by Arthur Agatston and Natalie Geary
[Hardcover]

The ever-present leviathan in the American diet is the vast number of highly processed grain products we consume every day. Due to this constant overload, it’s estimated that up to half of all Americans, including many of our children, now suffer from a host of gluten-related health problems, which are often misdiagnosed. Renowned cardiologist and creator of The South Beach Diet, Dr. Arthur Agatston, clears up the confusion and presents a solution that could transform your diet and your life.

Phase 1 of the original South Beach Diet, which cut out all sugar and grains (including gluten-containing grains), was intended to control swings in blood pressure that led to cravings. It became apparent, however, that the diet curbed not only the urge to reach for the chips, but also brain fog, bloat, aches and pains, and numerous other ailments that have turned out to be directly tied to gluten sensitivity. The South Beach Diet Gluten Solution shows that by being gluten-aware, not gluten-phobic, you can dramatically increase weight loss and health in just 30 days. With detailed, effective meal plans, travel and dining tips, inspiring stories, and 20 delicious gluten-free recipes, readers will have everything they need to lose weight, feel great, and not give up the foods they love.

By JASON STRAZIUSO
on msnbc.com on 8/5/2011 7:56:55 AM ET

Hundreds of thousands are acutely malnourished, which suggests the death toll will rise

Image: Schalk Van Zuydam / AP | Donkeys try to get water from a container in front of a home at a refugee camp in Dadaab, Kenya, Thursday, Aug. 4. Dadaab, a camp designed for 90,000 people now houses around 440,000 refugees. Almost all are from war-ravaged Somalia. Some have been here for more than 20 years, when the country first collapsed into anarchy. But now more than 1,000 are arriving daily, fleeing fighting or hunger.

NAIROBI, Kenya — The drought and famine in Somalia have killed more than 29,000 children under the age of 5, according to U.S. estimates, the first time such a precise death toll has been released related to the Horn of Africa crisis.

The United Nations has said previously that tens of thousands of people have died in the drought, the worst in Somalia in 60 years. The U.N. says 640,000 Somali children are acutely malnourished, a statistic that suggests the death toll of small children will rise.

Nancy Lindborg, an official with the U.S. government aid arm, told a congressional committee in Washington on Wednesday that the U.S. estimates that more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died in the last 90 days in southern Somalia. That number is based on nutrition and mortality surveys verified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The U.N. on Wednesday declared three new regions in Somalia famine zones, bringing the total number to five. Out of a population of roughly 7.5 million, the U.N. says 3.2 million Somalis are in need of immediate lifesaving assistance.

Getting aid to Somalia has been made more difficult because al-Qaida-linked militants control much of the country’s most desperate areas. Al-Shabab has denied that a famine is taking place, and won’t give access to the World Food Program, the world’s biggest provider of food aid.

Tens of thousands of refugees have fled south-central Somalia in hopes of finding food at camps in Ethiopia, Kenya and in Mogadishu, the Somali capital.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been donated to fight the hunger crisis, but the U.N. says it needs hundreds of millions more.

Over 2 million school days a year are lost because over 40 million children in America suffer from allergies. Having uncontrolled allergies can put your child at risk for getting a secondary sinus infection, ear infections, and for having poor concentration at school. It can also make asthma symptoms worse. So what can you do to recognize allergic symptoms and control them in your child?

What is an Allergy?

An allergy is the immune system’s response to a substance that the body perceives as “foreign”, meaning a substance not recognized by the body as safe. In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system generates antibodies, in the case of allergies they are mainly IgE antibodies. The response of the body to these IgEs is to release histamine into the bloodstream. It is primarily this histamine release that causes the typical allergic reactions such as watery eyes, runny nose, difficulty breathing, rashes, hives and upset stomach.

Who Gets Allergies:

Allergies tend to run in certain families and are more common in children that have asthma or eczema. If both parents have allergies, there is a 75- 80% chance that their children will develop allergies. If one parent is allergic, then the chance of an allergy developing in his/her child is about 40%. Pets, second hand smoke and air pollution are also risk factors.

Causes of Seasonal Allergies

The major source of seasonal allergy is pollen, from grasses, ragweed and other elements of nature that are released in to the air during different seasons of the year. The type of pollen a child is allergic to determines when symptoms will occur. For example, in the mid-Atlantic states, tree pollination begins in February and lasts through May, grass from May through June, and ragweed from August through October. The most common pollens causing spring/ summertime allergies include:

Tree pollens (APRIL-JUNE): Maple, Ash, Oak, Elm, Birch and Cedar.
Grasses (JUNE-JULY): Kentucky Blue grass, Rye, Orchard and Timothy. Grass allergies are worsened when the grass (lawn) is mowed.
Ragweed (MID-AUGUST-OCTOBER):
Pollen counts measure how much pollen is in the air and are usually higher when it is warm, and windy, whereas they’re lowest when it’s colder and and wetter.

Seasonal Allergy Symptoms

1. Allergic rhinitis: (Also known as hay fever). The most common symptoms are runny nose and sneezing, with itchy eyes and nose, and a persistent cough without a fever. Other signs include the ‘allergic salute,’ a common habit of children which consists of rubbing their nose upward which leads to the development of a small crease in the skin of the lower part of the nose. ‘allergic shiners,’ are dark circles under the eyes that many children develop due to the chronic nasal congestion that many parents mistakenly attribute to fatigue.

If a person has wheezing and shortness of breath, the allergy may have gotten more severe, and may be an early sign of developing asthma.

Symptoms:

1. Nasal: runny or stuffy nose, itchy nose, itchy palate(the top of the mouth), frequent sneezing.
2. Eye symptoms: redness, itchy and/or runny eyes. Sometimes these symptoms make a child very uncomfortable.
3. Asthma: symptoms include wheezing, cough and/or difficulty breathing.

Diagnosing Allergies Approaching Seasonal Allergies
The most common presentation is if your child has cold-like symptoms lasting longer than a week or two or develops a “cold” at the same time every year. To determine the cause of an allergy, there are skin tests which can be done that are more reliable in children over 2 years old. The test is a skin prick allergy test or a special blood test called RAST.??

Treating Seasonal Allergies?
The best treatment for seasonal allergies is avoidance. For seasonal allergies, this includes keeping windows closed in the car and at home during the pollen season will prevent the pollen from entering the home. Also attempt to limit outdoor activities when pollen counts are very high. During the pollen season avoid hanging the laundry outside to dry and keep the Air conditioners running to filter out the pollen.
The medications that are used to control the symptoms of allergic rhinitis include decongestants, antihistamines and steroids. Over the counter allergy medicines with antihistamines ( such as Benadryl) cause drowsiness and poor performance in school. Prescription allergy medications include Claritin and Zyrtec and topical steroids, such as Nasonex, Flonase, and Nasacort Aqua. Allegra is another antihistamine that is commonly used in older children because it is not available in liquid form so your child must be able to swallow a pill.
For seasonal allergies, it is best to start using these medications just before your child’s season begins because it takes a while for the medications to work and they are not emergency relief.

Winter months tend to bring on more illness for your children, but in fact just being at school or daycare can significantly impact on your child’s overall health risk, especially when they are first starting out. This is because children do not know how to practice health hygiene( many adults do not either) and many children are sent to school sick because of childcare issues.
In children who are vaccinated, most Infections in children are caused by common viruses. Imagine a crowded classroom, where children wipe their noses with their hand and then play with a toy, or sneeze and cough onto the activity table where others are sitting. The germs then land in the area and are easily spread to other children.

Similarly, a child who has diarrhea uses the toilet and returns to the classroom without washing his or her hands. Then anything the sick child touches can become contaminated with microscopic amounts of feces spread to other children who play with the same toy and then put their fingers in their mouths.

As always, prevention is the best form of medicine. Teach your children some very basic rules and reinforce them with the teacher.

Encourage the teacher to make visual clues such as pictures and signs about covering your nose and mouth, washing your hands and wiping down the shared objects frequently.

Bring hand sanitizers and disinfecting wipes to the classroom

• Do not allow your child to share food, glasses and water bottles, or hats and combs.
• Remind your child not to touch his or her eyes and to keep their fingers out of their mouths
• When your child gets home from school have him or her change out of the school clothes, wash up and put on “indoor clothes” that are fresh so they don’t carry home infections from school.
• Consider having your child receive the flu vaccine which is now recommended for every child over 6 months.

Today marks one year since a powerful earthquake devastated Haiti causing widespread death and destruction. That day, in less than 40 seconds, millions of lives were changed forever.

Mobile Pediatric’s volunteer doctors, nurses and emergency medical staff responded to the disaster. While Haiti has faced a hurricane, flooding and cholera, Mobile Pediatric has continued to stand by the Haitian people in our mission to improve the children’s lives and the medical services in Haiti. But things are worse here in Haiti today than they were a day after the earthquake. I hope today that you will continue to show your support as you have in the past.

The cholera outbreak in Haiti has killed more than 1000 people. Tragically, this is coming to a population of people that is already devastated and to a health care system that is already so overburdened.

Sadly, the disease is also the focus of political debate because the people of Haiti believe it is the result of UN peacekeepers who are working in Haiti who may have brought the disease with them. According to the New York Times, local protests left two people dead as demonstrators directed their ire at the peacekeepers, a 12,000-strong, multinational force that arrived in Haiti in 2004 in response to political conflict. The UN believes the protests are an effort to push the troops out of the country prior to the upcoming presidential election on November 28 in order to encourage chaos and destabilize the country.

Sadly, the protesters have made it harder to treat the victims in Cap Haitien, where supplies are running low and the death rate is high.

While South Asia is home to many strains of Cholera, officials found that the bacteria, which lives in feces, had contaminated a river where Nepalese troops who arrived in Haiti in October shortly before the outbreak began. Prior to this outbreak, Haiti has not suffered from Cholera epidemics in this century.

For the medical staff attempting to treat and contain this disease, the issue of where this Cholera strain came from is not the focus. They are struggling to save lives, contain the infection and prevent spread.

From the New York Times, Studying the genetics of the strain “would give a better idea where it came from,” said Dr. David Sack, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies cholera outbreaks, “But I agree it is more important to prevent the disease and control it. It should not be killing people.”

As of this week, the death toll has reached 1,034, with 16,799 people treated for cholera or symptoms of the disease.

Every year the fun of Halloween is also a source of anxiety for parents- too much candy? Too many strangers feeding our kids? Party decorations that can lead to nightmares or worse….

Here are some tips to help navigate the holiday.

The Costumes:
Make sure they can SEE out of their mask, especially if they are walking on crowded street.
Make sure they can WALK by avoiding high heels or unstable shoes.
Make sure they are visible especially if they are trick-or–treating in the dark.
Keep their hands free of dangerous objects such as swords or knives or even fairy wands.

The pumpkins
Be sure all carving is done by an adult or with close adult supervision.
Encourage young children to decorate with markers, glitter and stickers rather than carving.
Remember to keep any pumpkins that have candles lit away from young children and away from curtains or other flammable areas.

Trick-or-treating safely
Be sure your child is in a neighborhood you know and he or she knows well. But just in case, be sure they are carrying identifying information in case thy get lost or separated.

Don’t let young children go alone- plan to travel as a group and establish a route
Review safety rules, which should include walking only on the sidewalk, never ever entering someone’s home and avoiding houses that are dark or poorly lit.

Don’t let your older child who may be out alone with friends and without adult supervision to travel outside of a well established route. Make sure they have a cell phone number to call and a curfew.

The Candy
Insist that you inspect all the candy when they get home before they dive into it! Throw away candy that is not sealed. Watch for possible choking hazards.

Ration the candy, especially if they get a huge amount. Explain to them that the candy can be saved and could last a whole year until next Halloween or better yet they can share with friends and children who didn’t receive as much.

For your own House
Safety means making sure kids who come to your house are also safe.
Turn on the lights so they feel safe and don’t trip or fall.
Be sure your dogs or other pets are contained.
Alternatives to more Candy include stickers, other small treats like pencils or rubber balls. Many stores have these objects for sale at the same cost as candy.

HPV: Should both my daughter and my son be receiving this?

As a parent, nothing is more important than the health of your child. Car seats, helmets, good nutrition and regular check-ups that also include vaccines. One of the newest vaccines on the list is Gardasil, the vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus.

WHAT IS HPV?
HPV is a widespread virus that, in the United States, will infect an estimated 75% to 80% of males and females in their lifetime. There has been a lot of publicity about the significant consequences of HPV infection in girls: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Certain strains cause genital warts in both males and females. Now there seems to be a link between esophageal cancers and HPV in men who have been infected.
According to new research, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) may be responsible for the development of oral cancer in men to a greater extent than previously thought. Statistics show that in the past four decades, incidence of oral cancer caused by HPV has risen to a point where it now equals the incidence of oral cancer caused by alcohol and tobacco. If this trend continues, HPV will surpass alcohol and tobacco as the primary cause of oral cancer in men.
Gardasil was approved for use in girls beginning at age 11 in 2007, as a vaccine against HPV. Now there is an ongoing debate about whether Merck & Co should apply for an FDA approval to administer the vaccine to boys.

From The American Acedemy of pediatrics ( www.aap.org)

Who Should Get This Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is recommended for 11–12 year-old girls, and can be given to girls as young as 9. The vaccine is also recommended for 13–26 year-old girls/women who have not yet received or completed the vaccine series.
These recommendations have been proposed by the ACIP — a national group of experts that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on vaccine issues. These recommendations are now being considered by CDC.
Why is the HPV vaccine recommended for such young girls?
Ideally, females should get the vaccine before they are sexually active. This is because the vaccine is most effective in girls/women who have not yet acquired any of the four HPV types covered by the vaccine. Girls/women who have not been infected with any of those four HPV types will get the full benefits of the vaccine.
Will sexually active females benefit from the vaccine?
Females who are sexually active may also benefit from the vaccine. But they may get less benefit from the vaccine since they may have already acquired one or more HPV type(s) covered by the vaccine. Few young women are infected with all four of these HPV types. So they would still get protection from those types they have not acquired. Currently, there is no test available to tell if a girl/woman has had any or all of these four HPV types.
Why is the HPV vaccine only recommended for girls/women ages 9 to 26?
The vaccine has been widely tested in 9-to-26 year-old girls/ women. But research on the vaccine’s safety and efficacy has only recently begun with women older than 26 years of age. The FDA will consider licensing the vaccine for these women when there is research to show that it is safe and effective for them.
What about vaccinating boys?
We do not yet know if the vaccine is effective in boys or men. Studies are now being done to ? nd out if the vaccine works to prevent HPV infection and disease in males. When more information is available, this vaccine may be licensed and recommended for boys/men as well.
Should pregnant women get the vaccine?
The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women. So far, studies suggest that the vaccine has not caused health problems during pregnancy, nor has it caused health problems for the infant — but more research is still needed.
Efficacy of the HPV Vaccine Studies have found the vaccine to be almost 100% effective in preventing diseases caused by the four HPV types covered by the vaccine — including precancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina, and genital warts. The vaccine has mainly been studied in young women who had not been exposed to any of the four HPV types in the vaccine.
The vaccine was less effective in young women who had already been exposed to one of the HPV types covered by the vaccine. This vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, genital warts, precancers, or cancers.
How long does vaccine protection last? Will a booster shot be needed?
The length of vaccine protection (immunity) is usually not known when a vaccine is ?rst introduced. So far, studies have followed women for ?ve years and found that women are still protected. More research is being done to ?nd out how long protection will last, and if a booster vaccine is needed years later.
What does the vaccine not protect against?
About 30% of cervical cancers will not be prevented by the vaccine, so it will be important for women to continue getting screened for cervical cancer (regular Pap tests). Also, the vaccine does not prevent about 10% of genital warts — nor will it prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). So it will still be important for sexually active adults to reduce exposure to HPV and other STIs.
Will girls/women be protected against HPV and related diseases, even if they don’t get all three doses?
It is not yet known how much protection girls/women would get from receiving only one or two doses of the vaccine. For this reason, it is very important that girls/women get all three doses of the vaccine.
Safety of the HPV Vaccine
The FDA has licensed the HPV vaccine as safe and effective.
This vaccine has been tested in over 11,000 females (ages 9–26 years) around the world. These studies have shown no serious side effects. The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.

From Merck and CO.
INFORMATION ABOUT GARDASIL
GARDASIL is the only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of HPV. In girls and young women ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases. In boys and young men ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 90% of genital warts cases.
GARDASIL also helps protect girls and young women ages 9 to 26 against 70% of vaginal cancer cases and up to 50% of vulvar cancer cases.
GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to continue routine cervical cancer screenings. GARDASIL does not treat cancer or genital warts. GARDASIL is given as 3 injections over 6 months.
The side effects include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting.

As the summer flies by, returning to school suddenly seems all too close and for many children, that means the stress of keeping up with homework and school responsibilities. As children get older, the expectations of them at school increase exponentially and often this is when symptoms of ADHD tend to emerge. Consider helping your child by reviewing the typical symptoms and having your child assessed by a trained professional if your child seems to be struggling to keep up. It is important not only for school performance but also for your child’s overall self esteem.

ADHD can manifest as inattention and/or hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Although some children who have ADHD tend more toward one category than the other, most children have some combination of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Signs and symptoms of ADHD become more obvious when the child is engaged in activities that require focused mental effort.

According to the Mayo Clinic the important Signs and symptoms of inattention include:

• Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
• Often has trouble sustaining attention during tasks or play
• Seems not to listen even when spoken to directly
• Has difficulty following through on instructions and often fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks
• Often has problems organizing tasks or activities
• Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork or homework
• Frequently loses needed items, such as books, pencils, toys or tools
• Can be easily distracted
• Often forgetful

Signs and symptoms of hyperactive and impulsive behavior may include:
• Fidgets or squirms frequently
• Often leaves his or her seat in the classroom or in other situations when remaining seated is expected
• Often runs or climbs excessively when it’s not appropriate or, if an adolescent, might constantly feel restless
• Frequently has difficulty playing quietly
• Always seems on the go
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out the answers before questions have been completely asked
• Frequently has difficulty waiting for his or her turn
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others’ conversations or games

CAUSES:
As a parent, we tend to blame ourselves for everything that disturbs our child. But according to the latest research, the vulnerability to ADHD is more likely to be inherited than due to parenting skills.
In fact, brain scans have revealed that there appears to be less activity in the areas of the brain that control activity and attention. Furthermore, ADHD tends to run in families since about 25% of children with ADHD have at least one relative with the disorder.
Toxic exposures have also been linked to ADHD. Pregnant women who smoke are apparently at increased risk of having children with ADHD. Exposure to lead, which is found mainly in paint and pipes in older buildings, has been linked to disruptive and even violent behavior and to a short attention span. Many environmental toxins including PCBs have also been linked to an increase risk of ADHD .Other risk factors include prematurity, hyperthyroidism, and behavioral disorders.
Unfortunately, children with ADHD are at risk for academic failure and low self-esteem. They are also more prone to accidents and injuries than other children, and, as they get older, are at an increased risk of alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety and/or depression and delinquent or oppositional behavior. Learning disabilities are also common in children with ADHD. Surprisingly, gifted learners also get ADHD more often than do other children.
Some parenting tips that can help alleviate the symptoms:

• Be affectionate and patient: Compliment your child on a daily basis and focus on the positive things they have accomplished in their day to help boost their self esteem as well as their confidence.try to be patient even when they are frustratingly hyperactive and inattentive- remember that they are struggling too.
• Be appreciative: Try to have realistic expectations and accept and appreciate your child by spending quality time doing something every day that you both can enjoy together.
• Be organized and structured: Use a big calendar to mark the week’s schedule so your child can visualize the plans for the week and start to feel more in control. Put stickers on days that mark a change in the usual routine. Make sure there is a quiet place to do homework without distraction.Try to keep your child on a routine, especially after school until bedtime. It is important for your child to get enough sleep because exhaustion makes ADHD symptoms worse..

EVALUATION:
The most important pieces of information to bring with you to the evaluations are:

• symptoms that you notice both at home or at school.
• any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Your child’s typical diet
• Your child’s typical schedule including sleep schedule
• all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that your child is taking.
• Any other health conditions
• When did you first notice your child’s behavior issues or other symptoms?
• Are your child’s symptoms continuous, or intermittent?
• What seems to make your child’s symptoms worse or better

Unfortunately, there is not an absolute test to diagnose ADHD, but, according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM published by the American Psychiatric Association, a child must have six or more signs and symptoms from one of the two categories below (or, six or more signs and symptoms from each of the two categories).

Inattention
1. Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork other activities
2. Often has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
3. Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
4. Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork or chores (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
5. Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
6. Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort(such as schoolwork or homework)
7. Often loses things necessary for tasks or activities (for example, toys, school assignments, pencils, books)
8. Is often easily distracted
9. Is often forgetful in daily activities

Hyperactivity and impulsivity
1. Often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
2. Often leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
3. Often runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate
4. Often has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
5. Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”
6. Often talks excessively
7. Often blurts out answers before questions have been completed
8. Often has difficulty awaiting turn
9. Often interrupts or intrudes on others (for example, butts into conversations or games)
10. In addition to having at least six symptoms from one of the two categories, a child with ADHD:
11. Has inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive signs and symptoms that caused impairment and were present before age 7
12. Has behaviors that aren’t normal for children the same age who don’t have ADHD
13. Has symptoms for at least six months
14. Has symptoms that impair school, home life or relationships in more than one setting (such as at home and at school)

MEDICATION: Currently, stimulant drugs (psychostimulants) and the nonstimulant medication atomoxetine (Strattera) are the most commonly prescribed medications for treating ADHD.

Stimulant medications for ADHD include:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, Daytrana)
• Dextroamphetamine-amphetamine (Adderall)
• Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)

Although it seems counter-intuitive for a stimulant medication to help a hyperactive child, stimulants balance levels of the brain’s neurotransmitters. Unfortunately they also can cause a profound decrease in appetite and subsequent weight loss that can affect your child’s overall growth.

Nonstimulant medication?Atomoxetine (Strattera) is often a useful alternative to stimulant medications if they do not work or if they cause severe side effects atomoxetine may also reduce anxiety. However, Atomoxetine has been linked to rare side effects that include liver problems. In addition, some children and adolescents taking atomoxetine seem to have an increased risk of suicidal thinking.

In order to have your child properly evaluated, the first step is to consult with your pediatrician who can then refer you to the appropriate specialist, such as psychologist, psychiatrist or pediatric neurologist. Although it is never easy to think your child may be suffering from a disorder, the sooner it is addressed, evaluated and treated, the sooner you and your child will feel better.

Haiti continues to be a tragic place to attempt to help. I traveled there this relief effort with Project Medishare and assumed that things would have improved since my first trip in late January just after the quake, but to my sad surprise it seemed that things have only continued to be so very hard for the Haitian population and their caregivers.

“I am on the first night shift for all of pediatrics and its filthy and really unpleasant facilities but the children are dying of typhoid, malaria, TB, etc. The sleeping conditions are terrible- yet the families are thus far so amazingly cheerful and smiling..It is 100 degrees by 8 am and it has been so very busy- ambulances were screaming their way in here-a boy hit by a car, another one whose skull was smashed in by a rock, three year olds that weigh 15 pounds, a child who burned his hand off…and the hospital is filled with army cots where mothers lie with their babies with no food, no showers, just little sacks of their few belongings, and they lie there all day taking care of their sick kids cheek to jowl…no movies no stickers let alone toys. The kids break would break your hearts wanting to play, giggling, wandering around trying hard to survive with so very little and so very little hope”.

Moblepediatrics.org is working hard to raise funds for food and medical supplies-trying to get them all well enough to go back to their schools and a hope of a childhood- …Please please don’t forget to give what you can to the many wonderful projects in Haiti and elsewhere. Mobilepediatric.org is partnering with many organizations across the globe to support, honor and cherish children.