Canadian Mom Gives Birth To 18th Child
I used to live in British Columbia, Canada. For seven years, from 1978 to 1985. I lived in Vancouver, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
I still have family there, and I do miss it from time to time. Especially when the temperatures climbs over 90 degrees here.
But today, I read this story on the Associated Press wire and had to pass it along. Not just because it's about a community near Vancouver, but because of the subject matter.
Moms who read this blog, enjoy! And to the Ionces, congratulations on number 18!
Canadian woman gives birth to 18th child
ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia (AP) -- A Romanian immigrant has given birth to her 18th child in British Columbia, making her the province's most prolific mother in 20 years.
Proud dad Alexandru Ionce said Saturday that his 44-year-old wife, Livia, gave birth on July 22. Their daughter Abigail weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces (3.5 kilograms).
"We never planned how many children to have. We just let God guide our lives, you know, because we strongly believe life comes from God and that's the reason we did not stop the life," Alexandru Ionce said.
The couple immigrated to Canada from Romania in 1990 and now live in Abbotsford. Their 17 other children range in age from 20 months to 23 years.
Ionce said he did not know if the couple would have more children. The family now has 10 girls and eight boys.
"We would have liked a boy to be even," he said. "We thank God all of them are healthy and happy."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Labels: birth, Canada
Ballwin Teen Plans Race For Alopecia
Imagine being 14 years old, in the middle of your freshman year in high school, and you notice a bald spot in your hair. You think your hat might be rubbing the wrong way, so you move it, but then another one pops up.
That's what happened to CJ Livesay two years ago. He'll be a senior in high school this fall, and he's been living with alopecia areata, the medical term for a patchy loss of hair.
"I just started wearing a hat from then on out, and pretty much 24/7 I've worn a hat," says CJ.
Four million men and women a year in this country suffer the embarrassment of this type of hair loss. Most of the cases happen within families known to have alopecia. No one in CJ's family has it. It affects men, women and children.
"The cause is unknown. We do know that the body's own immune cells start attacking the hair follicles for some unknown reason," says Dr. Helen Kim-James, a dermatologist with Chesterfield Valley Dermatology.
Steroid injections can help the hair re-grow. That's what worked for CJ. As he researched alopecia, he discovered the Tortoise and Hair Project that sponsors races to raise awareness for a national foundation
On Sunday August 3, he'll sponsor his version of the Tortoise and Hair 5-K race/walk to raise awareness. It's also his Eagle Scout project, and he needs 50 people to sign up for it to be successful.
I was very impressed with CJ's confidence and maturity when I met him for this story. He's going public with a diagnosis most adults wouldn't tell anyone about.
Here's a link to CJ's web site. You can register for the race here and help a young man who wants to be an Eagle Scout, but who already has the bravery of someone twice his age.
To register for the Tortoise and Hair race CJ's is organizing, visit the link on this web page, or call (314) 749-3909.
http://tortoiseandhair-stl.com/Labels: alopecia, hair loss, race
Humane Society Warning For Pet Owners
Temperatures have been much cooler today. After spending much of the day outside yesterday, it's a tremendous relief.
But the Humane Society of Missouri issued a warning for pet owners today, in spite of the cool-down.
And it's a reminder I'd like to pass on to you.
Anytime temperatures climb into the upper 80s and 90s, get your pets indoors as much as possible, or at least into the shade with plenty of water.
Pets should never be left unattended in a parked car, where the temperature can climb above 100 degrees in minutes.
My poodle, Ginger, and I try to take a run every morning. I get out before the temperatures climb. But any kind of exertion in high temperatures can be dangerous not only for you, but for pets.
I'll take this opportunity to share a photo of Ginger with you again. Enjoy summer safely!
Labels: heat, pets, warning
Staying Healthy In The Heat
It's a no-brainer, you say. We hear these tips every summer, others may say.
Yes, the heat St. Louis is famous for during this time of year has arrived, and with it, the tips we faithfully pass along every year to help you stay healthy.
It may sound repetitive to you. But if you're not careful, you could end up in the emergency room.
So, don't exercise or work outside during the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of water, and read these tips from the St. Louis County health department that may help you stay healthy in the heat.
- Remember, the very young and the very old are most susceptible to heat-related illness.
- Stay in the coolest environment available.
- Spend time in air-conditioned place if no air conditioning is available in your home.
- Drink plenty of water, and preferably non-alcoholic and non-caffienated beverages.
- Eat light, easily digested food, and avoid heavy meals.
- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light colored clothing.
- Wear a hat when outdoors.
- If you feel unusually weak, dizzy or confused call your doctor or 9-1-1.
Labels: heat, illness
Local Children's Hospital To Offer Free HIV Screening
Teens and young adults make up the highest rates of sexually transmitted diseases in the country, including HIV.
That's one of the reasons St. Louis Children's Hospital is beginning a new policy by the end of the month.
Patients 15 and older admitted to the emergency room will be offered a free HIV screening test.
And it will also be confidential.
Their parent or guardian will be asked to step out of the room before the nurse asks the teen if they want the test.
"The goal isn't to keep the diagnosis a secret from the parent," Dr. Ericka Hayes, co-medical director of the pediatric HIV and pediatric infectious disease department at St. Louis Children's Hospital. "The goal is to get them tested and once we do have that diagnosis have the teen disclose to their parents or the person who is a support person to help them get through."
By instituting this policy, Children's Hospital becomes the third hospital in the country and the first pediatric hospital nationally to make the move.
But some family-based organizations call the policy outrageous.
"I think its a real violation of parents rights and parental responsibility for the health and care of their children," says Peter Sprigg, vice president for police at the Family Research Council based in Washington DC. "Certainly I think both parts of the policy are inappropriate; to offer the testing without the parents knowledge and to keep the results secret from the parents both of those are a violation of parental rights."
But one local young man who is HIV positive says many teens will only consent to the test if it is confidential.
"I just think that this is really great," says Arthur, 19, who learned he was HIV positive in his mid-teens. "Because there's some teens who know that they're being involved in risky sexual behavior that won't get tested knowing that they should just because their parents are present."
I'll have more on the policy and both the public health argument supporting it and the family value group that opposes it tonight on Cover Story on Newschannel Five at 10.
Here's a link to the Children's Hospital web site explaining the new policy
http://www.stlouischildrens.org/tabid/91/itemid/5067/Universal-HIV-Testing-to-Begin-in-SLCH-EU.aspx
Keeping Kids Active: A Call To Action
Have you ever watched a six, seven or eight year old play? Most don't stop moving. Many go from riding their bikes, to swimming, to playing on a swing set. I have personal experience: an active six year old.
Chances are if you watch a teenager, you'll see them text messaging on a cell phone, then tapping on a computer keyboard and then watching TV. I know I'm generalizing. Some teenagers I know play lacrosse and tennis, and my six year old watches his share of TV.
But one of the largest studies of its kind just came out showing that once kids hit the teen years, their physical activity slows down a lot.
The study was published in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. It tracked 1,000 U.S. kids of various ages from 2000 to 2006.
It shows 90 percent of nine-year-olds get a couple of hours of exercise a day and only three percent of 15 year-olds do.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Philip Nader, a pediatrician at the University of California at San Diego calls the finding a crisis for kids.
I agree, but it should be a call to action for parents. Whether its organized sports or going out for regular family bike rides, physical activity should be a part of our day just like brushing our teeth.
I ran track, took ballet classes, and played soccer in my teens and early 20's. It wasn't always pretty. I certainly didn't win awards or get picked for select teams. And I know I would have been distracted by texting friends and playing on a computer had it been available when I was younger.
But it's important to keep active through all stages of life.
It sounds easy, and in reality, I know it's hard to achieve. But I'm a fan of doing things in moderation. You don't have to train for a marathon, but you can certainly jog or walk around the block a couple of times a week.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/300/3/295 Labels: children, exercise
Cutting Calories For Science
Could the fountain of youth be found in the number of calories you eat every day? Check out my Cover Story tonight at 10 p.m. and find out.
For the past 80 years, scientists have proven over and over again that small animals who get the fewest calories live the longest, healthiest lives.
Now, they're studying humans who restrict calories to see if they get the same physical effects.
The study is called "CALERIE," which stands for Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy..
Volunteers are put into one of two groups: a control group that tries to keep food and activity levels relatively stable for two years. And a group that restrict calories: basically cutting 25 percent of the calories they'd usually consume a day with the goal of losing 15 to 18 percent of body weight.
Interested? Be sure to check out my Cover Story.
And if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, call (314) 747-3182 or find out more on line at http://calerie.dcri.duke.edu
Labels: calorie
