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DECEMBER 19, 2025

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7ANCIENT REMEDIES

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THAT HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME

Not every useful and effective medicine comes from the laboratories of some billiondollar multinational pharmaceutical conglomerate. Some were being used in their current form thousands of years ago. 1. • Willow Bark Used by Hippocrates in Ancient Greece for pain and fever. Why? Because it contains salicin, the precursor to aspirin, which remains one of the most common pain relievers today.

Our boy Hippocrates

2. • Turmeric Root used in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. Modern research confirms its antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, helpful for arthritis and heart health.

3. • Garlic Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used it for infections and stamina. Today it’s recognized for cardiovascular benefits, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. 4. • Honey Used since antiquity for wound healing and sore throats. Still used in its original formula, modern science shows honey’s antibacterial and soothing properties, making it effective for burns and coughs. 5. • Aloe Vera Ancient Egyptians called it the “plant

of immortality.” Still used for skin healing, burns, and hydration, with proven soothing effects. 6. • Peppermint Ancient Romans and Egyptians used it for digestion. Today peppermint oil is still used for relieving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms and easing nausea. 7. • Ginger Traditional remedy in Asia for nausea and digestion. Modern studies confirm its effectiveness against motion sickness, morning sickness, and inflammation. +

PART 2

THEHIDDEN ADDICTION by Priscilla Bence, BSN, MPH

Part 1 of “The Hidden Addiction” in the December 5 issue ended with this question: How do we stop our loved ones from continuing in what we think might be an addiction to pornography, or better yet, how do we prevent it in the first place? First, set an example by not indulging in even soft porn. My husband and I still turn our heads or close our eyes during underwear and weight loss commercials. If addictions run in your family, why play the lottery? That is a form of gambling. Why have beer in the house, even for yourself, if your loved one struggles with alcohol? The same applies to porn: don’t have it around and don’t indulge in movies or television shows that include provocative material in any form. Someone who struggles with an addiction, or ever has, can be triggered to go back to it with even mild exposures or “just a taste.” Even though I see great similarities in the sufferings of substance abusers and porn addicts, the recovery and consequences for the porn Please see PORN page 3

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

• Living far from the equator • Personal or family history of depression • Being female (although men often experience more severe symptoms) • Co-occurring mental health conditions

THOUGHTS ABOUT

Common Misconceptions

“I USED TO LOVE FALL” SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER

8“People with SAD just need

PARENTHOOD THOUGHTS 44

by Dr. Warren Umansky, PhD

You were driving down the street near your apartment recently and saw two young children sitting on their bikes on the sidewalk talking to each other. As you passed them, you had a flashback of doing the same when you were a child. Sometimes you went bike riding with friends and sometimes you went skating down the street. You played catch, jumped rope, and played tag and hopscotch. You want your own children to have those experiences. What do you do? A. You have to face the new reality that it’s too dangerous for children to be out on their own these days. Those are activities of the past. B. What you used to do is not the “in thing” anymore. Kids would rather be on electronics. C. You decide you are going to make it happen. Electronics will be gone and healthier activities will take their place. D. You talk to your children about it and they say it’s always too hot or too cold to do those kinds of things. And, anyway, all their friends are inside playing games. If you answered: A. This might be a time when it is okay for young children to carry a phone or tracking device so you can keep up with where they are. Maybe it starts as a family activity. Find bikes for all family members and make it fun. Some neighborhoods may be unsafe, but in such cases be willing to take time to go to a safe park or schoolyard with your child to ride bikes, skate, shoot baskets or play other games. B. These activities may not be the “in thing” anymore because you have let it evolve that way. As parent, it is up to you to take the lead. You can say “no, that’s not how you guys are going to spend your time.” You will find there is less fussing at home, your kids likely will start doing better in school, and life will be more pleasant. Doing healthy outdoor activities is not a magic solution to all stresses, but they can bring about changes that should give you a lot of satisfaction. C. This is a good decision when your children are young. Yet, it can start at any age. There may be some fussing in the early stages of the change, but it won’t last long. You want your children to experience the joys of childhood and you don’t believe that involves them keeping their eyes glued to a screen. Getting on a bike or putting on skates sure sounds good! So do all the other games you loved as a child. D. Did you stay inside when you were a kid because it was too hot or too cold? How can you fall for that excuse now?! Dress your kids warmer or dress them lighter and give them fluids to drink while they are outdoors. Call the parents of your children’s friends to arrange for playtime near your house or apartment to get a routine started and so you feel safe. You will see happier kids once outdoor play becomes a part of their routine. + Dr. Umansky has a child behavioral health practice in Augusta.

THANKS FOR READING!

DECEMBER 19, 2025

Editor’s note: Written by local mental healthcare professionals, this series explores how people may think and act when affected by common and not-so-common mental health conditions. Maria is a 42-year-old nurse and mother of two. Every year, like clockwork, her energy dips as soon as the days shorten. By late November, she finds herself sleeping more, craving carbohydrates, and withdrawing from friends. She brushes it off as holiday stress, but this year feels different. She’s crying more often, struggling to focus at work, and dreading getting out of bed. She notices these symptoms always seem to hit around the same time of year—and lift again by spring. Maria isn’t “just tired” or “in a winter slump.” She’s experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder, a form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a subtype of depression that typically appears in the fall and winter months when daylight hours decrease. Less commonly, some people experience a spring/summer form. SAD affects mood, energy levels, sleep patterns, and appetite—causing significant changes in daily functioning, similar to major depressive disorder but with a clear seasonal cycle. It is a recognized and treatable mental health condition—not simply “the winter blues.” Signs and Symptoms Common symptoms of winter-pattern SAD include: • Persistent low mood • Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed • Increased sleep or difficulty waking up • Fatigue or low energy • Carbohydrate cravings and weight gain • Social withdrawal (“hibernating”) • Difficulty concentrating • In severe cases, hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm Symptoms start gradually, often worsening as daylight decreases, and typically improve during spring and summer.

8“Everyone gets a little sad

in winter—this isn’t a real disorder.” SAD is a diagnosable mental health condition requiring clinical attention—not simple seasonal grumpiness. to push through it.” Because SAD involves biological changes, lifestyle adjustments alone are rarely enough.

8“True SAD only happens in cold climates.” While more common in northern regions, SAD can occur anywhere light patterns change.

Treatment Options The good news: SAD is highly treatable. Many people see significant improvement with a combination of therapies. • Light Therapy (Phototherapy) A first-line treatment using a 10,000-lux light box for 20 to 30 minutes each morning. It helps regulate circadian rhythms and boost serotonin levels. • Psychotherapy (Especially CBT-SAD) Cognitive behavioral therapy tailored for SAD helps: • Challenge negative thinking patterns • Build coping strategies • Restore daily routines and activity levels • Medication Antidepressants—particularly SSRIs— can reduce symptoms, especially when started before symptoms typically begin. • Lifestyle Supports • Increasing natural sunlight exposure • Regular exercise • Maintaining predictable sleep routines • Vitamin D supplementation (if clinically indicated)

What Causes SAD? While the exact cause isn’t fully understood, several biological factors are believed to play a role: • Reduced Sunlight Exposure Low light affects circadian Prognosis rhythms—the body’s internal clock—leading to disrupted With appropriate treatsleep, mood changes, and fatigue. ment, most individuals expe• Serotonin Imbalance Decreased sunlight can reduce serorience significant relief and tonin, a neurotransmitter that stabilizes mood. can fully regain their func• Melatonin Overproduction Shorter days can trigger excess tioning and quality of life. melatonin, contributing to oversleeping and low energy. Because SAD is cyclical, • Vitamin D Deficiency Less sun means lower vitamin D, many patients benefit from which plays a role in mood regulation. Please see THOUGHTS page 8 Risk factors include:

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 19, 2025

PORN… from page 1

addict are, from my perspective, unique in one way. My last job was working at the medical prison, and I saw many prisoners who had started down the path of sex addiction and crime through pornography. It often felt like there was no hope or redemption for them. Sex perverts are hated in and out of prison. Because porn addiction causes a relentless increase in violent sex acts to keep up the excitement level, there is a corresponding increase in actions that take victims deeper and deeper down a black hole from which recovery becomes more and more difficult. People who have committed sex crimes are often housed in individual cells, which is expensive incarceration. The reason: to keep them from being killed or to keep them from molesting other inmates. Sex offenders are the lepers of our day. Yet, how often do we work to squelch the inception of pornography and its increase in our community? How often do we complain to media companies about the porn they allow, even in their commercials? Are we vigilant to block our devices from porn sites, especially for our children under eighteen? If it offends you, then it is significant enough to lure that vulnerable person. Do we always monitor our children and grandchildren in bookstores and libraries, and read questionable books before letting them read them? Pornography is sneaky but it is everywhere. Do we complain to the mall or the department store when those huge ads on their walls are far beyond G-rated for us or our kids? Pornography is an insidious form of indoctrination. If you play around its edges, you can get sucked in before you know it. Besides reading the two books I recommended in Part 1, you can increase your knowledge about some of the outcomes of our sexualized society by watching peo-

WHAT IS WALKING PNEUMONIA? ple like Allie Beth Stuckey and Michael Knowles debating from a conservative perspective people who support and endorse alternative lifestyles. We live in a culture where it sometimes seems like anything goes, and anyone who doesn’t welcome every lifestyle variation with open arms can be viewed as bigoted and intolerant. The debates, however, demonstrate that there are “alternatives to the alternatives” that can be well-reasoned and rational, and that don’t involve hate speech, disrespect, or intolerance. That is refreshing. A person can pursue a traditional life and yes, even reject pornography and the behaviors it fosters, without coming across as a narrow-minded, judgmental prude. Best of all, rejecting pornography avoids entanglement with its often hidden but + always intense addictive powers. ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Priscilla Bence, BSN, MPH “The Medical Examiner has been a good friend of mine for many years, because it feeds me light humor and interesting medical information and opinions. I save articles like “Pour Decision-making” from Aug 15 and “I Remember” from Sept. 19. I already miss the Steppingstones articles, as I learned a lot from that author. I miss Dr. Karp, who is the most common-sense science-based dietitian I have known. I was a nurse for forty years, and twenty of those years were in public health. I appreciate the traffic death and injury column as I spent five years studying traffic crashes in Richmond County as a public health nurse. In the Army I visited families with abuse and neglect problems and served as the Chairman of the Family Advocacy Case Management Team. One year, I taught codependency classes at Eisenhower.”

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As the name suggests, the disease isn’t just pneumonia. There are different kinds, with varying levels of severity. Just to define things first, pneumonia is an infection in one or both lungs, normally spread by inhaled bacteria or viruses. Having pneumonia can make it difficult for oxygen we breathe in to get into the bloodstream. Pneumonia can vary from mild to severe (about 40,000 people die every year from pneumonia, according to the American Lung Association), depending on factors like what caused the infection and the patient’s age and overall health. On the seriousness scale, Aspiration pneumonia certainly ranks up there. It is caused by inhaling (aspirating) food or liquid or even vomit, and requires aggressive care. Another serious type is “hospital-acquired pneumonia.” It is of greater concern than ordinary pneumonia (“community-acquired pneumonia”) because it comes from an environment where medications are being regularly administered and infection control is a constant undertaking. By definition, any germs stemming from such an environment are potentially stronger and more antibiotic-resistant. What about walking pneumonia? It is probably the most misunderstood type. Yes, it could be described as “pneumonia lite.” It can feel like nothing more than a cold or a mild case of the flu. Many people with a diagnosis of walking pneumonia feel well enough to go to work or school and otherwise keep their normal schedule. While regular pneumonia often stems from Streptococcus pneumoniae, so-called walking pneumonia is often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Walking pneumonia is sometimes known in medical circles as atypical pneumonia because of its differences from regular pneumonia. One very important similarity: despite what you may have heard, walking pneumonia is contagious. It can take weeks to recover from, during which time the person may not even realize he has anything worse than a cold. Most people reccover on their own without medication, but there are vaccines that can help prevent pneumonia. Ask your doctor. +

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4 #249 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

DECEMBER 19, 2025

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

I’ve learned that I need to cry sometimes.

{

ou know that term “canary in a coal mine”? This is the man who invented it. Literally. John Scott Haldane, a native of Scotland, was famous for his legendary self-experimentations, which led to a wealth of new discoveries about how the human body works, and how to keep it working well for many years. Someone might ask, “Isn’t that what all doctors do, help people live long and healthy lives?” True enough, but Haldane did a lot of his work in hostile environments. It wasn’t, “How can I help someone enjoy their rocking chair as long as possible?” It was more like, “How can I help divers and coal miners make it home to their families safe and sound?” Ah, you say. Enter the canary. Not quite. Not yet. The ethical treatment of animals was not a huge concern in Haldane’s day (1860-1936). Back then, PETA stood for People for the Eating of Tasty Animals. Even so, Haldane’s studies of dangerous gases involved, not animals but, in a word, Haldane. He famously locked himself in airtight chambers filled with potentially lethal gases, then made notes about how the experience affected him physically and mentally. He even conducted similarly risky experiments on his young son, apparently without causing any lasting harm: the boy grew up to be a noted scientist in multiple fields (physiology, genetics, biology, and mathematics). That’s not to say he didn’t use animals extensively in his research. He was perhaps the world’s foremost expert on diving safety and, with the help of rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice, invented decompression in stages to prevent decompression sickness (the bends). He also used goats and human divers in extensive experiments in deep Scottish lochs and in a decompression chamber built in his lab. Haldane was also an internationally recognized authority on anesthesia, pulmonary diseases like silicosis, and how to effectively respond to respiratory emergencies. He invented the oxygen tent and, in response to chemical warfare in World War I, developed one of the earliest effective gas masks, dubbed The Black Veil. He investigated many mine and sewer disasters, and as a result discovered their causes and developed strategies for accident prevention and worker safety. Not every disaster was caused by toxic gases like carbon monoxide (a Haldane discovery); some explosions were caused by concentrations of airborne dust. He designed effective respirators for rescue workers and miners, as well as effective ways to detect the presence of gases before disaster struck. Those methods included flame safety lamps (which used the height of a flame to measure the presence of flammable gases/a higher flame - or reduced oxygen/a lower flame), but Haldane also introduced the now legendary canaries, whose faster metabolism offered an early warning of problems before they became critical for workers. Canaries were finally phased out of regular use in the mid- to late 1980s. Despite his dangerous experimentations, Haldane lived to age 75, dying just after returning from a trip to Persia (now Iran) studying heat stroke in oil refinery workers. +

to my age than his, which leaves only one person alive from that generation of the family over the age of 80—his first cousin, Tim. He and my father were raised together like brothers. Tim is also the father of my cousin Todd, who passed away in October of this year, as I wrote about. When I say my prayers just before bed, I try to remember to give thanks for all of the special people in my life who are now gone, as well as those who are still among the living. The thing is, the first list is a lot longer now. It takes a while to get through the list of special people who are no longer around. The list of important people still left is brief indeed. One of my coping mechanisms is to immediately push out sad thoughts of lost loved ones with something happy, and usually something very engaging for my mind so I will forget about it. This can be good sometimes, because it isn’t healthy to dwell on sad things. That said, it isn’t a good long-term solution. I’ve learned that I need to cry sometimes. I need to think deeply about the people I’ve lost. It helps keep their memory alive. Eventually, their memories can be recalled with a smile instead of a tear, but we have to get through the tears first. No, we shouldn’t dwell in the past and allow regret and sorrow to crush our spirit and make the present unhappy, but we do need to give these feelings and thoughts their place. A wound sometimes needs care. We can put a bandage on it and try to forget it, but if we don’t check on it once in a while, it can get infected. We also shouldn’t pick at it, though. Give it the attention it needs, then move on and let the healing process occur. Sometimes the wound needs help from someone else, too. Sometimes that is a friend, but occasionally it might require a physician. That can be true for mental and emotional wounds as well. So, to sum it up, visit your memories of lost loved ones. Give those mental and emotional wounds the attention they deserve, but don’t focus on them at the expense of your present life. Losing loved ones won’t get easier, and it won’t end until your loved ones lose you one day—so make the most of your life. +

{

With this being the end of another year, it puts me in a reflective mood. I think it happens to most of us. That, combined with this being the time of year when we tend to get together with family and friends more only compounds it. There are a lot of bad things that come with aging. For me, arthritis, fatigue, and tiring out easily are some of the toughest ones to deal with. Add to that little things like my seeming inability to park my vehicle straight, or how impossible it now seems for me to pull up anywhere close to the edge of a parking spot. I either end up a couple of feet away or I hit the red painted pipe at the end. So far, I haven’t damaged my truck when that happens, but that day is probably coming. I have had to buff paint off my bumper multiple times, though. Thank goodness for backup cameras. I already liked backing into a space most of the time, but now that I can’t seem to get within a football field’s length of the end of the parking spot, I just cheat by backing up and letting the camera show me. I’ve even given serious consideration to adding a front camera for when backing in isn’t ideal. It is especially bad with tall vehicles like trucks or SUVs. I don’t know exactly why this has happened to me now, but I’m sure it has something to do with my spatial awareness not being what it used to be. Maybe I should look into it more to better understand it. One thing I do know is that I need to account for it. It’s one thing if I park a little crooked or leave some paint on a post. It’s quite another if this affects my driving on the road, where speed can turn a laughable thing into a tragic one. I have definitely slowed down a little already. Wow, I just had a light go off in my brain. When I get frustrated being behind people older than me who are driving slowly, I need to pause and see myself in that spot ten or more years from now. I recently spoke to a friend who turned 90, and she was expressing concern about how long they will let her keep driving. As far as I can tell, she drives better than I do now. I’m not sure if that says more about her good driving or my bad driving. The things already mentioned about getting older are hard, but to me, they are not the hardest part. The hardest part of growing older is the people you lose along the way. I was thinking about my parents’ generation in our family. My father’s siblings and cousins have been whittled down to just three. Two of those are the children of his youngest uncle and are actually closer

J.B. Collum, author of this column and Special Forces Parenting, is a local novelist, humorist and columnist who wants to be Mark Twain when he grows up. He may be reached at johnbcollum@gmail.com

DECEMBER 19, 2025

less like a victory and more like exhaustion giving way to relief. The monthly SSI payments weren’t extravagant. They didn’t come close to covering the real cost of Freyja’s care. But they were something—an acknowledgment that her disability was real and that some help was warranted. We did what responsible caregivers do. We were careful. Because Freyja cannot manage money and never will, we set aside the SSI funds specifically for her needs. We didn’t spend recklessly. We didn’t treat the money as disposable income. We saved it, knowing that future expenses—equipment, therapies, emergencies—were inevitable. Every dollar was earmarked for Freyja. And then, without warning, the benefits Our granddaughter Freyja was diagnosed stopped. We received a notice stating that Freyja’s early with Angelman syndrome and severe SSI had been terminated because she had autism. Those words carry clinical preci“too much money in the bank.” The irony sion, but they don’t begin to explain what daily life looks like for her—or for the fami- was staggering. The very funds the Social ly that loves her. Those of you who regular- Security Administration had paid for her ly read this column are well aware of this. support were now being used as the justifiFreyja is nonverbal. She requires constant cation to take that support away. There was no allegation of fraud. No supervision. She cannot advocate for herclaim that we had misused the money. self, understand money, or navigate the systems that supposedly exist to help children No suggestion that Freyja’s condition had like her. That responsibility falls entirely on changed. The only issue was that we had done exactly what any prudent caregiver the adults around her. would do: we safeguarded her disability From the beginning, we were told that funds instead of spending them immediateSupplemental Security Income (SSI) disly. ability benefits were designed specifically Since then, we have been caught in anfor children like Freyja—children whose disabilities are lifelong, profound, and docu- other bureaucratic loop—this time trying to undo a decision that never should have mented beyond dispute. We assumed that once we gathered the medical records, eval- been made. For months, we have submitted uations, and expert diagnoses, the process explanations, bank records, and appeals. We have spent hours on hold, spoken to would be difficult but ultimately fair. representatives who offered conflicting inWe were wrong. formation, and been told repeatedly that the It took nearly two years to get Freyja approved for SSI disability. Two years of pa- issue would be “reviewed.” Meanwhile, Freyja’s needs have not perwork, denials, appeals, phone calls that led nowhere, letters that contradicted each paused. Her disabilities did not take a break other, and endless requests for documents while the system recalculated. The financial strain has grown heavier each month, not we had already submitted—sometimes because we were irresponsible, but because multiple times. Each delay meant months we were careful—and were punished for it. without financial assistance while her What makes this experience especialneeds continued uninterrupted: therapies, adaptive equipment, medical visits, and the ly painful is the knowledge that Freyja is exactly the kind of child SSI was meant everyday costs of caring for a child who to protect. She will never work. She will will never be independent. When the approval finally came, it felt Please see SPECIAL FORCES page 6

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Parenting

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Who is this?

Not everyone in healthcare can be Florence Nightingale, right? Despite the long-running series on page 4, there are clunkers in medicine, and we will examine some of them in this series. Unfortunately, there’s enough material to keep this side of the page going for a while.

bout the best thing that can be said about this man is that he is in prison, and probably will stay there until he dies of old age. But just about the worst thing you can say about him is why he’s sitting in a locked cage at this very moment. After all, what could be worse than killing people? Answer: using your medical skills and the trust placed in you as a healthcare provider to kill people. That is especially abhorrent, and that is exactly what this guy, Efren Saldivar, did for an entire decade. After graduating from a North Hollywood medical training school in 1988, he started working nights as a respiratory therapist at Glendale (California) Adventist Medical Center. A couple of common themes we’ve seen here before run through his sad story: malevolent healthcare workers who opt for the night shift when fewer staff are on duty and who therefore have less supervision; and people who inject innocent patients with drugs to incapacitate them and cause or hasten their deaths. Even that really doesn’t cover how evil this guy’s actions were, because these were the ages of the six people he was convicted of murdering: 82, 75, 84, 87, 77, and 87 again. To prey upon weak and defenseless patients in their advanced age while they and their families have entrusted their care to him is cruelty to an extreme degree. But even that isn’t enough to fully grasp how contemptible Saldivar’s crimes were. That’s because he initially confessed to killing, not 6 patients, but 40 or 50. He soon recanted that confession before admitting to 60 murders, and then later, “anywhere from 100 to 200” victims. He killed so many people he lost count. What was Saldivar’s motive? Almost every killer profiled in this series is described in court proceedings and/or news reports as an “angel of death.” In Saldivar’s case, he was very picky about his victims. They had to be unconscious, have a “Do not resuscitate” order in place, and they had to look like they were ready to die. He injected those he selected with muscle relaxants or respiratory suppressors. Why? In one interview he said he wanted to die but lacked the courage to take his own life and wanted to commit crimes sufficiently bad for the state to do what he couldn’t. That statement was contradicted by his acceptance of a plea to avoid the death sentence. In April 2002, Judge Lance Ito, about 7 years post-OJ, sentenced Saldivar to six consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Saldivar is currently 56 years old. +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

DECEMBER 19, 2025

FIZZ THE SEASON

Of all the senseless ways a person could And these crash victims aren’t people who die needlessly jeopardize their health, their future, peacefully in bed, surrounded by loved ones. and life itself (not to mention all those same Statistically, fatal alcohol-related crashes are 4 things in the lives of others who may be pertimes more likely to happen at night than in the fectly innocent complete strangers), few things daytime, with the peak crash times between are as sad and foolish as drinking and driving midnight and 3 a.m. Dying itself is bad enough, — and that’s saying a lot, because there are but there is something extra heart-breaking dozens of preventable causes of death that each about the thought of dying on some dark and and every year take literally hundreds of thoulonely road in the middle of the night. sands of lives apiece. These are deaths that should not happen. What makes drinking and driving especialPeriod. We know better. And there has never ly sad and tragic when it results in injury or been an easier time in human history to get death? a convenient and safe ride home when you’re Stopping to meditate on the cold and imperhammered. There really is no excuse for driving sonal statistics about drunk driving is, well, drunk. hopefully it’s sobering. For example, men aged And that makes a few additional facts and 21 to 29 are the most likely to drive while infigures particularly unfortunate to contemplate. toxicated. These are people in the prime of life, Did you know, for instance, that the average with decades of productive life ahead of them, offender has driven drunk more than 80 times often with young wives and children at home. before they are ever caught? That is what a study Statistically, the fatal drunk driving wrecks by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) shorten the lives of those involved by an discovered. average of 24 years. Considering that around Well, at least they stop once they’re finally 178,000 die annually from excessive alcohol caught, right? use, well over 4 million years of poUnfortunately, no. tential life are thereby lost. MADD also says “roughly 50% to How tragic to think of 75% of convicted drunk drivLESS those lives and all their poers will continue to drive 9% tential ended, detoured to while their license is susjail, saddled with extenpended.” As a result, sive rehab and possible about one-third of all permanent disabilities, drunk driving arrests or at the very least involve repeat offendconsigned to a life of ers. In total, ABOUT THE SAME MORE guilt and regret. Even there are about one 36% 55% more lamentable are million arrests for drivthe victims who are ing under the influence DO DO PEOPLE PEOPLE DRINK DRINK MORE MORE OR OR LESS LESS involved in drunk-drivevery year. According to DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON? DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON? ing crashes who had not the Centers for Disease had so much as a drop to Control, fully one-third of all drink: pedestrians, passentraffic deaths in the U.S. in gers, occupants of other cars volve a drunk driver. involved in such wrecks, etc. It seems evident that deterrence is

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DECEMBER 19, 2025

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STAYING ALIVE EPISODE #3 not much of a deterrent, but let’s discuss some of the consequences anyway. It could possibly get through to one person, maybe more. Added to the moral and medical consequences already discussed, here are some of the possible legal and financial repercussions of drinking and driving: • fines up to $100,000 in extreme cases • imprisonment • vehicle impoundment • loss of drivers license • dramatic increases in insurance premiums Considering all of these consequences — big and small — in their entirety, the inescapable conclusion is that abusing alcohol is extremely costly to families and individuals. And we haven’t said a word about the overall costs to society. It is all a massive tragedy, especially considering that these are preventable costs and preventable deaths.

SPECIAL FORCES… from page 5 never live independently. She will always require care, structure, and support. Yet the system treats her as if she were capable of financial decision-making, as if her disability benefits were a personal asset rather than a lifeline. This isn’t a story about gaming the system. It’s a story about being trapped in it. About how families caring for profoundly disabled children are asked to navigate rules that seem disconnected from reality, and how doing the “right thing” can lead to devastating consequences. We are still fighting to have Freyja’s benefits reinstated. Still sending letters. Still waiting. Still hoping that somewhere within the bureaucracy, common sense

and compassion will prevail. Until then, we keep doing what we have always done: caring for Freyja, advocating for her, and refusing to give up—because she cannot fight this battle herself. If you are a parent, caregiver, advocate, attorney, or someone who has walked this road before us, we ask for your help. If you have advice, strategies, contacts, or hard-earned lessons that might help us navigate or overcome this situation, we would be deeply grateful to hear them. Systems only improve when people share their experiences, and families like ours depend on that shared knowledge to keep moving forward. We can be reached at johnbcollum@gmail. com. Thank you. +

DECEMBER 19, 2025

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THOUGHTS THAT WEIGH HEAVY ON MY SOUL

Jesus moved to defeat evil. They killed him. Joan of Arc fought to free France from English rule. They burned her at the stake. Lincoln worked to reunite our country and free the slaves. They killed him. James Garfield advocated civil rights for “freed men” and stood for anti-corruption in government. He was the first of pro-civil rights presidents. They killed him. William McKinley stabilized the dollar by putting the US on the Gold Standard and helping transform the US into a global power. They killed him. Theodore Roosevelt created the “Square Deal” so everyone was treated fairly and monopolies were broken up. They tried to kill him. Franklin Roosevelt served longer than any

president in US history, and an anarchist who hated rulers and governments tried to kill him too. JFK mobilized the US military for an invasion of Cuba’s Bay of Pigs. A pro-Castro Marxist killed him. RFK supported Israel, especially after the Six-Day War. They killed him in retaliation for US and Israeli policies. MLK worked to end segregation and legalized racial discrimination. They killed him. Medgar Evers tried to end segregation and expand voting rights. They killed him. Malcolm X was a fierce fighter for racial justice. They killed him. Jimmy Hoffa moved to organize workers for better pay and working conditions. They killed him. Charlie Kirk tried to

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (most of the time) A series by Bad Billy Laveau

organize youth toward conservatism and Christianity. They killed him. Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump all endured assassination attempts, twice apiece for Ford and Trump. Christians in Nigeria are special targets for violence. This year an average of 1,000 have been killed each month. Who is next? Will it be you? Have you done enough to be a threat to anyone? Maybe you have and don’t realize it. Just because you do something you think is good does not mean everyone thinks your deed is worthy or right.

THOUGHTS… from page 2 starting treatment proactively each year, before symptoms peak. Left untreated, SAD can worsen over time and may lead to major depression—so early intervention is key. If you or someone you know notices a yearly pattern

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thing or know something does not mean you should say it out loud. Don’t pour it out on social media. Sure, the 1st amendment of the Constitution guarantees you freedom of speech. But idiots, malcontents and criminals may not feel inclined to honor your constitutionally protected proclamation. Whether you are right or wrong is not the point here. Preserving your sanity and well-being is the point. You must support your family’s safety. You don’t have to say everything you know. +

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MONEY RX

5. Pay the smart way How you pay can make the difference between getting your money back and kissing it goodbye. • Use a credit card when you pay online. Credit cards usually offer better fraud protection than debit cards, cash apps, or bank transfers. • Be cautious using apps like Venmo, Cash App, Zelle for purchases, especially with strangers—those are better for people you know, not random “stores.” • Never pay with: gift cards, money orders, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency ’TIS THE SEASON TO BE SCAMMED When a seller demands payment in gift cards or A Money RX “Ask Angel” Column crypto, that’s usually scammer language for “we’re about to disappear.” Dear Angel, the Money Doctor, MD, My wife and I are doing more and more of our 6. Don’t fall for high-pressure sales tricks Christmas shopping online. How can we keep from Scammers—and some aggressive salespeople—love getting scammed? Our neighbor just got burned on his to rush you. If you hear lines like: Christmas shopping for a couple thousand bucks. • “This is a closeout.” Thanks, Perry, “The Paranoid Shopper” Augusta, Georgia Dear Perry, You’re not paranoid—you’re paying attention. Shopping online can be dangerous. Scammers today can make their fake websites and emails look exactly like the real thing. Sometimes it’s almost impossible to tell the difference until your money is gone. As the old saying goes, “Buyer beware.” Here are some practical Money RX prescriptions to help keep your holiday shopping merry instead of miserable. 1. If it’s too good to be true… Remember what your daddy told you: If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Those are words to live by. • Be suspicious of deep discounts that seem crazy-cheap compared to everyone else. • There is no such thing as “the last good deal.” If a seller insists “this price is only good for the next 10 minutes,” that’s a red flag, not a bargain. • For high-ticket items (furniture, vehicles, jewelry, etc.), try to see it in person if at all possible—not just online. 2. Stick with name brands & do your homework Scammers know you’re in a hurry, so they count on you not checking. • Stick with name-brand retailers you recognize or have used before. • If it’s a new site, search the company name plus the word “scam” or “reviews.” • Check reviews, but don’t rely only on the reviews on their site. Look for independent reviews, Better Business Bureau info, or other consumer sites. Do your research, not just reading theirs. 3. Don’t click. Type! One of the most common tricks is to send you a link that looks like your favorite store but isn’t. • Do NOT click links in emails, texts, or social media to get to a retailer’s website. • Instead, type the website address in yourself, or use a search engine to find the official site. • Double-check the spelling of the web address. Scammers love tiny changes like “Amaz0n” or “Best Buyy.” 4. Handle phone calls like a pro Robocalls and scam calls are part of modern life. • If you get a robocall or a sketchy marketing call, hang up immediately. • If they claim to be from your bank, credit card, or a store you know, don’t give out any info on that call. • Instead, go to your caller ID or the number on the back of your card and call the company back yourself. Don’t be afraid to hang up. If it’s important and real, they can handle a call-back.

• “This price is only good today.” • “Limited supply—these are selling fast.” • “I don’t know how long our inventory will last.” Slow down, and use this Money RX script: “It’s my practice that if I have to decide right now, the answer is no. I want to think about it for a day.” If the deal can’t survive 24 hours, it probably wasn’t a good deal in the first place. 7. Guard your identity like it’s gold Identity theft is a billion-dollar industry. Imposters pretending to be banks, credit card companies,

9 delivery services, or even government agencies are everywhere. To protect yourself: • Routinely check your accounts. • Look at credit card and bank statements regularly. • If you see a small, weird charge, don’t ignore it. It may be a “test” before a bigger hit. • Routinely change your passwords. • Be very wary of “please confirm your information” calls or emails. Scammers often already know a lot about you; they just need a few missing pieces. • Use complex passwords—but write them down in a safe place or use a reputable password manager. Most important of all, never give out account numbers, Social Security numbers, PINs, or passwords unless you are 100% sure who you’re dealing with. Never read verification codes or texted security codes to someone who calls “from the company.” The real company won’t ask for that. Perry, you’re not crazy to be careful. You’re wise. A healthy dose of skepticism is one of the best financial vitamins you can take—especially during the holidays. Happy holidays! Shop safe. Be smart. — Angel, the Money Doctor, MD + Money RX – A Prescription for Financial Health This column is for education, not personal legal, tax, or investment advice.Please sit down with a qualified advisor who can look at your options, and health/age situation before making a final decision. Have a question for Money RX?Send it to us (addresses in the box on page 3) and your question may be featured in a future column.

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

CRASH COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2000 than in World Wars I & II combined

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ctually, they don’t. Who told you they do? the entire route is 35 mph. If you drive those Please note where you are: you’re in 5 miles at 45 mph instead, all things being the introduction to an article about traffic equal, you will arrive exactly 1 minute and 56 safety. This is not a place, for the most part, seconds sooner. where seconds count. At all. Not even a little. For a 10-mile commute with a 55 mph They do not count — unless you think that speed limit, driving the whole 10 miles at 65 it actually matters that you make that green mph will save you 1 minute and 51 seconds. light ahead, or have to stop. And if you really To put it another way, if the non-speeder do think it matters, imagine left two minutes earlier, he explaining your reasons to a cop would beat the speeder with SECONDS or a judge in traffic court. Do seconds to spare, and wouldn’t you think they will agree? have to break the law to do it. COUNT Realistically, we accept that it And is two minutes (or less) could possibly matter. For examgoing to make a difference one ple, you could be in advanced way or the other? labor and ready to deliver a baby any second. The time people think they are saving by Or perhaps a passenger in your car is in cardi- speeding is largely imaginary, and that is ac arrest or has been shot and is in danger of true regardless of the speeds or the distances bleeding out. involved. So yes, there are highly unusual — repeat: To take another couple of examples, a 20highly unusual — circumstances where saving mile trip driving 75 mph versus the posted even a few seconds could be a matter of life speed limit of 65 saves all of 2 minutes and and death. That’s why first responders have 28 seconds. Driving 80 mph instead of 70 the right to judiciously ignore the speed limit mph will, over 50 miles of driving, save only and carefully run reds rather than stopping. 5 minutes and 22 seconds. Even on a 100-mile But approximately 99.99% of all speedtrip, a mere 10 minutes and change is saved ing by civilians that is done to save time is by driving 80 mph instead of 70 mph. pointless, unnecessary, and dangerous. Plus We all know the stressed feeling of being it’s illegal. late. At such moments it’s not easy to just It’s a safe bet that all speeders know they’re putter along at the speed limit, but maybe breaking the law. Why do they do it anyway? remembering this article will remind us that Among the reasons: doing the speed limit won’t cost us much • the expectation of getting away with it after all. • they’re in the habit of speeding But not doing the speed limit can be very • everyone else is doing it expensive: speeding tickets are expensive And there is one more big one: enough all by themselves, but they can keep • I’m in a hurry and I’m late costing for months or years in the form of What the average driver does not realize is higher insurance rates. what we said above, that speeding is pointless And the ultimate high cost is paid when and unnecessary. crashes occur. Fully one-third of all fatalities Let’s crunch the numbers on a typical on US roads involve excessive speed. 5-mile commute. Let’s say the speed limit on And for what? Seconds? It’s not worth it. +

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I WAS THINKING by Pat Tante

THE CHRISTMAS TRUNK There it sits in my living room where it has been for many years. It is an old steamer trunk with ratty leather handles and painted-over brass corners. Inside it has a couple of drawers and is lined with age-darkened wallpaper. If my memory serves me, I believe that my Daddy saved it from a roadside trash pickup once upon a time. He was always bringing things home that he thought might be useful. Well, I can attest to that because this old steamer trunk has been much more than that. So, what’s inside it you might ask? Well, as I recall, it’s full of Christmas decorations – fragile things and wonderful things that make my house look beautiful on Christmas. I’m remembering a box of vintage ornaments that a friend was tired of, there’s a pair of crystal angels that remind me of my sister and also, a beautiful snow globe that we can upend and see the snow that we probably won’t have during the holidays. There is a bag of tiny teddy bears that sit in a starshaped box. There are mementos from friends that hold their own memories, strings of lights, fake greenery, Santa coffee cups and a stuffed frog (in a Christmas dress) that no longer croaks. Lastly, there are homemade ornaments that my children and I made a

long time ago. Now is the time to open that trunk; however, covering its large top are many family photos that have to be removed, dusted and placed on the dining room table. Many of these familiar faces are no longer with me to help celebrate the season. I look at each one as I move them to the table. After I give them a good dusting, I struggle with opening the heavy trunk. I have trouble imagining how people traveled with these huge “suitcases.” Well! There it is – my Christmas Stuff! All neatly wrapped and boxed from a year ago. I sit on the floor and begin taking things out and deciding where each will go during the coming holiday – on the tree? On the chandelier? On the mantel? Everywhere! Now, I have a big mess and an empty, yawning trunk. I cannot leave it like that. So, I struggle with closing the heavy lid and push it back against the wall. The photographs are looking at me from the table. They will have to go back to their place until the new year when I open the trunk once again and put everything back inside. It is a trip that I take every year – down memory lane. I look at my trunk full of memories because that is what it is to me. My Trunk of Memories. Thanks Daddy, for saving it. +

I LOVE TREES I love trees. Trees are green and sometimes “ever.” Often trees are very clever. Witness during winter weather, All the leaves will lose their tether and make a pile upon the ground. This will draw the little children. They will jump into the mound And hide so they cannot be found. Oh, I love trees - but children not so much. by Pat Tante

1948-2025

TRYTHISDISH DECEMBER 19, 2025

by Kim Beavers, MS, RDN, CDCES Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Chef Coach, Author Follow Kim on Facebook: facebook.com/eatingwellwithkimb

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP A healthy soup sure to keep you warm in the winter! Ingredients • 2 tablespoons butter • 1 large onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, pressed • ½ teaspoon chopped fresh ginger • ½ teaspoon cumin • ¼ teaspoon black pepper • 1 butternut squash (about 2lbs) peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes • 1 large potato, peeled and diced into ½-inch cubes • 1 quart chicken or vegetable stock • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 1/3 cup heavy cream, plus more for garnish • ½ teaspoon salt (optional) • Cinnamon to garnish Instructions In a Dutch oven or similar large sturdy pot, melt the butter on medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, cumin, and black pepper and cook stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add squash and potato mix thoroughly with the onion mixture to coat the vegetables. Add stock, tomato paste, and lemon juice and stir to combine. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to simmer.

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Simmer, covered for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and allow the soup to cool a bit before carefully processing. In small batches, purée the soup in the blender, pouring the puréed soup into another pot as you go. Alternatively, you can use an immersion blender and purée the soup in the pot. Once smooth, return the soup to the heat and stir in the cream. Stir in salt. Warm through and serve immediately, garnished with a spoonful of cream and cinnamon if desired.

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The Examiners

DECEMBER 19, 2025

by Dan Pearson

Well, before we know it, the holiday Tell me about it. I was in a season will be over. store today that had a huge St. Patrick’s Day display.

Oh, that’s not the half of it.

Are you serious?

What do you mean?

It was for St. Patrick’s Day 2027.

CAPTIONTHIS Check out our new reader contest on p. 16

Write your most appropriate, clever, or funny caption to the photo shown for a chance to win whatever cool swag we decide to give away! Email your entry to Dan@AugustaRx.com

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

ACROSS 1. Has to 5. Kiln for drying hops 9. Blood prefix 13. Seaward 14. Brief advertisement 16. Bedouin 17. Ella’s style 18. Sleep disorder 19. Tears 20. Peace salutation 22. This MLB team had both the Manager of the Year and the Rookie of the Year in 2018 24. Extinct emu-like bird 25. The 48th U.S. VP 26. Gaol in the U.S. 28. Hardwood source 29. Fed. farming/food agcy. 32. ___ smear 33. Quaker product 34. Capital of Canada 36. Doc’s org. 37. WACG network 38. Ginger-based drink 39. Augusta has two 40. Noir follows these two words 42. Military abbrev. 43. Annoy 44. There are seven of them 45. Small low island 46. Former dawg Gurley 48. Bibb County (GA) seat 50. Flash intro 51. Young salmon 53. Arrangements beginning 57. Finding ______ 58. Like dry skin 61. Tailless amphibian 62. Level 63. A little bit off upstairs 64. South American Indian

NUMBER BY

8 15

45 48

Have fun!

64 66

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

65. Care for 66. Bright star 67. Appear

30. DDE’s middle name 31. Prize 32. Friend 33. Choose 34. ___ Medical College 35. Inquire of 37. Related to the nose 38. Grant of Augusta 41. Hills of North Augusta 42. Pale 45. Candy ingredient? 46. The fox in The Fox and the Hound 47. _________ Media 49. To cover with a ceiling 50. Mega-hit for Outkast 51. Ballesteros to friends 52. Corner of fame 54. Marrow lead-in 55. Doctor; spike 56. Cheese coated with red wax 57. Fish follower 59. Dove sound 60. The most common STD

DOWN 1. Service at St. Mary on the Hill 2. Campus in Aiken (abbrev) 3. Heidi Klum’s ex 4. Japanese straw mat 5. President #44 6. High mountain 7. Type of roof or dress 8. The late “Mr. Jeopardy” 9. Gather in 10. Canal opened in 1825 11. Atlas pages 12. Childbirth docs 15. Building for storing hay 21. Popular ISP 23. Severe/sudden 25. Vanna’s partner 26. Famous Dean 27. With speed 28. Canoe propulsion system

Solution p. 14

QUOTATIONPUZZLE A

2 6 3 7 8 1 4 3 L Y T7 9 H E A6 5 I O5 2 O 9 8 1 4 — Lou Holtz

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

1 2

D 1 2 3 4

N 4 5 6

1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

6 6

F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1 2

8 9 10

1 2 3 4 — Edmund Burke

1.RREWWDLIT 2.EIEIOSIAI 3.GAFTTTK 4.LIDHHEE 5.SOONE 6.CUTUG 7.ITTT 8.IN

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

9.GN

L 2

10.G

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS

DEADLINE TO ENTER: 5:00 PM FRIDAY, DEC. 12, 2025

5 9 4 8 2 1 6 7 3

7 8 6 2 3 9 1 4 5

9 5 2 1 6 4 7 3 8

DECEMBER 19, 2025

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

wo country boys who weren’t too bright went into the woods to find a Christmas tree. They looked for hours, but never could find a good one. They even split up to cover more ground, but when they met back up, the news wasn’t good. “Couldn’t find one neither?” asked the first one. “Nary a one,” said his friend. “We cain’t go back empty-handed,” said the first one, pushing the bill of his baseball cap up in exasperation. “Well here then,” said his friend, standing by a perfectly shaped 6-foot tall spruce pine a few feet away. “Let’s just get one that ain’t got no decorations.”

The

Advice Doctor

Moe: You know how people get more and more hard of hearing as they age? Joe: Usually, yeah. Moe: Well, my grandmother is 99 and her hearing is perfect, better than mine. Joe: That is absolutely deaf-defying.

Moe: Did you hear about that crime spree in Augusta? Joe: No, what happened? Moe: Somebody has been stealing the wheels off police cars. Joe: Oh wow. I bet they are working tirelessly to catch that guy.

Moe: What’s your stand on universal healthcare? Joe: I’m against it. Why should we pay for Martians to have healthcare?

This girl moves into a new apartment and calls one of her friends with the news. Her friend is excited too, and wants to come over and check the place out. The girl gives her the address and some directions “There’s a double gate by the sidewalk,” she says. “It’s easiest to push that open with your right elbow. Then when you get to the lobby, press the elevator button with your left elbow. As you go in, it will be easier to press the button for the 7th floor with your left elbow too. Turn left out of the elevator and knock on Apartment 704 with your right elbow.” “What is it with all this elbow stuff to press everything? Why do I need all that?” “You’re not coming empty-handed are you?”

Wife: You never listen to me! You only hear exactly what you want to hear! Husband: Sure, steak tonight sounds fine.

Moe: There’s a new movie coming out that’s all about - get this - mobile homes. Joe: Yeah, I saw the trailer. +

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? Staring at my phone all day has certainly had no Effect on ME!

Because try as they might, no one can stare at their phone all day.

Dear Advice Doctor, I am newly divorced and I want to get back into the dating scene, as distasteful as that feels to me. I know there are many options involving apps and the internet, but I wanted to go old school and actually meet people face-to-face. It has not gone well, which is a completely foreign experience for me. Am I losing my touch? That would be a real slap in the face on top of what I’ve already been through. It’s bad enough to suffer through a divorce. — Please Help One Become Two Dear Please Help, This is definitely a troubling situation, no doubt about it. I sympathize with you, and I’m sure many readers do too. Millions of people have to endure the same thing you’re experiencing. After all, neuropathy — a fancy medical word for losing your touch — can have a number of causes, including injury, diabetes, cancer treatment, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and others. And if that isn’t enough, there is idiopathic neuropathy, which simply means the cause is unknown. Whatever the cause, neuropathy boils down to defects in our nerves resulting in weakness, numbness or pain (or all three), usually in hands and feet. Some people suffer from excruciating tingling in their hands and feet. It may sound trivial, but they will often wish for complete numbness. Closely related, sometimes neuropathy results in extreme sensitivity to touch. Neuropathy can be dangerous. For instance, when someone’s foot is numb and they can’t feel exactly where it is, the result can be a fall. Or someone might be unaware of a blister on their foot or a small pebble in their shoe. By the time it’s discovered, a serious infection could be raging. Sometimes that can even lead to amputations. Anyone experiencing neuropathy should check with their doctor to identify the cause and/or treatment. Being a compliant patient goes a long way toward successful treatment. Other helpful suggestions to minimize (or prevent) neuropathy: monitor and control your blood glucose levels, quit smoking, and drink alcohol moderately if at all. I hope this answers your question. Thanks for writing! + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about health, life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in the Examiner.

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We’re never too proud to beg. What we’re begging for is “Everybody Has a Story” articles. With your help, this could be (should be) in every issue of the Medical Examiner. After all, everybody has a story of something health- or medicine-related, and lots of people have many stories. See the No Rules Rules below, then send your interesting (or even semi-interesting) stories to the Medical Examiner, PO Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903 or e-mail to Dan@AugustaRx.com. Thanks!

“OUCH!”

“The cause was a mystery for a long time.” “And that’s when I fell.” nearest hospital “He doesn’t remember a thing.” “The was 30 miles away.” “I was a battlefield medic.” “He was just two when he died.”

“It was a terrible tragedy.”“She saved “I sure learned my lesson.” “I retired from medicine my life.” “It seemed like a miracle.” seven years ago.” “We had triplets.” “It was my first year “I thought, ‘Well, this is it’.” NOTHING SEEMED of medical school.” “They took me to the hospital by helicopter.” TO HELP, UNTIL. . “It took 48 stitches.”

ambulance crashed.” “Now THAT hurt!” “The “My leg was broken “I’m not supposed to be alive.”

“This was on my third day in Afghanistan.” in three places.” “I lost 23 pounds.” “Turned out it was just indigestion.” “At first I thought it was something I ate.” “The smoke detector woke me up.”

Everybody has a story. Tell us yours.

Here’s our “No Rules Rules.” We’ll publish your name and city, or we keep you anonymous. Your choice. Length? Up to you. Subject? It can be a monumental medical event or just a stubbed toe. It can make us laugh or make us cry. One thing we’re not interested in, however: please, no tirades against a certain doctor or hospital. Ain’t nobody got time for that.