and September — with the same months in the previous year.
If consumer prices increase from year to year, Social Security recipients automatically get higher payments, starting the following January. If price changes are negative, the payments stay unchanged.
Social Security payments increased by 5.8 percent in 2009, the largest increase in 27 years, after energy prices spiked in 2008. But energy prices quickly dropped and home prices became soft in markets across the country, contributing to lower inflation in the past two years.
As a result, Social Security recipients got an increase that was far larger than actual overall inflation. However, they can't get another increase until consumer prices exceed the levels measured in 2008. Wednesday's announcement shows that prices have exceeded those measured in 2008, said Polina Vlasenko, an economist at the American Institute for Economic Research, based in Great Barrington, Mass.
___
Associated Press reporter Chris Rugaber contributed to this report.
___
Online:
Social Security Administration's COLA site: http://www.ssa.gov/cola/
Ohlemacher, Stephen. "Social Security recipients to get 3.6 percent COLA." Yahoo! News. 19 October 2011. Associated Press. Web. 19 October 2011.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
The 5 Most Important Supplements
1. A high-quality multi-vitamin
2. A quality omega-3 supplement
3. Co-enzyme Q-10
4. Magnesium citrate
5. Sunshine vitamin D
Healthy, Jim. "The 5 Most Important Supplements." Shine from Yahoo! 29 September 2011. Web. 2 October 2011. http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-5-most-important-supplements-2572457/.
2. A quality omega-3 supplement
3. Co-enzyme Q-10
4. Magnesium citrate
5. Sunshine vitamin D
Healthy, Jim. "The 5 Most Important Supplements." Shine from Yahoo! 29 September 2011. Web. 2 October 2011. http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-5-most-important-supplements-2572457/.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Can't Sleep? 7 Eats to Avoid.
1. Aged Cheese (Parmesan, Romano, Asiago, and other hard cheeses). The high levels of the amino acid tyramine are known to keep you up.
2. Milk Chocolate. It contains tyrosine, which is converted into dopamine, a stimulate which causes alertness and restlessness, which can keep you up at night.
3. Spicy Foods can cause heartburn.
4. Tomato-based Sauces can cause heartburn and acid reflux.
5. Soy has a high amount of tyramine.
6. Ginseng Tea. Herbal teas have been shown to act as stimulants.
7. Processed or Smoked Meats contain high levels of tyramine and makes the brain release a chemical that makes us feel alert.
Realbeauty.com. "Can't Sleep? 7 Eats to Avoid." Shine from Yahoo! 30 September 2011. Web. 30 September 2011. http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/cant-sleep-7-eats-to-avoid-2568132#photoViewer=1.
2. Milk Chocolate. It contains tyrosine, which is converted into dopamine, a stimulate which causes alertness and restlessness, which can keep you up at night.
3. Spicy Foods can cause heartburn.
4. Tomato-based Sauces can cause heartburn and acid reflux.
5. Soy has a high amount of tyramine.
6. Ginseng Tea. Herbal teas have been shown to act as stimulants.
7. Processed or Smoked Meats contain high levels of tyramine and makes the brain release a chemical that makes us feel alert.
Realbeauty.com. "Can't Sleep? 7 Eats to Avoid." Shine from Yahoo! 30 September 2011. Web. 30 September 2011. http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/cant-sleep-7-eats-to-avoid-2568132#photoViewer=1.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Upcoming Speeches
October 18, 2011: Plano Teen VIP located at 900 E 15th Street, Plano, TX 75074 from 6:30-8:00 pm
October 23-29 is Red Ribbon Week
October 23, 2011: Ector High School from 11:00-12:00 pm
October 26, 2011: Kennedy Middle School in Grand Prarie, TX from 10:00-10:30 am, Sam Houston High School in Arlington, TX from 11:35-12:35 pm, and Hunter's Glen Church (Youth Group) located at 4001 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75023 from 6:00-7:30 pm *RESCHEDULED*
November 2, 2011: Collin College's Central Park Campus located at 2200 W. University Drive, McKinney, TX 75071 from 11:30-12:30 pm
November (TBA): Armstrong Middle School in Plano, TX
October 23-29 is Red Ribbon Week
October 23, 2011: Ector High School from 11:00-12:00 pm
October 26, 2011: Kennedy Middle School in Grand Prarie, TX from 10:00-10:30 am, Sam Houston High School in Arlington, TX from 11:35-12:35 pm, and Hunter's Glen Church (Youth Group) located at 4001 Custer Road, Plano, TX 75023 from 6:00-7:30 pm *RESCHEDULED*
November 2, 2011: Collin College's Central Park Campus located at 2200 W. University Drive, McKinney, TX 75071 from 11:30-12:30 pm
November (TBA): Armstrong Middle School in Plano, TX
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dad Got A Job!!! Praise God!
Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, & Holy Ghost! :D My Dad got a job, the one he interviewed for, and a salary increase! 6 months of rest with severance pay he well deserved. I'm so happy that I'm crying! Thank you everyone for all your prayers. God does work and is always at work. God rewards faithful prayers. Never doubt it or grow weary of praying because "he will take charge of sending the rain at the right time” (Deut. 11:14).
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Tony Romo’s broken rib and punctured lung need time to heal
Romo fractured his rib and punctured a lung on Sept. 18 during his third-down pass attempt. Although he missed practice on Sept. 22, coach Jason Garrett decided to put him back into the game on Sept. 26 against the Washington Redskins.
The Injuries
A CT scan on Sept. 22 revealed that Tony Romo's fractured rib and punctured lung were beginning to heal. The puncture appears to be small, and only one fracture has been found in his ribs. However, these are still serious injuries that need a sufficient amount of time to completely heal.
Fractured Rib
A fractured rib is essentially a break in the bone. It is a common NFL injury. Although Tony Romo's fractured rib does not appear to be severe, he is probably still experiencing the most common symptoms of pain, difficulty breathing and bruising. Romo admitted that it was "hard to breathe" in the Sept. 18 game.
One of the most common treatments in the NFL for rib injuries is painkiller shots. The injections allow the players to continue participating through the pain, but they are only temporary solutions. Tony Romo was probably in the game on Sept. 26 because of help from high doses of painkillers. However, painkillers only mask the problem and can quickly become addictive. In addition, they have to be administered to the chest and can cause another lung puncture. Painkillers can be dangerous because the player loses the ability to evaluate his pain threshold and risks creating a greater injury. Rest is necessary for the ribs to heal.
Punctured Lung
The CT scan revealed Romo's pneumothorax and lung puncture. A pneumothorax is characterized by air accumulating around the lung and is often associated with a rib fracture. Chest pain, difficulty breathing and fatigue are the most common symptoms.
Tony Romo's puncture is small, so it may not require surgery or extensive intervention to heal. However, rest is crucial for recovery because of the risk of complications. They include shock and respiratory failure. A permanent air leak in the lungs is also a common problem that would require surgery.
Returning to the Game
Even simple rib fractures and punctured lungs may require up to four weeks to heal completely. Putting Tony Romo back into a game so soon can cause complications and more injuries. Although pain killers can temporarily dull the pain, the coach is taking a large risk with Tony's health.
Bandoim, Lana. "Tony Romo’s broken rib and punctured lung need time to heal." Yahoo! 27 September 2011. Web. 27 September 2011. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-9172335.
The Injuries
A CT scan on Sept. 22 revealed that Tony Romo's fractured rib and punctured lung were beginning to heal. The puncture appears to be small, and only one fracture has been found in his ribs. However, these are still serious injuries that need a sufficient amount of time to completely heal.
Fractured Rib
A fractured rib is essentially a break in the bone. It is a common NFL injury. Although Tony Romo's fractured rib does not appear to be severe, he is probably still experiencing the most common symptoms of pain, difficulty breathing and bruising. Romo admitted that it was "hard to breathe" in the Sept. 18 game.
One of the most common treatments in the NFL for rib injuries is painkiller shots. The injections allow the players to continue participating through the pain, but they are only temporary solutions. Tony Romo was probably in the game on Sept. 26 because of help from high doses of painkillers. However, painkillers only mask the problem and can quickly become addictive. In addition, they have to be administered to the chest and can cause another lung puncture. Painkillers can be dangerous because the player loses the ability to evaluate his pain threshold and risks creating a greater injury. Rest is necessary for the ribs to heal.
Punctured Lung
The CT scan revealed Romo's pneumothorax and lung puncture. A pneumothorax is characterized by air accumulating around the lung and is often associated with a rib fracture. Chest pain, difficulty breathing and fatigue are the most common symptoms.
Tony Romo's puncture is small, so it may not require surgery or extensive intervention to heal. However, rest is crucial for recovery because of the risk of complications. They include shock and respiratory failure. A permanent air leak in the lungs is also a common problem that would require surgery.
Returning to the Game
Even simple rib fractures and punctured lungs may require up to four weeks to heal completely. Putting Tony Romo back into a game so soon can cause complications and more injuries. Although pain killers can temporarily dull the pain, the coach is taking a large risk with Tony's health.
Bandoim, Lana. "Tony Romo’s broken rib and punctured lung need time to heal." Yahoo! 27 September 2011. Web. 27 September 2011. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-9172335.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Rick Perry stands by calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme
In spite of warnings from his fellow Republicans that calling Social Security a "Ponzi scheme" would be polarizing in the presidential contest, presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday stood by his remarks.
"You cannot keep the status quo in place and call it anything other than a Ponzi scheme," Perry said at a Republican debate in California. Acknowledging that several have called his remarks controversial, he added, "Maybe it's time to have some provocative language in this country."
Perry called the popular federal program a Ponzi scheme in his 2010 book "Fed Up!" and his views have come under scrutiny since he entered the presidential race last month. Most recently, Republican strategist Karl Rove said Perry's take on Social Security will prove "toxic" in the 2012 election. Former Vice President Dick Cheney also said recently it was inaccurate to call the program a Ponzi scheme.
The Texas governor pushed back against both Bush administration officials.
"You know, Karl has been over the top for a long time in some of his remarks, so I'm not responsible for Karl," he said. He added, "If Vice President Cheney or anyone else says the program we have in place today [is sound]... that is just a lie."
Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was ready to attack Perry's stance, issuing a release to the media with a list of statements from Perry criticizing Social Security.
"Our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing Social Security but to saving Social Security," Romney said in the debate. "We keep the program and we make it financially secure... Under no circumstances would I ever stay by any measure it's a failure. We've got to keep it working."
Condon, Stephanie. "Rick Perry stands by calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme." CBS News: Political Hotsheet. 7 September 2011. Web. 10 September 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20103039-503544.html.
"You cannot keep the status quo in place and call it anything other than a Ponzi scheme," Perry said at a Republican debate in California. Acknowledging that several have called his remarks controversial, he added, "Maybe it's time to have some provocative language in this country."
Perry called the popular federal program a Ponzi scheme in his 2010 book "Fed Up!" and his views have come under scrutiny since he entered the presidential race last month. Most recently, Republican strategist Karl Rove said Perry's take on Social Security will prove "toxic" in the 2012 election. Former Vice President Dick Cheney also said recently it was inaccurate to call the program a Ponzi scheme.
The Texas governor pushed back against both Bush administration officials.
"You know, Karl has been over the top for a long time in some of his remarks, so I'm not responsible for Karl," he said. He added, "If Vice President Cheney or anyone else says the program we have in place today [is sound]... that is just a lie."
Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was ready to attack Perry's stance, issuing a release to the media with a list of statements from Perry criticizing Social Security.
"Our nominee has to be someone who isn't committed to abolishing Social Security but to saving Social Security," Romney said in the debate. "We keep the program and we make it financially secure... Under no circumstances would I ever stay by any measure it's a failure. We've got to keep it working."
Condon, Stephanie. "Rick Perry stands by calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme." CBS News: Political Hotsheet. 7 September 2011. Web. 10 September 2011. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20103039-503544.html.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Fall 2011
The Fall 2011 semester began this week at Collin County Community College. After much contemplation, I decided to stay at CCCC one more semester and wait til the spring to transfer to UNT. I am taking two classes this semester: Intro to Social Work and Social Problems. I am excited!
Monday, August 22, 2011
My 24th Birthday
Yesterday was my 24th birthday!1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (GNT) - Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. This means that no one can boast in God's presence. But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. So then, as the scripture says, Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done.
IAND God has answered 4 of my prayers this week in my favor. Thank you God. When we obey God, even in small ways, “we find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” (Romans 5:2 MSG)
IAND God has answered 4 of my prayers this week in my favor. Thank you God. When we obey God, even in small ways, “we find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.” (Romans 5:2 MSG)
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