Investment in health research will pay off

Steve Farrell PHD writing a post for Cooper Aerobic Institute informs us, “It’s no secret that cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the U.S., accounting for approximately 275,000 deaths per year. This causes not only a tremendous physical and emotional toll, but also places a significant economic burden on society. Approximately $90 billion is spent each year on the direct costs of cancer such as medication, hospital, physician, and nursing services.”

Cancer no matter the gender is a big deal and the numbers tell us the impact cancer has on our lives. Without a doubt the impact is even greater when cancer hits us personally. 

Since the Fall, Genesis 3, sin and death has ruled over our lives. Work which became harder holds back some of the impact of the fall. For example, you build a home and you are sheltered from the storm. We have learned how to better insulate our homes and in turn that help us endure Extreme cold and heat. 

The investment in discovery of the things it kills us has more than doubled our lifespan. It wasn't easy, it was hard work, it was costly and here we are. There are many things unexplored regarding our health. We have a long way to go unraveling how to repair the brain. We have a long way to go in regard to cancer. Repairing and regenerating our bodies are in the infancy of development. Most things that kill us we have no cures. Our bodies are capable of overcoming things, but most things we put into remission rather than a cure. 

What do we gain when we help those who cannot help themselves? Whether we are looking at the elderly fighting dementia, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, or diabetes it is good to remember that every one of us if we live long enough will be in the same fight. What we learn today will help us tomorrow. We have to be big minded in this way.

Pictured here is an older gentleman suffering from
loneliness. Is he forgotten? It takes work to care.

What did we learn about people with multiple disabilities that cannot earn a living themselves? These things are very costly but there is an amazing benefit that comes from caring for people who cannot care for themselves. 

We learn things and treating extreme conditions bring us unexpected consequences that just may help you in a bad time in your life. What is learned in the costly care of the disabled will lead to discoveries that will help us dealing with the disabilities of aging and disease?

There is a principle found in Matthew 26 that has guided me when I helped people who are either hard to help (an idiot) or have difficult disabilities that take a lot of work. Many of these people are sweethearts, but not all of them. I always kept in mind someone was watching and it did matter. It is easy to help beautiful healthy people. But it is quite another matter when you're helping someone who for whatever reason have no way to pay you back or even to say thanks. 

Was it worth it to help them? I will be honest with you I have debated this. The principle that Jesus gave has often turn the scales for me to help. I doubt many people knew my struggle or why I went ahead and helped. But here was one of the game changers for me: 

Jesus said, ’Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

It takes hard work to defeat cancer. It is very costly, but what was the alternative. Progress is being made, there is hope. Keep walking

Today looking at small health studies

Today was my day to travel around the country reading newspapers in looking for news in health. Small size studies have there limits but they may raise good questions.

Before I stepped off into my virtual news travel I read an article from the Chicago Tribune, Is PTSD in our Genes? Like many disorders both physical and mental Science has researched whether or not we are predispose genetically to the illness or not. Here was a study of Holocaust 32 survivors DNA with 22 of their children's DNA at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. The researchers there found a correlation of PTSD being possibly a factor genetically. In the reporting it was noted that the study was too small and the conclusions may have other explanations. It is an example of reading the article and not just a headline of it. You may draw the wrong conclusion. 

Bruce Carey & Sarah
Love these pictures of
dads with their kids.
Not sure Bruce is keeping up.
One time Bruce and I
carried a girl out of
the wilderness

For example, people who went through the Holocaust and personally suffered; how does that affect them as parents? Would their horrible experiences make them better parents or present more difficulties for them? Is it a problem in their DNA or is the problem in their suffering PTSD which at that time lacked sufficient information, support and treatment? 

In some ways I've had this conversation with my psychiatrists and therapists who cared for me with anxiety, depression, insomnia and PTSD. The cycle of the extreme abuse goes way back in my family history on my fathers side. Is that genetic or is that just learned behavior? There's no way I could rule it out one way or another. My game plan was to end it in my generation. I decided to do this back in my 20s. Did I stop the chain reaction? I think I definitely influenced how my children parent without abuse. Of course, I think they get a lot of credit for it to. 

So this study in the article is too small to make any big statements. But I think it raises good questions.

Mark Huber and David -
Mark and I had some great hikes.

My next stop was the Big Apple and an article by Gretchen Reynolds of the New York Times, for exercise, nothing like the great outdoors. Study was again a small one and looked at two different walks. Both were long walks of three hours. One walk was in the Alps and the second walk was on a treadmill. For me that is a no brainer as to which is better for the body and mind.  They also had a three hour experience where they could lounge around and talk or read, or surf the web. In walking, both experiences improved the mood better than the longing around and surfing the net. Walking in the mountains scored the best in improving mood. If I were predicting the outcome I would have rated the walk outdoors as the best. Personally I don’t do well on the treadmill but for many walking on a tredmill is a good thing to lift the spirits. I know walking does improve mood in general. 

Again the study is too small and there are a lot of factors that could effect outcome. 

Walking on vacation often can motivate our daily walking to be fit enough to take a nice long scenic walk. Finding outdoor walks near by can be a very rewarding experience. Keep walking and keep reading

How do you live a century and be married for 80 years? Some clues are in the writing

Vivian & Donald Hart

I can still hear David's big laugh.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Two 99-year-olds celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary on Sunday, making them the longest-living couple in the state, according to their family.

How did this couple live so long? I think there are clues in the story.

Isn't that remarkable to live 99 years and be married someone for eighty years. It doesn't happen that often. They were born in 1918 or late 1917. World War I was in progress. They are married in 1937. The country was still in the grip of the depression. Grand Rapids was the city of churches where people did attend.

Hitler, Mussolini, and Japan formed an alliance  that would soon put the war at war. What were their stories during the war? 

Donald Hart and his wife, Vivian, reminisced about the eight decades they’ve spent together while looking through old photo albums Friday in Grand Rapids. But for the couple, the albums are only the tip of the memory iceberg. They are still living at home. They have the health and strength to still be able to do this.

The Harts today

The Harts’ relationship blossomed in the 1930s. Donald Hart was leaving church when a group of “gals from out of town” needed some help home. But just giving out directions wasn’t his style.

“We said, ‘Aw, shoot. Why don’t we just walk you there?’ So we ended up walking them way across town,” he said. “We were just going to [walk] a little ways and then quit, but we ended up going all the way.”

He served in the Air Force and was drafted in World War II before spending more than 20 years at American Seating.

David Hart a Friend and brother from
GRSBM still has hair 

Vivian Hart, a chalk artist and avid reader, is most known for her unwavering love her family — especially her kids.

24 Hour News 8 spoke with the Harts’ oldest and youngest sons, who both touted their parents’ strength, forgiveness, and commitment to their family and church.

For the  Harts, having faith and living it out may be one key in their longevity. They were committed to bring their family up for Christ. They lived out their faith as well as they shared it. They were poor but not impoverished. They were provided with blessing where one of the cornerstones of their home was fun. 

David was one of the early morning crew at the Commons (GRSBM cafe on Campus) having coffee and debating the fine points of theology. David was one who interjected a lot of laughter. He had a good sense of humor. I believe he shared his families' faith and commitment to challenge their children to live for the Lord.

“When I look back on it, I think, ‘Boy, we were really poor,’” eldest son Don Hart said. “When [my dad] first got out of the military, I was 7 years old. We lived in a dinky house — it had been a chicken coop. We didn’t have things, but we had a lot of fun.”

In a life well lived we see that they were creative, reading and art. They cared for their family throughout their life. Words like commitment, strength (to pull through the hard times) and lived out forgiveness (I take it to mean they did not hold grudges and anger.) These are good principles that definite lead to a longer, healthy lives. Even nearly 40 years ago their children were loving their parents and I am sure they helped care for them as Vivian and Donald got older. Love that is returned always is good for our health. Keep walking

The black print is the article from the Grand Rapids newspaper. The blue ink are my musings.

Enjoying aa night under the stars

With Will at White Pines

It has been along time since I've been camping. My older cerebral palsy body required a little more attention then it used to. I bought a cot from Teton Mountain camping that is built for people my size. The cot is close to the size of the twin bed. Great for base and family camping. You can attach a tent to it and comes with its own pad. The cot is high enough off the ground to get up and down fairly easy. Without the rain fly it off as good summer sleeping under the stars. The first nite was great for stargazing. The second night, we had a good Midwestern thunderstorm that tested the tent’s rainfly. The temperature went down the to the 50s and I used just a blanket. The Cot’s design gave real good support; I was able to sleep through the night. Without a doubt the most comfortable sleep I have had in camping.

Skyler & Liam

When we get older a cot like this may give you an opportunity to enjoy a night under the stars. "He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them." Ps. 147:4

Barb and I are discussing ways to transition into camping we can do cross country. Cycling trails and campgrounds more so than hiking. The quiet and sounds I really love. Travel days motel it until we are at locations we choose to camp and bike.

Barb teaching the story of Jonah

Tanya and Will were a lot of fun to camp with. Skyler and Liam my grandkids we're very enthusiastic about the trip. They both pitched in to the experience and brought a lot of fun to it. 

Tanya, Skyler, Barb on hike

I wasn’t able to go on the hike with them so I putz around the camp site, taking short walks.  I knew the kids would be non stop exploring the trails. They actually went on two trails. Later we went to the park where they had a playground for the kids. I was watching the kids play together and I noticed how Skyler gets Liam to do new things. Skyler and I have bonded and she has me wrapped around her finger. We played games around the campfire. 

Part of the fun was the daytime temperatures in the 70’s, Perfect for play and hiking. Barb was able to share a few Bible stories and during the storm, Tanya was sharing  scary camp stories and I could hear the kids laughing in the tent. Keep walking