February 2020 - Give InKind

Coronavirus: Practical Steps to Support Those Most Vulnerable

Give InKind is honored to feature Sharagim Kemp, M.D.

The United States (and the world) have been plunged into a Coronavirus pandemic in the last months and weeks. Indeed, the public health implications as a result of the Covid-19/Coronavirus have changed the way we live. It is, however, important to be deliberate in planning a measured and proportional community-based response with a priority on those most vulnerable to becoming the sickest from the virus (remember, the vast majority of cases result in mild or manageable cold or flu-like symptoms). Preliminary data reveals that the elderly and those with a pre-existing medical condition (diabetes, cardiovascular issues, asthma) are at heightened risk for comparatively severe symptoms and possible complications from Covid-19.

In an effort to flatten the curve of transmission so that hospitals are not overwhelmed with a high volume of the very sick at the very same time, it is necessary for everyone to stay home (practice social distancing). This is the most effective tool in our collective arsenal to slow the rate of infection. This is the best way to protect all those most vulnerable.

Public health protocol requires self-quarantine for anyone who fears actual exposure and social distancing from home for everyone else. This is not, in and of itself, a reason for panic as much as it is an opportunity to be a good friend, family member, or neighbor. It’s the right thing to do and it slows the spread of the virus.

If you are socially distancing but you know an older or an at-risk person, you can still check-in. In social distancing, you can go to the store (wash hands, maintain a six-foot space between you and others). Try to minimize the number of trips you make. But asking what another person needs and delivering these items is fine. Do make sure to maintain a contactless delivery. Identify those near and dear to you (or reach out to a local community organization to offer help to those who don’t have anyone) and make sure that there is a systematic delivery of essential items for drop off at their residence. Setting up a Give InKind page is a great way to coordinate efforts for a loved one that you’d like to keep close to home. Set a schedule for a meal and grocery drop-offs or pharmacy runs. Offer to place Amazon or Postmates orders as needed. Leaving items with a loving note on the doorstep helps keep everyone healthy.

Some other tips you might consider:

Ensure that your elderly recipient has ample fresh water and a measured liter bottle as it is important to drink water and track their input for a myriad of health reasons, including boosting immunity.
Make sure that prepared meals are compliant with any existing dietary restrictions. Many prepared foods are high in sodium which can impact kidney and heart function. If you are concerned about your ability to safely cook for someone with a health issue, consider a specialized service like Magic Kitchen which delivers prepared food for all sorts of restrictions.
In addition, make sure that all medicines are dispensed in plenty of time, and remind your recipient (or an in-house helper/spouse who is also quarantined) to sort the medication in a pillbox. Even medications that tend to be re-filled monthly can receive three-month supplies with doctor approval.
Other important basic items are things like acetaminophen, stool softeners, antacids, and hearing aid batteries. These are some of the primary discomforts of our older citizens, which is not always understood and many sufferers do not feel comfortable asking for help.
Make sure to print all instructions in large type.
Make sure to include easy-to-use cleaning products so that surfaces in the home can be kept as clean as possible.
Touch base on other medical supplies as some health concerns lead to symptoms that need managing. For example, diabetes often means lots of wound care with gauze and bandages.

This is an opportunity to model the behavior parents want to see in their children – a demonstrated care for their elders and a step up to provide help. Children who are concerned about Covid-19 can be assured that there are many helpers present working to keep them safe, and that by taking regular stay-healthy precautions (washing hands with soap, staying home when sick), we should be able to stay healthy. Teaching people to galvanize around a threat to public health while taking reasonable steps to keep ourselves safe serves our communities and makes us all better human beings.

Books to Celebrate the Courageous Emotional Lives of Children

Read Across America Day falls on March 2 this year. This day is intended to celebrate reading in the United States. On this day, schools, libraries, and other community-based organizations come together to promote reading. Read Across America Day coincides with the birthday of beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss.

At Give InKind, we celebrate the power of the written as a way to honor the courageous open hearts of kids. We honor the complex emotional lives of children. The work of childhood is rooted in play and the creation of place and identity. These books celebrate the divergent paths that children follow as they find their places in the world.

Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully wise Oh, the Places You’ll Go! is the perfect send-off for grads — from nursery school, high school, college, and beyond! From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and illustrations, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within. In a starred review, Booklist notes, “Seuss’s message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.'” A perennial favorite and a perfect gift for anyone starting a new phase in their life!

Why We Love This Gift: This is a special book – it resonates with children of all ages.

Perfectly Imperfect Family beautifully demonstrates how a brother loves, honors, and includes his sister, who died before he was born, in the family’s special days and every day. Oftentimes referred to as a rainbow baby, children born after the death of a sibling often wonder about the one who came before them. Perfectly Imperfect Family acknowledges the stigma associated with pregnancy loss, infant death, sibling grief, and including a baby who has died by demonstrating loving ways in which a family can continue to celebrate their beloved baby.

Why We Love This Gift: We love this gift because it validates the entire story of an evolving family. It gives words to the story of a family before the birth of a rainbow and invites the siblings to ask questions.

The children’s issues picture book Why Is Dad So Mad? is a story for children in military families whose father battles with combat-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). After a decade of fighting wars on two fronts, tens of thousands of service members are coming home having trouble adjusting to civilian life; this includes struggling as parents. Why Is Dad So Mad? is a narrative story told from a family’s point of view (mother and children) of a service member who struggles with PTSD and its symptoms. Many service members deal with anger, forgetfulness, sleepless nights, and nightmares. This book explains these and how they affect Dad. The moral of the story is that even though Dad gets angry and yells, he still loves his family more than anything.

Why We Love This Gift: We love this gift because we like to find things that help to explain difficult things to kids. We believe that clear communication with children enables healthy family coping skills. And if we can have anything to do with that, we are all in.

In a kid-friendly, accessible way, We Belong Together explores the ways that people can choose to come together to make a family. Popular author-illustrator Todd Parr illustrates the rewards of family ties in this heartfelt, supportive book geared toward adopted children and their parents. In each double-page spread, Parr completes the phrase “We belong together because . . .” with poignant explanations that touch upon basic, tangible needs (“You needed a home . . . and I had one to share”), as well as emotional ones: “You needed someone to say ‘I love you’ . . . and we had love to give. Now we all have someone to kiss goodnight.”

As in Parr’s The Family Book, cheerful, friendly artwork, with thickly outlined forms and characters and a bold rainbow palette, inclusively depicts an array of children and families — including one with a single parent and one with two dads — and emphasizes the rewards of adoption for adults and children alike. Apart from the subtitle, the text never uses the word “adoption,” nor refers to the adoption process, keeping the focus squarely on the universal joys of sharing hearth and heart.

Why We Love This Gift: We love that the message of this book is one of encompassing family love. Because families grow based on love. The perfect read for the very young child.

Let’s Talk About It: Divorce — the painful realignment of the family unit that takes place when parents divorce inevitably fills children with worry, anger, doubt and a host of other feelings. Mr. Rogers offers compassionate support and validation for readers working through such trauma, supplying concrete examples of ways kids can deal with the stress. Statements such as “[T]heir divorce is not your fault,” and “[T]here’s nothing you can do to make your mom and dad get married to each other again,” typify the book’s straightforward yet concerned tone. Mr. Rogers wisely encourages adults to use his text as a jumping-off point and tailor it to their own family’s particular circumstances. Photos capture a variety of interactions, happy and sad, between the parents and children of three real families.

Why We Love This Gift: Because it’s Mr. Rogers. Nothing more needs to be said. But let’s just pause to wonder aloud — is there anything this man could not explain? A beautiful book.

Making Friends is one of the nicest experiences of growing up — but it’s not always the easiest. Fred Rogers of PBS’s Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood shows that learning to play and share with others can often bring up questions and feelings that need to be talked about. Mr. Rogers breaks it down in a gentle, easy tone as only he can.

Why We Love This Gift: This is a sweet book and a reminder to grown-ups about raising children able to cultivate and sustain healthy friendships. This mind-blowing and wise book is a top pick of the Give InKind editorial team.

How To Help A Family With Pediatric Epilepsy

For parents, a diagnosis of pediatric epilepsy is initially very frightening. Parents commonly express concern about everything from the cognitive and psychological effects of having epilepsy to concerns for the social ramifications their children may experience when with their peers. Epilepsy predisposes an individual to recurrent seizures. Not all seizures are necessarily epilepsy. In other words, a seizure is an event and epilepsy is the disease primarily defined by recurrent and unprovoked seizures.

For friends and family looking to provide effective assistance to a child newly diagnosed with epilepsy, the most critical assistance they can offer is understanding. Epilepsy exists along a spectrum from mild and effectively managed with medication, to more severe and possibly life-threatening with longer-term neurological impact. The best way to be an effective ally is to become educated about epilepsy and about how it manifests in your loved one. Educate your own children about epilepsy so that they too understand more.

[block-quote attribution=”Dr. Stephen Shafer, M.D., Clinical Professor Emeritus of Neurology, Columbia University” justify=”left”]Both the person with epilepsy and the people who love that person often don’t realize that the outlook for the future, the ‘prognosis,’ is full of reality-based hope. In studies where all cases of epilepsy in a community were followed long-term from right after diagnosis, about two-thirds had been seizure-free for years within a decade. Unlike many neurological conditions, epilepsy can really go away. Early treatment is key.[/block-quote]

One way to offer meaningful assistance to a family with an epileptic child is to learn how to care for that child when the child is visiting. Too often, a child with a neurological difference can be inadvertently ostracized from their peers. While one understands an initial hesitancy on the part of a caring friend or family member to assume responsibility for a child with epilepsy this reluctance can be misinterpreted, no matter how well-intended. For a child whose epilepsy is generally managed, there is no particular reason they cannot attend a birthday party or a slumber party. When a child is included in an activity, it means the world to that child, and by extension, to the parent of that child. If the person offering has taken the time to learn about epilepsy and demonstrates the knowledge necessary to provide care, well, that is priceless.

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/i_9Tb7i_xpE” caption=”When a Child You Love Has Epilepsy” credit=”Google” credit-link=”Mayo Clinic”]

Demonstrated knowledge is reflected in things like expressing that the strobe light element at the indoor playground will not be turned on during the party. Or, telling a parent that a slumber party will have a strictly enforced bedtime. Expressions like these indicate that you understand common seizure triggers (strobe lights, sleep disruptions) and that you are willing, able, and eager to accommodate their child. Offer to dispense their medication and check in on whatever schedule makes the parent most comfortable. Become familiar with seizure first aid. Know that any water play, bath or pool, must be constantly monitored by a supervising adult.

Many children and families report that learning to be transparent about their epilepsy normalizes it. It enables people to ask questions and goes a long way to removing the stigma that can be associated with pediatric neurological differences.

Mostly, though, the best ally is an informed ally. Talk about it, keep asking what helps, and, as is the case with most long-term prognoses, keep showing up.

How To Best Understand the Experience of a Parent in The NICU

When a friend or family member has a baby in the NICU, it can be difficult to interpret their behavior. Oftentimes, the NICU stint is the culmination of a high-risk pregnancy. The post-traumatic symptoms a parent may be experiencing are not necessarily well understood. This is especially true if it appears that the baby will likely do just fine – that the NICU is a necessary precaution with a clear road map to an excellent outcome.

When you are trying to support a friend or loved one with a baby in the NICU, it is helpful to understand the overall vibe of their experience. A NICU is very often an incredibly intense place. The nurses rule. Rules are there for a reason and they are rigid. Even if it seems as though a baby will be just fine, they are very likely to be surrounded by parents with babies who are unlikely to thrive. Expressions of optimism can feel very jinx-like. It is very difficult to live at this particular precipice between life and death. There is, perhaps, no greater or more profound illustration of there but for the grace.

If, for example, a NICU experience was the result of pre-term labor and bed rest, a parent will likely be struggling with the sum total of the pregnancy and postpartum experience. There may be (misdirected but still present) feelings of guilt. Parents are bleary, stressed, exhausted and not really ready to engage life on a day-to-day basis. Even if they, themselves, return home at night, it is unlikely that they will be available to meet you for lunch. There is no normal rhythm of anything when your baby is in the NICU.

If a NICU situation is an emergency, such as in sudden preterm labor and birth, helping a family to continue to function on a daily basis is critically important. Make a centralized care calendar and invite those near and dear to contribute. Note, though, that the most effective helpers are those who take the time to assess a household. To see where they can help prior to dismantling systems already in place. Do not, for example, dismiss the nanny for a few weeks because you want to help save money or because you think you can figure out the routine of older children. The family will likely still need the nanny when you are gone and her/his “time off” could have necessitated their finding another situation. Instead, consider coming at night to help with homework, teeth-brushing, and reading at bedtime. Take the time to talk to the parents about what is most necessary prior to taking a heroic, incredibly well-intended (and still too big) swing.

At the end of a high-risk pregnancy, I myself experienced, my son was brought to the NICU with a very treatable breathing problem. He only needed monitoring but I recall being wrecked. It was months and months of grief and fear that just heaved off of me in sheets. I felt as though I was submerged in a fish tank, the heaviness of love so present with these little physical lives still possibly transient. It was so beautiful. It was so terrifying.

When you speak to a friend with a NICU baby understand that even if the baby is likely to be just fine, s/he is quite possibly not fine at all. Instead of lunch, offer to bring coffee and meet in the car in the hospital parking lot for twenty minutes (sanitize the car seats.) Let a parent know how present you are in their minds, and above all, keep asking what specific thing(s) you can do to be most helpful.

How To Help A Partner of A Woman on Bed Rest

Give InKind recently sat down with Drs. Maureen and Lucas Terranova to talk about supporting a family when a woman is pregnant and on bed rest. Dr. Maureen Terranova is an Ob-Gyn, while her husband, Dr. Lucas Terranova is an anesthesiologist. In building their family, Maureen was put on both home and hospital bed rest over the course of two separate high-risk pregnancies. The Terranovas are now the proud parents of three healthy children. Here, they share the complexities of managing their personal and professional obligations – together with their first-hand experience of high-risk pregnancies.

It was Maureen who suggested that this article focus on how to help a partner or spouse cope with a woman who is on bed rest. In her estimation, the man or partner is too frequently ignored – even though the bulk of work falls to them.

[block-quote attribution=”Maureen Terranova” justify=”left”]He gets home from work and the normal divisions of labor are completely blown up. There is a sense of high stress that the woman on bed rest is very specifically shielded from.[/block-quote]

When there are no other children at home, the partner still has to manage a household, which is a lot in any circumstance. Where there are children at home, the burden is amplified, but, so too is the opportunity to offer assistance to the family.

[block-quote attribution=”Lucas Terranova” justify=”left”] Guys don’t always know exactly how to offer support for a situation like a woman on bed rest. It’s hard because the second time Maureen was on bedrest we had a young child. And Maureen had gone into pre-term labor again. This was hospital bedrest. This felt more severe. It seemed like it lasted longer. I was worried for her, worried about the pregnancy, worried for the baby. But life has a pace and it cannot stop. People don’t really know what they need when they find themselves suddenly in a crisis.[/block-quote]

Lucas cast back to remember the things that could have been helpful had they been offered.

The things that really help are the usual – laundry, groceries, childcare, etc. Lucas and Maureen agreed that systematic effective assistance in organizing everything would have been extremely helpful. In particular, they recognized that the ability to build a complete and centralized care calendar would have been a mercy. Lucas noted, however, that it was important to communicate clearly with the husband or partner so that he was not further disempowered – no matter how well-intended the systematic offers of help.

Maureen also suggests that if there are children in school, that a parent-friend in the class be appointed the ambassador to the bedrest family. There is so much to remember when one is trying to keep up with the rhythm of life. Anything that can be done to scaffold the chaos in the appearance of normality if only for the sake of the child/ren is a win for the parent. For example, appoint one person in your son’s kindergarten class to text the partner every night about permission slips, show choir t-shirts, Ziploc bags of flour for volcano day and so on.

It is incredibly hard for a woman to stay in bed while watching things devolve. Said Maureen, “Bed rest is unusual because you’re generally not sick (unless you have preeclampsia) and so you feel guilty and helpless because you can’t feel useful.”

Lucas reflected on the experience.

[block-quote attribution=”Lucas Terranova” justify=”left”]Men don’t like to feel useless. It’s bad enough in a regular pregnancy and birth when it’s hard to feel especially relevant. But when Maureen was on bed rest? It’s hard to know what to ask for. And I’m a private person. It’s hard to share these feelings of uselessness.[/block-quote]

Maureen and Lucas remembered a few delivered meals. These were everything. The people who enabled child-to-mom visits at the hospital were similarly legendary. Equally, it was nice to have someone stay with their older child so that Lucas could visit Maureen in the hospital, enabling them to stay connected in their shared experience of crisis.

They agreed that the people who were the most impactful were those who stepped in to find the best ways to run the household. Laundry, groceries, visits – all of these got them over the finish line.

See how to create a Give InKind page for a woman on bedrest, or create a page now.

How To Arrange A Bedroom For A Post-Op Patient Returning Home

When a post-surgical patient returns home from the hospital, they will often feel traumatized and depressed. Scaffolding the patient’s ability to engage in self-care is a gift. One way to do this to set up a home-based recovery room they can easily navigate. Consider that while new parents very often return home to side-sleepers, and piles of diapers on a new diaper-changing station, there is little such systemic consideration for a post-surgical patient.

We forget the life-altering impact of a true cardiac emergency. Newly discharged cardiac patients may face a lengthy recovery period. Patients may feel disempowered. Open heart surgery is an immensely complex and invasive procedure. When they return home, many will need to continue to rest and engage in rehabilitation activities as directed by their medical team.

Here are some ways to make your loved one comfortable in a post-operative room at home.

Make sure that their bed is comfortable and accessible. Fill a caddy with things like the telephone, remote controls, device chargers, etc. Make sure that they have ample light for reading. If an adjustable bed is something to consider, think about where to rent one.
Heart pillows are a necessity. We recommend a few of them as they often need cleaning. While the pain will be controlled by the time a patient is discharged, things like coughing can still hurt. A heart pillow can be held by the patient and is specifically made to support the ribs and incision.
Easy access to water is also an important part of post-surgical care. It is important to drink a certain amount of water, so helping a patient track this fluid intake with a bottle marked in liters is very helpful. Make sure that water intake is recorded and that the bottle is within reach.
Constipation is common after surgery and it can be painful. Make sure your loved one is drinking herbal tea to help.
Installing rails on the sides of the toilet enables a patient to enjoy some privacy.
Give the patient a magnifying glass or print large labels for the medicine bottles. It’s hard for most people to read that tiny type. Consider using a pill organizer and filling it for the week in the slots for each day.
Soothing meditation and/or healing affirmations may be helpful as well. Stress, by itself, is a leading risk factor for heart attacks. When the patient is able to move around more freely under the specific direction of their medical team, a gentle yoga class may be helpful.
Finally, encouraging the person you love to consider talking to a therapist about their experience may help with the depressive symptoms many will understandably experience. There are many telephone therapy services that a patient can use from their home in the short (or the long-term) as they regain their strength and make lifestyle changes.

Spotlight: Austen Everett Foundation, Helping Kids Battle Cancer

Give InKind is pleased to partner with the Austen Everett Foundation.

Since 2012, The Austen Everett Foundation has worked to empower, honor, and inspire kids fighting cancer through the strength and support of professional and collegiate athletic teams. Since our founding, over 1,000 kids have participated in our unique Honorary Team Captain Program (HTC), giving them the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to benefit from the powerful support that a team environment can provide.

When our founder, Austen Everett, was in college at the University of Miami, she was a star goalkeeper with dreams of playing soccer professionally. But everything changed when Austen was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at age 21. Austen fought cancer with the support of her teammates and began her dream of providing that same support to others battling cancer. She believed that goal-oriented sports have an undeniable power to help these kids and wanted to instill in others the strength she learned from athletics. Although Austen lost her fight in August 2012, her legacy continues through the Austen Everett Foundation. AEF is committed to providing extraordinary experiences to every kid battling cancer. We know that the strength and support from athletes, their teams, and their community can empower kids in an immeasurable way.

Based in 9 cities across the United States, AEF serves kids ages 2 to 22 that are currently being treated for cancer or are up to 2 years post-treatment. With over 60 professional and collegiate athletic team partners, AEF is growing more and more each year. At each Honorary Team Captain event, our Captains participate in interactive activities that are designed to give them the strength and determination they need to fight cancer. These activities include meeting the team, receiving a personalized jersey, watching warmups on the field or court, taking part in the pre-game huddle, calling the Captain’s coin toss, being featured on the Jumbotron, and all-around VIP treatment.

Tessa, a Reign FC captain during their 2019 season is currently battling Leukemia and had a reprieve from treatment by spending the day with her family and favorite soccer players. Tessa’s mom, Jen, commented about the Austen Everett Foundation:

[block-quote attribution=”Jen, Tessa’s mom” justify=”left”]You have saved Tessa and our kids’ childhoods in so many ways and even fulfilled my dream of becoming a soccer mom. This is above and beyond what we could’ve ever dreamed of for our kids. To be side by side with the hardest working athletes of their generation. A complete inspiration to them and us. We appreciate everything you all do behind the scenes to bring these lasting memories to kids and families.[/block-quote]

Austen’s goal was to empower every kid in the United States battling cancer. She envisioned partnerships with every D1 and professional team across the nation. This will be made possible through our amazing donors, corporate partners, team partners, and kids bravely battling cancer. To empower a kid today, partner with AEF, or learn more about Austen’s vision, visit www.AustenEverettFoundation.org.

Austen said it best:

[block-quote attribution=”Austen Everett” justify=”left”]There is no struggle too great, no hardship to be avoided, no effort to be wasted, when one works to win the fight against cancer.[/block-quote]

What It Is Really Like To Have A Child With An Invisible Disability

A few weeks ago I sat with a dear friend in her kitchen. Outside, the sun and the shadows were swirling. The snow melt into the waterfall was loud and resplendent. My friend poured herself a cup of coffee. I watched the steam rise with little bits of dust in the sunshine streaming in through the window. She said something that has stayed with me. I’m paraphrasing. She told me that nothing made her sadder than the fact of how little we see of each other. In childhood and beyond. I thought then of icebergs. We see just the top bobbing along a surface but submerged beneath is, well, just everything. She is right. There is so much we miss.

One of my children has true and life-altering ADHD. As the parent of a child with an invisible disability, I want to tell you what it is like. People don’t see him the way I do. He is the best child. I believe in him with all the force of all my being, and into him, I pour my soul. I have to believe that somehow he will come out on top. For now, though, his struggles cause him to be left out of almost everything. Because of the constant blare and blade of cutting senses, information and the need to keep things straight he misses things and social cues. He concentrates on the one task at hand before it slips away.

There are hidden troves of promise in his struggles. The prison (or the gift, depending on the day) of the white noise he occupies as senses, information, and images fly at him is revelatory but I can’t translate it. He finds beauty turning things over and looking where no one thinks to look. I remember him at a winter festival, where I once saw him standing at the edges of things with throngs of children playing nearby. He held a lantern and a candle and asked someone he loves to see the flame dancing within. His face was all lit up and my heart surged with happiness that he could find that joy.

Still, I can’t tell if he’s lonely or just alone.

And then there is my secret. I am forever isolated with him. Having a child who learns differently isolates their parents in very particular ways. I am never fully in the world. I semi-dread (no, let’s be honest I dread) things like school picnics. I know I’ll see the groups break up and head to town afterward. No one will ask him. At the very moment I arrive at the picnic, I am legit already plotting my escape route. I don’t make plans with people if it means that he has nothing to do. I stay home instead and we enjoy each other’s company, we read books, do things. I personally love it, but that’s not the point. The point is that if he is not fully accepted in the world, I hang back with him. And that is my honor – but is it his? The dialectical of parenthood means that he will always be enough for me – but I will not (nor should I be) always enough for him.

Sometimes parenting a child like this feels one as intense as any love or any grief I’ve ever felt. Sometimes I go into absolute flatness and autopilot where, in a social situation, I can see he wants to find a way in and can’t. Then, I go to what therapists have cultivated in me as safe places. Memories of where I was safe and I let the breath leave me and I kind of exhale me from myself. I am there without being there.

There is little daylight between my son and me. But we are looking down the barrel of the teen years and I’m getting scared. I cry almost every day. I often have clinical anxiety attacks.

But my true fear is more immediate. It is also as inevitable as death. It is the creeping knowledge that I won’t always be enough. As it is, I’m living on borrowed time from this obliging boy of mine. What will happen to him when his mother cannot offer the companionship I suspect he craves on some level? He has a little group of friends I hear about but don’t see. Things aren’t terrible for him. It’s just that I wonder if they could be better.

Parents are strapped for time and cash, and working so hard to get ahead – to be enough. The wells run dry, mine does too. I could do better. It’s only that I get tired of unreturned emails asking to get the kids together. I understand that it is not personal — but it’s hard to remember that, really.

I hope that folks who read this might consider whether they take an active stance when it comes to inclusion. This is a gentle reminder that in the parenting village we are meant to help each other. My child needs help finding his way into groups. When you see someone like me, or like my child, please remember us. Please harness the immense power you have in one small act of kindness.

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Best Five Products to Help People Suffering from Heart Disease

February is American Heart Month, a month to raise awareness about heart disease and how to prevent it. Heart Disease continues to be a leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 370,000 Americans every year. In the last few years, that number has begun to decline. For those who suffer from heart disease, managing the disease with tools such as diet, exercise, and nutrition are key.

For patients who have suffered an acute event and have required cardiac surgery, recovery is a long process. Heart Disease requires sweeping lifestyle changes. The good news? These lifestyle changes can be accomplished and be used all year long.
[block-quote attribution=”Sharagim Kemp, M.D.” justify=”left”]When you go through a cardiac event, there is so much emotion. Many times, these crises are life-altering. Everything has to change. Everyone has to support the patient in a healthy new lifestyle.[/block-quote]