HOMELESS
Health Tips
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very year in the United States, thousands of people die of meningococcal meningitis and many more experience serious complications from this disease. Other people may develop pneumococcal meningitis. In both cases, most of those affected are children under the age of 5. Meningitis is an infection and inflammation of the membranes (meninges) and fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) surrounding your brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is most often caused by bacteria or viruses. Bacterial meningitis is usually much more serious than viral meningitis. Most cases of meningitis occur when bacteria from an infection in another part of your body travel through your bloodstream to your brain and spinal cord. But bacteria can also spread directly to your brain or spine from a severe head injury or from an infection in your ear, nose or teeth. Some types of meningitis are contagious. You may be exposed to the bacteria when someone with meningitis coughs or sneezes. The bacteria can also spread through kissing or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette. You're also at increased risk if you live or work with someone with the disease. Meningitis strikes suddenly, usually with a high fever, severe headache and vomiting. As the disease progresses, the brain swells and may begin to bleed. Meningitis is fatal in about 10 percent of cases. Unfortunately, many of those who survive an (Continued on page 4)
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shins, as if they were both not only holding onto me but also praying for me. When I woke up I asked who the little boys were, not one person knew what I was talking about. Let me mention here that I suffer from another condition called Restless Leg Syndrome, which makes my legs move violently when I am attempting to fall asleep. All during the time I was in the coma I was trying to make sure I did not kick the little boys at my feet. I believe those little boys were angels that were sent to pray for my recovery. Let me further say that I believe 100 percent that those boys
were sent to me by God and not one person can tell me differently. When Lois arrived at the hospital in Jacksonville they were taking the tube from my mouth and I had just awakened. Apparently, I asked both my mom and Lois if they saw the Virgin Mary. Lois said, why did you see the Virgin Mary? And I said yes. I do not remember asking either of them this question but I must have because they both told me I said this. Even though I consider myself a Catholic, I seldom pray in remembrance of the Virgin Mary. So I am honored that she visited me. I also remember thinking to myself that I can certainly take the pain I
WASHINGTON
A
new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that almost 5 million alcohol-dependent or alcohol-abusing parents have at least one child living at home with them. These parents were more likely to smoke cigarettes, use illicit drugs and report household turbulence than other parents. "Children living in homes with alcohol-dependent or abusing parents are at high risk of also becoming alcohol and drug abusers, with the potential of perpetuating the disease when they have their own children," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Cu-
Sean Cononie as he wonders if he will ever be normal
was going through, if Jesus took the severity of pain He took for all of us. I remember telling God that I was not ready to die and at the same time I asked him for forgiveness. After coming out of the coma and being moved from the critical care unit to a
regular room, I could not lift my head much less see clearly. The brain swelling that I had had from the meningitis and lack of fast treatment when the doctor misdiagnosed me, left me cross eyed, with hearing loss, balance (Continued on page 8)
rie said. "The good news is chil- community-based organizations dren of alcoholic parents can be to help them initiate local activihelped to build on their strengths ties that can help reach children and develop resilience to over- and youth who live in family environments domicome their difficul"The good news is nated by alcohol. ties. We must also The data, reach out to the children of alcoholic parents and offer parents can be helped derived from the 2002 National Surthem an opportuto build on their vey on Drug Use nity for recovery by encouraging them strengths and develop and Health, show to enter and remain resilience to overcome that the almost five million parents with in substance abuse their difficulties. problems with alcotreatment." hol who have chilSAMHSA released this new report during dren under age 18 at home constithis year's observance of Children tute over a quarter (28 percent) of of Alcoholics Week. SAMHSA all adults with alcohol dependalso partnered with the National ence or abuse. The majority of Association for Children of Alco- these parents (62 percent) are holics (NACoA) this week to de- male and most of the parents (69 (Continued on page 9) velop and distribute materials to