Blog

A Colon Cancer Survivor’s Message to Neighbors and Friends

In 2010, during a routine physical, Christopher H.’s doctor suggested a colonoscopy. As a 51-year-old at the time, Christopher knew it was a good idea, especially considering his family history of colon cancer, but his fear of knowing if anything was amiss prevented him from undergoing the procedure.

Overcoming Obstacles

Lisa Markland and her husband Dave Markland completed the 10K for the Run, Walk & Roll event on the C&O Canal towpath that went from Darnestown to Potomac, Maryland and back. Her husband is a very healthy 62-year-old Coast Guard veteran but Lisa’s story is a bit unique, and why they chose this particular race challenge (for her, this was a true challenge in every way). She wanted to share it with us.

First LVAD Patient in New Mexico is Doing Great Nearly Four Years Later

Arturo Madrid, 82, is doing exceptionally well after undergoing the first LVAD implant procedure performed in New Mexico at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center on December 19, 2017.

Arturo and his wife Pilar waged a long and frustrating battle with Arturo’s deteriorating health to no avail until a patient referral led them to Albuquerque and the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center.

Therapists at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital Help TBI Patient on Road to Miracle Recovery

On August 2, 2020, Brandon Esquibel was going to meet a friend when the unthinkable happened: he had to make a split-second decision when a truck was barreling toward him from behind as he was approaching a red light on his motorcycle. Brandon knew he had two options: get slammed by the truck or speed through the red light hoping he’d make it to the other side of the road safely. He took a shot crossing the intersection and collided with another vehicle.

Welcoming a New Sibling

“Having a sibling means you are never truly alone here.” – Roar, 10 years old

Compassionate Language

“Her urine test came back dirty. She is a drug user.”

OR

“She tested positive for an illegal substance. She may have substance use disorder.”

Heart Health and Baby Health

Pregnancy is a unique time for mom and baby. Women generally self-seek medical advice during pregnancy, making it an optimal time to start healthy habits. It’s even better to have a healthy heart before conception, however, starting anytime is better than not starting at all.

Managing Our Collective Grief

A friend came up with the best theme for 2020 that I’ve heard yet: “But wait…there’s more!” Between COVID-19, fires, hurricanes, loneliness, job loss and a presidential campaign, we are all feeling a little wearier and heavier of heart. There is a name for this feeling. It is grief. Certainly, many of us across the world have felt grief over losing a loved one, but grief is a deep sense of loss or connection to something significant in your life. A person can even grieve over something that is unhealthy if it was a substantial placeholder in his or her life.

Making True Apologies

Are you the one who never apologizes? Not because you are never sorry, but because it is just difficult to deal with all the feelings of an apology. Or, are you one who says “sorry” every five minutes? You are late: “sorry.” You bump into a chair on the way into the room: “sorry.” You sit next to someone and they look at you: “sorry.” Neither of these examples is the ideal for a true apology. Pent up feelings of either needing to give a true apology or needing to hear a true apology can affect our mental and physical health.