Benning Printing & Publishing

Much has happened since I first shared about my mom’s cancer returning. After 10 days of radiation treatment for the tumor in her brain, she rang the bell on April 22. Though it was a joyous moment for us, it was not the end; that was just the first step. Once her blood tests returned to determine the best course of action, Mom began chemotherapy on May 12, as the cancer is also in her lungs and neck. The treatment will occur every three weeks for 4-6 months. In July, she w

As someone with Crohn’s Disease, I often experience random and frustrating side effects, one of the main ones being mouth sores. It doesn’t take much to trigger them; I can wake up with a sore inside my mouth or a small section of inflamed gums for absolutely no reason. Most of the time, these sores go away on their own, though sometimes I need to swish a little peroxide. Fortunately, it has never been debilitating before. However, this entire week, my mouth has been extreme

Unsolicited advice often isn’t welcome, especially during tough times. Even if people mean well, it can be overwhelming. I trust the science behind cancer treatment and the training that medical professionals go through to understand the disease and create effective therapies. Advances like targeted chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the result of careful research and are designed to treat cancer while minimizing harm. Since my mom’s cancer came back, we have received many

As we’ve suspected for weeks, Mom’s lung cancer has returned. This was not a surprise for us. The cancer reappeared in a lymph node in the upper part of her right lung and has spread to the right side of her neck and her brain. Confirming the brain cancer was not an easy task. Because she has a pacemaker/defibrillator, she cannot undergo an MRI. Her doctors were relieved that the CT scan with contrast dye was able to capture an image sufficient to confirm the presence of a t

This month’s Book Club book was “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The story takes place in a changing Afghanistan and explores themes of friendship, betrayal, and the journey to find redemption. It looks at decades of conflict before, during, and after the Russian invasion and the rise of the Taliban, talking about the experiences of the Afghan people. The main characters, Amir and Hassan, share a complicated friendship. They start as loyal friends in childhood, but the

A recent jury verdict against Meta (Facebook) and YouTube is quite ironic. These platforms, which are central to a lot of our daily communication, are now facing criticism for creating features that make it hard for people to stop using their apps. The case focused on the idea that social media companies designed their apps to keep users’ attention for as long as possible. Features like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, constant notifications, and personalized recommendat

March 17 is more than just St. Patrick’s Day; it’s also St. Gertrude Day, a feast day dedicated to Gertrude of Nivelles, a remarkable 7th-century abbess in what is now Belgium. This day is an opportunity to remember her legacy of hospitality, care for the earth, and protection of animals—especially our beloved cats. Gertrude’s fame as the patron saint of travelers stems from her deep commitment to helping those on the move. Her monastery, located along key travel routes, bec

Is anyone else feeling a sense of déjà vu, or is it just me? The U.S. is once again involved in conflict in the Middle East. I often catch myself saying “Iraq” instead of “Iran” because the events in Iraq are still fresh in my mind, just like for many of you. The U.S. and Israel have teamed up to carry out strikes on Iran. They say this is due to ongoing worries about Iran’s nuclear program, missile development, and military influence in the region, which they see as direct

The Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case continues to fail the very people it should protect—the survivors. On January 30, thousands of documents related to Epstein were released, once again bringing attention to one of the most horrible sex-trafficking cases in history. But as these documents came out, survivors were harmed by the Justice Department’s actions and silence. Important details identifying survivors were not properly redacted in the rele

I have long wished to attend a local yoga class, but my schedule didn’t allow it at the time. By the time I was free, I was deep into holiday activities, leaving me little time for much else. Finally, I was able to participate, and I forgot how challenging it could be. I used to practice yoga regularly over 10 years ago. As I became busier, yoga was unfortunately pushed to the wayside. This was not a smart choice for me, as I started experiencing more issues with my body. Th