Heroic American Surgeon Dr. Tom Catena Earns Top Medical Missionary Award for Saving Lives in Africa’s Forgotten War Zone
Catena to receive annual prestigious AMH Gerson L’Chaim Prize for ‘outstanding Christian medical missionary service’ from African Mission Healthcare
DELAND, Fla. – An American surgeon hailed as “the world’s most important doctor”— to more than a million patients—is being honored with a top international medical award. Today, Florida-based African Mission Healthcare (AMH) announced that Dr. Tom Catena is the recipient of the nonprofit’s 2019 Gerson L’Chaim Prize for “Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service,”sponsored by Jewish philanthropists Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson.
“Perhaps the primary Jewish responsibility is to love the stranger, and to do so meaningfully — in action, where real people materially experience this love,” said Mark Gerson, co-founder of AMH and benefactor of the Gerson L’Chaim Prize. “We are so grateful to Tom for providing us with the opportunity to fulfill this Jewish obligation so effectively.”
Dr. Tom Catena
Dr. Tom Catena, a 55-year-old Catholic medical missionary from upstate New York, has served in Africa for 20 years. He is the only surgeon for 1.3 million people in a region nearly twice the size of Massachusetts. As a medical missionary, he put his life on the lineliving in the middle of the war-torn and besieged Nuba Mountains, a territory fiercely contested by its inhabitants and the former government of Sudan.
In 2011, when the capital started bombing its own people in this southernmost state in Sudan, most expatriate workers fled, but Dr. Catena insisted on staying and said, “The source of most of our conflicts is the idea that one person’s life is more valuable than someone else’s. We have forgotten that we are all children of God and therefore somewhat related.”
Since 2008, Catena, a graduate of Duke University Medical School and former U.S. Navy doctor, has been the Medical Director at Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital. The 435-bed Catholic hospital is the only major medical facility in the Nuba Mountains. Catena is on call 24/7, and sometimes sees as many as 350 or more patients in a single day.
The World’s Most Important Doctor
Dr. Peter Attia, host of the popular podcast The Drive, has called Dr. Catena “the world’s most important doctor.” Additionally, Time Magazine named Dr. Catena “One of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World,” and he was the subject of a 2015 Nicholas Kristof New York Times opinion piece titled, “He’s Jesus Christ.”
“Dr. Tom Catena has given up everything that we in the U.S. take for granted in order to bring healthcare to more than a million people who, without him, would otherwise not have access to any medical care,” added Mark Gerson.
AMH Gerson L’Chaim Prize
AMH has been supporting mission hospitals in Africa since 2010. It launched the L’Chaim (Hebrew for “to life”) Prize in 2016, which comes with a $500,000 award, the world’s largest annual award of its kind dedicated to direct patient care in Africa. The $500,000 award will go towards the Nuba 2020 campaign to raise $7.5 million to keep the only major hospital in Sudan’s war-torn Nuba Mountains fully operational for the next two decades. Catena is leading the Nuba 2020 campaign.
Mark Gerson commented on Dr. Catena’s endless commitment. “The sheer amount of good he does — as measured in clinic visits, surgeries, deliveries, community clinic patients treated, and children vaccinated — with the amount of resources he has is completely stunning. It is simply incredible to even think about how many lives Tom and the team he has built can save and transform with the money that he is provided.”
“The people of the Nuba Mountains are the bravest and most resilient people I know,” said Catena. “I am honored to receive this award that will help enormously with our plans to strengthen and expand the Gidel Mother of Mercy Hospital and our network of clinics in this largely forgotten region of the world.”
“It’s an incredible honor for AMH to recognize Dr. Catena’s unparalleled commitment,” said Rabbi Erica Gerson, an AMH board member and prize co-sponsor, who will present the award with her philanthropist husband Mark Gerson. “For more than a decade, Tom has endured bombings, epidemics, rainy seasons and flooding, loss of power, lack of equipment and staff, and very little connection with the outside world, all because of his dedication to the Nuba people. He exemplifies what it means to ‘walk in all God’s ways and to love Him,’ and we are honored to be his partner in his sacred work.”
The prestigious Rabbi Erica and Mark Gerson L’Chaim prize will be presented to Catena April 14 at an awards dinner in New York City.
About African Mission Healthcare
African Mission Healthcare (AMH), a Florida-based nonprofit organization, strengthens African mission hospital to aid those in greatest need. AMH strategically partners with mission hospitals to support and advance their commitment to provide compassionate, quality medical care to the forgotten and hurting people of Africa, and to improve the health system in sub-Saharan Africa. AMH was co-founded in 2010 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark Gerson and medical missionary Dr. Jon Fielder, who were college roommates.
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PHOTO CUTLINE: Dr. Tom Catena, an American surgeon and medical missionary, who has voluntarily stayed in war-torn Nuba Mountains to save thousands of lives in conflict-torn Sudan, has been honored with a top medical missionary award, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) announced today. Catena will be presented with the Gerson L'Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Se
PEOPLE MAY LIE TO APPEAR HONEST
Efforts to avoid appearing dishonest may actually lead to lying, study finds
WASHINGTON – People may lie to appear honest if events that turned out in their favor seem too good to be true, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association.
“Many people care greatly about their reputation and how they will be judged by others, and a concern about appearing honest may outweigh our desire to actually be honest, even in situations where it will cost us money to lie,” said lead researcher Shoham Choshen-Hillel, PhD, a senior lecturer at the School of Business Administration and Center for the Study of Rationality at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “Our findings suggest that when people obtain extremely favorable outcomes, they anticipate other people’s suspicious reactions and prefer lying and appearing honest over telling the truth and appearing as selfish liars.”
The study found similar findings about lying to appear honest in a series of experiments conducted with lawyers and college students in Israel, as well as online participants in the United States and United Kingdom. The research was published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.
In one experiment with 115 lawyers in Israel, the participants were told to imagine a scenario where they told a client that a case would cost between 60 and 90 billable hours. The lawyer would be working in an office where the client wouldn’t know how many hours were truly spent on the case. Half of the participants were told they had worked 60 hours on the case while the other half were told they worked 90 hours. Then they were asked how many hours they would bill the client. In the 60-hour group, the lawyers reported an average of 62.5 hours, with 17% of the group lying to inflate their hours. In the 90-hour group, the lawyers reported an average of 88 hours, with 18% of the group lying to report fewer hours than they had actually worked.
When asked for an explanation for the hours they billed, some lawyers in the 90-hour group said they worried that the client would think he had been cheated because the lawyer had lied about the number of billable hours.
In another experiment, 149 undergraduate students at an Israeli university played online dice-rolling and coin-flipping games in private and then reported their scores to a researcher. The participants received approximately 15 cents for each successful coin flip or dice roll they reported. The computer program was manipulated for half of the students so they received perfect scores in the games, while the other group had random outcomes based on chance. In the perfect-score group, 24% underreported their number of wins even though it cost them money, compared with 4% in the random-outcome group.
“Some participants overcame their aversion toward lying and the monetary costs involved just to appear honest to a single person who was conducting the experiment,” Choshen-Hillel said.
In another online experiment with 201 adults from the United States, participants were told to imagine a scenario where they drove on many work trips for a company that had a maximum monthly compensation of 400 miles. They were told that most employees reported 280 to 320 miles per month.
Half of the participants were told they had driven 300 miles in a month while the other half were told they drove 400 miles. When the participants were asked how many miles they would report, the 300-mile group told the truth and reported an average of 301 miles. For the 400-mile group, the participants reported an average of 384 miles, with 12% lying and underreporting their mileage. There were similar findings in another online experiment with 544 participants in the United Kingdom.
Choshen-Hillel said she believes the study findings would apply in the real world, but there could be situations where the amount of money or other high stakes would lead people to tell the truth even if they might appear dishonest.
“While our findings may seem ironic or counterintuitive, I think most people will recognize a time in their lives when they were motivated to tell a lie to appear honest,” she said.
Article: “Lying to Appear Honest,” by Shoham Choshen-Hillel, PhD, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Alex Shaw, PhD, University of Chicago; and Eugene M. Caruso, PhD, University of California-Los Angeles. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Published online Jan. 30, 2020.
How a Dream of Coming to America Led This Immigrant to a Successful Career in Cannabis.
VVENERA’s Founder and CEO, Said Alievich entered the cannabis industry after fulfilling his childhood dream of coming to America to become a petroleum engineer took a significant toll on his health. Alievich’s CBD & wellness company, VVENERA, adamantly oversees the entire manufacturing process of their products to cultivate the nation’s premier line of industrial hemp derived Phyto Cannabinoids to use within their products. VVENERA’s products are grown organically to make certain that consumers are not ingesting contaminants such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, solvents, and heavy metals.
Said Alievich, the Founder and CEO of VVENERA, was inspired to craft his own high-quality CBD products that help regulate the physiology of our body’s systems all while eliminating the harmful side effects of using pharmaceutical drugs. With a number of retailers across North Carolina, Georgia, and California carrying its products, VVENERA is rapidly expanding its footprint of hemp-based products sourced from Kentucky, as well as the opportunity for individuals to live a healthier lifestyle, throughout the United States.
Born in Dagestan, Russia, Alievich grew up near the Caspian Sea until age ten when he moved with his mother and stepfather to Amman, Jordan. “By the time I finished high school in Jordan, I had one dream — to come to America.” Says Alievich. He first arrived in the U.S. in January of 2011 at Palm Desert, CA to attend community college to follow his then dream to become a petroleum engineer. But the stresses of adapting to a new school that teaches in a different language and coinciding circumstances can be draining on the body and mind.
Because of his challenges with the stress of studying to be an engineer in a foreign language and adapting to a new culture, Said struggled with insomnia, body aches, and other health issues. After finding his health benefit from the CBD products, Said started VVENERA to produce first-rate hemp-based products to provide people with natural relief from pain, anxiety, and more. “My mission is to create a healthier, happier life for millions of people that are struggling to make it through a productive day due to debilitating stress and anxiety,” says Alievich.
VVENERA’s commitment to helping others improve the quality of their lives stems from Alievich’s dream, which he was able to bring to life through dedication, hard work, and most importantly self-care.
For more information on Said Alievich and VVENERA, please visit www.VVENERA.com.
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Said Alievich was born in Dagestan, Russia and moved to Amman, Jordan as a child. By the time he finished high school in Jordan, Said had one dream — to come to America. Fast-forward to today, Said has a degree in Engineering and is a serial entrepreneur. He’s the owner of Platinum Transport Luxury Car Service in Southern California, as well as the Founder and CEO of a CBD and wellness company, VVENERA. All of VVENERA’s products are sourced from Kentucky and are subject to 3rd-party compliance and quality testing measures. Their finished products are manufactured using GMP, or ISO-certified processes that adhere to CGMP and FDA regulations, ensuring that their products meet the highest quality international food safety standards.
Building Muscle: 4 Ways to Improve Your Training Routine
If your training routine has become stagnant, then it might be time to shake some things up. A stale or boring routine is quickly going to impact your motivation, drain your energy, and slow your progress. If you’re looking to change up your training routine for better results, look at these four areas.
Alter What Time of Day You Train
While most people eventually fall into a strict training routine with their workouts at a certain time each day, there could come a point when it feels as if you are no longer progressing. Often the same routine becomes monotonous, and you might find you don’t have the same amount of energy or motivation as you did. In those types of situations, simply altering what time of day you train could have a huge impact on your energy levels and the intensity of your workouts. Those who usually train first thing in the morning might be able to break through a plateau by working out at night after they have had a few meals or vice versa.
Try Snacking Before and During Your Workouts
New studies continue to show us that fasted workoutscan be very beneficial in some situations, but many people struggle with that type of training. If your blood sugar seems to plummet during longer training sessions, then you should consider snacking before and during your workouts. Having a piece of fruit or a little bit of candy could help you maintain your blood sugar and energy levels.
Focus on Compound Movements
Even though isolation movements will allow you to target specific muscles, most experts agree that compound movements are much better for your overall health. A compound movement targets multiple muscle groups at once, and that is going to build muscle and burn calories at the same time. Some of the most popular compound movements include squats, deadlifts, and bench pressing. At the very least, you should tackle the compound movements early on in your workouts so that you can perform them at maximum intensity.
Work With a Group
Another step that you might want to take is signing up for a new fitness trainingprogram. Over the course of a few months, working out on your own can become very draining, and there may come a point when you completely lose interest in training. Starting a new workout program with an experienced trainer could boost your motivation and help you move past any hurdles that you have run into.
These few changes are a great start, but you must also ensure that you are getting plenty of rest. Chronically under sleeping is going to have a huge impact on your energy levels, metabolism, and your ability to pack on lean muscle.
Health Canada Approves New Indication for STELARA®* (ustekinumab) for the Treatment of Adults with Moderately to Severely Active Ulcerative Colitis
In the Phase 3 pivotal trial, nearly 44 per cent of patients receiving STELARA® subcutaneous (SC) injections every 8 weeks were in clinical remission at one year
TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2020 /CNW/ - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson announced today that Health Canada has approved STELARA® (ustekinumab) for the treatment of adult patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). The approval for this new indication is based on the pivotal Phase 3 UNIFI clinical trial which achieved its primary endpoint of clinical remission. Results from UNIFI demonstrate that treatment with STELARA® both induced and maintained clinical remission in a significantly greater proportion of adult patients with moderately to severely active UC compared to placebo.1
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease of the digestive tract.2 It is one of the main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),3 a disease that affects 270,000 Canadians,4 one of the highest rates of IBD worldwide.5 While symptoms vary, the disease can be characterized by bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramps, but can also include mild fever, anemia, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight loss.6
"There still remains significant unmet need in UC as the disease affects each patient differently, and it can be more difficult to achieve remission than in other immune disease states," says Dr. Hillary Steinhart, gastroenterologist, Mount Sinai Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Centre.** "This new indication for STELARA® offers patients with moderately to severely active UC the possibility of durable remission and relief from the often painful and debilitating symptoms of the disease."
In patients with UC, two proteins (or cytokines) in the body called interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23 that are involved in the immune system are dysregulated, which triggers an inflammatory response. STELARA® is the first and only biologic therapy for UC that blocks IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines. The IL-12 and IL-23 pathway has been shown to play a key role in controlling mucosal inflammation and immune responses.7 Since receiving Health Canada approval in December 2008 for the treatment of adults living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, STELARA® has received approval for four additional indications: adolescent patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, adults with active psoriatic arthritis, adults with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD), and now adults with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.
About the UNIFI Trial The UNIFI trial included an initial Induction study (UNIFI-I) where patients received a single dose of STELARA® 6 mg/kg intravenous (IV) infusion, followed 8 weeks later by a Maintenance study (UNIFI-M) where patients received STELARA® 90 mg subcutaneous (SC) injections every 8 or 12 weeks for 44 weeks. Both studies demonstrated the safety and efficacy of STELARA® as a treatment option for patients with moderately to severely active UC, and the design and complete results were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.8
In the Induction study, 16 per cent of patients receiving STELARA® achieved clinical remission in just 8 weeks.9 In addition, STELARA® provided patients with rapid relief of their symptoms as 62 per cent of patients receiving STELARA® experienced a clinical response at week 8. In the Maintenance study, 44 per cent of patients receiving STELARA® every 8 weeks were in clinical remission at one year. STELARA® also helped patients achieve clinical remission without the use of corticosteroids. At one year, 42 per cent of patients treated with STELARA® were in corticosteroid-free clinical remission.10
The overall safety profile of STELARA® in UC was consistent with what has been observed across all approved indications of STELARA®.
About Ulcerative Colitis IBD is believed to involve a genetic predisposition and a trigger in the environment that are combined to set off inflammation in the gut.11 In UC, inflammation invades the inner lining of the bowel tissue, and typically affects the colon (large intestine).12Rates are similar for men and women, and the peak onset is usually between 15-45 years of age.13
About STELARA® (ustekinumab) STELARA® is indicated in Canada for the treatment of adults living with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, and active psoriatic arthritis, as well as for adolescent patients with psoriasis.14
STELARA® blocks the action of two proteins in the body called interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23. In people with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohn's disease or UC, their immune system may attack parts of their body, and that attack uses IL-12 and IL–23. STELARA® can block the IL-12 and IL-23 from causing the immune system to attack the skin, nails, joints or the digestive tract.15
Common side effects reported with STELARA® include, upper respiratory infections (such as the common cold), infections of the nose and throat, sore throat, dizziness, headache, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, itching, back pain, muscle aches, joint pain, tiredness, redness and pain at the injection site, sinus infections.16
For full Product Monograph and more information about STELARA®/ STELARA® IV, 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.
**Dr. Steinhart 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 STELARA®. 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 December 30, 2018, 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
1
Sands, B.E. et al. Ustekinumab as Induction and Maintenance Therapy for Ulcerative Colitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019; 381:1201-1214.
STELARA® Product Monograph. Janssen Inc. Updated January 23, 2020.
15
STELARA® Product Monograph. Janssen Inc. Updated January 23, 2020.
16
STELARA® Product Monograph. Janssen Inc. Updated January 23, 2020.
SOURCE Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
Canada Health Infoway Selects Simeio for Identity, Access and Consent as a Service (IACaaS)
TORONTO, Jan. 27, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) is pleased to announce that it has selected Simeio Solutions (Simeio) as the technical solution provider for the new Identity, Access and Consent as a Service (IACaaS). Infoway and its collaborators across Canada will leverage these services to provide Canadians with improved access to health care services, and greater control over their digital health information.
"Digital identity is the starting point for enabling Canadians to better manage their health care," said Michael Green, President and CEO, Infoway. "Simeio's innovative approach, advanced capabilities and capacity will enable Infoway to offer Canadian solution developers an innovative patient-centric user experience for identity, access and consent. This will give Canadians greater convenience and more control over their personal health information."
The Simeio solution will be part of Infoway's ACCESS Health program that is uniting industry, health care providers, provinces, territories and Canadians to redefine where and how Canadians access digital health services and their personal health information.
Simeio will support the development of an identity service, which when incorporated or federated with existing products and services will enable users to control how they retrieve their digital health records and who else can access them.
Key components of IACaaS:
Development and provisioning for a pan-Canadian identity system
Authentication for patient-facing digital health care applications
Creation and deployment of a pan-Canadian health care consent management service for digital health identifiers and associated personal health records.
"This is one of Simeio's largest deployment within the health care industry," said Asif Mohamed Savvas, Senior Vice President, Simeio Solutions. "Working with Infoway gives us a greater footprint and enhances our capabilities, strengthening our position as a leading customer identity and access management (CIAM) and identity and access management (IAM) provider. With this nationwide deployment of identity, access and consent, Canadians have a path to improving their health outcomes through enhanced digital health care. We're providing a single set of identity credentials, for secure data management and retrieval."
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care, and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit https://www.infoway-inforoute.ca/en/.
Coffee with a Cannabis Farmer offers new educational opportunities
CARPINTERIA, CA – While cannabis-related headlines are mostly about NIMBY grudge matches in the Tri-Counties, one company has positioned itself as a cannabis industry leader through its educational programs on the health and wellness benefits of the plant.
Carpinteria-based KopSun LLC’s latest learning opportunity is Coffee with a Cannabis Farmer. Here’s how it works: 10 community members gather with a cannabis farmer, who fields questions and concerns from attendees in a relaxed and congenial environment, around a large dining table drinking coffee and enjoying pastries. So far, the kaffeeklatsch has been very popular and waiting lists have become necessary.
“KopSun’s mission is to educate consumers on this long misunderstood and much maligned plant so they may have the confidence to purchase products for themselves and their families,” said Tina Fanucchi-Frontado, KopSun CEO. “Coffee with a Cannabis Farmer is a natural extension of our Leaf Learning classes.”
In session for close to two years, the company’s Leaf Learning program is more traditional in style with lecture, Q&A, guest speakers, and video with the basic Leaf Learning course taking about 2 hours. KopSun began its educational programming in Carpinteria and has expanded its footprint with the goal of conducting educational programs all the way to Santa Maria.
While Leaf Learning focuses on the applications of cannabis, such as help arthritis, insomnia, and other disorders, Coffee with a Cannabis Farmer is about cultivating the plant. Botany and logistics are common topics, but discussions at the kaffeeklatsch are as varied as the attendees and the farmers.
Though thought to be a no-brainer, education has not been embraced by all. Small, yet vocal, groups object to cannabis on all levels. Two such Santa Barbara County-based anti-cannabis organizations, Concerned Carpinterians and Purple Visors, have vowed numerous times on record at public meetings to challenge or appeal all cannabis cultivation licenses. These groups are believed to be responsible for the cancellation of two Basic CBD and Cannabis courses scheduled for Santa Barbara City College’s School of Extended Learning last fall. The cancellation decision was overturned, and the courses will be taught in February with a more thorough curriculum.
“We are hoping some of the anti-cannibers will consider attending one of our upcoming Tea & Terpenes events,” said Fanucchi-Frontado. “
About KopSun LLC
Dedicated to health, KopSun LLC supports the cannabis lifestyle with education and empowerment. KopSun is based in Carpinteria, Calif. and is an avid and staunch supporter of its community. For more information, visit www.KopSun.com, email info@KopSun.com, or call (805) 881-1218.
Coffee with a Cannabis Farmer 2020 dates (last Friday of the month)
Jan. 31
Feb. 28
March 27
April 24
May 29
June 26
July 31
Aug. 28
Sept. 25
Oct. 30
Nov. 20 (third Friday due to Thanksgiving Holiday)
Leaf Learning at Carpinteria Woman’s Club 2020 dates
Jan. 22
Feb. 26
March 25
April 22
May 27
June 24
July 22
Aug. 26
Sept. 23
Oct. 28
Nov. -Holiday-
Dec. -Holiday-
Divorce as Seen through the Eyes of a Child By Hara Wachholder, LMHC
I have often heard the saying, “You were probably too young to remember this, but . . .” I can honestly say that I can recall quite a bit from my childhood even though I can’t seem to recall what I had for breakfast yesterday. I remember a lot, including some things that I wish were fuzzy. I know this sounds strange, but I remember my dad leaving. I was barely two years old, so obviously I was at an age when I could not fully comprehend what I was experiencing at the time, but I already knew I missed my dad and I wanted him to come home. Divorce is a topic I am very familiar with, both personally and professionally. There are countless people who seek counseling in various areas of their life and to me; that is just another day at the office. However, my story hits a different type of nerve for me. It is a story that I had processed in my own therapy, but this is the first time I am sharing it with the public, so (deep breath) . . . here we go.
As I mentioned before, my dad left when I was about eighteen months old. Just as I was trying to adapt to these changes as best as a toddler could, I met my dad’s new “friend” and her kids. I remember she took my hand and walked me around where she worked. I am sure a lot was going on behind the scenes between my parents, but again I was too young to put things together at the time. Fast forward to age four or five, I was introduced to a new friend: anger! Oh, and nightmares. Plenty of them. One recurring nightmare was my dad leaving me. I would wake up screaming and crying, filled with a mixture of sadness, anger, shame, and guilt. My mom would come running into my room to comfort me as I sobbed against her shoulder. Looking back now, I realized that the word that truly defined what I was feeling was powerless. My mom decided that she needed to do everything in her power to help me. So, she went to the bookstore and found several books that were supposed to help kids deal with their parents’ divorce. She would read them to me, but they often told stories of children that I could not relate to, or they were often telling me how I should feel, rather than allowing me the space to access my own feelings. It was frustrating and overwhelming.
It is fascinating how quickly we can adapt. I started to get used to going back and forth between my two homes. However, it was only for a short period of time that I felt “okay.” Fast forward again to around age ten. Just as I was starting to accept all the changes including separate homes, blended families, and different sets of rules, I had to endure a long and terrifying custody battle. I felt like my parents were playing tug of war with me in the middle! The anger that I thought had disappeared came back in full force and even brought additional feelings, including shame, grief, sadness, low self-esteem, people-pleasing tendencies, just to name a few. That voice I was working so hard on developing was silenced as I decided to just say or do what I thought would please my parents as well as others. I not only lost my voice, but I lost myself.
That’s when my mom introduced me to a journal. What started out as doodling tiny drawings in a lined notebook became pages and pages filled with my innermost thoughts and feelings as I got older. I also learned some interesting techniques from my mom. She created “games” for us to play including what we called “give me the bad stuff,” which is where I would think of all the different things that were bothering me, shout, “I don’t like this,” while bundling them up into an invisible ball, and then handing them to my mom who would then pretend to throw them out the door or window. My mom would tell me that I am just a kid, so I did not need to hold on to all this “yucky stuff” inside. It was the first time in a while that I felt like I had a voice. It was wonderful! I would also scream into or hit my pillow as if it were a punching bag. Pretty creative stuff, right? As my mom always says, “It takes a village,” and boy was she right! I lucked out by having such an amazing support system at my elementary school. My guidance counselor established a support group for children of divorced or divorcing parents, and it truly helped to normalize what I was feeling. I was able to speak to peers my own age going through the same things, which was helpful as many of my close friends could not relate to what I was experiencing. I was given safe, nonjudgmental outlets to express myself, and little by little I felt better.
So why am I sharing my story? Well, today as a therapist I now listen to other children’s stories. Divorce is definitely not pretty, but it does not have to be so ugly! Whether the parents decide to “stay together for the children” or go their separate ways, children are getting pulled into the chaos. Sometimes, children will pretend they don’t know what is going on or act as if they don’t care, but trust me when I say it all leaves an impact.
My book, My Parents Are Getting a Divorce . . . I Wonder What Will Happen to Me, is an interactive workbook that was created by my mother and me during the terrifying custody battle that took place between my parents. I felt it was imperative that I assist as many children as possible to help them explore and uncover their innermost thoughts and feelings regarding their parents’ divorce. Within the pages of the book, children are encouraged to write and draw as well as ask questions to get in touch with what is inside that needs to be healed.
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Hara Wachholder, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor with the State of Florida and received her master’s degree in counseling from Nova Southeastern University. It was after the resolution of the long-winded custody battle between her parents that Hara recognized her calling to help others going through the same struggle. Hara Wachholder is currently the clinical director for a family therapy center located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Gold and Platinum selling Canadian rock star — not to mention author, songwriter, manager, producer, and human and animal rights activist — Bif Naked has unveiled a new venture under her expansive wing with the launch of her new organic CBD boutique, MonaLisaHealing.com. Bif is available for phoners now and select in-person interviews in the Toronto area.
Touted as the ‘Renaissance of CBD’, the online e-com shop celebrated its North American debut throughout both Canada and the U.S. in the Fall of 2019.
Specializing in premium organic, triple lab tested and verified all-hemp cannabidiol, MonaLisa Healing is set to extend their exclusive product line to the United Kingdom and Europe this February, and Australia and New Zealand in April.
The store currently offers a range of 30mL CBD tinctures in varying potencies, ranging from 750mg - 3000mg for $79.99 - $199.99 CAD respectively.
“I finally followed my own advice,” Bif says of the passion-driven project developed with her longtime team at Her Royal Majesty’s Entertainment. She will discuss the premiere endeavour at Vancouver’s 2020 The Wellness Show this Saturday, February 1st and Sunday, February 2nd — each at 2:00 p.m. — for the panel “An Enlightening Discussion” (Saturday) and talk “Personally Taking Control & Managing Our Health Outcome” (Sunday).
As detailed in her highly personal, Internationally best-selling memoir, I Bificus, the Canadian ‘Princess of Everything’ — and notably, a vegan who lives a straight-edge lifestyle — has arm-wrestled breast cancer, heart surgery, and kidney failure.
And it’s not as if she isn’t busy elsewhere; Bif is set to release a brand new single, “JIM” this February 14th — ahead of a highly-anticipated next studio album — as well as podcast series, New Riot Girls, and a book of poetry and illustrations later this year. A book designed to help empower patients and their families while navigating cancer treatments and the Canadian healthcare system, is also in the works.
For the entirety of her prolific career — and woven in a way only one of the country’s most unforgettable and inspiring women could accomplish — Bif has documented her journey in a deeply personal, highly relatable and inclusive way, covering topics that allow her truths to be a source of empowerment for fans.
Her mindful approach to MonaLisa Healing is proving to be no different.
Priding themselves as a company that leads with integrity, MonaLisa Healing walks the talk through their equal commitment to fair trade agreements and fair consumer pricing.
“So many people, including myself, are used to popping over-the-counter drugs for almost everything,” Bif says, citing muscle pain, migraines, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic pain as just a handful of the many ailments she means. “There’s a long list of issues that keep us from thriving, all while lining the pockets of companies pushing unnatural pharmaceuticals on us, and our families.
“And yet, it’s absolutely no secret that CBD, according to real-life testimonials, has the proven potential to positively affect these issues, and many more.
“I enjoy speaking directly to health care professionals regarding patient advocacy, as well as to patients and families who are surviving and thriving.
“They are all my mentors… They inspire me.
“I believe in the goodness of people, and in everyone’s ability to move forward, taking care of each other, and getting stronger together.
“In that, we want to ensure the benefits of CBD are available to everyone, no matter their socioeconomic status,” she continues. “There’s a lot of price gouging in the CBD world and one thing important to me is the belief that great health should be available to every single person within communities around the world, not just an elite market who can afford speciality products and services."
Just because it’s available at such an accessible price point doesn’t mean the quality should be compromised, or customers should throw ‘caution to the wind,’ she adds. These core tenets are so uncompromisable, the company publishes the product’s independently lab tested and triple-verified results directly on their website for transparency, and offers a worry-free, 30-day money-back return policy for customer reassurance.
“Each of us at MonaLisa Healing has our own story behind our passion for CBD, and we want to share that with as many people as possible,” says Bif. “We use our products ourselves, as do our own families and pets!
“We faithfully endorse CBD as a product, and believe it can help people live a healthier, happier life.”
// ABOUT BIF NAKED
As one of Canada’s most unique, recognizable and beloved entertainment industry icons, Bif Naked reigns rock supreme as a Gold and Platinum selling recording artist, prolific songwriter, dynamic producer, and intuitive artist manager.
Contributor to such national publications as the Globe and Mail and the Huffington Post, and as seen on shows such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Bif Naked is an Internationally best-selling author of her 2016 memoir, I Bificus (HarperCollins Canada), and a highly engaged public speaker and human rights, animal rights, anti-poverty and social justice activist.
Officially a cancer survivor, Bif Naked has surmounted breast cancer, kidney failure, and heart surgery. Inspired by her myriad of life experiences and ardent interest in wellness, she has recently launched MonaLisa Healing, a premium, organic all-hemp CBD boutique available in Canada, the United States, and soon to the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Bif Naked’s new single, “JIM” is set for release February 14, 2020, ahead of her eleventh studio album. She has an exclusive podcast in the works, New Riot Girls, as well as a book of poetry and illustrations, also set for release this year. She is penning a book on the navigation of cancer care within the Canadian healthcare system, dedicated to empowering patients and their families.
MonaLisaHealing.com is an International brand specializing in organic, premium quality, and triple lab tested and verified all-hemp cannabidiol.
Launched in British Columbia in September 2019, MonaLisa Healing is currently available in Canada and the United States. International launches serving the United Kingdom and Europe are set for February 2020, and Australia, and New Zealand this April 2020.
MonaLisa Healing is a wholly owned subsidiary of iGEN Ventures Corp.
10 HEALTHY SPINE TIPS FOR SITTING IN A SENATE SEAT
Senate transactions are meant to be collegial and cooperative, but impeachment can cause increased stress on the body, and ultimately be a pain in the back and neck! The seats in the senate are not always the most comfortable. With 80% of Americans suffering from back pain, the thought of 12 hours of meeting can be discouraging. Luckily, the pain associated with sitting in a senate seat can be greatly reduced, and in many cases avoided.American author, Dr. Ken Hansraj, an orthopedic spine surgeon, offers these sitting tips to help keep your spine comfortable and healthy while sitting on a senate seat: Check Your Posture: Sitting for prolonged periods can strain your back, and your positioning can make it even worse. To provide yourself with the most relief, make sure your back is aligned against the back of the seat. Keep your shoulders straight and avoid rounding forward. Both feet should be firmly resting on the floor Smart Preparation: Reduce the stress in the senate seat by planning ahead. Properly fitted suits and dresses made of lightweight, comfortable, breathable materials make all the difference in the world. Light-weight, properly fitted materials diminish the stresses all day. Ill-fitted clothes will hurt in the morning and worsen as the day goes on. Travel Light: Resist the urge to over-pack and reduce the stress on your shoulders and spine. Choose a light briefcase, backpack or a travel bag with wheels and a handle for rolling.Tilts: Consider placing a small lumbar support pillow or rolled up sweater or jacket to be placed behind your back. Keep your head centered looking fairly much straight ahead. It’s all in the legs: Keep your legs out in the extended position. The bent or flexed position leads to your leg veins being stagnant and may lead to a blood clot. It is important to get up and walk, stretching the legs and arms at least once an hourStretch: When all else fails keep moving! Simple stretches of the neck, shoulders, and back will help keep the blood flowing. Blood brings important nutrients and oxygen to the structures of the back. This helps to stimulate the soft tissues in your back and keeps them from stiffening, which can reduce aches. Even a few seconds of stretching and moving is better than not doing anything at all! Breathe: Place your hands on your abdominal area and feel your belly move as you inhale and exhale. Do this as many times a day as possible to improve your posture and overall spinal health.Intention: Realize that the senate is the world’s greatest deliberative body. Watch your intentions. “I am participating in American history” is a better intention than “Ugh, I’m a prisoner on this seat.”Best Hours: Face it! Some of our best hours of our lives are spent at work. Be thoughtful about it. Choose a sitting posture that is safe, ergonomic, comfortable and that is pain-free. See Opportunity in Delays: Expect delays. Look for the opportunities to practice deep belly breathing in good posture. Anger and frustration lead to shallow breathing, stiff muscles and pain.
About Dr. Kenneth K. Hansraj:
American author Dr. Ken Hansraj is the author of the internationally bestselling book, Keys to an Amazing Life: Secrets of the Cervical Spine, (January, 2013), which he was inspired to write to help people globally understand matters about the spine. Dr. Hansraj is also the author of Bloodless Spine Surgery: Pictures and Explanations. His goal with each of his books is to bring years of accumulated expert medical knowledge to the public at-large in an easy-to digest format and to help countless individuals with ongoing spinal and health issues.
Dr. Ken Hansraj is TV and media trained and has extensive experience with national outlets such as CNN, HLN, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, NPR and has been featured globally. Cision® estimates his current media impressions at 9+ Billions.
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