Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC) Announces New President and CEO

TORONTO, April 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC), a leading provider of rehabilitation services for Canadians with vision loss, announces today that Patrick Levesque has been appointed as the organization's new President and CEO.

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada announces that Patrick Levesque has been appointed as the new President and CEO.

"I am tremendously excited to be joining the team at Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada," said Levesque. "This organization is a crucial part of the health care continuum in Canada, and the services it provides are integral to quality of life for thousands of Canadians from coast to coast to coast. I am honoured to be able to lead this organization into its next chapter."

Levesque joins the VLRC team with considerable experience in the fields of rehabilitation and health care; he has spent much of his career working with and for individuals with disabilities, particularly vision and hearing loss. 

As an executive leader, Levesque worked in a Integrated University Health and Social Services Center in Montreal and facilitated the merger of a new enhanced rehabilitation centre. He led multiple community outpatient programs for all ages, including a unique joint partnership deafblind program with low vision services, and a specialized cochlear implant clinic, serving Quebec residents and francophones in Canada. 

After moving to Toronto, Patrick continued to drive organizational growth, strategic transformation, and system change. He has helped shape mental health services for vulnerable people with proactive advocacy, system redesign, and quality improvement actions. Under his leadership, organizations have improved client satisfaction and outcomes, reduced wait times, and managed important cost savings while implementing complex system transformation.

"I am very pleased to see VLRC enter its next phase of growth as a key health care provider in all provinces," said CNIB President and CEO, John M. Rafferty. "Patrick is joining the team at a critical juncture in the organization's history, and I look forward to working with him and the entire VLRC team on our shared goal of creating a more inclusive world for people with sight loss."

VLRC thanks Rafferty for his transformational and dedicated leadership in founding the organization. 

Until 2018, the health services now provided by VLRC were delivered through CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind), a longstanding Canadian charity for which Rafferty is the President and CEO. However, Rafferty always believed that the rehabilitation services the charity provided, such as training in mobility and daily living skills, were fundamental to the health and wellness of Canadians with vision loss - and therefore, these services needed to be funded by provincial health systems, not charitable donations.

After years of working with provincial governments to make that case, CNIB eventually achieved full government funding for its rehabilitation services. Shortly after that, Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada was established as an independent non-profit organization to deliver these services.

VLRC now serves approximately 102,000 Canadians with vision loss and has 44 locations in communities across Canada. 

About Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada
Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada is a provincially funded, accredited health care organization staffed by a passionate team of certified professionals. The organization provides professional, high-quality and sustainable rehabilitation to Canadians with vision loss now and into the future. Learn more at visionlossrehab.ca. 

SOURCE Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada

DARZALEX® SC Becomes the First and Only Health Canada-Approved Treatment for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Light Chain (AL) Amyloidosis, A Rare Disease

DARZALEX^® SC combination regimen is supported by the Phase 3 ANDROMEDA study demonstrating a significantly higher hematologic complete response rate in this rare and serious blood cell disorder

TORONTO, April 19, 2021 /CNW/ - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today Health Canada approved DARZALEX^® SC (daratumumab injection), a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of daratumumab, in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (D-VCd, also known as DCyBorD) for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed light chain (AL) amyloidosis.¹ The DARZALEX^® SC combination regimen is the first and only Health Canada approved treatment for patients with AL amyloidosis,² a rare blood cell disorder with no cure.³ AL amyloidosis occurs when an abnormal protein produced in the bone marrow is deposited and builds up in vital organs like the heart and kidneys, impacting their ability to function.⁴ 

"AL amyloidosis is rare and can present differently from person to person, yet many patients experience organ deterioration or failure by the time they are diagnosed. I hope this approval can lead to greater awareness of this disease and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment," says Dr. Victor Zepeda, Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of Calgary and Clinician Scientist at the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute.** ^"Patients with this disease have extremely limited options, and today's approval of this subcutaneous formulation of daratumumab offers new hope for those with AL amyloidosis and their caregivers."

The Health Canada approval is based on positive results from the Phase 3 ANDROMEDA (AMY3001) study, which were presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2020 Annual Congress. The study evaluated DARZALEX^® SC in combination with VCd, compared with VCd alone, a common treatment regimen used in adult patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis.⁵ Patients receiving treatment with D-VCd experienced a hematologic complete response rate (hemCR) nearly triple that of patients receiving VCd alone (53 per cent for D-VCd and 18 per cent for VCd; P<0.0001).⁶

AL amyloidosis is a life-threatening blood cell disorder that occurs when blood plasma cells in the bone marrow produce amyloid deposits, which build up in vital organs and eventually cause organ deterioration.⁷ The disease can affect different organs in different people, but the most frequently affected organs are the heart, kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.^8,9

About one-third of patients with AL amyloidosis visit five or more doctors before receiving a diagnosis, and 72 per cent are diagnosed more than one year after experiencing first symptoms.^10,11 Patients often have a poor prognosis due to the delay in diagnosis, which frequently presents with non-specific symptoms that can mimic other, more common conditions.¹² As many as 30 per cent of patients with AL amyloidosis die within the first year after diagnosis.¹³

"We look forward to the potential of helping patients with AL amyloidosis who, until now, had no approved therapies for the treatment of their disease," said Craig Tendler, M.D., Vice President, Late Development and Global Medical Affairs, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "This approval underscores our continued commitment to deliver innovative therapies, which improve the outcomes for patients diagnosed with plasma cell diseases such as AL amyloidosis."

The Health Canada review was conducted under Project Orbis, an initiative of the US FDA Oncology Center of Excellence, which provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology medicine applications among international regulatory agencies, including Health Canada. 

Janssen looks forward to working with insurers to determine how the DARZALEX^® SC combination regimen can be made accessible for newly diagnosed patients with AL amyloidosis through both private and public insurance plans.

About the ANDROMEDA StudyANDROMEDA (AMY3001) is an ongoing Phase 3, randomized, open-label study investigating the safety and efficacy of DARZALEX^® SC in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone (D-VCd), compared to VCd alone, for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed light chain (AL) amyloidosis.¹⁴ The study includes 388 patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis with measurable hematologic disease and one or more organs affected.¹⁵ The primary endpoint is overall complete hematologic response rate by intent-to-treat (ITT).¹⁶ Patients received DARZALEX^® SC 1,800 mg administered subcutaneously once weekly from weeks 1 to 8, once every 2 weeks from weeks 9 to 24 and once every 4 weeks starting with week 25 until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or a maximum of 2 years.¹⁷ Among patients who received D-VCd, 74 per cent were exposed for 6 months or longer and 32 per cent were exposed for greater than one year.¹⁸

The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (≥20 per cent) in the D-VCd arm were peripheral edema, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, peripheral sensory neuropathy, dyspnea, cough, insomnia, and anemia. ¹⁹ Serious treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 43 per cent of patients in the D-VCd arm. Serious treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred in at least 5 per cent of patients in the D–VCd arm were pneumonia (7 per cent) and cardiac failure (7 per cent). ²⁰ Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 11 per cent of patients in the D-VCd arm. ²¹ Fatal adverse reactions that occurred in more than one patient included cardiac arrest, sudden death, and cardiac failure (3 per cent respectively), and sepsis (1 per cent).²²

About DARZALEX^® SC

DARZALEX^® is the first CD38-directed monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved to treat multiple myeloma.²³ In 2020, DARZALEX^® SC became the only subcutaneously administered CD38-directed antibody approved to treat patients with multiple myeloma.²⁴ And now, DARZALEX^® SC in combination with bortezomib, cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone is the first and only Health Canada approved treatment for patients with AL amyloidosis. ²⁵ The safety and efficacy of DARZALEX^® SC have not been established in AL amyloidosis patients with advanced cardiac disease (Mayo Stage IIIB or NYHA Class IIIB or IV).²⁶

Daratumumab binds to CD38, a surface protein highly expressed across clonal plasma cells that cause serious conditions such as multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis.²⁷ Daratumumab induces tumor cell death through cell lysis via multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP).²⁸ Daratumumab has also demonstrated immunomodulatory effects such as increasing CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells counts, which may contribute to clinical response.²⁹

In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize DARZALEX^®. Janssen Inc. commercializes DARZALEX^® and DARZALEX^® SC in Canada. For full Prescribing Information and more information about DARZALEX^® SC, please visit www.janssen.com/canada. 

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson 

At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension. 

Learn more at www.janssen.com/canada. Follow us at @JanssenCanada. Janssen Inc. is part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson. 

*All trademark rights used under license. 
**Dr. Zepeda was not compensated for any media work. He has been compensated as a consultant.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding DARZALEX^® SC. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Inc., any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2021, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

References:

SOURCE Janssen Inc.

Under 30 and sexually active? It's a good idea to get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea

Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care recommends routine screening 

OTTAWA, ON, April 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Anyone sexually active under age 30 should be offered testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea, according to a new guideline from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). 

Chlamydia and gonorrhea are the most commonly reported bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Canada and are treatable with antibiotics. Without treatment, these infections can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, pain and possibly infertility.

"If people are under 30 and sexually active, it's a good idea to get tested," says Dr. Ainsley Moore, a family physician and associate clinical professor, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, and chair of the Task Force chlamydia and gonorrhea working group. "Many people are asymptomatic and may not seek treatment so we're recommending opportunistic testing, that is, at any health care visit." 

The guideline recommends that health care providers in Canada offer routine screening (testing) for chlamydia and gonorrhea to all sexually active patients under age 30 not known to belong to a high-risk group. Sexual activity is defined as anyone who has had oral, vaginal or anal intercourse.

Why is the task force recommending screening?

• 1 in 20 sexually active individuals 15-29 years old will get chlamydia. 
• Reported rates for this age group are 1.0-1.9% (chlamydia) and 0.2-0.3% (gonorrhea). 
• Many people are asymptomatic or do not seek care and are not included in reported cases. 
• True rates of chlamydia in 15-29 year-olds may be as high as 5-7%. 
• Rising rates in people aged 25-29 years since 2000. 
• Screening may reduce pelvic inflammatory disease in females.

This recommendation does not extend to pregnant people, people known to be at increased risk based on sexual behaviours, or patients seeking care for a possible STI. Clinicians should consult national, provincial, or local guidance to provide care for these individuals.

Current practice in Canada recommends screening sexually active people not at high risk up to age 25. 

"This recommendation to extend screening to age 30 reflects increasing rates of infection among Canadians aged 25 to 29 years," says Dr. Donna Reynolds, a member of the working group, family physician and an assistant professor at the University of Toronto. "As it's an easy test, usually a urine test or vaginal swab, it can be done at any visit to a physician, nurse practitioner or sexual health clinic."

The recommendations also consider the potential for anxiety and embarrassment for some around screening for STIs and suggest also screening males as the primary source of infection for females for whom the health consequences can be greater. 

"Screening males, who are often without symptoms, may reduce transmission and complications for females and may improve health equity for females," says Dr. Moore.

Target Audiences

• Clinicians – The guideline is aimed at clinicians in primary care, sexual health and student clinics and other settings. 
• Public – A public web page offers resources about why it's a good idea to get tested.

The Task Force engaged Canadians to understand their values and preferences around screening to inform recommendations. They expressed a strong preference for screening. 

Get the guideline and related tools here.

About the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care 
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care is an independent panel of health professionals who are experts in clinical preventive health care and guideline methodology. The task force's mandate is to develop and disseminate evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for primary and preventive care. 

SOURCE Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care

April is Stress Awareness Month and with the effects of Covid adding to the heavy workloads, student debts, and societal pressures Millennials already face, how are they coping with the extra pandemic stress? 

Clinical Psychologist and Hypnotherapist Avantika Dixit believes many aren’t coping well. Avantika, who is also a brain tumor survivor, understands the strength in adversity, and that’s exactly what inspired her to create Woke Hero, a platform to teach Millennials how to overcome their struggles and find meaning in their lives. 

Avantika says, “Outside of their daily work and financial struggles, until 2020, the biggest stressors for Millenials were major life events like divorce, death, illness, or caring for a family member— things that don’t happen too often,” says Dixit. “The pandemic really turned up the switch on that, and now young people are needing help navigating through it all. By knowing and understanding the causes of stress, and taking the time to focus on their mental health, they can begin the journey towards peace of mind.” 

Avantika Dixit shares five crucial points for understanding stress, as well as some practical advice for coping:

1. Stress is a Global Phenomenon - The World Health Organization (WHO) has conclusively declared that 80% of global disease burden is attributed to stress.

2. Stress is a Chemical Reaction - Stress evolved as a biochemical response to keep us from danger. Short bursts of stress can even be positive—enhancing neuromuscular performance and motivation. Chronic elevations of stress hormones like cortisol and noradrenaline are what create the sense of fight-or-flight, and make us feel overwhelmed, anxious, or apathetic.

3. Stress Triggers the Sympathetic Nervous System - Your body has an autonomic nervous system which goes into either sympathetic mode—the state in which you are reacting to a perceived threat, or in fight-or-flight response— or parasympathetic mode, wherein the nervous system prevents the body from overworking, restoring it to a calm and composed state. Stress triggers the sympathetic nervous system into overdrive, preventing rest and deep healing.

4. Watch What You Watch to Avoid Stress Triggers - Watching the news or engaging with certain social media content can lead to negativity bias—a state in which your brain perceives the world to be worse and more threatening than it actually is. Humans have a bad habit of mentally giving more weight to things that go wrong than to things that go right—just one negative event can cause a domino effect of negativity in our minds that can be damaging to our work, relationships, happiness and well-being.

5.  Develop Your Brain, Feel Less Stress - The prefrontal and neocortex are the most recently evolved regions of the human brain and are also referred to as the “higher brain” which is responsible for feelings of well-being and executive function. Executive functions are what allow us to control short-sighted, reflexive behaviors and that allow us to take part in things such as planning, decision-making, problem-solving, self-control, and long-term goal planning. 

Avatika’s evidence-based tips for preventing and coping with stress: 

1. Conscience breathing -Breathwork practices are easily found on the internet at no cost. Three of my favorites are the alternate nostril breathing, the inhale, hold, and exhale in a 1:2:4 pattern; and the simple, prolonged inhalation-exhalation practice. All three stimulate the vagus nerve, which can switch your brain from sympathetic to parasympathetic function and can lower stress in as little as 30 seconds.

2.  Acu-meridian stimulation - Also called tapping. This is a highly proven practice where taps on key points on the hand, head, face, collar bone and chest , chest activate the release of any emotional or energetic blockages stored there. It takes less than 5 minutes to tap on oneself each day. There are several free tapping resources online and you can also be part of the free tapping circles or groups in your community or online. Woke Hero also offers one.

3. Meditation and visualization - People who meditate a minimum of 20 minutes, several times a week, have shown to have brains with a more well-developed prefrontal cortex and neocortex. Studies have proved that meditation and visualization can stimulate positive brain development in less than three weeks, and continued practice gives better results with time.

4. Simplification and Detox - Spending more time in nature, doing a digital fast for several hours each day, adopting mindfulness, and simplifying life as much as possible, can really help in reducing stress.

5. Gratitude, Joy and Love - Oxytocin and serotonin are released when you think of or participate in acts of love, gratitude or joy. These two “love hormones” are natural stress-removers.

6. Be organized and create rituals and predictability - By staying organized and creating rituals and predictable routines, you can better manage the areas of your life that you have control over. Set achievable goals and celebrate when you hit those milestones. Keep reminding yourself of the progress you are making.

Defying the Odds: Transplant Recipient’s Model for Business Success Aids His Survival

Boston, MA, April 19, 2021 — Three years ago, John Sperzel’s heart, and his world, were on the brink of stopping. While vacationing in Aruba, he was found unconscious and unresponsive in the wee hours of the night. He was medflighted to Miami, where he spent a week in the cardiac ICU, before he was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital. 

Sperzel’s prognosis was grim: He had a very rare and progressively fatal condition that had been diagnosed fewer than 300 times in medical history — most during autopsies. He was officially in the fight of his life and needed a heart transplant to survive.

Courage: Powerful Lessons in Leadership, Strength, and the Will to Succeed is Sperzel’s gripping account of his extraordinary battle to survive, his agonizing wait for a donor heart and the “kiss of death” that almost ended it all. 

Throughout his emotional journey, he grappled with knowing that his life depended on someone else’s loss. He promised that if given a second chance, he would pay it forward any way he could.

Courage — part captivating memoir, part inspirational call to action — gives readers a rare glimpse inside the mind of someone who has survived the seemingly unsurvivable. But that’s only part of the story.

Sperzel writes, “It’s not about what happens to you that’s important … it’s who you choose to become as a result of what happens to you that really matters.”

Following a period of deep introspection, Sperzel identified the factors that contributed to his miraculous survival and recovery (and other successes in life): Hard Work, Excellence, Attitude, Resilience and Teamwork. Couragecompellingly explores the positive impacts of cultivating and embodying these traits, and offers a duplicatable method to guide readers along their own paths toward fulfillment.

Sperzel’s career evolved into his calling, and he hopes that by sharing his H.E.A.R.T., he can inspire others to follow their passions to their true purposes, and live life as the incredible gift it truly is.

Courage author John Sperzel is President, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors at T2 Biosystems (NASDAQ: TTOO). As a healthcare executive, he has built and led high-performance teams at all levels around the world, and acquired companies in the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Following his heart transplant in 2017, Sperzel returned to his role as a public company CEO and continues to pursue his lifelong passion to advance life-saving technologies. As a speaker, he shares his amazing story of courage in the face of adversity, along with powerful lessons in leadership, strength and the will to succeed. He plans to donate all proceeds from his book sales to Sepsis Alliance (www.sepsis.org) and Donate Life America (donatelife.net).

Follow the author on Instagram at www.instagram.com/johnsperzel/ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/johnsperzelceo. 

COURAGE: Powerful Lessons in Leadership, Strength, and the Will to Succeed

Publisher: Merack Publishing 

ISBN-10: 1949635627 

ISBN-13: 978-1949635621 

Available from https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949635627/

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AGE-WELL announces virtual roadshows on the future of technology and aging in Canada

TORONTO, April 19, 2021 /CNW/ - AGE-WELL will host five virtual roadshows to hear ideas from Canadians about how technology can best support older adults in the future. 

The Future of Technology and Aging in Canada Roadshows will be held every Wednesday from April 21 to May 19. 

"The pandemic has laid bare the need for technology to support older adults and their caregivers. It's safe to predict that, whatever the world looks like post COVID, technology will play a much greater role in the lives of older Canadians and those who care for them," says Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Scientific Director and CEO of AGE-WELL, Canada's technology and aging network. 

For the last six years, AGE-WELL has served as a catalyst for technological innovation that  empowers older Canadians to live healthy, independent and engaged lives, while driving forward Canada's AgeTech sector. AGE-WELL now includes more than 250 researchers from 45 Canadian universities and research institutes, over 760 trainees and more than 400 industry, community, government and academic partners. Almost 5,000 older adults and caregivers are involved. 

AGE-WELL has over 100 technology-based solutions in development or already making a difference in people's lives. These innovations include communications platforms, smart-home systems, wearables and remote therapies. AGE-WELL also supports 54 startups that are bringing products to market, while creating jobs and wealth.

Now, as the network prepares for the next phase of its important mandate, AGE-WELL invites Canadians to share their thoughts on key areas of action to support seniors' wellbeing and advance Canada's burgeoning AgeTech sector.

Each consultation session will include presentations by Dr. Mihailidis and an older adult or caregiver. Sessions will be moderated by Laura Tamblyn Watts, President and CEO of CanAge, Canada's national seniors' advocacy organization.

Canadians are invited to join any of the Wednesday roadshows that best align with their region or their availability. For dates and to register free of charge, visit: https://agewell-nce.ca/the-future-of-technology-and-aging-in-canada-roadshows

For questions, please email: future@agewell-nce.ca

About AGE-WELL

AGE-WELL NCE Inc. is Canada's Technology and Aging Network. The pan-Canadian network brings together researchers, older adults, caregivers, partner organizations and future leaders to accelerate the delivery of technology-based solutions that make a meaningful difference in the lives of Canadians. AGE-WELL researchers are producing technologies, services, policies and practices that improve quality of life for older adults and caregivers, and generate social and economic benefits for Canada. AGE-WELL is funded through the federal Networks of Centres of Excellence program. www.agewell-nce.ca.

SOURCE AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence (NCE)

Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life

Grand Rapids, MI, April 19, 2021 — When Steve Harryman talks about his late wife, Char, he compares her to a 100-watt bulb, lighting up the world for others facing challenges in life, even as she faced the end of hers. 

Steve honors Char’s legacy and generous spirit in his inspirational new book,Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life.

It was Easter Sunday, 1995, when Char suffered a grand mal seizure. And then another. And another. An MRI revealed a malignant tumor the size of a golf ball — a life-defining moment that marked the beginning of an unforgettable journey of unwavering love, faith and perseverance. 

As Char was wheeled into surgery, she told her husband, “Keep trusting.” It was a mantra that would guide them during their darkest moments and propel them forward in faith. Doctors gave Char two years to live. God had other plans. And so did Char. She lived for 24 more years and touched the lives of thousands before her passing in May 2019.

“With all her struggles, with all her many battles against cancer, with all her perseverance and hope in Christ — Char was one of the most inspiring women I’ve ever met,” says Joni Eareckson Tada, author, Christian stateswoman and respected global leader in disability advocacy.

Early on in her cancer journey, Char struggled with the reality of her diagnosis, just as anyone would. Everything changed when she channeled her energy into deepening her relationship with God and serving Him by focusing on the needs of others.

For Char, making other people feel loved was her greatest joy. It is Steve’s hope that by sharing her inspirational story, others navigating a difficult time will find strength in her grace and faith — and just keep trusting.

Steve Harryman is the founder and president of Hope Through the Storm Ministries, a Christian faith-based organization devoted to bringing hope and encouragement to people facing serious illness and disability. Steve is also an award-winning writer, videographer, photographer and successful magazine writer. Char’s Gift is his first book. He lives in West Michigan and was married to Char for nearly 33 years before she went to heaven in May 2019.

For more information, please visit https://charsgift.com, or follow the author on Twitter (@steveharryman); Instagram (@steve_harryman); or Facebook (@steveharrymanauthor). 

Char’s Gift: A Remarkable Story of Hope Through the Storms of Life

Publisher: Elm Hill, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing

ISBN-10: 1400330610 

ISBN-13: 978-1400330614 

Available from Amazon.com, BN.com, Faithgate.com and numerous other online retailers 

Shock and Denial Consume Parents of Addicts

“About Natalie is groundbreaking. It doesn’t preach or pretend to offer a panacea. Instead, it offers a refreshing, authentic look at one family’s struggle with addiction, easily the most powerful book published on the subject in the 21st century.”  — Dr. Maryel McKinley PhD, Addictions Expert, Former Co-Host, “All Talk Recovery Radio,” Los Angeles, Arbitron rated No. 1 in Southern California  

Pittsburgh, PA, April 19, 2021 — Like the band that played on as the Titanic sank, Christine Naman unpacked the groceries and made a meatloaf — the simple act of normalcy distracting her from an unthinkable reality: addiction was pulling her daughter under.

“Even with the picture of the situation coming more clearly into focus, I clung to denial like a kayaker who has been thrown from his boat would cling to a branch lying across the water,” Christine says. “It is amazing how deep into denial a person can go and how strongly they can hang onto it before reality smacks them around enough so that they let go.”

Christine traces her daughter's years-long battle with addiction in About Natalie, a gripping, cautionary tale of how, in spite of a loving family and a comfortable life, a child can end up on the wrong path, meet the wrong people and get lost in the unthinkable. 

About Natalie takes readers deep inside Christine’s emotional and mental turmoil as she grows into her new, unfortunate role as the parent of an addict. She steps on syringes left on the floor and wrestles one from the family dog’s mouth. She lives the nightmare of finding an unresponsive child on the floor and uses Narcan to revive her. She chases away a drug dealer and stays up all night waiting for her missing child to come home. She rejoices during periods of recovery and hope and is devastated during relapses. When her daughter suffers, Christine suffers right along with her. 

Interwoven with Christine’s reflections are Natalie’s compelling poems that share her personal pain and the unvarnished truth of her struggle.

At its core, About Natalie is a story of fighting for — and right alongside — the ones we love, no matter how difficult the circumstances. It is a story of keeping the faith, battling hard and never giving up.

Bestselling author Christine Pisera Naman is a wife to a beautiful man named Peter and a mother to three fantastic kids named Jason, Natalie and Trevor. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, which she does poorly; painting, again poorly; and volunteering at her local hospital, which she hopes she does well. She is the author of the Faces of Hope series of books that are now housed in the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City. Her other works include Caterpillar Kisses, Christmas Lights, The Novena and The Believers. About Natalie is her heart poured onto paper. 

She hopes that by sharing her family’s difficult story she can bring understanding and knowledge to those who do not know the problem firsthand as well as provide comfort to those who know the nightmare of addiction all too well.

For the About Natalie Addiction Comfort Community, please visit www.aboutnatalieaddictioncomfort.com.

About Natalie

Publisher: HCI Books

Release Date: May 2021

ISBN-13: 978-0-7573-2385-0 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-0-7573-2386-7 (ePub) 

Available from Amazon.com

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Here Are Some Great Snacks to Eat After an Intense Workout

Working out takes a toll on your body and energy levels. Therefore, it’s best to make a post-workout snack to replenish some of that lost energy and rebuild your muscle mass. Here is a list of healthy snacks to eat after physical exercise.

Yogurt and Berries

Yogurt is packed with nutrients that are depleted during exercise. It contains protein that replaces lost amino acids. Berries like strawberries and blueberries have a high antioxidant content. Antioxidants are beneficial after a workout because they minimize pain and soreness. When combined and drizzled with a bit of honey, Greek yogurt and berries are a satisfying treat that also makes you feel full.

Protein Popcorn

Lots of people who exercise enjoy making popcorn after an intense workout. Popcorn contains glycogen, which is a substance that stores carbohydrates within your body. When properly portioned, popcorn also provides a good amount of fiber with very few calories. Try to avoid eating popcorn with too much butter and salt. For some extra flavor and protein, you can even add your favorite whey protein powder to restore your body even further.

Antioxidant Bars

One of the most popular post-workout snacks is an energy bar. They’re packed with nutritious ingredients that keep you going as they repair your body. Antioxidant bars  also ease pain and expedite the healing process. Bars with ingredients like flax seeds, goji berries, and walnuts make it easier to increase your antioxidant intake. Be sure to read the nutrition facts on the bars that you choose in order to determine how healthy they are.

Apples and Peanut Butter

Since protein is a pre-workout staple, consider eating apples and peanut butter. Of course, peanut butter contains high amounts of protein. The texture and sweetness of an apple pair perfectly with the nutty flavor of peanut butter. If you have an allergy or don’t like peanuts, try using almond butter instead.

Almonds

If you prefer your nut-based protein in its natural form, almonds are the snack for you. You can eat them anywhere, even while leaving the gym. Eating a serving of 23 almonds after a workout provides up to 6 grams of protein as well as nutrients like vitamin E, potassium, fiber, calcium, and magnesium. To boost your protein intake, you can pair your almonds with other nuts in a trail mix.

After a workout, you need snacks that help rebuild your body from the inside out. Health experts recommend consuming between 20 and 40 of protein after exercising. By putting these healthy snacks in your workout regimen rotation, you can maximize your muscle growth.

Russell Alexander Law Firm Redesigns Website to 
Help Clients Remotely During Pandemic
New website offers a more user-friendly experience for clients

LINDSAY, Ontario—Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers has redesigned its website to meet the needs of clients who cannot meet in person during the coronavirus pandemic and improve user experience.

Based on client feedback, the new site has improved navigation and faster loading times. It also has new features that will help as lawyers and clients continue to work together on Zoom due to social distancing requirements, such as a secure portal where clients can view and pay invoices.

“The pandemic has forced everyone to take a closer look at how they work online,” said founder Russell Alexander. “We hope this more user-friendly website will help our clients find and use the free resources we have long offered.”

The Lindsay, Ontario-based firm used Stem Legal to redesign the website, a process that took less than three months.

With courtrooms now holding routine hearings over Zoom and lawyers working remotely, the field of family law has become more tech-savvy overall in the last year. Alexander said the new website is part of a broader approach to working with clients online.

“Some of the practices that lawyers have picked up during the pandemic have turned out to be much more convenient and easy for clients,” added Alexander. “Even when the pandemic is over, these changes are here to stay.”

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RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers 
Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario. 

For more information, visit: http://www.russellalexander.com.