Blog 4: Ways Women Can Reduce Risk Of Assault

A woman should do the following to reduce her risk of possible assault:

·         ALWAYS beware of your surroundings

·         ALWAYS carry your keys in your hand ( Have your keys between your knuckles so that you can use them as a weapon) 

·        Watch this following video for tips on SELF DEFENSE:

·         Carry pepper spray with you!

·        Maybe consider getting a concealed handgun license!

·         ALWAYS be confident and do not act nervous or scared!

·         Have your cellphone with you at all time fully charged so that if an emergency situation arises you can call 9-1-1 quickly!

·        If you get a bad vibe/feeling about a certain situation LISTEN TO IT! DO NOT IGNORE IT! You are most likely right about the situation that can develop! GET AWAY from the situation

Blog 5: Mommy Warrior

Mommy Warrior

Monica Jorge is an inspiration for us all. She has undergone 37 surgeries, has lost four limbs and multiple organs, continuous rehabilitation, a new baby, and a wedding. Monica was diagnosed with “necrotizing fasciitis, also known as flesh-eating bacteria” after having a C-section with her second child (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She began to develop a serve fever that would not go away. She was then flown to a hospital in Boston where doctors had to remove Monica’s ovaries, uterus, gallbladder, and part of her colon within that same day.

One would expect a person going through such a traumatic and painful situation to want to give up, well Monica fought through it all. Her infection “restricted the blood flow to her arms and legs” and the only option left to save her life would be to amputate all four limbs (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). With such devastating news, Monica was willing to face the disease and stated: "I needed to know what I was up against. I didn't want to be shielded anymore" (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

Monica was very afraid when she learned the news that doctors had to amputate both legs and arms. She was willing to fight against all odds and go home to her wonderful daughters and fiancé Tony.   She thought, “have a life to live and it's not here [hospital], and until you amputate, I can't move forward." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She is a very courageous woman!

She spent approximately two months in the hospital and married Tony in the hospital chapel in October 2007 (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.). She was determined to go home as soon as possible and gave her all during rehabilitation. She was determined to walk again. She pushed through it all and was able to reunite with her family at her home. She stated that she would have breakdowns and states, “I did have moments of 'If God just left me one arm or one leg, life would be a little bit easier,' but that's not the way it went, you make do with what you have. I could still love my girls. The bottom line was I am still here." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

She is a ‘Mommy Warrior’ and defiantly an inspiration to us all. She took the negative and made it into a positive for the betterment of her daughters and family, She thanks all her family, friends, rehabilitation faculty, and doctors for being there for her through such a life changing event.

Words from Monica: "I've come to the realization that things are as they are, and you have to move forward. Life goes on. There's no sense dwelling on it—that just hurts too much and you don't live your life the way you want to. And with a wonderful husband and two great girls, life is fun." (Meet a Mother Warrior, n.d.).

 

 

References

Meet a Mother Warrior  (n.d.). Oprah Winfrey's Official Website - Live Your Best Life - Oprah.com. Retrieved from http://www.oprah.com/relationships/Meet-a-Mother-Warrior/2

Blog 3

Living with Bipolar Disorder

Rossana Diaz is living with bipolar disorder. She discover she was bipolar by the age of 35. She noticed being very irritable at times and other times being extremely happy. She first noticed something was terribly wrong after discovering her husband had cheated on her. She became very depressed and resentful of her husband. She forgave him for his mistake, but she will never forget. After noticing over exhaustion of her body at times she decided to see a doctor. It was determined that she was bipolar. After learning about her mental illness her life has and will be different. She has let her family know and they have become supportive of her. They understand that she will have good and bad days. She understands that she has to take her medication and try her best to live a normal life and become aware of what triggers her bipolarness. 

Blog 2

"Kathy's Talk"

Where: In the living room of the home. (It must be a neutral place for both the parent and child)

When: Carmen, the mother of Kathy, begins to notice Kathy's early stages of puberty at around age 11. 

How: Kathy seems to be embarrassed about her growing breast. Her mother notices that Kathy seems to never want to take off her pink hoody even though it is Spring time and the weather is so beautiful. 

Carmen: Kathy, sweetheart, why are you wearing your hoody still?

Kathy: I really like my pink hoody mom!

Carmen: Well it is not hoody season Kathy. Look at the weather it is so beautiful!!

Kathy: Mami, well I know the weather is beautiful, but I am embarrassed because my breasts are growing.

Carmen: Oh hunny! That's perfectly normal. This means you are beginning your new stage of life as an adolescent.

Kathy: Well I've heard a couple of my friends, like Jessica and Holly, talking about getting their period and I was a little scared.

(Carmen goes over to Kathy and holds her hand)

Carmen: Oh baby, this means that they have begun puberty.

Kathy: Puberty? What is that???

Carmen: Yes hunny puberty. See you are a girl who is becoming a young lady and as time continues you with go through physical changes. For example your breast will continue to grow as they are now.  You will start to grow hair under your pitties and private area. Look I even got you a couple of gifts. Here let me go get them. I was waiting for "The Talk."

(Carmen goes into her bed room and opens her closet and takes out a medium size bag.)

Carmen: Close your eyes Kathy! See puberty is not such a bad thing. We all must go through it. It is part of growing up. You are not alone hunny. I am here for you! I went through puberty too and let me tell you, my mom never talked to me about it. See take a look at what I bought you.

(Kathy looks inside the bag and pulls out a book titled, "The Care & Keeping of YOU")

Carmen: I got you this book because this will explain to you why puberty is so normal and all the changes you will go through. This book is written by Valorie Schaefer and we will read it together. As soon as we are done I will answer any questions you might have.

(Both Carmen and Kathy begin to read the book)

Kathy: Mom! This book really makes me feel a whole lot better and excited about hitting puberty! That means I will grow and be taller than you mom!!! 

Blog 1- Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?

The health care in the United States is terrible as addressed in this 4 minute clip "There's No Small Stuff": Being Poorhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dshh1JLO3ps&feature=related in Louisville. Mary Turner is a prime example of this as she explains her hardships in the documentary Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?. It makes me very sad hearing her story because she and everyone deserve to have healthy food choices on a daily. She cannot make healthy food choices because she cannot afford too. This of course leads her and her family to have a poor nutrition, which affects her and her disabled husband very much. I think it is very unfair that as Americans we can with enthusiasm help other countries, but we cannot feed our own people and help them progress towards a healthier life style and a prolonged future. The United States health care system needs major overhauling. The system is clearly not working if an individual has to choose between food and rent. Both food and having a roof under your head are essential for the well being of any person. When such things are not so good many problems began to arise such in the aspect of social life, mental health, physical health, spiritual well being, and emotional state. Real change needs to happen in this country very soon because it will only get worse and worse and more and more people will suffer just like Mary and her family.

Bio

     Hello everyone! My name is Yancy Salcedo and I was born and raised in East Dallas. I grew up in the same house for most of my life. I just recently moved out and I am on my own. I work full time and I am taking 12 hours this semester as well. I am majoring in Health Studies with a minor in Women's Studies. I have a year left from graduating and I cannot wait until that happens. I work at a private tax consulting firm and I am a personal assistant to the President of the company. I really enjoy my job, but defiantly want to work in something related to health. I love diseases and I love investigating and helping others out. I love everything that has to do with the human body. I just think that the human body is so fascinating in all aspects. I believe that without health we can’t have much. Health and mental well being are extremely important. I know that I have to improve my health by working out more and eating healthier and I am currently working on that. 

     I have no children and so far I am thankful for that because I am in no way ready to have any children! I applaud those of you that do have children and are able to go to school, work, be a wife, single mother, etc. I do tho have four nephews and one gorgeous niece that I love very dearly! I grew up with an extremely hardworking mother that I would do anything for. I have realized that my mother would and will do anything to better my life. She is definitively my hero and my biggest role model. Through life experiences you are able to realize lots of things and I am so far thankful for what I have learned and will keep learning.  I really want to travel the world in the coming years and I am considering joining the Peace Corps when I graduate from TWU. I like surfing the internet, reading, listening to music, shopping, getting my hair done and nails, spending time with family and friends, sushi, learning new research going on regarding health,  and I love smiling and laughing. I love diversity and love listening to people and their stories. I am as fascinated by culture and how things over time develop to be the way they are.  I know that this world needs much change and I hope that in the coming years I can contribute to this world and to society in a very significant way. I believe in human right and would also want to work with an organization that are activist in fighting for the rights of the less privileged. I have many health issue interest but some are mental illness, reproduction, sexuality, diseases, and global health.  I hope I do well in this course and I wish everyone else good luck!