Medical Professionals saved countless lives at Boston Marathon

Written by Fox News on . Posted in Health/Fitness

Publisher's note:  As I put this article to print, my mind and fingers are numb.  Only time will tell the final toll of victims and costs to the City of Boston.  God bless the men and women who aided those in need and responded to this unspeakable horror.

Fox News:  While today’s bombings have been devastating and tragic, I feel as though the hundreds of medical personnel, ambulances and medical tents set up for the marathon dramatically helped the situation.

With these types of injuries, the key is always time.  By having numerous ambulances on standby for the race, many of the most critical patients were able to be transported to hospitals almost instantly.

Fortunately, there were trained medical personnel in the area, who were able to provide immediate first aid.   In those medical tents, professional medics could potentially start emergency intravenous (IV) infusions to support some of the patients that were going into shock.  One of the most important treatments for trauma of this kind is hydration.

“It helps increase your intravascular volume,” Dr. Doug Finefrock, vice chairman for the emergency trauma department at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey, told FoxNews.com. “In fact in trauma cases, our first treatment is to rapidly hydrate the patient through IV hydration.  It helps maintain their blood pressure, as the patient is being assessed for the need for a blood transfusion.”

Not only is hydration key during trauma cases, but emergency room doctors must also help maintain the patient’s oxygen flow.

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Machine Keeps Liver Functioning outside of body

Written by Fox News on . Posted in Health/Fitness

A donated human liver has been kept alive, warm and functioning outside a human being on a newly-developed machine and then successfully transplanted into patients in a medical world first.

A British team of doctors, engineers and surgeons announcing the achievement on Friday said it could be common practice in hospitals across the developed world within a few years, up to doubling the number of livers available for transplant.

So far the procedure has been performed on two patients on Britain's liver transplant waiting list and both are making excellent recoveries, the medical team told a news conference.

"It was astounding to see an initially cold, grey liver flushing with colour once hooked up to our machine and performing as it would within the body," said Constantin Coussios, a professor of biomedical engineering at Oxford University and one of the machine's co-inventors.

"What was even more amazing was to see the same liver transplanted into a patient who is now walking around."

Currently livers destined for transplant are kept "on ice" in a process which cools them to slow down their metabolism and does not keep them functioning as they would inside a body.

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Jamie Lober to Be Recognized as Leader in Rare Disease Fight

Written by The Patriots Press on . Posted in Health/Fitness

Jamie Lober has been through it all.  She has endured major life transitions, a big move, career shift, love, loss, sickness and what she refers to as some lessons she never wanted to learn.  “I have come to conclude that the number one rule about having feelings is to make sure that no one knows you have them and you should do just fine,” said Lober.  Refusing to elaborate, she tells that she wishes some things could be different but feels she has definitely found a purpose for herself.  “I like to think that some pieces fell apart so others could fall into place and some have and on other pieces, I am still waiting,” said Lober.  Most notably, Lober has been sharp as a sword and fast as a cheetah to make a noticeable mark in the rare disease arena.  “My father continues to win in the fight against rare disease and there is a big sense of accomplishment in my house,” said Lober.  

Lober is literally jet-setting with her knowledge and talent and is heading to the East Coast to be recognized for shaking things up through rare disease education, advocacy and funding.  “This was certainly not on my original to-do list but I realized that in order to change my dad’s life I needed to change my priorities,” said Lober.  She has been asked to join the National Institutes of Health in celebration of their sixth annual Rare Disease Awareness Day which is supported by the NIH Office of Rare Diseases Research, the NIH Clinical Center, other NIH Institutes and Centers; the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Orphan Product Development; other Federal Government agencies; the National Organization for Rare Disorders; and the Genetic Alliance.  “The idea behind this day is to raise awareness among the general public about rare diseases, how it affects patients’ lives and to stress the importance of research to come up with new diagnostics and treatments,” said Lober.  Lober feels that she has made a lot of sacrifices over the past few years in order to advance the medical community and legislators who are trying to be victorious in the rare disease fight and she would not have it any other way.  “I am not traveling for the recognition but to show my appreciation to the doctors that I know as heroes to my family,” said Lober.  

Jamie Lober Named American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter PR Chairman for Relay for Life

Written by The Patriot's Press on . Posted in Health/Fitness

Ever since enrolling at Indiana University – Bloomington in 2003, Jamie Lober has proven to be a decent, trustworthy and respected leader in community health.  Having served as President of RAISE, standing for Raising Awareness in Sexual Encounters, and being a spokesman for World AIDS Day were just two experiences that she rated highly.  “I chalk up my most formative years to my university in terms of personal growth, political leaning, interest in building healthier communities and obviously relationships,” said Lober.  Lober speaks of countless hours she spent studying, promoting health initiatives and organizing health fairs with the hope of becoming a leading voice for the cause and tells that she holds her new title as the American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter Public Relations Chairman for Relay for Life in high regard.  “Being a spokesman for a cause that is most personal to me has been unexpected but I started at the bottom of the map listening to others speak and taking notes and sometimes that bottom is the best place to start because there is nowhere to go but up,” said Lober.  

 

Lober’s relationship with Relay for Life dates back to her high school years.  “I was on the American Cancer Society’s Board at my school and remember organizing and executing the event vividly but when you have a family member affected by this devastating disease, you see things in a whole new light,” said Lober.  Lober lists what she calls classic symptoms of paraganglioma, a rare neuroendocrine cancer, and pleas that anyone with high blood pressure, sweating, headache, flushing or heart palpitations ask their doctor to check for the disease.  “High blood pressure is the most common symptom of paraganglioma but in ten percent of patients it may be normal, so you should know to get tested but recognize  that just because you have high blood pressure does not mean that you have this disease,” said Lober.  She tells of the confidence she has placed in the National Institutes of Health and her father’s local healthcare team reiterating that she is on board with the American Cancer Society for the long haul and that when she is sworn in to the U.S. Senate that her father will be there to see it.  “I have dealt with more issues than a magazine stand since relocating to South Florida but I would not cancel my subscription for anything because there is always going to be somebody who is going through something worse,” said Lober.

American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter Talks of a Cancer-free New Year and Reminds of Upcoming Hope Gala

Written by Starla M. Brown on . Posted in Health/Fitness

The American Cancer Society – South Palm Beach Chapter leadership wishes The Patriots Press readers a good year filled with excellent health.  Jamie Lober, Public Relations Chairman stresses that taking care of your general wellbeing and safety can help you stay cancer-free.  When she is not in the swimming pool or catching up with her best friends, you can find Lober applying her master’s in health psychology and decade of experience in health education to offer up health advice and promote the local American Cancer Society.  “One of the many reasons I feel the American Cancer Society is great is their dedication to teach people how to get well and stay well and it is a misconception that doing so is such a big commitment,” said Lober.  Getting healthier in 2013 does not have to be a time-consuming resolution.  “Wash your hands with soap and water for fewer than twenty seconds and that is less than a minute right there,” said Lober.

 

Hygiene is not the only thing that you can control in under a minute.  “Put on sunscreen, seek shaded areas and cover up so you do not get sunburned or even worse, skin cancer,” said Lober.  Automobile accidents are one of the most common causes of injury that can be avoided by taking precautions which take less than a minute.  “Put on your seatbelt and if your child is under twelve years-old, put him in the backseat,” said Lober.  Kids tend to engage in risky behavior without thinking.  “Never leave someone in the pool unattended and if you go boating, be sure your child has a properly-fitted lifejacket to reduce his risk of drowning,” said Lober.  Resisting negative cravings like smoking does not take much time either.  “Try deep breathing, chew a piece of gum or just do something else because nobody wants to breathe secondhand smoke,” said Lober.  The list of what you can do is endless.  “Read food labels, test smoke alarms every month, do a skin check, know your numbers, recycle, wear earplugs if you will be somewhere loud, do not be afraid to ask questions of your doctor and know the signs of heart attack and stroke,” said Lober.  

 

Staying healthy means taking time out to participate in fun activities, which leads the American Cancer Society to remind us that their Hope Gala will take place on Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 6:30pm at the luxurious Woodfield Country Club.  Claiming she could give a sermon on the reasons to attend, Lober emphasizes what a gratifying experience both personally and professionally her involvement with the American Cancer Society has been.  “It will be nice to see the amazing result of all of our hard work, take a day to relax and then it is on to the next one,” said Lober.  Each member of Leadership has stepped up to the plate for a different reason.  “Everyone has a connection of some sort and for me, I am in this for my father and I will be in this organization until his rare cancer is cured,” said Lober.