Reflections from My Twilight Years – The Power of Lifestyle

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The Christmas Story

The Christmas story is loved by millions of people. It’s a wonderful story, but there is mystery in it, too. Was Jesus really born on Christmas day? No. We don’t know what day he was born. Matthew and Luke both tell the story, but neither one tells us what day…

Love Thy Neighbor: A Muslim Doctor’s Struggle for Home in Rural America

Dr. Ayaz Virji is a Muslim doctor who settled in the small town of Dawson, Minnesota with his family in 2013. He graduated from one of our top medical schools in 2000 and completed his medical residency at Duke University Medical Center in 2003. He left an excellent hospital-based practice…

Saving Flint’s Children – A Remarkable Story

A sub-surface public health disaster was brewing in Flint, Michigan in 2014, but nobody knew. In her book, What the Eyes Don’t See, Mona Hanna-Attisha tells the story of how it was discovered and addressed. Dr. Mona came to Hurley Hospital in Flint as director of its pediatric residency program…

The Plight of a Young Female Refugee

The worldwide number of refugees is huge and escalating due to the political turmoil and wars that plague us today. They include tens of millions people of all ages. Because of the severe dislocation they’ve experienced, they are vulnerable to serious health disorders, as well as major social, educational, and…

A Modern Parable of Trust

Caring trust is important in countless relationships. These include husband-wife, parent-child, teacher-student, doctor-patient, employer-employee, and many others. In relationships, the underlying principle is similar. Mutual trust is vital to healthy relationships. Johnny and Jimmy, two children under my care early in my medical career, taught me much about trust. My…

The Power of Caring Connections

Most people have a desire to connect with others. Facebook is a major online institution because of this. People around the world join Facebook so they can connect easily with friends and many others. Facebook is a powerful social force because so many millions of people belong to it. The…

Your Gut Microbiome’s Amazing Power

Most of us know a bit about the gut microbiome but may not fully appreciate its importance. Your complete microbiome consists of all the microbes that live in and on your body. Estimates range up to more than 100 trillion micro-organisms, far more than your own body’s 30 trillion cells.…

Tree Trunks

I enjoy my daily walk, especially after a day of rain. Much of my attention this morning was on the landscaping of the homes I passed. It’s always interesting to see changes in the yards as homeowners work on them and as the seasons progress. In addition, I’m always looking…

Cabbage Patch Treasures

Cabbage Patch dolls were a huge fad 40 years ago, so popular that they caused marketplace frenzy in late 1983. Stores couldn’t keep up with demand and shopping conditions literally became chaotic. Shoppers who couldn’t get one for Christmas were frantic. Clips about the cabbage patch doll craze still show…

Silver Linings

The article “Frailty: Evaluation and Management” by Assistant Professor Robert Allison II and two co-authors in the February 15, 2021 issue of the American Family Physician caught my eye. The article states: “Frailty is a syndrome of growing importance among the geriatric population, occurring in 5% to 17% of older…

Category: Reflections from My Twilight Years