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The Trouble with Diagnosing Mitochondrial Disease
And why a computer hacker faces 15 years in prison for intervening in a troubling caseAs one young woman discovered, diagnosing mitochondrial disease isn’t as easy as diagnosing other medical conditions, like cancer or diabetes. There is no definitive test for the disease, especially in its early stages. Doctors just have to trust that the patient is telling the truth about their symptoms. In some cases, doctors believe that the patient…
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Monday Hearts for Madalene
Page Hodel creates beautiful hearts as a tribute to enduring loveIt’s an honor for SevenPonds to share with our readers the story of the Monday Hearts for Madalene project, a true account of the power of love in the midst of death. The project’s origins take us to 2005: the moment Page Hodel encountered Madalene Rodriguez and fell “instantly, dizzyingly in love with her.” The…
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Guilt and Shame at the End of Life
Living with a life-limiting illness can be much harder when you blame yourselfJoe sat in his living room, looking pale and uncomfortable and visibly working to breathe. Propped in a recliner, oxygen tubing snaking through his shirt, around his ears and into his nose, he spoke slowly and with considerable effort. I told him there was no need to speak with me if he didn’t feel up…
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What is Dysphagia and How Can The Eating Experience Be Enhanced For Those Who Suffer? (Interview)
An interview with speech-language pathologist Erin EmbryToday, SevenPonds speaks with speech-language pathologist Erin Embry. Erin holds a dual degree in both Communication Sciences and Disorders and Health Policy and Management. She is also Director of the Speech@NYU online MS program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders and the graduate student academic advisor. In her clinical work, Erin has focused on treating swallowing…
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“Bearing the Unbearable”
A grief counselor and bereaved mother offers insight and compassion to those struggling with grief in this bookJoanne Cacciatore, Ph.D. is a researcher, educator, grief counselor and Zen priest who for over 20 years has helped her clients navigate the treacherous, terrifying path of traumatic grief. She is also a bereaved mother whose baby daughter, Cheyenne, died shortly after her birth in 1994. Today, over 20 years later, Cacciatore still grieves. And…
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Figure 1 Allows Medical Professionals To Share Photos of Undiagnosed Cases
The app is a social media community of medical students and professionalsFigure 1 is a social media platform that caters to the medical community. Healthcare professionals can upload photos and information about their patients’ conditions to a large social network for educational purposes. The app is especially useful for doctors who are unsure about a patient’s diagnosis. The professional healthcare community can weigh in on any…
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“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”
A young man mourns his friends killed during a revolution“Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” is a song from the musical “Les Miserables” based on the book of the same title by Victor Hugo. In the show, one of the characters, Marius, has joined a student revolution to try to improve the quality of life for the poor in France. The revolution is a disaster.…
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FDA Approves New Drug for Sickle Cell Disease
Endari is the first new FDA-approved treatment in 20 years for this debilitating diseaseA new drug, Endari, has just received FDA approval for the treatment of sickle cell disease. The medication is the first new sickle cell therapy to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration in over 20 years. Endari is manufactured by a privately held biotech company, Emmaus Medical, Inc. of Torrance, California. Emmaus has…
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