Kehlani, an and R&B superstar from my old stomping ground, Oakland, CA, tried to kill herself this week due to cyberbullying. She'd been "slut shammed," a particularly vicious type of cyberbullyin. She felt –at least for a moment in time–that suicide was the only way to end her pain.Kehlani, a cyberbullying victim.Kotinsky/GettyCyberbullying. A report about a recent study of 350 hospitalized teens claims that 50% of teens teens admitted to the Emergency Room had been cyberbullied in … [Read more...]
A cleft lip, a prophet & perfection: an Easter story.
Here's an excerpt from a Harvard Magazine piece that covers many of my favorite blog topics: cleft lip, cleft palate, restorative medicine, patient care, and the role of doctors. Are they just healers or are they prophets? Are they sometimes heroes, villains, or fools? In the story told below, there's a transformation, almost a miraculous one.Transformation.To set the stage: the piece below is also about writing and storytelling—activities I've had to master, esp for the most … [Read more...]
Cleft lip repair breakthrough—Dr.Millard.
In an era when individuals and even families (the Kardashian entourage)) overuse cosmetic surgery—and in many cases with questionable, even disastrous results—it's important to remember the amazing things that reconstructive surgery (like cleft lip repair) can do. Both types of procedures are considered "plastic surgery."Plastic surgery to excess (check out the Kardashian crew): Plastic Surgery Gone Wrong: Cleft lip repair innovator.While I've blogged about face transplants and other … [Read more...]
Cleft palate Manning retires, but ’95 scandal refuses to.
This website— that serves as the home for blogs like this one—has a "Heroes, Villains, and Fools" theme. Part of the message of the site (and especially some of the pieces on the Paintings tab) is that total, unblemished heroes are a rarity.This week's news that Peyton Manning is ending his oft-heroic career in football reminds of this. The timing of his exit is curious since sportswriters have begun to re-examine a scandal that most had thought was put to rest long ago.Humans being human, … [Read more...]
Cyberbullying in Oakland concerns Warriors.
Cyberbullying bothers the Golden State Warriors enough to get them to partner with various organizations serving Oakland, CA schools.Home court winners close to NBA record.The amazing pro basketball team is on the brink of setting yet another NBA record. Yesterday they tied the Chicago Bulls' record for the longest home winning streak at 44 straight games. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson generally lead the charge. But what's amazing is that the Warriors function as a true team. The Warriors' Shaun … [Read more...]
Lookism’s ugly side & how we can counter it.
As some who has taught sociology, a piece by sociologist Heather Laine Talley caught my eye the other day. I especially noticed her comment that lookism, like sexism and other -isms, is often unconscious and taken for granted. So true. Our society may've gone overboard around unconscious, so-called "white privilege" in discussions about the big -ism of our day, racism. But it is worth examining the little-mentioned issues of lookism and ableism, especially as they relate to people with … [Read more...]
Cleft lip girl not adopted time after time. Then, surprise!
Think you had it rough when you were passed over when kids chose players for sports? Imagine watching while other kids around you got chosen for adoption. An improbable, happy ending for cleft lip girl.Of course, if you live in an orphanage in Shenzhen, China just north of Hong Kong and you have a cleft lip and palate– you're used to difficulties. Among Sophie's challenges, difficulties in eating, drinking and especially talking. Still, fate finally smiled on the little girl when–miracle of … [Read more...]