The fever had taken hold of Thomas three days ago, and Elisabeth knew with the certainty that comes from watching too many neighbors buried that her little brother was dying. She knelt beside his small form on the rough-hewn bed, pressing a damp cloth to his burning forehead. At eight years old, Thomas had always … Continue reading The Healer’s Daughter
Medicine
Question of the Week #415
Welcome back, dear readers, to another installment of our Question of the Week series. Today, we're diving into a topic that might just have you rummaging through your medicine cabinet with a newfound sense of curiosity. Our question comes from Gregory Stock's thought-provoking book, The Book of Questions, and it goes a little something like … Continue reading Question of the Week #415
The Quintessence of Molly Quinn
Molly Quinn stepped through the revolving doors of the WBKB station, a sharp winter wind nipping at her heels. It was her first day as a television journalist and she was determined to make her mark. The newsroom bustled with activity - the clacking of typewriters, the distant chatter of the police scanner, cigarette smoke … Continue reading The Quintessence of Molly Quinn
Question of the Week #378
From Gregory Stock’s The Book of Questions: Would you be willing to undergo a relatively safe surgery to implant a permanent cardiac monitor that would detect the tell-tale signs of an impending heart attack and summon medical help before it occurred? Let doctors slice you open and implant a bunch of wires and computer chips in … Continue reading Question of the Week #378
You Know How I Know I’m Old?
I'm on daily medication to lower my blood pressure. That's right... It's finally happened. I'm just another guy in his early 40s who has high blood pressure and now has to have a prescription medication to take care of that little issue. Okay, I know that doesn't necessarily serve as an indicator that I'm old. … Continue reading You Know How I Know I’m Old?
Question of the Week #264
If a new medicine would cure arthritis but kill 1 out of 100 people who took it, would you want it to be legal? What about a vaccine that would kill 1 in 20, but keep the others from getting cancer? No. And no. If it were one in a million, I might think differently. … Continue reading Question of the Week #264
Being Sick
It's my fault. Really. I jinxed myself. If such a thing is possible. And it's because I was bragging about how I wasn't getting sick. See, according to Timehop, around this time each year, I'm usually sick or getting over some kind of illness. Usually it begins around Christmas. It's usually a variation on the … Continue reading Being Sick
If You’re Able…
I spent a lot of years donating blood on a regular basis. It started when I was in college. The Red Cross would set up a bloodmobile on campus once each semester and I would sign up to give. That's how I found out I'm A negative. Anyway, I even continued trying to give whole … Continue reading If You’re Able…
Life Story: Chapter Sixty One
Welcome to a series of stories that basically make up my autobiography. It’s not entirely thorough, but I’ll do the best I can with the memories locked away inside my head. Could be therapeutic for me. Could be humorous for you. Either way, enjoy… Previously on Life Story... I went to the beach with some … Continue reading Life Story: Chapter Sixty One
Question of the Week #59
By controlling medical research funds, you are in a position to guarantee that a cure will be found in 15 years for any disease you choose. Unfortunately, no progress on any others would be made during that period. Would you target one disease? No, I wouldn't. What if researchers are only five years away from … Continue reading Question of the Week #59
The Confusing Middle 