Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injury is the cause of death for Actress Natasha Richardson
Alexandra Fuentes, Milwaukee Wisconsin

Tony Award-winning actress Natasha Richardson passed away Wednesday March 18, 2009 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan.
While vacationing in Montreal, she suffered from an epidural hematoma caused by a fall she took while skiing.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 1.4 million people have suffered from a traumatic brain injury; 50,000 have died; 235,000 were hospitalized and 1.1 million were treated and released from an emergency department.
The leading causes of traumatic brain injuries are motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%), struck by / against events (19%), assaults (11%), and falls (28%).
The signs and symptoms can be subtle and at times may not appear until days or weeks following the event that caused the injury. In Natasha Richardson’s case, her symptoms appeared hours later after her fall. She was 45 years young.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month
Alexandra Fuentes, Milwaukee Wisconsin

The Endometriosis Association in conjunction with the Endometriosis Research Center (ERC) has declared March “National Endometriosis Awareness Month”. During the month of March, numerous fundraising events will be held in efforts to raise funding for research, education, awareness, and support for individuals effected by Endometriosis.

Endometriosis is an incurable reproductive and immunological disease, effecting over 7 million women and teens in the United State. This disease is the primary cause of female infertility, pregnancy loss, chronic pain, and accounts for nearly half of the 600,000 hysterectomies in the United States according to the ERC.

Audrey Fisher, a designer for an architecture firm, was let go by her employer do to the painful symptoms and life-altering effects of Endometriosis. Undergoing four laparoscopic surgeries and two rounds of hormone treatments that caused induced medical menopause; she has not found relief from this disease.

Fisher, now an artist and photographer residing in Denver, will be showcasing her work March 7, 2009 in Colorado to increase the awareness of this disease in hopes to raise and contribute $20,000 to the Endometriosis Research Center.

Mary Lou Ballweg, executive director of the Endometriosis Association of Milwaukee, has asked Pick n’ Save to help spread awareness about the disease and add the Association to their list of charitable organizations. Pick N’ Save consumers can link their “Advantage Plus Card” to the Endometriosis Association of Milwaukee, furthermore by saving money, funds will be used in the efforts of awareness, education, and research for this disease.

The History of My Family: Part 2

I consider my mother a compassionate, driven, and extremely intelligent woman.  She was born in Santiago, Chile and came to the United States at the age of 12.  Being the oldest of five children, she was the protector of her siblings and her mother since her father was always away on business.   Once my mother graduated, she left Milwaukee, Wisconsin and went back to Santiago, Chile for medical school.  During that time, Salvador Allende was President and appointed Augusto Pinochet  command of the Chilean army.  Pinochet and his Army took over the Chilean Government which lead to unanswered questions regarding Allende's death.  Pinochet appointed himself president and my mother's world and other Chileans worlds in terror.  While my mother would be sitting in class, a group of solders would come into the classroom, read out names of her classmates, and that would be the last that she would see them.  After almost being killed herself while trying to find a family member that was out after the military appointed curfew, she had no choice but to drop out of medical school and return to the United States.  Her personal experiences of the coup also allowed her to meet people who were a part of  Chilean history like Isabelle Allende and members of the Parra family.  With the coup of Chile being an unknown subject to many individuals, these events made her the compassionate, head strong, activist which not many professionals have in her line of work.  

The History of My Family: Part 1

Growing up as the youngest in a large South American family, I have seen, heard, and experienced events that have helped me with my decision to pursue a degree in professional communications. This decision begins with a story that my grandfather, Gilberto, shared with me years ago about the importance of higher education.  He grew up during the depression in Santiago, Chile and saw many families, including his own, struggle with finances and food rations.  Being the middle child of 4, there were times when he would go to bed with stomach pains from sharing his potion of dinner with his older brother and father.  After watching his youngest brother die from an illness, which could have been easily treated if they had money for a doctor and the medication, he realized he would have to study and further his education to help his family and himself if he ever wanted a future.  His determination and hard work paid off.  He received a full scholarship to the University of Santiago, Chile to study Mechanical Engineering.  After graduating with his bachelors, he later was offered a position at Allis Chalmers in the United States.  Within two years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was able to move his family to the United States, purchase a home, and give his children the life he never had.

Bon jour! I'm a professional communication major with a support in elective studies. What is elective studies you ask? Well, elective studies allows you to choose your support/minor from different programs that the college offers. When I receive my bachelors degree, I will be pursuing a career in advertising and journalism, or furthering my studies by attend law school.