Dad, Hunter, Patriot Needs Your Help In Cancer Battle

Sheridan Folger...

The fight of his life

February 4, 2014 - Friend Sheridan Folger is fighting for his life -- literally. He's battling Stage IV Colon Cancer -- which took my own mother in 1993. Please help a good man in urgent need to defray some of the costs for him and his beautiful family during this dark time in their lives? (And not to get political, but Obamacare just won't cut it.)

Read Folger's story, which is powerfully written, at his fundraising page at Rally.org. Even if you cannot donate, you can still help: "Like" his Rally page and share it on your social networks and via email. Share this blog post with everyone you know. Thank you in advance for helping a patriot in his hour of need. Here is an excerpt from his Rally page:

The Deadly Ignorance of Hepatitis

August 3, 2013 - The World Hepatitis Alliance is calling for "urgent attention" to help fight viral hepatitis worldwide, which it says kills as many as does HIV/AIDS. Despite this alarming claim, "the great majority of countries have no programmes in place to tackle it." Tragically, ignorance of hepatitis greatly contributes to the number of deaths caused by the disease itself.

More people, both the public and the healthcare community, need to become aware of hepititis. According to Hepatitis Foundation International, "An estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected. Most do not know HOW they were infected. About 80,000 new infections occur each year."

Video from World Heptatitis Alliance

Ignorance Kills: Far too many policymakers, health workers and members of the public are ignorant of hepatitis, how to prevent its spread, and how to treat it.

"Viral hepatitis is the leading cause of liver cancer and the most common reason for liver transplantation," says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "An estimated 4.4 million Americans are living with chronic hepatitis; most do not know they are infected." NewsMedical reports that "The Global Burden of Disease study released last year in the Lancet shows that viral hepatitis was responsible for almost 1.45 million deaths in 2010, the same as HIV/AIDS and significantly more than TB or Malaria. Despite this enormous annual death toll, leaders in global health consistently leave it off their agendas." It is astounding that such a serious disease remains so ignored. 

The World Hepatitits Alliance has some easy ways for you to get involved and help raise awareness. WHA points out these alarming facts:

• Viral hepatitis was responsible for almost 1.45 million deaths in 2010, the same as HIV/AIDS and significantly more than TB or Malaria
• 500 million people are living with chronic viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B and C are ‘silent’ viruses, because people may experience no symptoms
• If left untreated, hepatitis B or C can lead to advanced liver scarring, liver cancer or liver failure

Being infected with certain types of the hepatitis virus can cause hepatitis and increase the risk of liver cancer. (Source: National Cancer Institute)

Hepatitis is most commonly caused by the hepatitis virus. Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation (swelling) of the liver. Damage to the liver from hepatitis that lasts a long time can increase the risk of liver cancer.

There are six types of the hepatitis virus. Hepatitis A (HAV), hepatitis B (HBV), and hepatitis C (HCV) are the three most common types. These three viruses cause similar symptoms, but the ways they spread and affect the liver are different. The Hepatitis A vaccine and the hepatitis B vaccine prevent infection with hepatitis A and hepatitis B. There is no vaccine to prevent infection with hepatitis C. If a person has had one type of hepatitis in the past, it is still possible to get the other types. Read more about the six types of hepatitis...

Also See:
Global policy report on the prevention and control of viral hepatitis World Hepatitis Alliance
World Hepatitis Alliance calls for urgent action to address viral hepatitis News-Medical.net
Hepatitis C on the rise among [baby] boomers ... Sun-Sentinel
Early detection and treatment key to fighting hepatitis... The National UAE
Stigma And Ignorance Hinder The Fight Against Hepatitis MedicalTV.eu
Hepatitis C: Why Baby Boomers Should Get Tested (pdf) CDC.gov

Eco-Friendly Light Bulbs Increase Cancer Risk, Says University Study

"Eco-friendly" CFL: Deadly

Incandescent:
Safer, Simpler

Jan. 7, 2013 - Those energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs that the Leftists in Congress are forcing upon us are potentially deadly, says a study by the prestigious Stony Brook University on Long Island, NY.

The bulbs are  advertised as "eco-friendly" and less expensive to use, but they have serious drawbacks. Aside from causing a mercury spill hazard materials event when broken, we now learn that they emit extreme levels of ultra violet radiation. The bulbs are also called "compact fluorescent light" (CFL) bulbs.

“When there is something in your house, you don’t perceive any danger, you wouldn’t get that close to an x-ray in a doctor’s office,” says Miriam Rafailovich, Professor of Materials Science at Stony Brook University in New York. That's from a report by CBS4 Miami, which also noted that the study "found that the bulbs emit rays so strong that they can actually burn skin and skin cells." CBS4 quoted Marcia Simon, a Professor of Dermatology, who said, "The results were that you could actually initiate cell death."

Chicago! Have Some Wine, Shave Your Head and Help Cure Childhood Cancer on Sunday, March 25

vintage338.com

Chicago has a great (and fun) way to fight childhood cancer this Sunday, March 25. The good people of Vintage 338 wine bar are hosting a St. Baldrick's event where volunteers will shave their head to help conquer childhood cancer. You can sign up here for this event, which is open to the public with drink specials that will help benefit St. Baldrick’s!

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. For a $5 contribution to St. Baldrick's you too can shave your head during the event, courtesy of Floyd’s 99 Barbershop in Lincoln Park! Did we mention the Complimentary Chili and Mac & Cheese Bar? (Vintage 338 has a great menu!)

Where: Vintage 338
338 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 (Map)

Contact: Christopher Barkulis
773-525-0521 or cbarkulis@earthlink.net

Activity Schedule:

• 2:00pm - 6:30pm For a $5 Donation to St. Baldrick's you can get your head shaved courtesy of Jada from Floyd's 99 Barbershop, located at 2572 N. Clark St. in Chicago.
• 2:00pm - 6:30pm $1 off all drinks and $1 donated to St. Baldrick's by Vintage 338 for each purchased drink!
• 2:00pm - 6:30pm $5 off all wine bottles and $5 donated to St. Baldrick's by Vintage 338 for every purchased bottle!
• 2:00pm - Until We Run Out! Free Chili and Mac & Cheese Bar

Not quite ready to shave your head, but would love to help this fantastic charity? No problem. Go to the event page to donate directly to St. Baldrick’s! Also, Vintage 338 is offering up some other great ways to contribute:  $1 Off every glass of wine, beer, or mixed drink purchased and Vintage 338 will donate $1 to the St. Baldrick's Foundation, PLUS All Bottles of Red, White and Sparkling Wine will be $5 off and Vintage 338 will donate $5 per bottle to the St. Baldrick's Foundation.

Todd Stroger Shuns Stroger Hospital

Stroger Hospital (formerly known as Cook County Hospital) is not good enough for Cook County President Todd Stroger. Todd, son of former Cook County President John Stroger, had his prostate gland removed on Monday of this week. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer last November, before he was elected.

According to a Stroger spokeslady, "Stroger had his prostate removed at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and will remain in the hospital while he recovers."

As late as yesterday, Stroger's spokeshumans were still saying that Stroger was in the hospital for a routing procedure. That is technically true; prostate surgery is now so common that it is routine. But Stroger's people were deliberately hiding the underlying, potentially life-threatening seriousness of the reason behind the "routine" procedure. Stroger is expected to make a full recovery.

But how can we to trust that assessment when we've already been intentionally mislead?

According the the Chicago Tribune today, "spokeswoman Ibis Antongiorgi confirmed that Stroger's prostate cancer was diagnosed 'about 10 months ago' during a routine screening. The cancer was monitored and doctors decided surgery was required, she said."

The Daily Southtown today wrote that "County officials were surprised to learn that Stroger had been hospitalized and would not attend today's county board meeting. Even those in the highest ranks of Stroger's administration were kept in the dark about his condition, at the family's request."

Eric Zorn, opinion columnist for the Chicago Tribune, scolds Stroger for not disclosing his cancer last year. Today Zorn wrote, "Voters are entitled to know if a candidate has cancer or any other serious health condition. Period. Whether or not the illness is relevant to the candidate's qualifications for office is something voters are entitled to decide as they weigh their choice."

Yup. But then, as Zorn points out, would it have made a difference with voters? Probably not. Most of Stroger's supporters would have voted for him anyway. I mean, if the voters weren't already put off by Todd Stroger's annointment by the Machine after his father stayed in office for months while in a coma, and those same voters rejected two far more qualified candidates, would a little bout with prostate cancer have swayed anybody? Probably not.

Indeed, prostate cancer these days is so commonly cured that the voters should not consider it to be a reason to not vote for someone. But the voters have the right to be fully informed when they make such a decision.

After months of watching Todd Stroger commandeer private elevators in the county offices and hiring friends and relatives for high paying positions, we should probably not be surprised that the imperial Todd Stroger chose to get his medical treatment at Northwestern Hospital in the Gold Coast. He knows that Stroger Hospital is in bad shape, and its deteriorating conditions have not been helped by his policies and attitude toward the staff there.

Meanwhile, we at RPB wish Todd Stroger a full and speedy recovery. Political differences and the firm belief that Todd Stroger is a lying bowl of feces is not enough to wish him ill health. To help him continue his lifestyle in the same manner as before he lost his prostate gland, we strongly recommend a good lubricant to him.

RELATED:

Doctors Hitting the Exits at Stroger Hospital
Chicago Public Radio - June 18, 2007 - We continue our series examining how Cook County budget cuts are affecting some of our region’s most vulnerable people, as Chicago Public Radio’s Robert Wildeboer reports on what cuts mean for the staff left at Stroger Hospital.

Financial crisis for Stroger Hospital
ABC7Chicago.com, USA - June 19, 2007 - On the one hand, he said that despite the massive budget cuts he was ordered to make this year, Stroger Hospital is still the Mayo Clinic of public health

Traffic dips at Stroger Hospital
Crain's Chicago Business, IL - Jun 18, 2007 - A striking decline in the number of patients admitted to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital prompted the closing of an entire wing at Cook County's flagship.

Mismanagement At Stroger Hospital?
NBC5.com, IL - Jun 8, 2007 - Mismanagement At Stroger Hospital? June 7, 2007 Some patients at Cook County hospital are having trouble paying their bills.

Stroger Hospital in danger of losing federal funding
ABC7Chicago.com, USA - May 21, 2007 - By Charles Thomas May 21, 2007 - There is concern that the quality of patient care is declining at Stroger Hospital. The hospital received 22 citations.

Stroger Hospital gets poor ratings
Chicago Daily Southtown, IL - May 22, 2007 - By Jonathan Lipman Staff writer Cook County's Stroger Hospital is in danger of losing its accreditation after a surprise inspection in March...

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