What was it?

Normally, I don't waste time commenting on conspiracy theories espoused by the extreme right . . . but, after what I read yesterday, I felt the need to insert my 2.5 cents. Two weeks ago - Monday, November 8, 2010 - a camera crew from KCBS in Los Angeles shot the above video of a "mystery contrail" over the California coast. Within two or three days of the occurrence, the Pentagon determined that the so-called "mystery missle" wasn't a missle at all . . . but the contrail from a jetliner flying along the California coast. Explained Pentagon spokesman Colonel David Lapan: "With all the information that we have gathered over the last day and a half about this condensation trail ("contrail") off the coast of southern California Monday night, both within the Department of Defense and other U.S. government agencies, we have no evidence to suggest this was anything other than a contrail caused by an aircraft." CASE CLOSED.

Enter the conspiracy theorist

Not satisfied with the official - and quite plausible - explanation of what occurred, the conspiracy theorist began propagating their own theories -- the latest of which was released this past weekend in Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin (http://g2bulletin.wnd.com/) and states, without fear of correction, that  "the exhaust and billowing plume emanated from a single source nozzle of a missile." My question is why are these folks trying to re-start the Cold War?

The conspiracy theorist didn't just say it was a missile, no, they also named the country they thought it originated from and why. According to Mr. Farah "the missile was fired from a submerged Chinese nuclear submarine off the west coast of the United States" Unless he was actually present in the alleged submarine, how could he say with any degree of credibility that it was launched from the same? Not only does Mr. Farah offered his idea what was seen, but why: "the alleged missile shot coincided with an increasing confrontation between the U.S. and China, and was likely meant to send a message to Washington." 


Oh, really Mr. Farah? I'll tell you what I think it was. Folks who had nothing better to do took a perfectly innocent, non-threatening, incident and used it as another attempt to bash the Obama White House.

Until next time . . .

Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it (Part II)

Yesterday I posted part I of "Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it". Today I will conclude with part II including sharing what it's look to be born pre-term AND have hydrocephalus. Today we'll start by taking a look at the medical conditions that might increase the risk that a woman will experience pre-term labor. These include:

1. Diabetes
2. High blood pressure & preeclampsia*
3. Infections (urinary, vaginal, sexually transmitted; possibly others)
4. Blood clotting disorders (thrombophilia)
5. Vaginal bleeding
6. Certain birth defects in the baby
7. Being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF)
8. Being underweight prior to pregnancy
9. Obesity
10. Short-time period between pregnancies**


* Preeclampsia is a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy in association with significant amounts of protein in the urine.


** Short-time period between pregnancies is less than six (6) to nine (9) months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy.

Can treatment prevent pre-term births?

Over the years, physicians have tried various strategies to help prevent pre-term delivery -- bed rest, intensive pre-natal care for high-risk women, and drug therapy to stop uterine contractions. As a rule, none of these are routinely effective, although the may help in some cases.

However - in 2003 - two encouraging studies concluded that treatment with the hormone progesterone*** reduced the incidence of pre-term birth in women who had suffered a previous pre-term birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that progesterone  (sometimes called 17P)  be given when a woman is currently pregnant with one baby, and she previously delivered a baby before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy; either labor began on its own, without the use of drugs or other methods, or the membranes surrounding the baby in the woman's uterus ruptured too soon.

Today women who develop pre-term labor prior to 34-weeks are often treated with one of several drugs called tocolytics. These drugs can often delay delivery for about forty-eight (48) hours -- allowing doctors extra time to treat the expectant mom with corticosteroid drugs. The corticosteroids speed up the maturation of fetal lungs - and other organs - reducing the risk of death and serious complications associated with prematurity including respiratory distress syndrome and bleeding in the brain.


*** Progesterone (also known as P4) is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation), and embryogenesis. 

Conclusion

I hope that you've found my blog educational and easy to read. Even though I am a surviving preemie, I learned quite a bit myself.

Me around age two.

I promised to share a little about my experience. I was born four (4) weeks pre-term and tipped the scales at exactly four pounds. As if that wasn't bad enough - and as I mentioned above - I had the early signs of hydrocephalus which continued to develop during the six (6) weeks before my mom and dad could take me home. Combine these two medical conditions and you have a REALLY good picture of what a bad shape I was in. Despite this (and because of LOTS of love and prayers I received) I was one of the lucky preemies who survived and thrived! Now I'm 47 years-old and semi-retired (due to osteo-arthritis) helping to spread the word that there is hope!

Until next time . . .




. .

Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it (Part I)

To look at my picture at left, you would never think I was born pre-term and weighed in at a meager four (4) pounds -- but it's true. When I was born on Thursday, October 24, 1963, I entered this world, not only pre-term, but I had the early signs of Hydrocephalus . . . a condition which was almost always fatal. More about me later . . .promise!

What is pre-term birth?

In humans, the usual definition of pre-term birth is a birth that occurs prior to 37 weeks gestation. In the case of a "premature" infant, that is one that has not yet reached the level of fetal development that would generally allow life outside the womb. In a normal human fetus, several organ systems mature between the 34th and 37th weeks, and the fetus reaches adequate maturity by the end of the 37th week. One of the main organs that is most affected by pre-term birth is the lungs which are one of the last organs to develop inside the womb. Because of this, pre-term babies typically spend their first days / weeks on a ventilator.

It's estimated that in a single 24-hour period, more than 1,400 babies in the United States will be born prematurely. Many of these will be too small and too sick to go home. Instead, they will face weeks (or possibly months) in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Although these babies face a higher risk of serious medical complication and, possibly, death, most will eventually make it home.

Who is at risk?

Pre-term labor and delivery can affect any pregnant woman, however, it happens more often to some women than others. Researchers continue to study pre-term labor and birth, but still can't predict which women will give birth too early. So far three (3) groups have been determined to be at greatest risk:

1. Women who have had a previous pre-term birth.

2. Women who are pregnant with twins, triplets, or more.

3. Women who have certain uterine or cervical abnormalities.

In addition, some studies have also found that certain lifestyle factors may place a woman at higher risk of pre-term labor. These include:

1. Late or no pre-natal care.
2. Smoking
3. Consumption of alcohol.
4. Use of illegal or "recreational" drugs
5. Exposure to the medication DES.
6. Domestic violence including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
7. Lack of social support
8. Extremely high stress levels
9. Long working hours with long periods of standing.
10. Exposure to certain environmental pollutants.


There is much more information that I want to present, however, doing so in a single blog would make it a pain to read. For that reason, tomorrow, I will post the second part of "Thoughts on pre-term birth from a preemie who made it."


Until next time . . .

"You like being a Red Cross man"

The title of this blog is my paraphrase of what the Battalion Chief says to Johnny Cage (Randolph Mantooth) at the 5:48 mark in this clip from the premiere of the television show "Emergency". The exchange occurred after Johnny - already tired from an all night structure fire - is dispatched on yet another rescue call and looks at the speaker in disgust. I think Johnny's comment is true - or at least it is for me - because, no matter how tired I am, I still like being a "Red Cross man".  Take today for example, I'm dragging because, over the weekend, I responded to two incidents AND worked three six-hour shifts dispatching.  Still, if the phone was to ring right this minute and I was asked to respond, I would because I enjoy helping other people in their time of despair. Truthfully, I think my desire to help others is at least one of the reasons that God allowed me to live when the doctor's said I wouldn't.


But what does it mean to be a "Rescue man" or a "Red Cross man"? It means that no matter how many times you've been out during your shift, how cold (or hot) you are, or how hungry you might be, you make that a secondary priority and answer the call for help. It means thinking "what can't somebody else handle this one" and, yet, never verbalizing the words. It means being polite to that client that has lost their home and never letting them see how tired you are or how many runs you've been on prior to theirs. And, when you leave that call, you're ready to respond to the next one.


Until next time . . .

Things that make me go "hmmm" . . .

As you become more familiar with my blogging style, you'll see that sometimes I will blog for no other reason than to get thoughts out of my head and this is one of those occasions. (Buckle your seatbelt and hang on!)

I must be getting old . . .

As much as I like to think that I'm "hip" and "with it", I must admit that I just don't understand young people today. Earlier today, I was on the bus running Saturday errands and I came across a situation where a girl looked like a boy and here male companion, well, looked like a girl. Back when I was their age (late teens) you were beginning to see long hair and "unisex" clothing . . . but, I kid you not, with these two it was really hard to tell. I hate to admit it . . . but it makes me yearn for the old days when the line between male and female - as far as hair styles and attire - wasn't quite so blurry.

Why do they need Blackberries?

 Something else that I got to thinking about in my travels today is . . . what's with all of the teenagers carrying Blackberries? I guess what I'm really wondering is how they afford them since the cheapest ones I've seen start at around $140.00 and go up from there. I mean I work and can't justify the cost of this device that is part cell phone, part computer, part MP3 player, and part camera. (If there are any teens who reads this "old man's" blog . . . feel free to help me understand.)

What's up with that?

One last thing is pinging around in my head (at least for this blog) and that is how I could have worked for the City of East Point for 14+ years and never reached a managerial or supervisory position, but yet I've worked for the Red Cross for almost seven (7) months and already hold a managerial position? I'm not sure if I've mentioned this (in previous blogs) but I work in Staffing Services (part of Disaster Services Human Resources) at the Red Cross and am in charge of the Special Projects section. Mind you I'm not complaining . . . I'm just wondering how I can work under the same supervisor for seven of my fourteen (14) years at the COEP and she never saw my potential as a manager, but yet my supervisor at the Red Cross was able to see it after just seven months. As the young people would say, "What's up with that?"

Until next time . . .