Dolly Parton performs onstage in Los Angeles, circa 1975. Michael Ochs/Getty Images

Dolly Parton embodied the best parts of Appalachia

Story by Jason Kyle Howard

Key takeaways

• Appalachian Pride: Dolly embraced her mountain roots, turning stereotypes into strength and proudly representing East Tennessee throughout her life.
• Cultural Impact: Her music, including hits like “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You”, made her a global icon while highlighting the beauty and resilience of Appalachia.
• Advocacy & Kindness: Dolly championed LGBTQ rights, supported racial justice, and created the Imagination Library, distributing over 300 million books to children, embodying love and inclusion.

My cousin tells a story: Several years before I was born, she was sitting on our great-grandmother’s lap at her modest home in a hollow in Eastern Kentucky. It was the late 1970s, when Dolly Rebecca Parton was well on her way to conquering the worlds of pop, Hollywood and business.

They were watching a rerun of “The Porter Wagoner Show,” the program that had helped launch Dolly to country music stardom, on a little TV set using rabbit ears, when she appeared. Even though our granny was, like all people in the mountains, well acquainted with Dolly by that point, she was still transfixed. Using the descriptive phrasing that was common then among older people, she said, “That is the prettiest little girl I have ever seen.”

It was a simple, truthful observation from a woman who herself knew the bleaker side of life, birthing and raising 11 children in a time when money was scarce and hard work provided barely enough to scrape by. But as news of Dolly’s death at the age of 80 from cancer sinks in, I keep returning to it, thinking about its meaning.

The singer-songwriter from Locust Ridge, Tennessee, whose songs became an indelible part of American life and who performed all over the world in places grand and humble, was beautiful in every sense of that overused word, and based on the accolades she is now receiving, only the most bitter of contrarians would disagree. 

Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner stand on the set of

(Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner on the set of “The Porter Wagoner Show,” circa 1967.

My cousin’s story is important to share because of what it reveals not only about Dolly, but also about her people and her native region. Far too often, and for far too long, Appalachia and its residents have not been seen as beautiful to the much of the country.

The journalist Annie Lowrey summed it up in her bracingly titled essay “What’s the Matter with Eastern Kentucky?”, which appeared in the New York Times Magazine in 2014. The region, she wrote, was the “smudge of the country,” an unfortunate phrase that was at once dismissive of the place and evoked a set of damaging stereotypes that have long been leveled at Appalachians themselves: unclean, dirty, something to be wiped away and forgotten. Because of a long history of such characterizations and perceptions, mountain people have often been forced to locate the beauty within themselves and their culture.

It’s easy to forget now, but there was a time when the woman who wrote masterpieces like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You” — and deeper cuts like “Down From Dover,” “My Blue Tears” and “Wildflowers” — was reduced or dismissed altogether by the very American culture that now embraces her. A “Backwoods Barbie,” as she would later write: too gaudy, too blonde; all breasts, no substance. Common, sexist ways to dismiss women who dare to be themselves. 

But Dolly was also written off in some quarters because of her place of origin and how she spoke. Still, she never shied away from claiming her mountain identity; she never tried to change herself. Unlike her famous wigs, rhinestones and stilettos, it wasn’t something she could, or would, remove. Instead, like so many Appalachians before and since, she learned to leverage it to its best advantage, taking patronizing moments — like one that came in a 1978 interview with Barbara Walters, when the journalist infamously asked her, “Dolly, where I come from, would I have called you a hillbilly?” — and turning them in her favor. “If you would have,” Dolly replied, “it would have been something very natural, but I would have probably kicked you in the shins or something.” Then she pivoted to speaking about her pride at being from East Tennessee.

As much as she was proud of where she was from, Dolly also spent the latter part of her years preaching and living out loud a sermon to her native region. Grounded in love, her message also came with an implicit challenge: You can do better. 

As a place, Appalachia is just as good as any other, but it is also just as flawed. In many ways, the region is itself a microcosm of America as a whole, and just like in other parts of the country, it has become dominated by a reactionary set of beliefs that are the antithesis of who Dolly was and the radical gospel of inclusion she embodied. This made her representation of Appalachia even more critical, particularly after the 2016 presidential election that saw the majority of the region rejecting those values. In many ways, Dolly was the counterpoint of JD Vance, whose claiming of mountain roots provided the basis for his first memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy” — a book filled with regional stereotypes — and for his political identity. (As of this writing, the vice president has made no public comment about her death, an omission that makes its own statement about his Appalachian bona fides, not to mention his political instincts.)

Although Dolly famously refused to be overtly political, her values were clear. In shouts and whispers alike, she made sure people felt valued. In 1989, at the height of the AIDS epidemic, she served as a producer of “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt,” the Academy Award-winning documentary that profiled people who had died from the virus and were featured on the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Five years later, she championed the LGBTQ community in her memoir, and posed on the cover of Out magazine in 1997. The writer Elissa Altman, who edited Dolly’s memoir during her time as an editor at HarperCollins, recalled yesterday in an Instagram post that the singer paid for the gender-affirming medical care of “a member of her team [who] was transitioning . . . in the 90s.” 

Dolly’s messages of affirmation and acceptance were pivotal for scores of queer Appalachians and Southerners. For so many of us, she was the first safe space that we knew in our own culture. And when her embrace rankled the fundamentalists among us, she didn’t back down, often calling them out in their vain attempts at playing God.

In a 2020 interview with Billboard, given at the height of the pandemic and protests for racial justice, Dolly made clear where her heart was. “I understand people having to make themselves known and felt and seen,” she said. “And of course Black lives matter. Do we think our little white a**es are the only ones that matter? No!” Dolly also put her money behind her message. After Whitney Houston scored a massive hit with “I Will Always Love You” in the early 1990s, she invested some of her royalties from the song in a Black neighborhood in Nashville, Tennessee.

‘Vivacious’ Dolly Parton never lost sight of her modest Tennessee upbringing, mayor says: ‘Such a treasure’

Dolly Parton, wearing reading glasses and flanked by stacks of books, reads from her book “Coat of Many Colors” to school children at the Library of Congress on Feb. 27, 2018. (Shannon Finney/Getty Images) 

Then there is her Imagination Library, which has reportedly distributed over 300 million books to children around the world since its launch in the late 1980s — an effort Dolly counted as her proudest achievement. It, too, came from the heart of Appalachia, founded to honor her father, who had a story common in the mountains during those times.

Raised in poverty and forced to leave school to help support his family, Robert Lee Parton was unable to read. His daughter, though, was a voracious reader, becoming a champion of Appalachian authors like Adriana Trigiani, Lee Smith and my husband Silas House, and seeing literacy and education as its own kind of salvation.

Here, too, Dolly offered her region a tacit challenge by promoting the education reading can provide and, just as importantly, the empathy it can unlock. As much as she would have likely denied it, putting books in kids’ hands, particularly during a time of increasing book bans, was its own kind of a political act.

Dolly’s final public appearance came in June when, true to her entrepreneurial form, she appeared at the opening of Dolly’s Tennessean Travel Stop, a Southern-fried truck stop designed to compete with the popular chain Buc-ee’s. Looking at video footage now, there were subtle warning signs of what was to come.

While appearing to be her effervescent self, she was also more supported than usual, assisted to the podium. When she took up the oversized, bedazzled pair of scissors to cut the ribbon, two sturdy men made sure they had a firm hold on her. But she walked offstage to a new jingle that went, “At my Tennessean Truck Stop, everyone belongs.”

While the way much of the region votes may negate this message, there exists a massive minority in Appalachia that has always felt this way — and continues to practice it.

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Appalachians can be a possessive lot, jealous over what and who we consider our own. Dolly was one of us, ours, but of course she was also much more. As much as she belonged to Appalachia, she also belonged to the world. It can’t be an exaggeration to say that tens of millions are grieving her death. Last night, news of her passing was the top story at Germany’s Der Spiegel, and it was among the main headlines on the websites of France’s Le Monde, Nigeria’s Punch News, India’s The Hindu and Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun. 

Her passing was also felt in the Middle East, where the president’s aimless war against Iran continues. A defense industry source told me that the “shock and grief” of Dolly’s death was so profound that it lit up military communications channels. Service members deployed in the region asked for confirmation that the news was true, and when told it was, they were broken up. Some said it felt as if the light had gone out in the world, just when we needed it most.

That light is what my great-grandmother recognized in Dolly all those years ago. She was Our Lady of the Mountains. Long may she shine — for the best parts of Appalachia, and the best in all of us.

The post Dolly Parton embodied the best parts of Appalachia appeared first on Salon.com.

From wisecracks to music, we remember Dolly Parton’s last concert in Kansas City

Dolly Parton’s Last Concert in Kansas City

Dolly Parton’s final headlining concert in Kansas City took place on July 29, 2016 at the Sprint Center (now T-Mobile Center) as part of her Pure & Simple tour — her 12th and last North American headlining show Yahoo.

The Pure & Simple tour ran from June 3, 2016, in Greensboro, NC, to December 10, 2016, in Thackerville, OK, with over 60 shows across the U.S. and Canada Yahoo. The Kansas City stop was one of the early dates in the tour and was widely praised for its mix of humor, music, and Parton’s many talents.

A Night of Music and Wit

The show drew about 10,000 fans and featured Parton’s signature self-deprecating humor. She opened with a wisecrack about the cost of looking “cheap” and encouraged the audience to spend generously on tickets and merchandise Yahoo.

Parton’s performance was described as “spectacular” — entertaining, funny, poignant, and inspiring — with her voice strong and clean and her ability to play at least 10 instruments by ear Yahoo. She could play guitar, banjo, fiddle, saxophone, autoharp, harmonica, and more, often switching between them during the set.

Setlist Highlights

The Kansas City set included:

• “My Tennessee Mountain”
• “Smoky Mountain Memories”
• A cover of “I’ll Fly Away”
• The spiritual “The Seeker”
• A song about the reclusive mountain man who taught her to play banjo Yahoo

She was backed by a three-piece band: keyboardist Richard Dennison, bassist Tom Rutledge, and guitarist/bandleader Kent Wells. Parton also joked about using a drum machine that cost $47 at Radio Shack to avoid hiring a live drummer Yahoo.

Legacy of the Night

The July 2016 concert is remembered as a defining moment in Parton’s final tour, showcasing her artistry, humor, and generosity. It was a night where music, storytelling, and personal charm blended seamlessly, cementing her status as the “Queen of Country” Yahoo.

Dolly Parton passed away on August 25, 2026, at age 80, after a brief battle with cancer Yahoo+1.

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Born in Tennessee on 19 January 1946, Dolly Parton grew up in a large family and rose from humble beginnings to become one of the world’s most recognizable entertainers. She moved to Nashville after finishing high school and released her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967.

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While Parton’s songs were recorded by countless other artists, with Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You” becoming one of the most successful recordings in music history. Bing Videos

Health struggles before her death

Parton had been increasingly open about her health in recent months.

She cancelled appearances and previously postponed a Las Vegas residency because of health problems, while also speaking about the emotional and physical impact of caring for Carl Dean before his death. In a recent interview, she said she had been dealing with health issues she had neglected while caring for her husband.

Despite those difficulties, she continued to discuss future creative projects and remained determined to work. Now, after nearly 60 years at the centre of the entertainment industry, Dolly Parton’s remarkable journey has come to an end. Her songs, films, businesses and philanthropy ensure that the woman who rose from rural Tennessee to become a global icon will remain part of popular culture for generations to come.

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Dolly Parton dies at 80 | AP News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dolly Parton, the country music icon whose soaring vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, has died in Nashville. She was 80 years old.

“After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer”, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” her publicist, Marcel Pariseau, said in a statement Tuesday.

Known for her curvy physique, massive blond wigs and skin-tight outfits that served her self-deprecating wit, she was among the most beloved personalities in music and beyond — the rare celebrity whose appeal transcended generations, geography and politics.

She wrote hundreds of songs, including classics like “Jolene,” “Coat of Many Colors” and “I Will Always Love You,” that totaled more than 100 million worldwide sales and more than 1 billion online streams. Parton, who plucked bejeweled banjos, guitar and dulcimers with her long fingernails during performances, was a generous philanthropist and successful businesswoman whose projects included a theme park in the Smoky Mountain foothills  near her birthplace.

Dolly at Dollywood: A look back at her most memorable park appearances over the decades

One of the Dollywood’s most visited attractions isn’t a roller coaster but a replica of the humble cabin where her family, including 11 siblings, grew up. The cozy cabin is just two rooms and had no running water or electricity.

Her career was influenced by her upbringing as one of 12 children born into what she called a “dirt poor” Tennessee family. She started her education nonprofit, Imagination Library, to send free books to children in Tennessee because her father, who quit school to work on the farm, struggled to learn to read.

Parton’s first musical performances were in church, where her grandfather was a preacher. By age 10, she was learning guitar and singing on local television shows. At 13, she appeared on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where Johnny Cash introduced her as “a little girl here from up in East Tennessee.”

With a suitcase of songs, she followed her uncle, Bill Owens, also a songwriter, to Nashville after graduating high school in 1964. Fred Foster, who produced Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson and more, saw her potential and got her songs cut by other artists, as well as recording and releasing Parton singing her own material. By the mid-1970s, Parton was a Nashville queen.

A key collaboration launched Parton to fame

Parton’s partnership with Porter Wagoner, a pencil-thin pompadoured star with flashy rhinestone outfits, was key to her career. She honed her acting skills on his syndicated TV show and he advocated for her to get a record deal at RCA. Their first duet, “The Last Thing On My Mind,” was released in 1967, the same year she started her own publishing company.

While their duets were often big radio hits, Parton’s solo singles didn’t chart as high at first. With Wagoner as a co-producer, she began to adjust her country warble to a more polished, pop-leaning style.

She got her first No. 1 solo single with “Joshua,” and reached the Top 5 with the ballad “Coat of Many Colors,” about how her mother sewed together scraps of clothes to make a coat Parton wore “so proudly” even as her peers mocked her for being poor. The song, with its Biblical references and ode to maternal love, was later made into a children’s book and a TV movie.

In 1973, she had the hit that made her career — “Jolene,” a country music standard with its steady, churning rhythm and Parton’s repeated delivery of the title as she pleads for the woman not to steal her man.

The song topped the country charts, crossing over to pop and later being released internationally, opening up new audiences for Parton. “Jolene” is one of her most covered compositions, including by Miley Cyrus (Parton’s goddaughter), Olivia Newton-John and The White Stripes.

She left Wagoner’s show in 1974   

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For God and Country

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Country music legend Dolly Parton passed away peacefully on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. Her nephew and head of security, Bryan Seaver, announced the news on social media, with the family describing her as an enduring inspiration whose music, wit, warmth and kindness touched generations.

Read Dolly Parton’s Family’s Message About Her Death in Full

The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

However, Parton had been dealing with several health challenges in recent months. She had previously spoken about kidney stones, digestive and immune-system problems, as well as complications related to her medications. She had canceled several appearances, including a scheduled Las Vegas residency and a Dollywood appearance after doctors advised her not to travel.

Just days before her death,

Parton spoke publicly about her health, acknowledging that she had been going through difficult times while continuing to work on music and other projects. Despite her struggles, she remained determined to keep creating and connecting with her fans.

Her final public appearance came virtually on August 19, when she accepted the prestigious Poet’s Award at the Academy of Country Music Honors from her home.

Unable to travel because of her health, Parton thanked the Academy and sent a message of love to her fans. Parton’s death comes just over a year after the passing of her husband, Carl Dean, who died in March 2025 after 58 years of marriage. The couple had no children. Parton had previously spoken about how deeply his death affected her and how she continued working while grieving his loss.

Her career spanned more than six decades and produced some of the most recognizable songs in popular music: Including *”Jolene,” “9 to 5,” “Coat of Many Colors” and Her songwriting became legendary, with *”I Will Always Love You”* later becoming a worldwide phenomenon when Whitney Houston recorded it for The Bodyguard*.

Parton also found major success as an actress, starring in films such as *9 to 5 and *Steel Magnolias*, while earning numerous awards and honors throughout her career. Beyond entertainment, Parton built a vast business and philanthropic legacy.

She became the driving force behind Dollywood and founded the Imagination Library, which has distributed millions of books to children around the world. She also contributed to medical research, disaster relief and numerous charitable causes, including a $1 million donation to COVID-19 research that helped support the development of the Moderna vaccine.

Parton had remained remarkably active until the end of her life, with projects including the upcoming Broadway musical *Dolly: A True Original Musical*, as well as other business and entertainment ventures. With a career spanning seven decades, more than 100 million records sold worldwide, countless awards and generations of fans, Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond country music.

The woman who turned songs of heartbreak, hope and everyday life into timeless classics is gone — but her voice and her stories will continue to live on.

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Fergus Farrell kicked off a cross-country journey by foot at the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in New York, NY. (Stephen Yang) Stephen Yang for NY Post

I was told I’d never walk again — now I’m trekking 6 million steps from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Santa Monica Pier

Story by McKenzie Beard

The odds have never meant much to Fergus Farrell. – Search Videos

In 2018, the Irishman was given a 5% chance of ever walking again after a workplace injury left him paralyzed from the rib cage down.

Nearly six years later, after a grueling recovery, he’s hitting the open road for a 3,000-mile trek across the US — entirely on foot.

“If anybody tells me I can’t do something, by God, I’ll do my damndest to do it,” Farrell, 46, told The Post. “It’s all about taking a small step at a time.”

And Farrell has already taken plenty. On the first anniversary of the accident, the Galway native walked across Ireland, ending his journey at the hospital he’d been told he’d likely never move his legs again.

In the years since, Farrell has rowed seven marathons, run four ultramarathons and even attempted to paddle across the Atlantic Ocean in 2022.

Now, the father of three is taking on his biggest feat yet: Six million steps from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Santa Monica Pier in just 75 days.

“When I walk across America, it’s to create awareness for people living with spinal cord injuries, but it’s also for my kids,” said Farrell, who kicked off his mission Saturday. “I want to show them that when you get up and work hard, you can do whatever you want.”

‘Very, very unlucky’

Farrell was overseeing his fleet of 35 buses on Oct. 26, 2018, when he bent down to lift a metal bench and felt a “massive explosion” in his back, dropping him to the ground in pain.

He soon realized he couldn’t feel his legs, and later learned that he had ruptured two discs in his back — one of which had nearly severed his spinal cord completely.

He was airlifted across Ireland to the National Spinal Unit in Dublin, where doctors operated immediately. But when he woke up, he said, “I still couldn’t connect to my feet.”

Farrell was left paralyzed from the ribcage down after a workplace injury. Courtesy of Fergus Farrell

The pain was excruciating. Any feeling from the ribcage down was “completely gone.” Then the surgeon sat down beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

“I’m sorry, Fergus, but you’ve been very, very unlucky,” Farrell recalled him saying.

The doctor then gave him a stark prognosis: “If you get moving within the next 72 hours, you have a 5% chance of getting some sort of strength back. However, if you don’t get movement after 72 hours, your stats go down to zero. You’ll be wheelchair-bound for life.”

Farrell fights back

For weeks, Farrell still couldn’t budge. Then, on the 21st day after the accident, came a breakthrough: a tiny twitch in his toe.

Ferrell trained for months at a rehabilitation center, determined to recover. Courtesy of Fergus Farrell

Over time, he regained his ability to walk unassisted. Courtesy of Fergus Farrell

“That was a massive moment for me,” he said.

He was transferred to a rehabilitation hospital, where he spent months pushing his body to its limits, constantly in pain and using morphine to get a bit of sleep. But he began to improve: Little by little, movement returned.

Months after arriving, Farrell could shuffle on two feet, but his ability to walk remained limited. When medical staff sat him down to discuss being discharged, they expect him to use a wheelchair in public and have limited mobility at home, aided by grab rails.

“That’s bulls–t,” he remembers thinking.

He went through a dark time during recovery before a week in a psychiatric ward sent him on his current path. Stephen Yang for NY Post

“I said, ‘I’m walking out through those doors.’ I gave myself three weeks,” Farrell said. “During those three weeks, I broke myself, but I broke myself in a great way. I was there to do a job.”

Less than a month later, he left on his own two feet.

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From rock bottom to redemption

Once he returned to Galway, though, he started to feel like a “prisoner” in his own home, restricted to a wheelchair and struggling to navigate the world. His marriage was unraveling, too.

“Have you ever heard that saying, “The empty mind is a dangerous mind?” he said. “When I got home, I was seeing all the negatives rather than the positives.”

He nearly ended his life, saved only by the grace of a “good friend.” He spent a week in a psychiatric ward. “It was the best thing I ever did,” Farrell said. “I found out, for the first time at 39 years of age, who I was, not what I was.”

Fergus Farrell, who was told he would never walk again, is trekking the United States. Farrell plans to begin his walk on August 22 on the Brooklyn Bridge and arrive in Santa Monica around November 5. Nearly 6 years after the accident, Farrell has run marathons and walked across Ireland. Courtesy of Fergus Farrell

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That person? One who excelled in the face of a challenge.

It was then that Farrell, who couldn’t walk more than 300 meters at the time, started training to walk 206 kilometers (128 miles) across Ireland on the first anniversary of his exit from the rehabilitation hospital. Around the same time, he started weaning himself off of morphine, which he’d become addicted to while managing the pain.

“I had to,” he said. “It was either live a life in pain and be myself, or live a life where I don’t know who I am.” Today, Farrell is an inspirational speaker, mental health advocate and devoted father.

He’s taken on athletic challenges that would test even the fittest person — all while living with “24/7 nerve pain.” “I still have a lot of disabilities. I don’t have any reaction skills. I have very poor balance,” he said.

Farrell will attempt to cover roughly 80,000 steps per day. (Stephen Yang) Stephen Yang for NY Post

But he no longer looks at Oct. 26, 2018, as the day his life fell apart.

“If you would have asked me two years after the accident what I thought of it, I would have told you it was one of the worst days of my life,” he said. “Now, if you ask me, it was the best day of my life, because I’m a lot better of a person than I ever was,” he continued. “I value everything I have rather than being envious of what I don’t.”

That outlook is fueling his biggest challenge yet.

For the past 18 months, he has been training for Fergus Walks, a cross-country trek aimed at raising awareness of spinal injuries and money for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation and Spinal Injuries Ireland.

Farrell’s route will take him through 11 states over 75 days by foot. (Stephen Yang) Stephen Yang for NY Post

Farrell will cross 11 states, slogging through mountains, deserts, prairies and farmland while racking up roughly 80,000 steps a day. But the grueling miles aren’t what he’s most excited about — it’s the Americans he’ll meet along the way.

“Maybe they’ll come have a walk along the road with me,” he said. “I hope they do.”

A crew of volunteers will follow Farrell by car, keeping him supplied with food and water as he makes his way across the country. He’ll mostly bunk in hotels, though in more remote stretches, he’ll camp in a van.

By the time he reaches the West coast, he expects to have burned through eight pairs of shoes. Farrell’s message to others is simple: “Anyone who’s fighting addiction, disability, whatever it may be, just take a small step at a time.”

“All those small steps add up,” he said. “The next thing you know, you’re in a place that you could have never imagined.”

High School Quarterback Sustains Serious Spinal Cord Injury During Game

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The football community is keeping Celina High School quarterback Parker Wynk in its prayers this weekend. Wynk, a senior, suffered a spine injury during Celina’s first game of the 2026 season. He was taken to the hospital after his family said his neck “snapped backwards” after a collision with another player.

According to a post shared in the Bulldogs Friday Night Lights Facebook Group, made up of Celina High School Football parents, Parker was injured during Friday night’s game against St. Henry. “While trying to recover a fumble, Parker collided with another player and his neck snapped backward. He immediately could not move or feel touch on his body.

He could not move on the field, on the way to the hospital, or for some time after we arrived at Coldwater,” the post, shared on behalf of the Wynk family, said. Parker has been able to feel sensations and can make small movements, but he received an injury to his spinal cord, according to the post.

“We are incredibly thankful that there are no broken bones or vertebrae and Parker’s brain is 100% okay. But his spinal cord has been injured, and right now we simply do not know what that will mean for his future,” the post read.

When the collision initially occurred, Wynk had no feeling in his body. Thankfully, he’s starting to regain feeling in his arms, hands and feet. A neurosurgeon informed the family that Parker has a congenitally narrow spinal canal, which means there isn’t much space to cushion his spinal cord.

“We are incredibly thankful that there are no broken bones or vertebrae and Parker’s brain is 100% okay. But his spinal cord has been injured, and right now we simply do not know what that will mean for his future,” his family wrote.

“Please join us in praying specifically for Parker’s spinal cord to heal, for movement and feeling to return throughout his entire body, for the burning and pain to subside, and for strength physically, mentally and emotionally as he faces whatever comes next.”

The Celina community is rallying around the Wynk family.

It was announced on Facebook that Celina First Church of God is holding a prayer service for the Wynk family this Saturday night. “The Wynks call Celina First home. They are part of our church family, and when one of our own is hurting, this is how the Church responds: we gather, we surround them, and we pray,” the post read.

“They have asked us to join them in praying for Parker’s full and complete healing, and we want to invite anyone in our community to stand with them.” The Wynk family continues to ask the community to pray for Parker’s full and complete healing.

I was told I’d never walk again — now I’m trekking 6 million steps from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Santa Monica Pier

Spinal injury survivor to begin nearly 3,000-mile walk across America in Brooklyn • Brooklyn Paper

Fergus Farrell Shares Story Of Survival After Life Changing Spinal Injury – Clare FM

Man told he’d never walk again plans 3,000-mile journey

Advertiser.ie – Turning pain into purpose

DR. WILLIAMMAKIS‘ UPDATED IVERMECTIN & FENBENDAZOLE CANCER PROTOCOL IS GETTING PEOPLE TALKING Cancer patients aren’t saving this chart because it’s controversial. They’re saving it because they’re looking for answers. And according to the protocol attributed to Dr. William Makis, one of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming every cancer case should follow the same approach.
That’s why this chart doesn’t show one dose. It shows FOUR.

LOW. MEDIUM. HIGH. VERY HIGH. The goal? To adjust the approach based on: Cancer aggressiveness Tumor burden Metastatic spread Overall prognosis Individual response ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

LOW DOSE IVERMECTIN ≤ 0.5 mg/kg 3x per week FENBENDAZOLE 222 mg/day 3 days on, 4 days off Often discussed for: • Remission support • Prevention • Strong family history • Higher risk individuals ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

MEDIUM DOSE IVERMECTIN 1.0 mg/kg daily FENBENDAZOLE 222 mg/day 6 days per week Often discussed for: • Most active cancers • Common starting approach ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

HIGH DOSE IVERMECTIN 2.0 mg/kg daily FENBENDAZOLE 444 mg/day 6 days per week Often discussed for: • Aggressive cancers • Brain cancers • Leukemia • Pancreatic cancer ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

VERY HIGH DOSE IVERMECTIN ≥ 2.5 mg/kg daily FENBENDAZOLE 888 to 1000 mg/day 6 days per week Often discussed for: • Extensive metastatic disease • Poor prognosis cases ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL NOTES

Many patients combine Ivermectin and Fenbendazole

Some alternate Fenbendazole with Mebendazole

Fenbendazole is commonly taken with fatty meals

Liver support is frequently discussed

Long term use and monitoring are commonly emphasized ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

WHAT MAKES THIS PROTOCOL DIFFERENT? It’s not simply the dosages. It’s the idea behind them. Dr. Makis argues that cancer isn’t one disease. A patient in remission is different from a patient with widespread metastatic disease. A slow growing cancer is different from an aggressive one. And because of that, many people believe a one size fits all approach may not always make sense. That’s one reason why interest in repurposed medicines continues to grow.

Researchers have spent years investigating how compounds like Ivermectin and Fenbendazole may interact with: • Cancer metabolism • Cancer stem cells • Mitochondrial function • Tumor signaling pathways • Treatment resistance mechanisms • Cellular energy production Whether these findings ultimately change clinical practice remains to be seen. But one thing is undeniable: More cancer patients, caregivers, and researchers are discussing repurposed medicines today than ever before. And that’s exactly why charts like this keep getting shared.

Save this chart now. Six months from now, you’ll wish you knew where to find it. Repost it so more people researching cancer protocols can see it. Have you been following Dr. William Makis’ work on Ivermectin and Fenbendazole? Many people researching Ivermectin and Fenbendazole have discovered @rxmeds_store.

(1) Andrew Panella on X: “Dr. William Makis MD. His anti-cancer protocols have potentially cured thousands of patients… But Big Pharma can’t profit from his methods so they suppress him. Here are his top 7 methods to fight cancer and protocols for each stage of it (bookmark this):  https://t.co/PRtC6EgzoM” / X

DR. WILLIAMMAKIS HAS PUBLICLY SHARED THE ALTERNATIVE CANCER PROTOCOL HE SAYS HE’S USING, AND IT’S SPARKING DEBATE ACROSS THE WORLD. Rather than relying on a single treatment, Dr. Makis combines repurposed medicines, targeted bioactive compounds, and immune support into one comprehensive protocol. The protocol cites published studies alongside several recommendations and is designed, according to Dr. Makis, to target cancer through multiple biological pathways. Core Repurposed Medicines Ivermectin • 1.5 mg/kg/day • Once daily with food • Split into doses of 12 mg or less at a time • Reference: Zhou (2021) Fenbendazole • 1,500 mg/day • Split into two daily doses • Reference: Park (2021) Modified Citrus Pectin • 15 g/day • One-third scoop mixed with water or juice • Taken three times daily with food Optional Bioactive Compounds Black Seed Oil (Thymoquinone): 2,000 mg/day (split doses, empty stomach) Berberine: 1,000 mg/day (split into two doses with food) Olive Leaf Extract (Oleuropein): 1,000 mg/day (split into two doses with food) Immune Support Vitamin D3 – 20,000 IU daily Vitamin K2 – 100 mcg daily Turkey Tail Mushroom – 1,000 mg/day with food

According to Dr. Makis, the goal isn’t to rely on a single medicine.

It’s to combine therapies that may work through different biological mechanisms as part of an integrated strategy. Whether you agree with this approach or not, protocols centered on Ivermectin and Fenbendazole have become some of the most discussed topics in repurposed medicine, with growing interest from patients, physicians, and researchers alike. One question remains… If low cost generic medicines show enough promise for physicians to build protocols around them, should they receive the same level of scientific investigation as expensive patented drugs? What’s your opinion?

Knowledge only has value when it’s shared. Save this protocol and send it to someone researching Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, or alternative cancer protocols.

If you’re looking for pharmaceutical grade Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, or Mebendazole, visit @rxmeds_store.

RXMEDS.STORE on X: “🚨 ONE DEWORMER. 20+ CANCER TYPES. WHY IS FENBENDAZOLE GETTING SO MUCH ATTENTION? Fenbendazole is widely known as a benzimidazole class antiparasitic drug used in veterinary medicine. But this graphic highlights a very different area of interest https://t.co/YA2pSui9Je” / X

(1) Joe smart on X: “ DR. WILLIAM MAKIS: ONE IVERMECTIN DOSING FRAMEWORK IS GETTING SERIOUS ATTENTION According to Dr. William Makis, the dosing framework he discusses for repurposed cancer research is built around weight based dosing, with 1 mg/kg/day highlighted as a key starting point. His” / X

Lauren Hayes 

Commentary account I paid $78 for 100 pills of ivermectin 12 mg. Ivermectin saved my mom from cancer. Got it from https://twitter.com/safehealthpill1

Medeea Greere on X: “🔥💣 DR. WILLIAM MAKIS: THE CANCER BREAKTHROUGH THEY DON’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT — Ivermectin, Fenbendazole & the Truth They Buried 🇺🇸 🔥Oncologist Dr. William Makis is igniting massive controversy after claiming that low-cost antiparasitic drugs https://t.co/GtzeubjaA0” / X

Dr. Kathy D. Miller, MD on X: “IVERMECTIN:A POTENTIAL CANCER FIGHTER IVM is proving to be up to 7 times more effective than conventional treatments in disrupting cancer’s survival mechanisms. With just a single dose,it strikes cancer cells through multiple pathways and helps block the formation of tumors https://t.co/1LclikNtof” / X

Ivermectin Clinic in Florida – Search Ivermectin Clinic in Florida – Search Videos

Ivermectin for Autoimmune Disease and Arthritis Ivermectin’s HIDDEN Potential in Cancer and Autoimmunity #Ivermectin #Fenbendazole #CancerResearch #CancerProtocol #RepurposedDrugs #WilliamMakis #RxMeds

Joy Ryan becomes the oldest woman to explore all 63 national parks in the U,S,

Ryan, 93, has become the oldest woman to visit every national park in America. Proving Age is just a number, and Joy Ryan has just proved the fact! 

This cute grandma was not alone in her journey as her 42-year-old grandson Brad Ryan accompanied her to all 63 national parks in the country and today, both of them are enjoying an internet celebrity status.

Joy Ryan and Brad Ryan Complete Historic 63-Park Journey

Joy Ryan, 93, and her grandson Brad Ryan have completed their mission to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks, finishing the trip in the National Park of American Samoa in the South Pacific after seven and a half years CNN+1.

The Journey

The adventure began in October 2015 when Brad, a veterinarian from Duncan Falls, Ohio, took his grandmother to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park after learning she had never seen mountains, oceans, or deserts CBS News+1. Inspired by her love of travel and his own desire to share the world’s wonders with her, Brad started planning a loop of parks, eventually raising funds through a GoFundMe to cover the costs CNN.

Over the years, they traveled more than 50,000 miles, visiting iconic destinations from the Grand Canyon to the Channel Islands, the Redwoods to the Virgin Islands www.traveller365.com. Along the way, they documented their travels on their Instagram account  the @grandmajoysroadtrip sharing photos, stories, and the deep bond between them abcnews.com.

A Bittersweet Finale

Their final stop, the National Park of American Samoa, was both a milestone and a poignant moment. Brad said the achievement was “bittersweet,” coming just over a week after the passing of his father and Joy’s eldest son abcnews.com. The park, the only U.S. national park south of the equator, spans seven villages and offers them a chance to reflect on their journey.

Recognition and Legacy

At the park, Joy and Brad were honored by the National Park Service with certificates and gifts commemorating their historic feat. Joy became the oldest person to visit every U.S. National Park, defying assumptions about age limits and inspiring others to pursue their dreams CNN+1.

Brad described the trip as a “grand adventure” and a testament to the power of passion, intention, and the unbreakable bond between a grandmother and her grandson abcnews.com+1. Joy herself called it “a beautiful, beautiful time” and said she wouldn’t trade it for anything abcnews.com.

Their story has been featured on ABC News, Good Morning America, CBS News, and other outlets, resonating with audiences worldwide for its mix of adventure, resilience, and family love www.traveller365.com.

More Photos on Instagram here.

Brad Ryan and his grandmother Joy Ryan set out on a journey to visit all 63 national parks seven and a half years ago. This week they completed their goal when they arrived at the National Park of American Samoa.

“The National Park of American Samoa is the only U.S. national park south of the equator and our most remote park,” Ryan posted on the Grandma Joy’s Road Trip Instagram page created to document their travels. “It was a long road to get here, but we couldn’t have chosen a more epic place to conclude this epic chapter of Grandma Joy’s Road Trip!”

Joy Ryan — known worldwide as “Grandma Joy” — and her grandson Brad Ryan did complete their quest to visit all 63 U.S. National Parks, and the journey took about seven and a half years, beginning in October 2015 and ending in May 2023 at the National Park of American Samoa.

Their accomplishment is remarkable not only because Joy was 93 years old, making her the oldest person ever to visit all 63 parks, but also because the journey became a story of healing, reconnection, and adventure.

 What Their Journey Included

• Start: Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Tennessee), October 2015
• End: National Park of American Samoa, May 16, 2023
• Total Parks: 63
• Duration: ~7.5 years
• Joy’s Age at Completion: 93
• Activities: Mountain climbing, white‑water rafting (at age 91!), zip‑lining, hiking, wildlife viewing, and thousands of miles of road‑tripping.

 Why Their Story Matters

Their national‑park quest began as a simple attempt to help Joy see her first mountain. It grew into a transformative experience that helped Brad recover from depression and helped both of them repair a long‑strained relationship. Their travels became widely followed through @grandmajoysroadtrip on Instagram and inspired a book, Grandma Joy and Me.

 If you want, I can map out all 63 parks in the order they visited them, or break down their route by region. Here’s a full chronological map, a regional breakdown, or a summary of their iconic moments?

 Timeline Overview (2015 – 2023)

Year	Parks Visited	Highlights
2015	1 – 3	Began at Great Smoky Mountains, Joy’s first mountain experience.
2016	4 – 10	Explored Midwestern parks like Cuyahoga Valley and Indiana Dunes.
2017	11 – 18	First major western road trip — Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton.
2018	19 – 27	Southwest adventure: Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches.
2019	28 – 36	Pacific coast stretch: Redwoods, Crater Lake, Olympic, Channel Islands.
2020	37 – 45	Rocky Mountain circuit — Glacier, Grand Canyon of the Rockies, Mesa Verde.
2021	46 – 54	Hawaii parks and Virgin Islands — oceanic milestones.
2022	55 – 62	Alaska expedition, visiting all eight parks there.
2023	63	Final stop: National Park of American Samoa, completing the journey.

 Thematic Layers

• Connection: Rebuilding family bonds through shared adventure.
• Resilience: Joy’s age defied limits; Brad’s healing mirrored the landscapes.
• Legacy: Their story inspired millions to rediscover nature and kinship.

Would you like me to design this as a vertical illustrated timeline, a poster‑style infographic, or a digital scrolling version?

Here’s a regional breakdown of Joy and Brad Ryan’s journey through all 63 U.S. National Parks. Their route spanned every corner of the system, grouped by geography:

 Eastern & Midwest (2015–2016)

• Great Smoky Mountains (start, Oct 2015)
• Shenandoah, Cuyahoga Valley, Indiana Dunes
• Smaller eastern gems like Acadia and Mammoth Cave

 Southwest & Desert Parks (2017–2018)

• Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon
• Arches, Canyonlands, Petrified Forest
• Big Bend, Carlsbad Caverns

 Pacific Coast (2019)

• Redwood, Crater Lake, Olympic
• Channel Islands, Sequoia, Yosemite

 Rockies & Northern Plains (2020)

• Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier
• Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Badlands

 Islands & Tropics (2021)

• Hawai‘i Volcanoes, Haleakalā
• Virgin Islands, Dry Tortugas, Everglades

 Alaska Expedition (2022)

• All 8 Alaska parks: Denali, Gates of the Arctic, Katmai, Wrangell–St. Elias, Kenai Fjords, Lake Clark, Kobuk Valley, Glacier Bay

 Finale (2023)

• National Park of American Samoa — their 63rd and final park, May 2023.

Would you like me to create a visual timeline poster showing these regions in sequence, or a ranked scenic highlights list to spotlight the most photogenic stops?

America The Beautiful Pass List of National Parks PDF File

How Old is the USA? A Complete Timeline of American History – USA Heaven

Climate change is affecting national parks much more than the rest of the US

  Based on multiple expert rankings and travel sources, here’s a consolidated Top 10 Most Scenic U.S. National Parks — the ones Joy and Brad Ryan visited that consistently stand out for sheer visual impact:  

• Yosemite and Yellowstone are universally ranked #1–2 for scenery.
• Grand Canyon offers unmatched desert drama.
• Glacier and Grand Teton deliver alpine perfection.
• Olympic and Acadia add coastal diversity.
• Zion and Arches showcase Utah’s red rock majesty.
• Rocky Mountain rounds out the list with classic alpine landscapes.

This guide highlights 30 U.S. national parks with diverse landscapes, from waterfalls to desert vistas, offering options beyond the top 10 for travelers seeking varied scenic experiences.    The 30 Most Beautiful National Parks to Hike in: Best of 2026  

Joy Ryan, 94, As Now They Start Out on Their Seven Continent Quest

Joy Ryan, now 94, is one of the most inspiring travelers of her generation — and she’s just reached the halfway mark of a bold new mission with her grandson, Brad Ryan.

From National Parks to the World

Joy, a widow and retiree from Duncan Falls, Ohio, had lived most of her life in the same house, rarely traveling beyond her hometown. She didn’t get her first passport until age 91, after visiting the National Park of American Samoa in 2023, which made her the oldest person to have seen all 63 U.S. national parks People+1. That trip was sparked by a simple invitation from Brad, who wanted to reconnect with her after years apart. Their first shared adventure — hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains at age 85 — planted the seed for a lifelong travel partnership People+1.

The Seven Continents Mission

After conquering the U.S. parks, Joy and Brad set their sights on visiting every continent together. They’ve already completed four: Europe, South America, Australia, and Antarctica People+1. Their next stops include Asia, Africa, and possibly the Arctic Circle seniorstrustnetwork.org.

How They Travel

The duo has evolved from camping on a budget to using corporate sponsorships and guided expeditions. They’ve braved everything from polar expeditions in Antarctica to wildlife-rich destinations like the Galápagos and Banff National Park AFAR+1. Each trip is about embracing the moment — whether it’s spotting brown bears in Alaska, hiking in Chile, or marveling at penguins in the southernmost continent People+1.

Why It Matters

For Joy, the goal is more than a travel record — it’s about proving that adventure has no expiration date. Brad says their journeys have strengthened their bond, inspired others, and shown that age shouldn’t limit dreams The Happy Broadcast. Joy’s mantra is to “jump in the river and be positive” when faced with challengesFox News.

  National Parks grandma: Grandson and 93-year-old Joy Ryan visit all 63 U.S. National Parks ending in American Samoa – CBS News  

An Ohio native and his grandma took on every national park – and their distant relationship | WYSO

93-year-old grandmother and grandson finish quest to visit all 63 national parks – ABC News

Joy Ryan, 93, is the oldest woman to visit every U.S. national park – VPM

This Celtic Melody Is Absolutely Mind-Blowing… Wait For The End!  | Celtic Song

Oh Lord ! its Pacific Coast Highway in 1956 | A day of Freedom | doo-wop Song !

Take us back to Rocky Mountains 1957: American Road Trip | doo-wop Melody !

A Complete List Of Every National Park In America

The 12 best national parks to visit in retirement

Diet After Open Heart Surgery: A Guide From A Heart Dietitian – The Heart Dietitian

Rapid Weight Loss After Open Heart Surgery: A Guide to Safe and Sustainable Recovery – Nutriphy

After open-heart surgery, it is crucial to follow a strict diet plan provided by a doctor or dietitian to ensure a smooth recovery and maintain cardiovascular health. This involves consuming a balanced diet rich in whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, low-fat dairy, and omega-3 fatty acids, while limiting saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and processed foods. Regular exercise and quitting smoking are also recommended to complement the diet and reduce the risk of future heart problems.  

Include whole grains, fruits and vegetables

Following open-heart surgery, it is important to follow a strict diet plan provided by a surgeon or dietitian to ensure a safe recovery. This diet plan will typically include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, which are known to have numerous health benefits.

Whole grains are an excellent source of fiber, which helps to maintain a healthy digestive system and manage weight. They also keep the heart healthy by controlling weight gain. Examples of whole grains that can be included in meals are brown rice, quinoa, wild rice, whole-wheat pasta, non-processed oats, and 100% whole-grain bread. These should be chosen over refined carbohydrates such as white bread and other sweet foods.

Fruits and vegetables are rich in vital nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, all of which are essential for cardiovascular health and tissue repair. They also strengthen the immune system and help reduce inflammation, which is crucial after heart surgery. It is recommended to consume fresh fruits and vegetables, as canned fruits have been associated with an increased risk of mortality.

In addition to whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, a heart-healthy diet should also include lean meat, low-fat dairy, omega-3 fatty acids, and unsaturated fats. It is important to limit saturated fat, trans fat, sodium, and processed foods. Regular exercise, smoking cessation, and moderate alcohol consumption are also recommended for a healthy recovery and to prevent future heart problems.

It is important to note that dietary guidelines may vary depending on individual health needs, and specific recommendations should be discussed with a doctor or dietitian. ~  Search Images

Bonus VIDEO 12: Diet After Open Heart Surgery: What to Eat What Not to Eat to keep yourself healthy?

Eating Smart: The 80/20 Diet Explained

Gastrointestinal Symptoms After Open Heart Surgery at 5 Weeks

Yes, excessive gas and loss of appetite are common after open heart surgery, occurring in up to 57% of patients, and the patient should be seeing their cardiac surgeon or cardiologist for evaluation, with potential referral to a gastroenterologist if symptoms persist or worsen.

How Common Are These Symptoms?

Gastrointestinal symptoms after cardiac surgery are well-documented and significant. Research shows that 57% of patients report poor appetite and 37% experience lack of taste during the immediate postoperative period 1. While the frequency of GI symptoms typically decreases over time, 19% of patients still report poor appetite at 6 weeks post-discharge 1. This aligns precisely with your relative’s timeline.

The underlying mechanisms include:

• Reduced gastrointestinal perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass
• Gastroparesis and intestinal dysmotility from surgical stress
• Medication effects, particularly from antiarrhythmic agents, diuretics, and pain medications
• Inflammatory response that persists for weeks after surgery 2

Immediate Management Steps

Dietary Modifications

The patient should implement small, frequent meals (4-6 times daily) with high-protein content, taking small bites and chewing thoroughly 3. This eating pattern helps accommodate reduced gastric motility and prevents overwhelming the digestive system.

Specific recommendations:

• Avoid high-fiber foods initially that can worsen gas and bloating 3
• Separate liquids from solids by at least 30 minutes to reduce gastric distention 3
• Reduce dietary lactose, fat, and fiber if diarrhea or flatulence is prominent 3
• Increase fluid intake to at least 1.5 liters daily to prevent dehydration, which is common and dangerous 3

Monitoring for Serious Complications

While most GI symptoms are benign, gastrointestinal complications after cardiac surgery carry mortality rates of 34-87% when serious pathology develops 4,5,6. The patient needs evaluation if experiencing:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Bloody stools or vomiting
• Inability to tolerate any oral intake
• Signs of dehydration (decreased urine output, dizziness)
• Fever or worsening symptoms

Which Doctor to See

The patient should first contact their cardiac surgeon or cardiologist 7. At 5 weeks post-surgery, the patient should still be under active cardiac follow-up for:

• Cardiac and fluid status monitoring, as heart failure can manifest with GI symptoms 8
• Medication review, since antiarrhythmic agents and diuretics are associated with nausea and appetite loss 1
• Assessment for surgical complications that may present with GI symptoms 5,6

If symptoms persist despite initial management or worsen, referral to a gastroenterologist is warranted for evaluation of:

• Gastroparesis or intestinal dysmotility
• Medication-induced GI dysfunction
• Need for prokinetic agents (medications that stimulate gut motility) 8

Consider Nutritional Support

If the patient cannot achieve adequate oral nutrition, referral to a dietitian is essential 9. Studies show that patients after major surgery often have inadequate protein (90%) and energy intake (82%) in the postoperative period 9. At 5 weeks, continued poor intake risks:

• Progressive weight loss (common after cardiac surgery) 2
• Muscle weakness and functional decline 2
• Delayed recovery and increased complications

Oral nutritional supplements may be necessary if food intake remains inadequate 9,10, though compliance can be challenging due to taste issues and bloating.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Don’t dismiss these symptoms as “normal” without proper evaluation—while common, they require active management
• Don’t allow dehydration to develop—this is a frequent cause of emergency room visits and can be prevented 3
• Don’t assume all GI symptoms are benign—serious complications like bowel ischemia, though rare (0.5-5.5% incidence), are life-threatening 4,5,6
• Don’t overlook depression, which is associated with all GI symptoms after cardiac surgery 1

Expected Timeline

Most patients see gradual improvement over 2-6 months post-surgery 1,11. However, active intervention with dietary modifications, adequate hydration, and medical follow-up can accelerate recovery and prevent complications.

5 Essential Ways to Care for Your Health After Cardiac Surgery | Recovery Tips from a Heart Surgeon

Rapid Weight Loss After Open Heart Surgery: A Guide to Safe and Sustainable Recovery – Nutriphy

Diet After Open Heart Surgery|Foods To Eat & Foods to Avoid After Open Heart Surgery

Diet After Open Heart Surgery: A Guide From A Heart Dietitian – The Heart Dietitian

Heart Health: 5 Simple Cardio Habits That Boost Longevity & Stamina Naturally

The Truth About Low Carb vs High Protein After 60 | Which Plate Wins? @DrJanineBowring 

The world’s oldest person, British woman Ethel Caterham,

Has celebrated her 117th birthday, marking a historic milestone as she becomes the first person from Britain ever verified to reach that age while continuing to live a quiet life at a care home in Surrey.According to Guinness World Records, Ethel Caterham, born on 21 August 1909, is the first-ever Brit to reach the age of 117.

Ben Meyers, CEO of LongeviQuest, said, “Her longevity is becoming truly historic, especially in terms of the UK. After becoming the first British person to reach age 116 a year ago, she is now the first British person to reach 117. “She is consistently adding to her British longevity record, which was previously set by Charlotte Hughes, who passed away in 1993.

BIOGRAPHY

EARLY LIFE

Caterham was born in Shipton Bellinger, Hampshire, England, on 21 August 1909, and grew up in Tidworth, Wiltshire. She was the second youngest of eight children born to Alfred Collins (1866-1927) and Fanny Shears (1867-1951).

Her oldest brother, Norman (July 1896 – 10 August 1915), was killed, aged 19, in Gallipoli during World War I, whilst her older sister, Gladys Babilas (21 December 1897 – 9 March 2002), lived to be 104 years, 78 days old, making them the 2nd oldest sibling pair ever from the UK.

During the 1910’s, Caterham and her family lived simple lives, with no electricity or running water. They grew their own vegetables and kept chickens for eggs. In 1927, at the age of 18, she travelled to India to work as a nanny for a British family.

Drawn by the allure of adventure and world travel, she made the three-week trip by ship. Reflecting on that time, she fondly recalled her experiences in India as the “amongst the happiest times of my life”. She commented that they were waited on by servants and embraced both British traditions like Christmas and Indian customs, such as Tiffin and Tea.

She remained in India until 1931, when she returned to Shipton Bellinger. It was upon her return that she met her future husband, Norman Caterham, a major in the British army, at a small dinner party hosted by a school friend.

MARRIED LIFE

The Caterham’s married at Salisbury cathedral, where Norman used to be a choir boy. The couple initially lived in Harnham, near Salisbury, where they welcomed their first daughter, Ethel, in July 1933. In 1935, after Norman rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Royal Army Pay Corps, they re-located to Gibraltar where he was stationed. Whilst in Gibraltar, they welcomed their second daughter, Ann, in March 1937. The family returned to the UK in 1938, living in Surrey.

The Caterham’s re-located once again in 1957, when Norman’s career resulted in him being stationed in Hong Kong. Caterham later reflected that similar to her experiences in India, living in Hong Kong was another very happy period in her life. Whilst in Hong Kong, she established a nursery for both local and British children, where she taught English, games and crafts. Upon Norman’s retirement in 1960, the couple returned to the UK, once again settling in Surrey.

During Norman’s retirement the pair enjoyed travelling, visiting countries such as Canada, South Africa, the USA and Sri Lanka. Sadly, after 43 years of marriage, Caterham was widowed when Norman died suddenly on 25 August 1976.

LATER LIFE

After her husband passed away, Caterham, then aged 67, having inherited his Triumph Dolomite, learnt to drive, which she continued to do until the age of 97. During her widowhood, she kept busy by gardening, walking her dogs and socialising with friends. It was during this time that she became a regular bridge player, a hobby she continued into her centenarian years.

Caterham continued to live independently until past the age of 100, until around the age of 107 she moved into an Annex of her daughter Ann’s house. She outlived both of her daughters; Ethel Jr. passed away in January 2005 aged 71, whilst Ann died from cancer in February 2020, aged 82. It was after Ann’s death that she moved to a care home in spring 2020. Upon the home’s closure in November 2023, she moved once again to a care home in Lightwater, Surrey.

In 2020, at the age of 110, Caterham contracted Covid-19, during the coronavirus pandemic, however having no major symptoms, she successfully recovered, making her one of the oldest known survivors of the disease.

Since turning 111 in August 2020, Caterham’s birthday parties have become national and worldwide news. For her 111th birthday, she was interviewed by BBC Radio Surrey, whilst for her 112th she was taken to a local hotel for an afternoon tea.

Her 115th and 116th birthdays, celebrations, complete with balloons, cake and professional entertaining, were held at her care home. To commemorate Ethel’s remarkable milestone of turning 115, the care home team renovated a section of the garden and renamed it “Ethel’s garden”.

Since then, they have also renamed the area outside her room, where she loves to sit in the sun, “Ethel’s patio”. At the age of 117, Ethel, who has 3 granddaughters and 5 great-grandchildren, remains in good health. She enjoys participating in the many activities organised by her care home, which have included attending a party celebrating the home’s 10th anniversary.

World’s oldest person Ethel Caterham becomes first-ever Brit to reach age 117 | Guinness World Records

When asked about the keys to her longevity, she said: “Say yes to every opportunity, because you never know what it will lead to. Have a positive mental attitude and have everything in moderation”.

THE OLDER YOU GET, THE MORE THIS SONG WILL MEAN 

Ethel Caterham – The Oldest Person Alive #history #titanic #ww1 # ww II

Ethel Caterham: A Life Through Time

Beating Glioblastoma with Repurposed Drugs – Exactly How Ben Williams Did It,

It began during a card game in 1995.

As Professor Ben Williams won poker hand after hand against his UCSD colleagues, he proudly arranged his chips in neat stacks to his right. To his left, a heaping pile of unruly chips was the first sign of his lurking, yet undiagnosed brain cancer. 

This was followed by problems with walking, parking his car, and other perceptual issues involving left-sided neglect, signs characteristic of stroke or brain injury. Right-sided brain lesions produce a condition where a person becomes strangely unaware of their left side.

In Ben Williams’ case, it reflected brain cancer of the worst kind, a tumor known as Glioblastoma Multiforme [GBM], one with an average survival of little more than one year.

After a March 30, 1995, MRI scan revealed the cancer that occupied his right parietal lobe, his Oncologist candidly told Ben that he would be lucky to survive 18 months even if he did everything right – that is if he dutifully followed all medical advice in receiving brain surgery, radiation treatments, and chemotherapy.

But Ben was not your typical cancer patient.

As an accomplished research scientist, he was Chairman of the Psychology Department at the University of California at San Diego. He had earned a PhD at Harvard. Ben was anything but a compliant, no-questions-asked cancer patient. His Neuro-Oncologist soon discovered that answering pages of prepared questions during each examination would become the norm.

These questions often involved second-guessing the standard treatments. They also involved requests to add repurposed drugs to the treatment regimen. All of this came to a head when the Neuro-Oncologist refused to prescribe Tamoxifen, a drug that Ben’s independent review of the literature showed promise against GBM.

“He just out and out refused to allow the Tamoxifen, he was unwilling to bend, and we had a major altercation over the phone.”

Ben suggested he find a different Neuro-Oncologist, not realizing there were no others in the San Diego area. His Neurosurgeon, however, brought the two back together and mediated a discussion where they reached a compromise. The Neuro-Oncologist would agree to prescribe the Tamoxifen if Ben would agree to one round of chemotherapy first.

Ben underwent brain surgery for tumor removal on March 31, 1995. He followed through with chemotherapy and received a prescription for Tamoxifen. However, the friction between the two persisted, and Ben resorted to driving to Tijuana, Mexico to acquire higher doses. 

He added Accutane, also sourced from Mexico, a drug his research showed had effectiveness in clinical trials. Ben found an abstract from Clinical Cancer Research which showed that 45% of trial participants experienced either GBM tumor regression or stabilization following the use of Accutane. 

Ben also read that the drug Verapamil can block calcium channels and thwart cancer’s attempts to develop resistance to chemotherapy. Ben obtained Verapamil through a prescription from his family doctor.

He added more drugs and supplements.

His MRI scans began showing shrinkage of the remaining tumor that was unreachable by surgery. First, the changes were small. Then as Ben added additional repurposed drugs and increased their dosages, the cancer regressed faster.

His MRI on January 31, 1996, showed that the cancer had completely disappeared. However, Ben was aware that his battle against the disease was far from over. Despite achieving a clean MRI, he knew from his research that many such patients – about half – experience a recurrence of the tumor within one year.

Sadly, a significant percentage of these patients pass away a few months after the recurrence. About 25% of GBM patients who achieved a clean MRI without experiencing recurrence within the first year became long-term survivors – meaning they survived at least 5 years.

Ben knew the 12 months after January 1996 were crucial.

He completed all the recommended chemotherapy. He continued his daily walking and even began running. He could not make it more than one mile whereas before the cancer he ran six miles every other day. He fought emerging negative thoughts between episodes of optimism.

Ben returned to teaching classes and conducting research at UCSD. He found himself losing his train of thought and struggling to give lectures. His student reviews were among the worst of his career. But he persevered.

In the Spring of 1997, he received word that his eighth MRI in a row was again clear. He wrestled with the question of whether or not to stop the Tamoxifen some 19 months into his remission.

If he were wrong, and the tumor came back after stopping it, he could not live with himself. However, he noticed some side effects like weight gain and loss of libido. Still, in the end, he opted to continue it, after a discussion with his physician team.

The heart of Professor Williams’ treatment regimen remained Tamoxifen, Verapamil, Accutane, and three other repurposed drugs. Many refer to Ben as the “Father of Repurposed Drugs Against Cancer.”

He was the first I could find who definitively documented their use in surviving terminal cancer. Ben remains alive and well today nearly 30 years after his grim 1995 diagnosis.

He has written extensively about his experience in the book, Surviving Terminal Cancer, and he believes all patients should be educated consumers who actively question while also receiving cancer care with solid informed consent.

He cites a key example in his book concerning the administration of his BCNU chemotherapy. According to the PDR, the Physician’s Desk Reference, BCNU must not be stored in plastic bags because light causes it to lose its effectiveness.

Instead, it must be contained in glass bottles.

When Ben noticed the BCNU they were about to administer was from a plastic bag, he refused it and asked them to check with the Pharmacist. The error was acknowledged, and they returned with a properly preserved glass container of BCNU.

Physicians, including Ben’s Neurosurgeon, routinely refer their GBM patients to consult with Ben about repurposed drugs. While they may not be willing to prescribe repurposed drugs to their patients, they find it helpful to connect them with Professor Williams.

Over the years, Ben has spoken to some 200+ GBM patients, often relatives of physicians from his treatment team. Even after advising them of the benefits of repurposed drugs, their Oncologists refuse, the patients do not receive them, and they do poorly. 

Glioblastoma is one of the worst of the worst cancers and is considered a death sentence by Oncologists. For one to have a chance at longer-term survival, one must do something different – or in addition to – the standard of care.

According to Ben, and these numbers have not changed significantly over the past 30 years – the 2-year survival rate of GBM treated only with radiation ranges between 2 and 10%. With both radiation and chemotherapy, this 2-year survival ranges between 15 and 30%. 

It is only when someone does something different, like adding repurposed drugs, that we see long-term survival like Ben. Yet that requires a rare combination of smarts and assertiveness that eludes most people, especially when their life is on the line, and they are not the expert.

Ben Williams reports, “Only the most intelligent and aggressive patients manage to convince their physicians to try the cocktail approach.”

Here is the list of repurposed drugs that Ben Williams added.

• Tamoxifen
• Accutane
• Verapamil
• Melatonin
• PSK – Polysaccharide Krestin – Mushroom Extract
• GLA – Gamma Linoleic Acid – taken as Borage Seed Oil

Other repurposed drugs/supplements advised by Ben Williams include Vitamin D3, Green Tea [EGCG], and Curcumin.

Beating Glioblastoma with Repurposed Drugs – Exactly How Ben Williams Did It – Search Videos

For the most up-to-date information on the topic, Dr. Paul Marik has exhaustively reviewed most of these and more repurposed drugs and supplements and their most recent clinical studies and anti-cancer mechanisms of action in his book, Cancer Care. 

Dr. Marik’s text is the most comprehensive one about repurposed drugs against cancer to date. It includes dosages. It is a must-read for anyone who is facing a cancer diagnosis, especially one of Glioblastoma.

In addition, Professor Williams has written a rather technical and detailed manuscript concerning the detailed rationale behind every one of his repurposed drugs, as well as mechanisms of GBM resistance, newer treatments, and newer repurposed drug approaches here.

How Ben Williams Beat Glioblastoma with Repurposed Drugs

Professor Ben Williams, a Harvard PhD and UC San Diego psychology chair, was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in March 1995 after an MRI revealed a large tumor in his right parietal lobe.

At the time, his oncologist told him he had little more than a year to live cancer.aestheticsadvisor.com+1.

Initial Treatment and Resistance

Williams underwent emergency surgery on March 31, 1995, followed by chemotherapy with BCNU (carmustine) and PCV (a triple-drug regimen). However, he quickly realized that using only one drug at a time would allow the tumor to mutate and become resistant. His research led him to combine multiple agents simultaneously to reduce the chance of resistance CANCERactive+1.

Repurposed Drug Cocktail

Drawing on his own literature review and clinical trial data, Williams added several non-cancer drugs with anti-cancer properties:

• Tamoxifen – an anti-estrogen from breast cancer treatment, thought to target estrogen-dependent cancer stem cells in GBM cancer.aestheticsadvisor.com+1.
• Verapamil – a calcium channel blocker for hypertension, shown to enhance chemotherapy effects CANCERactive.
• Accutane (isotretinoin) – a vitamin A derivative for acne, with anti-cancer stem cell activity cancer.aestheticsadvisor.com+1.
• Melatonin – an insomnia drug with antioxidant, anti-growth hormone, and anti-estrogenic effects CANCERactive.
• Cimetidine (Tagamet) – an antacid/antihistamine that may prevent tumor cell adhesion and metastasis CANCERactive.

He also incorporated supplements and dietary compounds:

• Genistein – anti-estrogenic soy isoflavone
• PSK – mushroom extract with immune-modulating and anti-cancer effects
• Flaxseed oil – omega-3 fatty acids for brain tissue
• Borage seed oil – gamma-linoleic acid
• Selenium, milk thistle, green tea extract – antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents
• Broccoli sprouts, garlic, berries, onions, soy products – rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants CANCERactive.

Overcoming Medical Pushback

His oncologist initially refused Tamoxifen and other repurposed drugs, insisting on strict adherence to standard therapy. Williams’ persistence led to a compromise: Tamoxifen was added after one round of chemo, but disagreements persisted. He even drove to Tijuana, Mexico, to obtain higher Accutane doses cancer.aestheticsadvisor.com+1.

Long-Term Outcome

By 1998, Williams had been cancer-free for over two decades.

His approach combined:

• Orthodox therapies (surgery, chemo, radiation)
• Repurposed drugs with anti-cancer mechanisms
• Nutritional and supplement support to boost immune function and reduce tumor growth

His story, detailed in Surviving Terminal Cancer, illustrates how combining evidence-based repurposed drugs with conventional care may extend survival in aggressive cancers like GBM Glioblastoma Multiforme+1.

Key takeaway: Williams’ success came from combining multiple agents to target different tumor pathways, using drugs outside their original cancer indication, and maintaining a systemic, multi-pronged attack to delay resistance.

Check Dr. Peter Sulak. He went into remission after being diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. I follow him and his diagnosis was a Grade 4 Diffuse Astrocytoma (Glioblastoma)

No.1 Oncologist Reveals the SIMPLE Daily Habit That Prevents Cancer After 50

IMA Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Marik discusses the potential of repurposed drugs in treating cancers, why the metabolic aspects of cancer matter, and how this approach may help lead to better outcomes for patients. New cancer treatments Watch now.

The Benefits of Morning Sunlight & How to Make it a Habit

Author: Emilina Lomas

• Light exposure regulates your circadian rhythm — your body’s internal clock. 
• Sunlight in the morning, preferably in the first 30 to 60 minutes after waking, has been shown to increase alertness, boost mood, lower stress, and improve sleep quality.
• Oura members can tag “morning sunlight” to see the effects of it on their daily Sleep Score and Readiness Score. 

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It may sound too good to be true, but sunlight first thing in the morning may be a game-changer for your health. 

Not only does morning sunlight boost your energy levels, but it may also improve your sleep at night. And some science suggests that there are plenty of benefits of morning sun exposure that can improve your overall health as well.  

One reason: Your circadian rhythm is regulated by light exposure, and intentionally viewing morning sunlight prepares your body and mind for the day ahead. The best part? It’s free, accessible, and research-backed.

Member Tip: To measure the effect of light exposure on your sleep, use Oura’s Tags feature to track habits like morning sunlight, evening sunlight, or a sunlight alarm.

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Does Sunlight Wake You Up? Understand the Role of Light on Circadian Rhythm 

Your circadian rhythm is your body’s 24-hour internal clock. It’s modulated by biological processes, such as hormones, that respond to external cues. The most influential cue is light exposure. Humans are designed to wake when the sun rises and sleep when it sets. 

In other words, before clocks were invented, this internal response to light was the primary timekeeping mechanism. In your brain, light-sensitive cells in your eyes transmit signals to the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is the central pacemaker of your internal body clock.

Your body is most sensitive to light during three times of day: roughly the first hour after waking, two hours before your bedtime, and during the night. You can leverage these three phases of daylight as a way to regulate your circadian rhythm.

In the natural environment, the visible spectrum of light changes throughout the day. To synchronize your internal rhythm, you can mimic this by using or limiting artificial lights that mirror the naturally occurring light spectrum. 

Time of day	Type of light	Examples
Morning	White or blue	Morning sunlight, LED lights, fluorescent lights, screens
Afternoon	Yellow and orange	Sunlight when it’s lower in the sky, orange light bulbs, lamps
Evening	Red or darkness	Red light bulbs, candles, blackout blinds, eye masks

READ MORE: How Blue Light Impacts Your Sleep

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3 Benefits of Morning Sunlight

1. Morning sunlight can help you wake up.

In the morning, sunlight exposure suppresses melatonin and increases cortisol. While cortisol gets a bad rap, it’s essential for feeling alert in the morning. This is known as the cortisol-awakening response. In fact, studies have found that low waking cortisol levels are associated with fatigue.

On the other hand, levels of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone, are low in the morning, then steadily rise throughout the day and peak in the middle of the night. When melatonin levels remain higher in the morning, it can make waking up difficult. This tends to happen more in winter, when mornings are darker.

READ MORE: Why Do I Wake Up Tired? How to Feel More Alert in the Morning

2. Morning sunlight can improve your sleep quality.

By regulating your circadian rhythm, sunlight can improve your sleep. In the morning, sunlight suppresses melatonin to help cut out sleepiness. Then, as melatonin rises, you start to feel tired in the evening, helping you to fall asleep more easily. In fact, studies have found that daylight exposure increases sleep duration, improves sleep quality, and aids in getting to sleep earlier.

Plus, when you get sunlight exposure in the afternoon, you’re exposed to yellow and orange light, corresponding to the position of the sun in the sky. These particular wavelengths consolidate your circadian timing, signaling to your brain that it’s time to start slowing down.

Member Tip: To understand how long it took you to fall asleep last night, take a look at your Sleep Latency, one of the contributors to your Sleep Score. Ideally, you want to fall asleep within 10 to 20 minutes of your head hitting the pillow.

3. Morning sunlight can boost your mood and lower stress.

Morning sunlight can increase cortisol, the stress hormone. But ironically, this small stress spike can actually lower stress levels for the rest of the day. This is a type of hormetic stressor, a beneficial stressor that can make you more resilient to stress.

Alongside a cortisol increase, morning sunlight initiates a cascade of positive changes associated with better mood and mental clarity, including an increase in serotonin. Serotonin is a feel-good chemical that boosts your mood, and later, converts to melatonin.

Studies have also found that morning blue light has an antidepressant effect and can be used as a treatment for seasonal affective disorder. 

Member Spotlight: When we asked Oura members for their most effective ways to improve their heart rate variability (HRV), sun exposure consistently cropped up.

Additional Benefits

Sun exposure is associated with a range of additional benefits:

• It can boost the body’s vitamin D supply.
• It can treat certain skin conditions like eczema.
• It can improve symptoms of depression or other mental health conditions.
• It can improve cognitive function.
• It may regulate appetite.

The Benefits of Morning Sunlight & Dementia – Search Videos

As the weather warms and the days grow longer, it may be a good idea to take a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease outdoors for a walk. A new analysis found that exposure to bright light may help to improve memory and thinking skills in people with dementia.

For the study, researchers pooled results from 12 high-quality studies that looked at the effects of light therapy, or exposure to bright, simulated daytime sunlight, on people with dementia. Light therapy is commonly used for people with seasonal affective disorder, which causes the onset of depression during the winter months when the days grow short and sunlight diminishes. Exposure to bright UV light via light boxes for an hour or so several times a week is known to boost mood and promote sound sleep in people with seasonal affective disorder.

This analysis looked at 766 men and women with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia who had participated in various studies of light therapy. Most were in their 70s or 80s. Among the study groups, 426 had been randomly assigned to undergo light therapy, while the remainder served as controls. Light therapy sessions typically lasted from several minutes to up to two hours, and from a couple times a day to up to five times a week.

The analysis, published in the journal Brain and Behavior, found that those who had light therapy tended to score higher on tests of memory and thinking skills.

Exposure to bright light “improved cognitive function in patients with dementia,” the authors wrote. “This suggests that phototherapy may be one of the most promising non-pharmacological interventions for improving core symptoms of dementia.”

While light therapy seemed to provide a cognitive boost, it did not seem to have a significant effect on behavioral issues related to Alzheimer’s disease. Such symptoms include aggression, depression, wandering, asking the same question over and over, and other behavioral or psychological problems. There was some suggestion that light therapy might help to ease agitation in people with dementia, though the effects were not statistically significant. Light therapy also did not seem to have a significant effect on sleep.

Earlier research has suggested that light therapy, in various forms, can provide benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease, including easing agitation and symptoms of depression. Light therapy is also far safer than antipsychotic drugs, which are often prescribed to people with Alzheimer’s to ease agitation and aggression but which can have serious side effects.

Similarly, spending more time outdoors getting natural sunlight may also have benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Exposure to bright light early in the morning might be particularly beneficial to signal to the brain that the night is over, helping to reset the brain’s natural circadian rhythms.

Experts recommend that those with Alzheimer’s have regular exposure to natural light in their homes during the day and go outside whenever possible. If you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, take them out during the day for a walk, or allow them to sit outdoors in the sunlight. Try to bring more natural sunlight into rooms where people with Alzheimer’s spend their time. If getting outdoors is difficult, use bright indoor lamps that use natural sunlight-simulating bulbs.

By ALZinfo.org, The Alzheimer’s Information Site. Reviewed by Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation at The Rockefeller University. 

Xinlian Lu, Chengyu Liu, Feng Shao:“Phototherapy Improves Cognitive Function in Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Brain and Behavior, April 5, 2023

Source:  Let the Sunshine In – Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation

However, it remains uncertain whether brief exposure in the morning is sufficient to trigger these positive effects.

5 Tips to Get More Sunlight in the Morning (Even In Winter!)

To get sunlight in the late afternoon, which can help set up your body to release melatonin before bedtime.

• Immediately open your blinds or curtains. As soon as you’re awake, bring as much light as possible into your environment.
• Start with 5 minutes. Stanford neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, PhD, advises getting 5 to 10 minutes of sun exposure on a sunny morning, and 15 to 20 minutes on a cloudy day. On dark mornings with inadequate light, turn on as many bright indoor lights as you can to mimic the effect.
• Get sunlight first thing in the morning, within 30 to 60 minutes of waking. Huberman recommends getting your morning sunlight within this time frame. He also suggests repeating this protocol in the late afternoon for orange/yellow light exposure to trigger the release of melatonin.
• Consider using a sunlight alarm or go au naturale. Early risers can try leaving their blinds or curtains open at night to wake up naturally at sunrise (unless you have light outside your windows at night, which can disturb your sleep). Also, during the shorter winter months, there may not be enough morning light to wake you up. Sunlight alarms are good alternatives, mimicking sunrise at your chosen time.
• Take your daily habits outside. Try to “stack” your habits so that you can do multiple things at once. For instance, take your morning work call or drink your first cup of coffee outside. Whether you’re stretching, journaling, or eating breakfast, try to take it outdoors to make the most of it.

Kandi Burruss Reveals Her Aunt Bertha of ‘Old Lady Gang’ Has Alzheimer’s

The Benefits of Morning Sunlight & Dementia – Search Videos

FAQs About Sunlight in the Morning

What are the benefits of morning sunlight?

The benefits of morning sunlight include improved alertness, better sleep quality, reduced stress, and boosted mood. Research also shows that early morning sunlight benefits your circadian rhythm, helping your body know when to wake up and when to wind down at night.

Does sunlight wake you up?

Yes — sunlight first thing in the morning helps suppress melatonin and increase cortisol, both of which signal to your body that it’s time to be alert. This is why many people notice that getting sunlight in the morning helps them feel more awake and energized.

How much morning sunlight do you need?

Experts suggest aiming for 5–20 minutes of sunlight in the morning depending on the weather. On bright days, 5–10 minutes may be enough, while cloudy days may require closer to 20 minutes. If you’re wondering how much morning sunlight is ideal, consistency matters more than perfection.

Why is sunlight in the morning important for sleep?

One of the key morning sun benefits is better sleep at night. Morning light helps regulate your circadian rhythm, so melatonin rises naturally in the evening. This makes it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.

RELATED: How to Structure Your Ideal Day as a Morning Chronotype

These brain exercises could cut your dementia risk by 20% over 20 years

One common type of physical activity linked to higher dementia risk

Living Near a Golf Course Dramatically Raises Risk of Parkinson’s • Children’s Health Defense

PARKINSON’S DISEASE SOARS NEAR GOLF COURSES – BUT THERE’S A CATCH

• Posted: September 1, 2025
• by Bronwyn Thompson for New Atlas

Neighborhoods near golf courses are often considered desirable locations, blending nature, leisure and nice views. However, a new study suggests that houses within a few miles of manicured fairways and greens may not be such hot property after all. There’s more research that the upkeep of these green spaces poses a significant neurological health risk.

Setting out to see if there was a link between increased Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk and living near a golf course, Barrow Neurological Institute and Mayo Clinic researchers conducted a population-based case-control study that is now garnering a lot of attention – both good and bad.

In the research, 419 PD cases and 5,113 matched controls were assessed, looking at 139 golf courses in southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. After using an Odds Ratio (OR) statistical tool to adjust for variables such as age, sex, income, and location makeup (rural/urban), the numbers seemed to confirm the scientists’ hypothesis.

They found that living within two miles (3.2 km) of a golf course was linked to 198% higher odds of developing PD, and between two to three miles (4.8 km) it remained high at 121%. Risk decreased around 13% with each mile (1.6 km) beyond that. And the risk was higher for residents near courses that also had drinking water from groundwater sources considered vulnerable to pesticide contamination.

In fact, the scientists found that people living near a golf course and accessing groundwater had almost twice the odds of developing PD than those with no greens close by. For those living near a course, groundwater supply increased their chances of PD by around 50%, compared to people who had other, private water sources.

Now, these stats certainly sound like cause for concern. US golf course greenskeepers have a significantly higher reliance on pesticides than those in other parts of the world, and hundreds of chemicals have been identified to be in frequent use. Studies going back nearly a decade have shown that groundwater has varying degrees of pollution below and surrounding golf courses.

And golf courses have already been linked to another neurological disorder, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), which University of Michigan Medicine researchers identified in a 2024 paper.

However, this latest study has attracted pushback from the science community, noting the significant limitations of the research. These issues include how address-based exposure estimates only accounted for two to three years of living near a course before PD diagnosis, not lifelong exposure. This is particularly important given that PD can take much longer to develop. Also, the study used historical PD and address data from 1991–2015, however, only used 2013 golf course data, and the scientists did not look at other PD factors such as trauma and genetics.

“This study suggests an association between pesticides and Parkinson’s, however, there are some important limitations in the methodology to be aware of,” explained Professor David Dexter, Director of Research at Parkinson’s UK. “Firstly, Parkinson’s starts in the brain 10-15 years before diagnosis and the study didn’t only use subjects who permanently lived in the area. This would not only affect participants’ exposure, but also suggests their Parkinson’s could have started before they moved around a golf course.

“The population was also not matched for location with 80% of the Parkinson’s subjects living in urban areas, compared to only 30% of controls, hence other factors like air pollution from motor vehicles etc could also account for some of the increases in Parkinson’s incidence,” he added. “Additionally, no analysis was made of the drinking water for pesticide levels. Once again, this lessens the validity of the claim of pesticide exposure because the studies have not been carefully controlled.”

So while causation has not been shown, evidence of association is also thin on the ground, thanks to experimental design. While there may very well be a link between golf courses, pesticides and PD, more robust research is needed.

“Parkinson’s is complex,” said Dr Katherine Fletcher, Research Lead at Parkinson’s UK. “The causes of the condition are unclear and are likely to involve both genetic and environmental factors. Many studies have investigated whether pesticides increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s in different populations around the world. The results have been varied, but overall suggest that exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of the condition.

“However, the evidence is not strong enough to show that pesticide exposure directly causes Parkinson’s,” she continued. “This study supports the association between pesticides and Parkinson’s. However, it’s quite reductive and doesn’t take into account how someone might have been exposed to pesticides at their workplace or whether they have a genetic link to the condition.”

Is There A Link Between Golf Courses And Parkinson’s Disease?

Golf Course Pesticides and Parkinson’s Disease Risk

A 2025 study found that living within several miles of a golf course is associated with a significantly higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, possibly due to pesticide and herbicide exposure.

Study findings

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic and the University of Kansas Medical Center analyzed 24 years of medical data, comparing 419 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease to 5,113 controls All That’s Interesting+1. They found that people living one to two miles from a golf course were 198% more likely to develop Parkinson’s than those living farther away. The risk decreased by about 9% for each additional mile from the course All That’s Interesting+1.

Possible mechanisms

The study suggests that pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides used to maintain golf course greens may be a contributing factor. These chemicals are known to damage dopamine-producing neurons in the brain — the same cells affected in Parkinson’s disease Parkinson’s Foundation. In areas where golf courses are part of the municipal water service area, residents had nearly double the odds of developing Parkinson’s compared to those in areas without nearby courses, possibly due to groundwater contamination All That’s Interesting+1.

Broader context

This is consistent with earlier research linking certain agricultural pesticides — such as paraquat and rotenone — to increased Parkinson’s risk, especially in farm workers Parkinson’s Foundation. While golf courses are not agricultural fields, they use similar chemicals in large quantities, and the study’s data supports the idea that proximity to golf courses could be an environmental risk factor.

Key takeaways

• Risk is highest closest to the course and declines with distance.
• Water source proximity to a golf course may amplify exposure risk.
• The findings are associative, not definitive proof of causation, but they align with existing evidence on pesticide-related neurotoxicity.

Bottom line: While more research is needed, the study suggests that living near golf courses — especially in areas with vulnerable groundwater — could increase Parkinson’s disease risk, possibly due to pesticide exposure All That’s Interesting+2.

Scientists found that the pesticides and herbicides used on golf courses may cause Parkinson’s disease in residents who live within several miles of the greens.   

Living near a golf course may increase your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and the closer you are, the higher the risk. Here’s what the research suggests:

• Within 1 mile: You have a 126% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to living more than 6 miles away.
• 1-2 miles: Residents have nearly triple the odds of having Parkinson’s disease.
• Up to 3 miles: The risk remains higher, but decreases beyond 1 mile. People living within 3 miles of a golf course are still at a greater risk.
• Beyond 3 miles: The risk decreases, but one study found that the odds for Parkinson’s disease decreased for every mile of distance from a golf course up to 18 miles ¹ ² ³.

It’s worth noting that the risk is thought to be linked to pesticide exposure from the golf course, which can contaminate groundwater and drinking water. People living in water service areas with a golf course may be particularly vulnerable ² ⁴. 

Which chemicals cause Parkinson’s?

Research suggests that exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides may increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Some of the chemicals linked to Parkinson’s include:

1. Paraquat: A widely used herbicide that’s been associated with increased Parkinson’s risk.
2. Rotenone: A pesticide commonly used in gardens and homes that’s also linked to Parkinson’s.
3. Organophosphates: Found in some insecticides, exposure to these chemicals has been tied to higher Parkinson’s risk.
4. Pyrethroids: Synthetic insecticides that may also contribute to Parkinson’s development.

The study mentioned in the post likely refers to the presence of these or similar chemicals in golf course maintenance. However, it’s essential to note that individual risk factors and exposure levels play a significant role in determining the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Golf Course Pesticides, Drinking Water & Parkinson’s Risk | Parkinson’s Foundation