Mum put on life support after infected finger led to ‘devastating … – The Independent

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A mother-of-three who noticed her finger had become infected as it was all swollen and green and was put in an induced coma after a devastating leukaemia diagnosis which left her battling for life has said it was never an option to give up.

Now celebrating being almost six years cancer-free, Peppie Scobbie, 53, who lives in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, said she did not feel right while holidaying in Portugal in July 2017 after which she returned home and noticed her finger had gone green and was swollen and throbbing.

After antibiotics failed to treat the apparent infection, she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) a type of blood cancer aged 47, and underwent three intense rounds of chemotherapy, which made her hair fall out in clumps.

During the first round of treatment, Peppie developed pneumonia and sepsis and was put in an induced coma and on life support, which made doctors question whether she was going to make it.

Amazingly, Peppie bounced back, completed all three rounds of chemotherapy, and was told she was cancer-free just before Christmas in 2017.

Peppie then received a stem cell transplant from her older brother Tom McClure in January 2018 a form of treatment for certain types of cancer as she knew that if she did not have this, she would relapse and die.

Thanks to her treatment, she was able to marry Stevie, a 51-year-old foreman, in 2020, and her brother-turned-donor Tom walked her down the aisle.

Now, despite being told she will be in chronic pain for the rest of her life and suffering with severe side effects as a result of her medication, she will soon celebrate being six years cancer-free and wishes to share the message that theres light at the end of the tunnel.

I have days where I could cry, Peppie said.

I could lie in my bed at night and cry because it upsets me, and I always say, Why me? Why did this have to happen to me?

But I want to be here and live a life as best I can, considering whats against me.

It was never an option for me to give up; it never ever has been and never ever will be.

Peppie first noticed she didnt feel (herself) during a holiday in Portugal in July 2017.

(PA Real Life)

After returning home and resuming work with her cleaning business, from which she has since retired, Peppie said a clients dog jumped on her arm and it felt like an electric shock.

Her arm went black and blue within a matter of hours, which she thought was strange but initially didnt think anything of it, however, this soon changed.

I dragged myself out my bed every morning to go to work, but I was screaming inside because I just knew there was something not quite right with me, Peppie said.

Peppie then noticed the skin on the middle finger of her left hand had become infected.

The finger was throbbing but three courses of antibiotics prescribed by her GP did nothing to alleviate the symptoms.

On August 16 2017, Peppie underwent blood tests and the following day she received a phone call from her doctor saying she had a high white blood cell count and low haemoglobin levels.

Just 30 minutes later, she received a second call and was told she had leukaemia.

She said she was devastated.

I felt physically sick, Peppie said.

You just read about things like that, and you hear it about other people, but you dont expect to hear that about yourself.

It was a bit surreal.

Peppies brother Tom, walking her down the aisle

(PA Real Life/Gallery Eleven Photography)

On August 18, the day after receiving the news, it was confirmed Peppie had AML and she began her first round of chemotherapy.

Peppie said she did not have time to process her thoughts as her brain went numb, but the only question she had in her mind at that time was am I going to survive this?

I just kept thinking, am I going to die? Peppie continued.

Then I thought, no, dont put that in your head, because if I start thinking thoughts like that then its just going to consume me and its going to bring me down.

I tried not to think about the bad side of things, I tried to be positive.

However, after starting chemotherapy Peppie said she began to develop a temperature.

She was taken to the high-dependency unit where she lost consciousness, before being moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) at University Hospital Monklands where she was put in an induced coma and placed on life support for two weeks.

It was later discovered she had developed pneumonia and sepsis.

Peppie was visited by her family during this time, and doctors did not know whether she was going to make it, but thankfully, the will and the fight was there.

I was told about a week afterwards that not many people survive and come back up the stairs the way I did, Peppie said.

Peppie then started her second and third rounds of chemotherapy, and while she did not have any major complications, the medication she was taking made her hallucinate and she lost her hair.

This led to her shaving her head, which was a hard pill to take.

I couldnt even look in the mirror because all I could see was this person that had cancer, who was ill, and it took me a long time to see past that person, she said.

By Christmas, Peppie was told she was in remission, which was the best outcome, and she was able to spend time with her family and now-husband.

She was also told that her older brother Tom McClure was the perfect match for a stem cell transplant, and she received this in January 2018.

She had another transplant in June, but was then diagnosed with graft versus host disease where white blood cells attack the patients own body causing severe illness and damage to the skin on her feet and hands.

After recovering from this, Peppie married Stevie on February 14 2020, and Tom walked her down the aisle, as their father, Thomas, had passed away from pulmonary fibrosis in 2015.

She said she couldnt think of anyone better to stand in for her dad.

Although Peppie is now nearly six years cancer-free, she is still taking numerous medications, including immunosuppressive drugs and steroids.

As a result of taking steroids, Peppie said her gut and mouth have been permanently affected and she develops ulcers; she has avascular necrosis, which affects blood supply to the bone; she has undergone two knee replacements; and she has been diagnosed with osteoporosis a condition that weakens bones.

She also has blood tests every fortnight and recently underwent two blood transfusions.

Although she is in pain every single day, she still goes to aqua-fit classes three times a week, sees her friends, and walks her two dogs, Lily and Cooper.

The grandmother-of-five said her family keep her strong because they mean everything to me, and she hopes that she can offer a glimmer of hope to those going through cancer treatment by sharing her story.

Im five years post-transplant and Im still here, Im still living my life, she said.

Its maybe not the best quality life most days it is but youve just got to cling on to that hope and that positivity to get you there, and obviously have good family and friends to help you achieve that.

Theres light at the end of the tunnel.

Leukaemia UK is investing in life-changing research into more effective treatments for AML and other types of blood cancer. For more information, visit: leukaemiauk.org.uk

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Mum put on life support after infected finger led to 'devastating ... - The Independent

Geothermal Everywhere: Finding the Energy to Save the World – WIRED

because of the promising conditions in Starr and Hidalgo Counties, Jamie had been helping a handful of people there. The Sage team, of course. The public utility manager for the city of McAllen, who desperately wants to build a geothermal plant for his city. Shed been talking to Dario Guerra, a local water engineer who had been preaching the gospel of geothermal for years. One person she hadnt met, though, was James McAllen.

So, late in the afternoon, Jamie and I headed about an hour northwest from the city of McAllen to the 50,000-acre San Juanito Ranch, widely known as McAllen Ranch. We were buzzed through an inconspicuous gate, and Jamesthin, tall, with an ivory cowboy hat on his headstrode up to meet us, a big smile on his face. We made our way to the ranch headquarters: the Rock House, a low-slung stone building thats more than a century old. Yep. James great-great-grandfather gave the town its name. The ranch has worked cattle and horses since before Texas was a state. But, he explained, theres no more profit in cattle.

The McAllen family ranch includes a cattle farm and a hunting lodge. But James McAllens central focus is the stewardship of the place for his heirs, so now he wants to build a geothermal plant there.

My job is to see how we can get this ranch down the road for the next 100 years, he said. And we arent going to do that with livestock. Instead the family looks to every single resource, from the sun to the wind to the grass to the dirt to the gravel. About five years ago, James and a partner installed an array of solar panels. The ranch happens to share a property line with an energy substation, and they now sell power back to the electric company. He was planning to build four more solar arrays.

But one of his nephews, who was studying at UT Austin, had recently called him up. Hey, you know, Uncle Jim, the kid said, I just had a class about geothermal. And McAllen Ranch was all over it. Turns out, in the late 70s, when the government was looking for places to test out geothermal, they had approached James dad to see whether he wanted to work with them on a demonstration plant. It was kind of science fiction technology, James explained. So, no.

After his nephews call, James got to thinking. He talked to the utility company he sells solar to; they were excited by the prospect of buying geothermal energy, because its a baseloadalways availablesource. So he called his friend Dario Guerra (the very same), and Dario told James about the Sage crew and their work nearby. Pretty soon, Cindy and Lev and Lance showed up for dinner with bottles of tequila. Within a few weeks, James signed a joint-venture agreement with the team: Hed work on raising the $27 million or so theyd need, and Sage would begin planning for wells on the ranch.

Jamie had been sitting a bit quiet, for her, on the far side of the table as James told us this whole story. But during a pause, she busted in with enthusiasm. Wait. Is your nephew in petroleum engineering? she asked. That class exists because of GEO! she exclaimedGEO being the program she had started at the university. Ifeel like Im in a simulation, she said. The kids professor was the first instructor Jamie had recruited to UT.

Jamie is, of course, just one of a group of evangelists, people who dont have clear job titles like CEO or director, but whowhile they canare on relentless missions to try to make something better, something livable happen.

On our last morning in Texas, I found Jamie in the dining room of the hotel, some cereal and yogurt on the table in front of her. She was watching a video of her boy. Tears on her cheeks. She handed me her phone so I could see Sage. He was at a table eating breakfast. Hes a gorgeous child: wide smile, fabulous curly dark hair. He communicates via sweet grunts and laughs. She missed him. But she was also crying because she was exhausted and overwhelmed. Thats because after seeing how far Sage Geosystems had come, and meeting James McAllen, it was sinking in that after all the hours and days and minutes shed spent pushing this project along, the quest for geothermal had taken on a life of its own.

When I got home from the Texas trip, my husband and I had to face new test results, and horrible conversations with our doctors. Then he had the first of two major surgeries. In the moments between ER visits and desperate phone calls, I filled up as much space in my mind as I could to keep my thoughts off of the inconceivable. But as the scaffolding of the life we had built began to shudder, facing the simple requirements of getting through a day became hard. Then harder still.

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Geothermal Everywhere: Finding the Energy to Save the World - WIRED

World Thalassaemia Day 2023 Date, Theme and Significance: Everything To Know About the Global Health – LatestLY

World Thalassaemia Day 2023 (File Image)

World Thalassaemia Day is an annual observance that is marked every year on May 8. The day raises awareness about Thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder. World Thalassaemia Day also educates people about the myths related to the disease, and the social stigma attached to it and helps the patients suffering from thalassaemia to lead a normal life. The day also recognizes the efforts of doctors and medical professionals in helping patients to provide improved quality of life. In 1994, Thalassemia International Federation (TIF) announced that May 8 would be marked as International Thalassemia Day every year. Panos Englezos, the president and the founder of TIF, established this day in memory of his son George and the other thalassemia patients who fought this disease.Bladder Cancer Awareness Month 2023 Date, Theme & Significance.

What is Thalassaemia?

Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder characterized by less oxygen-carrying protein (haemoglobin) and fewer red blood cells in the body than normal. The symptoms include weakness, fatigue, paleness, and slow growth. While mild forms may not need treatment, severe forms may require blood transfusions or a donor stem-cell transplant.

World Thalassaemia Day 2023 Date and Theme

World Thalassaemia Day 2023 will be celebrated on Monday, May 8. This year's theme is, "Be Aware. Share. Care."

World Thalassaemia Day Significance

World Thalassaemia Day is a perfect opportunity to educate people about the disease and the myths around it. It is a genetic blood disorder that causes the body's haemoglobin level to be lower than normal. It is a genetic blood disorder that gets transferred from parents to their children. World Thalassaemia Day calls for collective action by communities across the world to spread awareness about the disorder and its effects on patients. The day educates people about the importance of consulting a doctor before marriage if a person suffers from thalassemia so that they do not face problems later in their lives.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 06, 2023 11:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).

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World Thalassaemia Day 2023 Date, Theme and Significance: Everything To Know About the Global Health - LatestLY

Cellulite Will Never Totally Go Away, But There Are Some Ways To … – Glam

Most experts agree that dry brushing can't make cellulite disappear, so why are we mentioning it here? Because the skin benefits that accompany dry brushing can actually make your cellulite a little less obvious and give you glowing skin that can provide you with a little confidence boost.

Dry brushing, which can be a beauty routine game-changer,consists of using a natural bristle brush on dry skin. You move the brush in circular motions, almost like a gentle massage. As an added bonus, the bristles also exfoliate your skin. The result? A glowing complexion. Dry brushing can increase blood circulation in targeted areas and can plump the skin, which can make cellulite appear slightly less obvious, albeit only for a short while. So, if you're headed out the door with your friends to a pool party, dry brushing could help your skin to appear smoother while you're out and about, but the next day, the cellulite will be back, and, quite frankly, that's okay.

Many tout dry brushing as an excellent way to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite, and, while there isn't any scientific evidence to support these claims, you can definitely give it a whirl and see how it works for you. Plus, you'll be left with soft, exfoliated skin. Dry brushing is also a great tool for treating keratosis pilaris and keeping ingrown hairs at bay, so you'll reap some sweet benefits either way.

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Cellulite Will Never Totally Go Away, But There Are Some Ways To ... - Glam

McCandless family to host bone marrow registration drive for 8-month-old daughter – CBS News

MCCANDLESS, Pa. (KDKA) A McCandless family is boosting efforts to find a bone marrow donor for their 8-month-old daughter.

They're holding a registration drive in Ross Township this weekend in hopes someone may have the stem cells that can save their baby's life.

When you hear Clementine Blackham giggle and see her precious face, you would think she's like any other baby.

"You'd look at her and think that I was lying. I look at her and think that I'm lying," her mother, Tanner, said.

Clementine is battling an extremely rare gene mutation, called the TLR8 gene, recently discovered in 2021.

"It's your worst nightmare," Tanner said.

Tanner and her husband, Tim, said the mutation will cause their daughter to go into bone marrow failure because her body doesn't produce red blood cells.

Clementine is the only female and one of only nine other children to be diagnosed. She's also one of two children to have it in every cell of their body.

"Unfortunately, over half of those children have passed away since the diagnosis or before diagnosis," Tanner said.

Right now, Clementine gets blood transfusions to keep her alive, but they can only do so much. Her only hope is a bone marrow transplant. It's not a cure, but her best chance at surviving.

"Our doctors tell us that this is uncharted territory and they are going into it with the best knowledge that they have, but they only know as much as they know," Tanner said.

The family is holding a donor registration Sunday at The Block Northway in Ross Township, with the help of the non-profit organization DKMS, where you can get swabbed for the gene. There will also be vendors, live music, fire trucks, face painting and Disney princesses.

"Could you be Clementine's perfect match? Yes. But could you be the 1000s of other kids that need a bone marrow transplant? Yes," Tanner said.

No matter what happens, they're doing all they can for their daughter and other families fighting the same battle.

"We will not stop until she has her match," Tanner said.

If you want to go to the drive, it's happening at The Block Northway outside the area by DSW and Lands' End and inside the lobby between the two stores. The event is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Anyone who is in good health between the ages of 18 to 55 is eligible.

They'll also be raising money for medical and living expenses for when Clementine hopefully has that transplant. They would have to relocate to St. Louis, Missouri, for six months to a year while their 3-year-old daughter remains in McCandless with family.

If you can't make it to the drive, you can also register here.

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McCandless family to host bone marrow registration drive for 8-month-old daughter - CBS News

Girl, 17, ‘didn’t feel real’ after discovering cause of lump she’d ignored – The Mirror

Grace Callaghan, 17, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two weeks after her 16th birthday in May 2021 and is preparing to undergo her second round of chemotherapy

A schoolgirl diagnosed with a rare form of cancer after finding a lump on her stomach has vowed to not stop living life to the full.

Grace Callaghan, 17, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two weeks after her 16th birthday in May 2021 and is preparing to undergo her second round of chemotherapy.

The teenager first noticed a growth on her abdomen back in December 2020, but initially ignored it. However, after Grace began experiencing pain in her chest and ribs, she knew she had to get it checked out, Daily Record reports.

After being referred to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the teen was devastated to learn the growth was actually a tumour. Grace started a gruelling course of treatments which have included chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant and two operations.

This February, the teen was dealt a further blow when new scans showed that despite the intensive treatment, the tumour had grown again.

Grace is now undergoing another round of chemotherapy but says doctors won't know if the treatment has been successful until next month.

But Grace has refused to let her health battle stop her from enjoying life - including going to see her beloved Celtic.

Grace, from Glasgow, told the Record: "Before I was diagnosed I was really active - I liked going to the gym and I was on the school netball team. I was always out with my friends and never really in the house.

"When I found out I had cancer, it was crazy. I didn't know what to do with myself, it didn't feel real.

"I was still doing loads of things while going through treatment - I would go out to football games and concerts.

"I just thought, 'you never know what's going to happen tomorrow', so I refused to breakdown and let it stop me."

Grace has suffered some complications during her treatment, including her bowel becoming blocked after folding over during a 12-hour operation to remove the tumour in March 2022, resulting in her having to undergo further operations.

Immunotherapy also had to be paused after Grace began suffering from seizures in December last year.

Now Grace says all she can do is wait to find out if this round of treatment has been successful. If not, she will have to seek further treatment at a specialist hospital in England or consider joining a clinical trial.

Despite constantly being in and out of hospital, hard working Grace has managed to keep up with her schoolwork and is currently sitting her Higher exams - with her health battle inspiring her future career prospects.

She added: "After school, my goal is to become a nurse. It's something I've always wanted to do. It would be really nice to give back.

"The whole situation has been hard, but I've just taken it all in my stride because there's nothing else you can do at the end of the day. I try to stay positive and just get through it."

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Girl, 17, 'didn't feel real' after discovering cause of lump she'd ignored - The Mirror

‘Knocked down again’: Influencer talks finding tumour after son’s cancer diagnosis – Yahoo Canada Shine On

Sarah DeMelo and her husband Brad Kearns are seen with their son Benjamin who was diagnosed with cancer last year. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

A Canadian mother and influencer says she never thought she'd be dealing with something as awful as cancer. But in the past year, her family has been hit with "bad luck" twice.

Sarah DeMelo is waiting on a diagnosis for what doctors are "fairly certain" is cancer, eight months after her son Benjamin was diagnosed with leukemia.

"I've been hearing lately that we're 'so strong' but you have no choice," DeMelo said. "When you're handed this, you really have no choice but to be strong for your kids."

DeMelo, who lives in Oakville, Ont. with her husband Brad and their two toddlers, said her oldest son Benjamin had been sick towards the end of last summer. For two weeks up until Benjamins diagnosis in mid-August, the family had been in and out of doctors offices and hospitals.

"Everyone was kind of dismissing me," the 35-year-old mom said. "I knew something was wrong with him, but I never in a million years thought that this is what it was."

Benjamin was just two weeks away from his third birthday when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Benjamin was just two years old when he was diagnosed. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

ALL is a type of cancer that begins in the stem cells of blood. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in leukemia there is an overproduction of immature blood cells called blast cells that develop abnormally. Those cells then over time crowd out the normal blood cells so they cant do their jobs.

The Canadian Cancer Society said ALL is the most common type of leukemia diagnosed in young children, and it occurs more often in boys.

Benjamin was diagnosed with B-cell ALL, a favourable classification of ALL.

DeMelo said she remembers that moment distinctly. His diagnosis was confirmed at around 1 a.m. on Aug.12, 2022.

"I remember sitting there in the dark feeling so alone, not being able to talk to anyone because everyone was asleep, thinking how am I going to tell my mom about this?,'" she recalled.

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"My husband was there with me, he was sleeping beside Benjamin and I just had this awful feeling. I didn't know what the future would hold."

Married couple Brad Kearns and Sarah DeMelo are seen with their two sons. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

Her younger son Elliot had his first birthday just two days prior, which the family didnt get to celebrate.

On the morning of Aug. 12, a Friday, DeMelo had to break the news to her mom.

"I had to step out of the room to call her, and I couldn't get the words out.

"I remember just breaking down in the hallway outside of Benjamin's hospital room and the nurses rushing over and pulling me into a private room."

DeMelo said she still gets emotional every time she walks through that hallway.

Benjamin began treatment the following Monday.

DeMelo said they were told the first four weeks of treatment were "really important" because on the 29th day, the doctors would do a test to determine whether he still had cancer in his bone marrow.

"The first month was awful and he had to be on these certain drugs," the mom said.

"It felt like my Benjamin was gone Like he was replaced with this crazy, emotional (kid) and just eating constantly."

Later in his treatment, he lost what DeMelo said was his "long, beautiful blond wavy hair," and developed a "moon face" from his medication.

"He just went through such a big physical change that it was really hard for me specifically to see him like that."

DeMelo said her three-year-old son Benjamin went through a huge physical change while in chemo. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

On that 29th day, DeMelo said, her son got "the best news possible" and went into remission.

Because of the favourable outcome, Benjamin was able to join a study through which he will only have to do a year and a half of maintenance shorter than the norm for boys.

Last month, he ended his frontline treatment, an intense treatment, and was on a three-week chemo break. "He's full of energy and an appetite," DeMelo said. "We've really enjoyed this last little break."

His next treatment phase began on Monday, a day the parents were dreading.

DeMelo said her son understands a lot for his age.

She said he understood early on there was something wrong and that he had to go see doctors and take medicine to get better.

"I don't think he still understands the severity of his condition," the mom added.

"I don't know if he thinks it's rare because when you go to SickKids... he sees other kids his age that have no hair, and they're getting chemo. So to him, it kind of feels normal."

For DeMelo and her husband though, it hasn't been easy.

"Its just hard as a parent to see your little boy, who's usually so full of energy and so happy, just so tired and not like not himself."

In addition to her son's difficult diagnoses, DeMelo had a health scare herself.

She is still waiting on an official diagnosis, but her oncology ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist is fairly certain" its cancer.

DeMelo first felt something under her chin around July 2022, but as her son became sick she brushed it off."

In September she had an appointment for it and did an ultrasound, than a CT scan later in the fall. Doctors said her lymph nodes could just be swollen, but ordered an MRI just to be safe."

DeMelo had an "awful" hour-and-a-half-long MRI on the afternoon of Jan. 26 and was told results could take ten days. But early next morning, she got a call from her family doctor that a tumour was found in her salivary gland.

"I was scared. I was worried," she said.

That weekend, she received her MRI report to her email address.

"Needless to say, I will never open up another medical document again for myself," DeMelo said.

"I opened up the report and... the words 'highly concerning' were everywhere," she remembered.

"That was probably the worst night. I went down a really dark hole things like, 'am I going to be around for my kids?'"

The Canadian Cancer Society says salivary gland cancers are very rare. When a cancerous tumour does develop in the salivary glands, it can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it; it can also spread to other parts of the body.

DeMelo said hers was in the sublingual gland, an even rarer spot.

"I was really angry and I didn't understand why this was happening. My son had just finished the most intense part of treatment and we had felt like we just finished the hardest part and then we just got knocked down again."

DeMelo was then referred to an ENT (ear, nose, throat specialist) for a biopsy.

"She really reassured me and said 'we'll just do a surgery and maybe a little radiation and everything should be fine.' So we did a biopsy it came back inconclusive with malignant potential."

Another biopsy with an oncology ENT also came back inconclusive, she said, and an invasive surgery was needed.

DeMelo had two glands and some lymph nodes removed from her neck. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

Three weeks ago, DeMelo underwent the surgery, a neck dissection, to remove her sublingual and submandibular glands, as well as lymph nodes, on the left side. She is now healing as she waits for the pathology. Her doctors are fairly certain the tumour was cancerous.

"I always try to remain hopeful and positive, but of course, I'm scared theres still so much unknown," she said.

At least knowing the tumour is gone from her body brings some relief, she added.

DeMelo said she feels "very fortunate" for her support system.

DeMelo said her husband has been hands-on throughout the whole process. (Submitted by Sarah DeMelo)

"The reason I am able to be so strong during these times is because I have an amazing supportive partner who has been so involved in it all," she said of her husband Brad.

"He has been my rock."

Her family and friends have also helped out immensely.

I have the best parents and in-laws that I can ask for. They have been so supportive, helping out around the house and taking care of the children."

DeMelo said shes also grateful for the community she built online through her work as an influencer.

That community "has been extremely supportive as well for both Benjamin and myself; sending books for Benjamin, or even gift cards," she said.

Sharing her familys health journey online has been like keeping a diary for DeMelo. But thats not the only reason shes been sharing.

"I want to champion for childhood cancer. I want to show that it's not as rare as people think it is," the mom said.

"I want people to know what childhood cancer looks like, how it affects the family, and raise awareness for it."

DeMelo also said she wants to empower parents to advocate for their childrens health and their own.

Trust your gut and your instincts if things don't feel right," she encouraged. "If I didnt trust my mama instincts with Benjamin, he could have been in a different position at diagnosis."

In the meantime, DeMelo and her family are hopeful for the future.

"We're going to get through this, and the only way out is through," she said.

"As much as cancer sucks and I hate it, and it's taken away a lot of joy and experiences from our family, I think there could be a lot of beauty in it as well; it really teaches you to enjoy every day, every normal moment."

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

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'Knocked down again': Influencer talks finding tumour after son's cancer diagnosis - Yahoo Canada Shine On

Detained Academic At Risk of Death in Egypt, Rights Groups Call for … – Democracy for the Arab World Now

Salah Soltan, the arbitrarily detained father of a prominent US human rights defender, should be released to get life-saving health care, DAWN and 50 other human rights organizations said in a letter today. The US should urge Egypt to release him immediately.

The full text of the letter can be read below.

(Beirut, May 3, 2023) The Egyptian authorities should immediately release Salah Soltan, the arbitrarily detained father of a prominent US human rights defender, 51 human rights organizations said today. The authorities should ensure his immediate and urgent access to life-saving health care, and conduct effective and transparent investigations into reports that he has been tortured and otherwise ill-treated.

Soltan, 63, said in a letter leaked on March 20, 2023 that the authorities in Badr 1 prison, east of Cairo, have deprived him of adequate healthcare even though he suffers from life-threatening heart and liver diseases among other complex medical conditions. The deliberate denial of healthcare may amount to torture. Independent doctors said in letters addressing the Biden administration, which the family shared with rights groups, that they fear Soltan is at "increased risk of sudden death" a decade after his initial arbitrary arrest and subsequent unfair conviction on politicized charges.

"On top of railroading him in an unfair trial, Egyptian authorities are deliberately abusing Salah Soltan's rights by failing to provide him with health care." said Adam Coogle, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. "The authorities should at minimum transfer him to a qualified medical facility where independent health professionals can treat him without hindrance."

Before moving to the United States, Soltan was a professor of Islamic Law at Cairo University. He later founded and served as the president of the Islamic American University in Dearborn, Michigan from 1999 to 2004. As a legal US permanent resident, Soltan lived and worked in the USA for over a decade before his arrest in Egypt in September 2013 for opposing the military's ousting of elected president Mohamed Morsi. A court sentenced Soltan to life in prison in September 2017 in a mass trial marred by extensive due process and fair trial violations. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined in 2018 that his arrest was arbitrary, as the authorities failed to provide credible evidence of wrongdoing, and that his prosecution violated the right to political participation and freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression.

In recent years, Soltan's family said, the authorities have not provided him sufficient healthcare for chronic and new conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, hepatitis C, and a spinal disc condition, among others. The authorities have held him incommunicado several times, sometimes for months, during which the family knew nothing about his health or whereabouts.

The Freedom Initiative, a DC-based human rights organization, has documented that the authorities in Badr 1 prison intentionally denied Soltan healthcare during two incidents in which he lost consciousness and had other serious symptoms. On December 18, 2022, Soltan said during a family visit that he had suffered from extreme chest pain the previous week and had called for help multiple times, before losing consciousness.

Other prisoners heard his screams and called for help. Eight hours later, prison officials came to his cell and, again, refused to take him to a doctor despite him clearly needing medical attention, intentionally denying him healthcare, sources told Freedom Initiative. Soltan, the sources said, continued to report that he was having increasing chest pains, numbness in his extremities, and limited mobility in his fingers.

Several sources, including former detainees, said that Soltan collapsed in his cell and was immobile on another occasion, during the first half of January 2023. Other inmates were screaming for help for approximately seven hours, all to no avail. The Badr 1 prison authorities ultimately came to him in his cell, and denied him health care, refusing to move him to a prison hospital or provide him with medications.

In addition to denying him access to timely healthcare, including medical examinations, prison authorities have complete discretion over provision of his vital medications and medical devices. Soltan has reported being denied medications entirely or given pills inconsistently.

In April 2022 and January 2023, 20 US-based medical professionals and specialists sent private letters to the Biden administration and shared them with rights groups and Egyptian officials detailing Soltan's medical condition and the risks posed to his life by the continued denial of healthcare. In the letter, doctors assessed Soltan's condition based on his US medical history and documents and the scant information available during his detention.

Doctors said that Soltan is most likely suffering from coronary heart disease, poorly controlled hypertension, and kidney stones, and that his diabetes lacks "objective assessment of glycemic control." They said that Soltan is "at imminent risk of developing significant complications, including cardiac events (heart attacks, strokes, heart failure;, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis; irreversible neurological damage; and increased risk of sudden death)."

Soltan's deteriorating health condition and the continued denial of healthcare by prison authorities is particularly concerning given reports that at least five prisoners have died in custody in Badr prison complex since June 2022 when the authorities began transferring prisoners there where authorities have held Soltan in a solitary cell since September 2022. Local Egyptian media recently reported that several inmates have attempted suicide in Badr prison complex based on leaked letters by prisoners about inhumane detention conditions.

A March 20 statement by more than 30 human rights organizations shed light on serious allegations of denial of healthcare and other abusive conditions of detention at Badr prison complex. The abuses include 24/7 surveillance of cells with CCTV cameras, exposure to florescent lighting around the clock, and chaining prisoners to the walls of their cells without food and water for days at a time.

The co-signing organizations believe that the authorities' abuse of Soltan appears to be in retaliation for the human rights work of his son, Mohamed Soltan, who lives in the USA. The authorities' retaliation has included detention of other family members, and direct threats and harassment in the US.

The Egyptian authorities have recently embarked on a public relations campaign, asserting that prison conditions in Egypt have improved, while deliberately leaving inmates with serious medical issues to suffer in prison, in some cases leading to death. In November 2019, following the unexpected death of former President Mohamed Morsi in abusive detention, United Nations experts wrote that due to Egypt's detention conditions, "thousands more detainees across Egypt may be suffering gross violations of their human rights, many of whom may be at high risk of death."

In recent years the Egyptian government has deployed lobbyists to cite decades old problematic remarks by Salah Soltan to dissuade policymakers from advocating for his release, but his detention and trial in Egypt are unrelated to these remarks and solely based on his peaceful political affiliation.

In recent years, the US Congress has routinely listed Salah Soltan, along with other prisoners, in the Explanatory Statements of its annual appropriations bills as a case for the secretary of state to "consider" in determining whether to certify that the Egyptian government has met specific human rights benchmarks. The statements also urged "that humane treatment and fair trials be afforded to [those specific names listed] and other prisoners in Egypt." Additionally, on the campaign trail, then-candidate Joe Biden condemned Egypt's exile of Mohamed Soltan and the threats to his family as "unacceptable."

The right to life is non-derogablethat is, a right that cannot be suspended under any circumstances, including in times of emergencies or war and inherent to everyone, including those in custody. The Human Rights Committee, which interprets the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights, has said that the right to life "should not be interpreted narrowly".

It also said that the deprivation of life involves "intentional or otherwise foreseeable and preventable life-terminating harm or injury, caused by an act or omission." The obligations of states to protect lives "extends to reasonably foreseeable threats and life-threatening situations that can result in loss of life." In this context, the organizations said, if Soltan dies in prison due to the systemic denial of health care and sustained ill-treatment, the authorities would be directly responsible for the arbitrary deprivation of his right to life. According to the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, "violations of the right to life stem not only from an intentional act of deprivation of life (murder) by the State, but also from State's negligence in providing basic conditions and services that guarantee life, such as access to food, water, health services and housing."

The USA should urge Egypt to release Salah Soltan immediately, and to seek urgent treatment for his health conditions.

"The Biden administration has prioritized efforts to bring home Americans who have been wrongfully detained abroad, and it is long past time for Salah Soltan to be reunited with his family in the USA" said Allison McManus, the Freedom Initiative's Managing Director. "As long as Soltan remains behind bars, his American family cannot feel truly safe and secure. The USA should not only stand up for Soltan's rights, but it should also protect the rights of his family."

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Detained Academic At Risk of Death in Egypt, Rights Groups Call for ... - Democracy for the Arab World Now

Liskeard teen given second chance at life thanks to complete stranger from Germany who donated stem cells – Cornwall Live

A boxer from Cornwall with a rare condition has been given a second chance at life thanks to a complete stranger who donated stem cells. Charlie Dugdale, aged 17, had just qualified to become a chef in Winchester and was waiting to go to Plymouth to start his submarine training in the Royal Navy when he was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia - a type of blood disorder where your bone marrow doesnt make enough blood cells - at the end of last year.

Charlie underwent multiple blood transfusions as well as a platelet transfusion but was informed by doctors that a stem cell transplant was needed to give him a second chance at life. So, his family teamed up with blood cancer charity, Anthony Nolan, to help find Charlie a donor and to encourage people from all backgrounds to sign up to become potential donors.

After a number of stem cell donation rallies were held across Liskeard, Charlie was able to find a match on the Anthony Nolan stem cell register - which came from a donor in Germany - and successfully received a stem cell transplant last month. Following an initial recovery period in hospital, Charlie is now back home and continues to recover well from his transplant.

Read more: Redruth mum who almost died after giving birth wants to raise awareness of pre-eclampsia

His father, Thomas Dugdale, has described the success of the transplant as being 'a miracle' and said his family couldn't be more grateful for the support they received from the community and those who donated stem cells to help save Charlie's life. "It's amazing and it's a miracle we found a perfect match for him," Thomas told CornwallLive.

"The transplant went really well and aside from an infection he got just after, he is doing well now. He's also gained 10 kilograms since and aside from the odd days, he's almost back to himself, which means the world to us."

Despite the fact that the stem cells came from a donor in Germany, Thomas said his family is still grateful for the donor days that were held and wanted to thank everyone who donated. "The stem cell donation actually came from Germany and it was a perfect 12/12 match for Charlie," he said.

"But I don't want to take away from the donor days we held because those donations could still help others in need. It was still lovely to know that all these people came forward to help Charlie and we can't thank everyone enough."

He said he also hopes to meet the stranger who saved Charlie's life in the future and thank them in person. "We have to wait about two years before we're able to have the opportunity to meet the person who the donated stem cells that helped give Charlie a second chance at life," he said. "I'm really looking forward to it, I'll never be able to thank them enough."

Now Thomas, who is an Officer and Engineer in the Royal Navy, is set to run the London Marathon this weekend to help raise money for Anthony Nolan. The 39-year-old previously ran the New York Marathon in 2018, but was keen to run the London Marathon this year to raise money and bring awareness to the charity that has had a significant impact on Charlies life.

"Whilst I had heard of Anthony Nolan before, I wasnt really aware of exactly what they did until what happened to our family," he said. "Its incredible work, and Im really glad Ive got the opportunity to share how important they are and the work they do. It's also really important to encourage more people to come forward to donate stem cells, so that it can help save other people's lives."

Thomas has had to overcome a few challenges during training, including multiple work trips abroad and battling a chest infection. However, throughout these difficulties, he said he has taken inspiration from Charlies attitude towards overcoming barriers, which has helped him push forward with his training.

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"There were days Charlie didnt want to do his chemotherapy or have his treatment, but he never moaned once and was incredibly strong throughout his treatment," he said. "On the days I didnt want to go for a run, I take strength from what Charlie has overcome and realise that if he can go through what he went through, then I can make it through a 26-mile run. I want to show my gratitude towards his strength."

So far, Thomas has smashed his fundraising target and has already raised 6,927 of the 5,000 goal. However, he hopes to continue raising more funds for the vital charity in the days leading up to and after the marathon and has set himself a new fundraising target of 7,000.

You can view his fundraising page, here.

Anthony Nolan are calling for more people between the ages of 16 and 30 to join the register, specifically young men as research shows that they have the most success donating. Currently just 18% of the UK Anthony Nolan stem cell register is made up of young men, but they account for 55% of people called upon to donate, and potentially save the lives of people like Charlie.

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Ask the doctors: Non-hodgkin lymphoma considered very treatable – The Spokesman Review

By Eve Glazier, M.D., and Elizabeth Ko, M.D. Andrews McMeel Syndication

Dear Doctors: My grandfather is 72 years old and has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. I would like to know more about this type of cancer and what kind of treatment may be involved. Is it unusual for someone his age to get this kind of a diagnosis?

Dear Reader: Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, most often in the lymph nodes. These are small pea- or bean-sized tissues that, along with a network of vessels, ducts and other structures, make up the lymphatic system. They work together to circulate a specialized fluid known as lymph. You know when you have a scrape and theres a layer of clear, watery fluid oozing from the wound? Thats lymph.

Just as the job of the circulatory system is to transport blood, the lymphatic system carries lymph throughout most of the tissues of the body. It carries away cellular waste and helps maintain optimal fluid balance in the tissues. The lymphatic system is also part of the immune system and plays an important role in fighting infection and disease.

When someone has lymphoma, it means that certain types of white blood cells found in lymph, known as lymphocytes, have begun to grow out of control. Their abnormal behavior leads to the formation of tumors. These not only interfere with the workings of the lymphatic system, but cancer cells from the tumors can spread to other parts of the body.

Lymphoma is divided into two types. One is non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which is your grandfathers diagnosis. This type of cancer is more common in men than in women. Although it can occur at any age, most cases are diagnosed in people 60 and older. A family history of the disease increases someones risk. Certain chemicals and drugs, including insecticides and some types of chemotherapy, are also suspected to play a role.

The other type of lymphoma, known as Hodgkin lymphoma, is not as common. It involves a different subset of lymphocytes and is treated differently from non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Both types of lymphoma have similar symptoms. These include fatigue; unexplained weight loss; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin; night sweats; and itching that can become severe.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma can progress at different rates. A slow-growing cancer that has few symptoms is known as indolent. With this diagnosis, a treatment approach known as watchful waiting is sometimes recommended. Its just as it sounds keeping a close eye on disease progress and not starting treatment unless symptoms begin to change.

When lymphoma spreads quickly and has signs and symptoms that can be severe, it is characterized as aggressive. Aggressive lymphoma requires immediate treatment. The approach depends on the stage at which the cancer is diagnosed, the patients medical history and their general health. Treatment can include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and targeted drug therapy. In some cases, stem cell or bone marrow transplants may be recommended. These are arduous treatments and can have serious side effects.

Still, although it depends on the type and stage of the cancer, with a five-year survival rate of 74%, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is considered very treatable.

Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu.

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Ask the doctors: Non-hodgkin lymphoma considered very treatable - The Spokesman Review