Man's best friend- key to brain cancer cure?

Here is a hopeful video about the progress being made in the search for a cure to cancer.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7390631n

Animals & stress- A zoologist reflects on her experiences

The following was submitted By Ashley Eastway. Ashley holds a BA in Zoology from Michigan State University. She is currently working in her field in Gatlinburge Tennesee.

For me animal therapy has always been a part of my life. The first example of this that I can remember was when we got our first cats Luna and Moses. They were both thrown out into the desert by some ranch owner because they had defects. Luna had a T-shaped tail and Moses had a stub tail and extra toes. They were so young that we had to bottle feed them both for them to live. Because of this they were both very bonded to us. I had never before had an animal that needed me and over the years they returned the favor. Moses could always tell when I was upset and would always find me if I was crying. I can't tell you the number of times I cried into his fur and could hear him purr.  There was a feeling of relief I felt just knowing that he loved me as much as I loved him.

Since then I have had many pets and worked with all sorts of animals for my career. The one thing I can say that all these animals have in common is their ability to make me laugh. The greatest thing I get from working with animals is their ability to lift my mood when I am down.

My current rescue cat, Tabasco Kitten, I found at the zoo I was working at. We pulled her out of a hole in the ground that was behind my turtle exhibit. She was covered in fleas and starving. I knew as soon as I saw her that she would be mine. I got her home and cleaned up and have now had her for a few months. She is my little alarm clock and every morning motivates me to wake up. It may sound crazy, but when I have a bad day I can think of her, and just know that everything will be ok, because she will be in my home, happy and ready for cuddles when I get there. Animals just make the home so full of energy. This, I guess, is how my animals have made my life better and have aided me in coping with life.

People who give up thier special needs kids

Staggering Statistics

Think in this day and age that families no longer give ut thier Downs snydrome kids? Think again. Here is a blip from Reece's rainbow, an adoption sevice for Down's Kids. Warning: this might make you cry, it did me.

Take a minute to read through this carefully. It is mind boggling…

In Central and Eastern European countries alone (this would include Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania, etc, but NOT Russia), there are more than 1.5 MILLION CHILDREN who have been abandoned by their families for one reason or another and are living in "public care" (that's the nice way to put it). If statistically, 1 out of every 733 live births results in a child with Down syndrome, that means at any given time there are 2,046 children with Down syndrome who need families. THAT'S JUST IN EUROPE!! Some do not survive because of serious medical complications…some do not survive because of lack of medical attention, lack of food, lack of LOVE. 

In Russia, there are over 700,000 children waiting for families, meaning at least 955 children with Down syndrome wait, languishing. In ASIA (China, Hong Kong, Korea, India), there are 3,572,000 orphans, with nearly 5000 children with Down syndrome who are unwanted. Many of those children are killed at birth. The "lucky" ones end up in orphanages and foster care situations.

http://reecesrainbow.org

Blog post test

One reader contacted me and said there is a post missing. This is a posting test to see if I can solve the problem.

Deaf babies and sign Language

I worked for many years as a sign language interpreter in the public shoool system. My work included kids from pre-school age to university students. Often people who don't know sign language want to argue that if you teach a baby to sign they will never learn to speak. My experience has taught me just the oppposite. I have spent many hours with children while they recieve speech therapy at school. I can honesly say that  100% of the kids who were taught sign as a baby did much better with thier speech. They also did better with reading and most other academics. If you have a new Deaf baby, please do not listen to those who will try to make you believe sign language will harm your baby.

Babies are often frustrated  because they can not express all that they are thinking. In recent years I have worked as a mental health consultant to Head Start.  I have witnessed more tantrums than most people will see in a life time. But when language is delayed or lacking, there is always a pattern of tantrums. I have used sign language to build a language  bridge for both hearing and deaf tots. When a child learns they can esxpress themselves with sign, when verbal words are slow to come for what ever reason, it always results in a happier more confident child.

Stage 1 Breast Cancer

Stage one breast cancer, no big deal right? Caught early, chances of survival are very good. What they don't tell you is the years that follow are going to be very challenging, physically, mentally and emotionally. I am three years out from my original diagnosis of Invasive Lobular carcinoma.

There are several types of breast cancer, this is one of them. What began with a one centimeter lump on my right breast, turned into a 3 year nightmare that almost went unchecked (and would have if I had listen to the first doctor I saw about it.)

 I have a story to tell about my experiences and what I have learned. My hope is that I can help others who are  faced with this avoid the mistakes that I made through ignorance, misguided advise from professionals and allowing my own fear to run my thoughts.

Down's Syndrome, breast cancer & rescue animals

What the heck to these three things have in common? They are the focus of the services that will be offered at Downsy Dude Rescue Ranch.

Breast Cancer

Did you know that in 2011 there were more than 240,000 new cases of breast cancer?
2.5 million women now have this diagnosis.

On January 23 2012 there is a letter writing campaign  involving the the members of Breastcancer.org, an online support forum for breast cancer victims numbering well over 100,000 members.

We want this epidemic addressed with the swiftness that the swine flu and other pandemics have received.

Please join us in writing to your congress person, the president, or any other elected official on January 23rd.  If you do not already have breast cancer yourself, chances are 1 in 8  you will have. Studies show that everyone knows someone who is afflicted with this debilitating disease. Write your personal story, Lets make Washington cry!

To see this movement on Breastcancer.org click here

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/110/topic/779187?page=5#idx_127

Pet therapy stories wanted-Cats, dogs, and other critters

Do you have a touching story about how an animal helped you get through a tough time? I am collecting stories to be put in a book that will will be sold to raise funds for the Downsy Dude Rescue Ranch Project.

Write  your story for a good cause!