we will broadcast the voyage on YouTube.com/GoodNewsBroadcast.

We have been broadcasting Reid for 25 years. This Mars Space Odyssey, is Perfect to represent our Earth and Water Day Times Square Concert on April 22, 2025…we are going to make Times Square GREEN and partnering with the Borough President of Manhattan Mark Levine and OMMM, EarthDay.org, AY Young and many more. Here is a link to the Mars Space Odyssey, and our presentation for our Times Square Earth & Water Day April 22, 2025 LIVE Broadcast.

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https://pausetheworldforpeace.org/2024/11/05/kick-off-event-for-earth-day-4-22-25-nov-15-26-mars-space-odyssey-at-sea/

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VOLUNTEER HELP NEEDED FOR EARTH & WATER DAY ASAP.

Also here are a few of our latest Health and Wellness Interviews that could help save someone’s life: Tension, Restless Leg Syndrome, Live Cancer, and Manage Diabetes. GOOD NEWS has been a leader worldwide since 1998 to share important medical information with our audience.

Here are our websites: www.goodnewsplanet.TV, www.youtube.com/goodnewsbroadcast, and www.pausetheworldforpeace.org

New Book Reveals, The Seven Tensions of Negotiation,

The Importance of Using Tension for Successful Negotiation with Author,

Professor and Attorney

Cash Nickerson

COMMON CONDITION THAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF:

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME.

Now For First Time in 12 Years

There Are Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for

RLS Treatment

Did you know October is

Liver Cancer

Awareness Month?

New & Easier Way to

Manage Diabetes-Eliminates

Daily Injections

STAY WELL.

Please support our nonprofit, 501 C 3, Good News Corporation at http://goodnewsplanet.com/peacedayparty/peace-day-donations/

LET’S GROW TOGETHER. GOOD NEWS MOTTO: “All we are is what we are with each other.” Zeal 

With Respect. Love and May Peace Prevail on Earth,  For Information Contact: 

Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths and Spiritual,

Founder, Good News Corporation 501 C 3 212 647 1212 paul.sladkus1@gmail.com  and our Good News and Peace Worldwide Team who make our Peace Day 9/21 happen.

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LET’S GROW TOGETHER. GOOD NEWS MOTTO: ALL WE ARE IS WHAT WE ARE WITH EACH OTHER. ZEAL

For more information contact: 

Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths and Spiritual 212 647 1212

New York, NY, Montauk, NY

PS – SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FRIENDS AND MEMBERS:

Looking for a vacation rental, SHORT TERM, in Montauk, here is our listing https://goodnewsplanet.com/montauk-manor-rental-suite-403-paul-sladkus/ call me. Paul Sladkus: 917 687 1790

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The post GoodNewsLetter: Earth/Water Day Kick-Off Mars Sea Odyssey 11/15/24, Good News Health & Wellness Content appeared first on Good News!.

IT’S A COMMON CONDITION THAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF: RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME
Now For First Time in 12 Years There Are Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for RLS Treatment

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disruptive sleep-related movement disorder characterized by a strong urge to move one or both legs (and sometimes the arms), usually accompanied by an uncomfortable feeling in the legs.  rls.org

The condition is common and impacts 2-3 % of adults in the United States.

RLS is most prominent in the evening or at night and symptoms may get better with movement. This often leads to sleep disruptions that impact quality of life and can lead to difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, the urge to get out of bed to stretch or move their legs, fatigue or daytime sleepiness, behavior or mood changes, difficulty paying attention, remembering things or contextualizing as well as depression or anxiety.

Now, for the first time in 12 years, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has published an update to its Clinical Practice Guidelines for the treatment of RLS. These guidelines may have a major impact on how people with RLS are treated with the goal of finding the most effective treatment for symptom relief.

Dr. John Winkelman, MD, PhD, Chief of the Sleep Disorders Clinical Research Program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital will be available to discuss the latest advances in RLS treatment guidelines and what patients and physicians should be aware of.

Interview courtesy: Azurity Pharmaceuticals
References available

#rls #restlesslegssyndrome #drjohnwinkelman #azuritypharmaceuticals #drwinkelman #azurity

The post COMMON CONDITION THAT MOST PEOPLE NEVER HEARD OF: RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME. Now For First Time in 12 Years There Are Updated Clinical Practice Guidelines for RLS Treatment appeared first on Good News!.

HERE DURING OCTOBER’S RETT SYNDROME AWARENESS MONTH TO DISCUSS THE CONDITION, ITS IMPACT ON FAMILIES, AND THE FDA APPROVAL EARLIER THIS YEAR OF THE FIRST DRUG TO TREAT THIS SYNDROME THAT OFFERS NEW HOPE FOR PATIENTS, ARE DR. STEVEN SKINNER AND KASSIE, WHOSE TWIN DAUGHTERS BOTH LIVE WITH RETT SYNDROME.

Dr. Skinner:
· What is Rett syndrome? And what is the impact of the symptoms on those living with this condition?
· What do parents need to know about the first treatment option approved by the FDA for Rett syndrome?
· Where can people go to learn more?

Kassie:
· What prompted you to see a doctor for your daughters and what challenges have you and your daughters faced living with Rett syndrome as it progressed?
· What does it mean to you and your daughters now that there is the first-ever approved treatment for Rett syndrome?

http://daybue.com/

#rettsyndrome #rett #drstevenskinner #kassiemorrell #debilitatingdisorder #children

The post WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS A RARE AND DEBILITATING DISORDER CALLED RETT SYNDROME.  appeared first on Good News!.

#bride #surprise #amazing #wedding #touching #down #syndrome #therapist #brazil #pupil

The post Bride gets amazing surprise during her wedding… AMAZING AND BEAUTIFUL AND TOUCHING appeared first on Good News!.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R5DYP1ipD0&t=6s

https://www.amazon.com/Diaries-Unbalanced-Paddleboarder-Crash-RISE/dp/1636844472/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

# mike #shoreman #unbalanced #paddleboarder #inspirational #story #personable #trip #india #ganges #river #inspiring #water #business #dream #students #chicken #pox #ramsay #hunt #syndrome #collapsed #face #crash #rise #mental #physical #yes #competition

The post Inspirational Story: The Unbalanced Paddleboarder, Mike Shoreman, “I said YES”: appeared first on Good News!.

SUMMER IN THE FOREST

108 minutes

Opens at Village East Cinemas in NYC on March 23, 2018

Trailer accessible via www.summerintheforest.com

Audio described / access version available

Facebook: @SummerInTheForestFilm Twitter: @SummerIntForest

Synopsis

SUMMER IN THE FOREST

Like countless others Philippe, Michel, Andre and Patrick were labeled ‘idiots’, locked away and forgotten in violent asylums, until the 1960s, when the young philosopher Jean Vanier took a stand and secured their release – the first time in history that anyone had beaten the system. Together they created L’Arche, a commune at the edge of a beautiful forest near Paris and a quiet revolution was born.

Now in his 80s and still at L’Arche, Jean has discovered something that most of us have forgotten – what it is to be human, to be foolish, and to be happy.

SUMMER IN THE FOREST invites us to abandon the rat race and forge new friendships. Amid the ancient trees, Philippe, Patrick, Jean and the others welcome us into their lives. If there are rules to break, they will be broken and if there is a truth to be told, they will tell it. Michel wants to share with us his war torn past, Andre is desperate for a date, and young David will prove himself a hero in the fight against the forces of evil.

UK Press Comments

“Joyously uplifting,” Daily Mail

“It is a film that could, and should, change your life,” Rosa Monckton

“A film full of laughter and joy,” Christina Patterson, Guardian

“An extremely important film,” Rachel Campbell-Johnston, Chief Art Critic, The Times

“Turns the world upside-down…deserves a giant screening in Trafalgar Square,” The Spectator

“Reaches out to one’s sense of what it is to be human,” Katie Hollier, Mencap

“Revolutionary… a tender-hearted documentary,” Daily Express

“Above all, a peaceful vision,” Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“Exceptionally moving,” Sight & Sound

Director’s Statement – Randall Wright

As a child every few weeks my father would drive the family over to my grandparents for Sunday lunch. Perhaps once a year, May, his aunt, would drop by later in the afternoon. She made a dramatic entrance. She had a disfigured face, strange clothes and was referred to as ‘simple’. When she entered the room everyone went quiet and my sisters and I were frightened of her. No sooner had she made her entrance she was being ushered out again. All I can remember of her was a gentle muttering and a ‘hello’. Nearly every family has a May somewhere in their history. She is the hidden inspiration for this film, but the truth is I remember very little about her, beyond the hello. People with intellectual disabilities are the most rejected people on the planet. There is something deep inside us, inside me, that wants to forget she exists. Reading Jean Vanier’s books helped me start to understand why.

I first met Jean Vanier at St Pancras International, on his way home to a village, Trosly-Breuil, north of Paris. Towering above me like Jacques Tati, he has one of the kindest faces you will ever see. He sat down in a cafe and listened patiently to my idea for a documentary that tried to get to know the intellectually disabled as people. He then invited me to visit his community, on the fringes of an immense ancient forest.

Jean Vanier is one of the great humanitarians of our time. He saw the value of people with intellectual disabilities and rescued them from lunatic asylums in 1964 and, by proving they could live in an ordinary house, changed the care system for a whole category of human beings throughout the Western world and beyond. The organization he founded, L’Arche, in France, now has 151 communities in 37 countries, including the US, and is constantly growing. He has authored classic books on the subject, won international awards, such as the Templeton prize, but he is not a household name, unlike his friend Mother Teresa.

Jean Vanier’s whole being is focused on the exact opposite of worldly ego. He has given his life to people we judge to be failures. He also suggests that these marginalized people, far from being insignificant and irrelevant have something to teach us by example: that we need each other; that we must wake up from our fantasy of perpetual individual success. As he says in the film: the powerful lead us to ideology, the weak are in the dirt and lead us to reality. This philosophy he learnt from the pioneers he built his first community with, who are also the subject of the film: Philippe Seux, Patrick Droualt, Michel Petit and Andre Stubenrauch.

Throughout the making of Summer in the Forest I kept in mind one of Vanier’s key questions: how do you make friends with someone different to you? It is a question Vanier has asked perhaps all his life. He takes it further: how do you reach out to people on the margins, to different social or ethnic groups, and how do you make peace with your enemy? It is a practical question that came out of his experience of the atrocities of the Second World War, especially the attack by the Nazis on the weakest members of society. It is also the question the stars of the film, including others, David Surmaire, Sara Daqdaq and Andre Stubenrauch asked of us: ‘Will you be my friend?’

To make the film we had to learn to let our barriers down and to give up some of our controlling filmmaking habits. Before we even started Theo Chester the assistant director and I spent weeks getting to know people before the cameras arrived.

Eventually we chose the Val Fleuri, a large light-filled house where many of the founding members still live, and where, fifty yards from his modest cottage, Jean, now 88, has most of his meals. Gradually the stars started to choose themselves: Patrick Druault, with his constant request for cigarettes, Andre with his constant complaints, Michel Petit with deep philosophical observations of his own, and David a small young man keen to show us his manliness.

Throughout the summer our stars took us deep into the forest to ponder, joke and often unexpectedly reveal the stories of their lives by whichever anarchic method seemed most appropriate: psychodrama, memories of wartime experience, confiding in stories of love, or performing comic routines. The elemental forces of the forest, and summer gave these moments the epic backdrop they deserved because behind them lay the immense courage that enabled them to rebuild their lives. The whole film is shot more like a fully orchestrated fiction film to give them the production values they deserve but are rarely given.

As an aside – in these romantic locations two characters made their first steps to fuller independence: Celine falls in love with Fred Dethouy, and they plan to get married. Their story chimed with another personal memory of mine. During my childhood in Leicester, enlightened local education authorities placed physically handicapped students in regular primary school classes. One of those students, with cerebral palsy, became a life long friend. It was only recently she pointed out that I, along with the rest of her friends, had failed to realize that all she wanted from life, like everyone else, was to fall in love. Many of the older people in the film, like my friend, mention marriage as an unattainable dream, but for the next generation growing up in a community of mutual respect finding a partner is a realistic possibility.

Summer in the Forest is about Michel’s courage, Jean’s hope, Maha’s grace, Andre’s longing, Helmi’s loyalty, Celine and Fred’s love; all people who have made a very beautiful world alongside our very broken one. It tries to answer the question ‘how can you make friends with someone different to you’ but also why you should try. When you are with people with intellectual disabilities they teach us by example to drop the guard, and stop pretending. It’s a chance to rediscover ourselves.

Cast Biographies

David

Hobbies: Music & Dancing

Favourite Film: Texas Walker

Favourite Animal: Dogs

Using his strength to save the world is David’s top priority. A self-styled super-hero from Royan, David thinks big. He’s not at all interested in being small. When not saving the world, David can be found dancing in his room, working at the packing plant, hanging out with his girlfriend Pauline, or watching movies – old Westerns are a particular favourite. Like the cowboys of old, if anyone annoys or threatens his girl, he’s always there to be her hero.

Celine & Fred

Occupations: Groundskeeper (Fred) and mosaic artist (Celine)

Hobbies: Holidays in the sun

Future projects: Planning a wedding

When Celine first arrived at Le Val Fleuri, she was shy and withdrawn, the opposite of boisterous, playful Fred, who immediately caught her eye. The two first spoke on a trip to Lourdes, when she accidentally hit him with a coke bottle, and they’ve been inseparable ever since. In the years they’ve been an item, Celine has emerged from her shell, and the happy couple are about to be engaged. It’s their dream to live together, alone, but close enough to the community to call in for breakfast.

Michel

Interests: World War II & Birdwatching

Favourite Exercise: Long walks

Would Like To Be: A Historian

Michel’s earliest memories are of hiding in the basement in his hometown of Amiens while bombs fell during the Second World War. From Amiens, he was moved to an asylum, where he endured years of abusive treatment from wardens – but they couldn’t break him. Michel rebelled, shaving his head and walking 30km to escape. Now living happily in Trosly, calmer and more reflective these days, Michel is still haunted by dark memories from the past.

Hobbies: Wrestling

Favourite Music: Jean Ferrat

Favourite Films: Romantic Comedies

Andre grew up in a tough, macho household, with a strict father who insisted that Andre should live his life to the full. Over the years, he’s tried his hand at crafts like pottery, weaving and painting – as well as the occasional wrestling match – but amongst his friends at Trosly, Andre feels like he’s finally found his place and has started looking to the future. Most of all he wants to travel, perhaps alongside his best friend Widad, whose company he cherishes during their regular evening meals.

Sara

Hobbies: Crafts & Shopping

Favourite Food: Chips

Would Like To Be: Happy & Content

Above all, Sara wants to see people smile and be happy. It’s her passion, both in her community at Ma’an Lil-Hayat, and with her family and friends outside. She loves music, dancing and having a good time, as well as shopping for clothes out in the winding streets of Bethlehem. A natural listener, Sara is a confidante and a rock for all of her friends, an honoured position that she takes very seriously.

Patrick

Interests: Shopping

Favourite Drink: Non-alcoholic Beer

Would Like To Be: An Artist

Patrick is passionate about food, drink and especially shopping, but his inner thoughts are often enigmatic. Many see him as something of a loner, off on his long solo walks around the village and childhood haunts in Paris, but those who know him will have seen another side to Patrick – one that’s affectionate, caring and often very funny. One day, he may even do what everyone’s been telling him for years, and give up the cigarettes.

Hilmi

Occupation: Textiles craftsman

Interests: Style, exercise

Happiest when: Hanging out with friends

Before coming to Ma’an Lil-Hayat, Hilmi was ridiculed and regularly beaten by his peer group and even hostile strangers who didn’t understand him or what he’s about. At the centre, he’s free of all that, and able to indulge his passions for fashion, crafts and music. Hilmi is often the life and soul of the Bethlehem community, soaking up the attention at parties, though he has a shy side too, and can just as often be found hidden away in the corner, chatting with close friends.

Jean

Hobbies: Writing

Favourite Food: Christmas Pudding

Pet Peeves: Intolerance, Violence

Now 87, Jean has spent more than half his life working and living with the community that he founded in Trosly, an experience that has transformed his life. Once he was a naval officer, but now he dedicates all of his time to the community, be that travelling the world – a task he doesn’t relish – or wasting time with his friends back at Le Val Fleuri.

Filmmaker Bios

Randall Wright

Director

Randall Wright lives in London. After university Randall was accepted for traineeships at the BBC in editing and directing. He has now directed and produced over thirty major documentaries. His most recent films include the cinema film Hockney which premiered at the London Film Festival and released in the US, UK, France, Italy, and Australia. It was nominated for an RTS, Grierson and won the FIFA award. His current cinema documentary is called Summer in the Forest which tells the story of Jean Vanier, and the first communities for people with intellectual disabilities, and has been nominated for Best Film, and Best Documentary Film at the Nice International Film Festival.

His previous work includes UK Lucian Freud: A Painted Life, which was critically acclaimed, winning an RTS award for best documentary of the year and earning a Grierson and Emmy nomination, and BAFTA Robert Flaherty nomination, Jack. The Lad a comic documentary about the years leading to Jack Rosenthal’s first screen play, which was nominated for a BAFTA; The Secret Centre, about John Le Carre’s career as a spy; and many films on sub-Saharan African subjects including an acclaimed three part series for Channel 4, Africa Unmasked.

During his childhood in Leicester, enlightened local education authorities placed physically handicapped students in regular classes. One of those students, with cerebral palsy, became a lifelong friend and introduced him to the realities of life with disabilities, including people with intellectual disability. Summer in the Forest celebrates the international movement L’Arche that made known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities working together for a humane society.

Richard Wilson

Producer

Richard Wilson escaped the BBC 17 years ago and has since produced some 200 films, mostly documentaries, for TV and cinemas around the world. He has won multiple awards in a career that stretches from the South Pole to daytime TV.

Patrick Duval

Cinematographer

Patrick studied Fine Art, then took film at the RCA. He has shot many Art documentaries, independent features, TV drama, comedy and commercials. He jointly won the Evening Standard Award and Valladolid Film Festival in Cinematography for Terence Davies’ Distant Voices/Still Lives and shot the Prix Italia-nominated I’ll Be Your Mirror.

Paul Binns

Editor

Paul Binns is a BAFTA award- winning film editor who trained at the London International Film School. Paul’s work includes the films I’ll Be Your Mirror, about the photographer, Nan Goldin, and Tell Me The Truth About Love, about the poet W.H.Auden. In 2006 he won the BAFTA Editing Craft Award for the drama- documentary, The Year London Blew Up.

Mangurama

Mangurama, a partnership between Abramorama and Mangusta Productions, brings films that celebrate “consciousness” to the big, medium, and small screen. The company will invest in the distribution and completion of paradigm challenging and consciousness expanding visual content. Mangurama’s films are the next generation of mind, body, spirit documentaries, covering not only spirituality, eastern philosophy, yoga and meditation, but also economics, politics, philosophy, sexuality and aspects of the human existence.

Credits

An R2W Films Production in association with Rockhopper Productions and Filmwrights

SUMMER IN THE FOREST

Director

RANDALL WRIGHT

Producer

RICHARD WILSON

RANDALL WRIGHT

Director of Photography

PATRICK DUVAL

Film Editor

PAUL BINNS

Music

JOHN HARLE

Production Manager

SERENA KENNEDY

Assistant Director

THEODORE CHESTER

Researcher

ALEXANDRA FENNELL

Sound Recordists

LAURENT BEN NAHIM

ISSA J. QUMSYAH

Additional Sound

CLÉMENT BONNARDEL

Assistant Producer

GARRY SYKES

Bethlehem Fixer

NAJWA MUBARKI

Drone Operators for Les Dronographes

BASILE DELL

JEREMIE LIPPMANN

Bethlehem Drone Operator

HANNA ABU SADA

Camera Assistant

JASON HENWOOD

Business Affairs

CORRINA FOWLER

MUSIC PERFORMED BY

Saxophone, Bass, Keyboards

JOHN HARLE

Flutes

ANDY FINDON

Guitars and Banjo

JOHN PARRICELLI

THE DREAMLAND ORCHESTRA

Concertmaster

BILL HAWKES

Sound Engineer

ROLAND HEAP

Production Accountant

HAMIT MEHMET

Technical Support

SAM DAVIS

Post Production

MOLINAIRE

DI Colourist

ASA SHOUL

Online Editor

DES MURRAY

Assistant Online Editor

BEREN SOWTER-CROLL

DI Supervisor

MATT JAMES

DI Co-ordinator

THERESA CROOKS

DI Conform Editors

MICHELLE CORT

JOHNATHAN DICKINSON

LEIGH MYERS

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

GEORGE FOULGHAM

Dialogue Editor

CLAIRE ELLIS

Sound FX Editor

TOM FOSTER

Music Editor

NAS PARKASH

Foley Recordist

CIARAN SMITH

Foley Artist

GARETH JONES

Foley Editor

STUART BAGSHAW

Post Production Manager

SEAN McMORRIS

Sales Executive

TOM ROGERS

Press and Publicity

ALIYA MUGHAL

Unit Photographer

SEBASTIAN RICH

WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO

Oliver Pawle

Lord Mervyn Davies

Natalie Blyth

Bruce Bower

Edward Chandler

Tim Church

Marc Ciancimino

John Colquhoun

Peter Cross

Michael Dawson

Justin Dowley

Mark Edwards

Charles Fitzherbert

Marek Gumienny

Graham Hutton

Philip Marsden

Chris Purslow

Simon Ronan

Tim Syder

Christian Sweeting

Dominic Tayler

Adrian Aylward

Caroline Aylward

Catherine Goodman

Anne Chabert

Fr Christopher Jamison OSB

Ruth Pople

Nicola Roberts

Anya Sitaram

Peter Weil CTVC

Nigel Williams

The International Foundation of L’Arche:

Eileen Glass

Patrick Fontaine

Louis Pilote

Heather Coogan

L’Arche Trosly-Breuil:

Christopher Asprey

Isabelle Aumont

Widad Bisher

Odile Ceyrac

Marie-Charlotte Huttepain

Christine McGrievy

Christine Peloquin

Régine Kerhuel

Odile Olivier

Pauline Rebilly

Marie-Alix Regout

Hugues Volant

Fred Guillemet

L’Arche Bethlehem:

Kathy Baroody

Mahera Nassar Ghareeb

Hitham Daoud

Amal Abu Zalaf

Kholoud Khoury

Yasmine al-Haj

Fatmeh Hamad

Library and Archives Canada

Décors naturels de la forêt dominiale de Compiègne, gérés par l’Office National des Forêts

Sahar El Laiali

Composed by the Rahbani Brothers

Samra Ya Samra

Composed by: Karem Mahmoud

Gen Du Pays

Composed by: Gilles Vigneault. Licensed courtesy of: Gilles Vigneault

ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE

by John Harle

Published by Chester Music Limited

THE SHERIFF

Lyrics by Charles Hart. Music by John Harle. Sung by Paul Jones

In Memory of Pauline Dinah Wright

© 2016 R2W Films Ltd

The post “Breaking Down Prejudice to those with Disabilities. ”Summer in the Forest is a full length uplifting feature movie. Opening March 23 in Village East Cinema. appeared first on Good News!.

Thanks Jason Senders, Good News Sports Producer for suggesting this important and “life affirming”  Good News Story.

Thanks to ESPN for broadcasting the draft and the NBA for doing such a honorable gesture.

Special thanks to Isaiah for inspiring so many with your positive conviction for making the most out of  our lives.

Early years

Austin was born October 25, 1993 in Fresno, California to Ben and Lisa Green. His family later moved to Arlington, Texas where he grew up and attended Grace Preparatory Academy.

High school career

Austin attended Grace Preparatory Academy. As a senior, he averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks a game. This lead him to his second straight Fort Worth Star-Telegram Super Team Player of the Year. Austin participated in the 2012 McDonald’s All-American Game, 2012 Adidas Nations and the 2012 Jordan Brand Classic. In the McDonalds All-American Game, he recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 assists to lead the West to victory. In the Jordan Brand Classic, he recorded 10 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks to again lead the West to victory. He was named to the ESPNHS All-American Elite second team and was the nations no. 3 recruit according to ESPN.

College career

In his freshman season at Baylor, Austin was named to the 2013 All-Big 12 third team and the Big 12 All-Rookie team. On April 4, 2013, he recorded 15 points, nine rebounds, five blocks, four assists and two steals in the NIT championship game in which Baylor defeated Iowa 74–54. In 35 games (all starts), he averaged 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.7 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game.

In April 2013, he declared for the 2013 NBA draft, but later returned to Baylor due to a shoulder injury.

In his sophomore season, he was named to the 2014 Big 12 All-Defensive team. In 38 games, he averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 3.1 blocks in 28.0 minutes per game.

On April 22, 2014, he declared for the 2014 NBA draft, forgoing his final two years of college eligibility.

On June 21, 2014, Austin learned that he had been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue. In an emotional interview with ESPN‘s Holly Rowe, Austin said that he could no longer play basketball at a competitive level since there was too much risk of his heart rupturing. In response, NBA commissioner Adam Silver invited Austin to attend the draft as his guest. Shortly after Austin’s diagnosis was made public, his agent revealed that Austin had taken out an insurance policy against career-ending disability through a special NCAA program. The amount of the policy was not disclosed, but the agent stated that it was at least $1 million. The policy would not have paid out if his career had ended due to the aforementioned shoulder injury or his eyesight, but is expected to pay out due to his Marfan diagnosis.

Personal

Austin is blind in his right eye from an injury he sustained in middle school. He had kept the injury a secret, known only to his teammates and close friends until January 17, 2014.

The post Good News thanks Isaiah for being such an inspiration. appeared first on Good News!.

“We want to educate parents on simple items that can potentially harm their child, and that a safe clean crib leads to a safe household and a clean pathway to raising a healthy child,” said Borough President Adams. “We are the face of individuals in order to have a safe place to sleep, and one of our goals is to ensure that Brooklyn is a place that educates and empowers parents and families.”

During the press conference, Borough President Adams unveiled a new informational video on safe sleep tips, co-starring himself, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Assistant Commissioner Dr. Aletha Maybank and Joe Shamie, President of Delta Children. The video can be viewed online at http://youtu.be/r0d1O1z1Nuw, and plans are in place to make it available to local daycare centers, hospitals and other related institutions.

Recipients of the cribs and play yards include victims of domestic violence, homeless families, victims of fires, families of returning veterans who are in need, young single moms, including teenage moms, families with a child that has a disability, as well as low income families and unemployed/underemployed families. Local organizations that have assisted Borough President Adams in distribution to these families include the NYC Family Justice Center in Brooklyn of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, Bed-Stuy Campaign Against Hunger, Brookdale Healthy Families Program, Catholic Charities, Center for Family Life, Fort Greene Snap, Lutheran Medical Center, Mixteca Organization and Serenity House Family Residence. Those looking for more information about submitting a request for a crib or play yard should call (718) 802-4042.

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“The Patient Odyssey survey results mirror what I and many of my colleagues are already seeing in our practices – that patients can struggle for many years to identify the cause of their symptoms and to arrive at an appropriate disease management plan”

“This initiative has provided important insights regarding management of RLS/WED, including the fact that patients continue to struggle with identifying treatments that adequately control their symptoms in the long term,” said Georgianna Bell, executive director of the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation. “Most RLS/WED patients have the disease for life, so understanding how to navigate disease management considerations in partnership with loved ones and physicians is important. The results of this survey will allow us to develop new resources to facilitate improved outcomes for patients, as well as serve as an important educational tool that helps the greater public understand the serious burden of this disease.”

Participants of the survey included 1,709 RLS/WED patients who are members of the WED Foundation and consisted of 1,194 women and 515 men. The results of the survey showed:

• Almost three in four (73%) of patients reported that they experience symptoms daily
• When asked about their current medication, only 6% of patients believed that their RLS/WED symptoms are completely controlled by their current medication(s)
• Sixty-eight percent of patients said they “strongly agreed” that there is a need for greater physician knowledge and understanding of RLS/WED
• Forty-two percent of patients “agreed” that their healthcare provider does not understand their disease
• Ninety-three percent of patients “agreed” that they wished more effective medications were available to treat RLS/WED

“The Patient Odyssey survey results mirror what I and many of my colleagues are already seeing in our practices – that patients can struggle for many years to identify the cause of their symptoms and to arrive at an appropriate disease management plan,” said Dr. Philip Becker, President, Sleep Medicine Associates of Texas and longtime member of the Medical Advisory Board of the WED Foundation. “This initiative reinforces the need to continue to educate the RLS/WED community and the physicians who treat them. Those with RLS/WED deserve knowledgeable physicians who understand the disease. A proper diagnosis and sustained treatment of RLS/WED can offer benefit to those who suffer through restless days and restless nights.”

The survey was conducted by the WED Foundation and made possible through a corporate sponsorship from XenoPort, Inc. It was distributed to members of the WED Foundation and their spouses/partners via mail and was available online throughout the month of October.

About Restless Legs Syndrome/Willis-Ekbom Disease

RLS/WED affects people of all ages, genders and races. People who have the disease have to move their legs or arms to relieve uncomfortable, sometimes painful sensations. These sensations tend to get worse when the person is at rest, like when sitting or lying down, watching television or taking a long car ride. Because symptoms usually intensify in the evening, they often interfere with the ability to sleep..

While the causes of RLS/WED are not completely understood, several genes have been identified with an increased risk of RLS/WED. Other factors thought to contribute to the disease include iron metabolism and, possibly, abnormalities in the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate.

While there is not yet a cure for RLS/WED, treatment is available.

About the WED Foundation

The WED Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children who live with Willis-Ekbom disease. Founded in 1992 as the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, the organization’s goals are to increase awareness, improve treatments, and through research, find a cure. The WED Foundation serves healthcare providers, researchers, over 4,000 members, and millions of individuals in the United States and Canada. The WED Foundation has awarded $1.4 million to fund medical research on RLS/WED causes and treatments. For more information, please visit http://www.Willis-Ekbom.org.

About XenoPort

XenoPort, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing a portfolio of internally discovered product candidates for the potential treatment of neurological disorders.

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Excerpt from The ABC’s of Homeschooling

By Laura Ann Huber

My husband and I don’t always see things eye to eye. We have had many disagreements and arguments, mostly because I have what I like to call “Momma Bear Syndrome.” Momma Bear Syndrome is an instinctive, unthinking act to defend the cubs at all costs. If Poppa Bear disciplines more harshly than Momma Bear deems appropriate the claws come out, and Momma Bear is on the attack. Watch Out! This can cause confusion and disruption in the den. Parents must quietly go behind doors if this happens and talk about what is wrong or right. Try to find middle ground. Sticking together is very important. Sometimes it’s hard because men and women see things so differently. Once a decision is made, go out and talk to the kids together. If a punishment is needed now is the time to explain it to the child. Let them see you are now on the same page. You must stick together, or your children and the outside world will—wear you down.

Our decision to homeschool our children was not made overnight, nor was it blissfully blessed by both of us at first. The idea was first introduced to us when my husband met a colleague’s son, named Josh. The boy seemed so bright and out-going, able to speak and talk to adults better than any other child my husband knew. Every day he would come home from work bragging about Josh and the fact that his mother homeschooled him. I was really intrigued, but in my own small thinking brain the thought that I could homeschool my children never occurred to me.

When it was time to sign our oldest child up for kindergarten I was having a very difficult time. He was still so little and young; I just couldn’t imagine sending him off into a world that didn’t include me or his family. I prayed and prayed about it without my husband knowing how I was feeling. The year I was supposed to sign Keith up for kindergarten happened to be 1999. On Tuesday, April 20, 1999, the unthinkable happened in a high school named Columbine. Two high school seniors went on a murderous rampage, killing thirteen students. It sickened every parent in America and frightened every student who heard of the horrific event. My heart had been telling me for quite some time I should homeschool Keith, but being inundated with the culture and society we live in I just didn’t feel I was qualified. I felt that he needed to go to school. Even after the tragedy, I still thought it best that he attend school. After all, that’s what everyone else was doing.

But my spirit would not let the issue rest. I lay in bed every night praying for an answer. Finally, I expressed my feelings to my husband, “You are always coming home and talking about how well rounded and what a great kid Josh is. I thought maybe I should homeschool Keith.” His answer echoed my own feelings of self-doubt and he said, “But you’re not a teacher. Josh’s mom is a licensed teacher.” Sad and dejected I decided to sign Keith up for kindergarten.

I made arrangements to talk to some kindergarten teachers and visit some classrooms. First I would be going to the public school, and then to the private Catholic school I had attended as a child. Since my nephew, Ethan, was in first grade and attended the public school I would be visiting, I decided it would be fun if I could take him to school that morning. We started off around eight. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining brilliantly, and I couldn’t help noticing he would really rather be playing outside. He took me in through the front doors of the school into what I perceived as total pandemonium. Having attended a Catholic school all my life, I had never witnessed children running from here to there in the hallways. I put it aside because Ethan was excited about me purchasing a mechanical pencil for him to use that day. After visiting with a kindergarten teacher, I was more confused than ever. I told her I had been considering homeschooling and asked her opinion, expecting her to convince me sending my children to school was the best thing for them. She answered me honestly saying, “If you can homeschool, your children will be better off. My sister homeschools her children. She offers them way more than any teacher could.” This was a lot to consider.

Next it was off to my old alma mater. Here the children were treated totally the opposite of what I had witnessed at the public school. Discipline ruled as the kids walked out of church in quiet lines like little soldiers. Neither school was what I wanted for my children.

Perplexed and confused I went to a store before going home. As I was making my purchase the woman behind the counter asked me in a shocked voice, “Have you heard about the bomb threat at

Brookville Elementary School?” All I could see was my precious, little blond headed, blue-eyed nephew whom I had just dropped off less than an hour ago. My heart aching and my stomach churning, I longed to go back into the school and pick him up and take him back to his safe home, but this was not in my authority. I had no right to do that. Only his parents could. I did, however, have a say about my own children.

That afternoon I called a neighbor who homeschools her children. She is not a licensed teacher and her children were learning just like everyone else’s children. It could be done. I approached my husband that night about how I was feeling. The shootings. The threats of bombings. The pandemonium. The discipline. The words of the kindergarten teacher. He took a long deep breath and said he would think about it. We were both unsure, but we both agreed that no matter what we decided to do, we would stick together on our decision. Supporting each other through thick and thin.

Finally we both agreed that we would give homeschooling a try, at least through Keith’s first year of kindergarten. After that, each year we would re-evaluate making sure we were doing the right thing. Back in 1999 if you were homeschooling your child many people questioned your motives and the well-being of the child. Some people were supportive, some were not. One thing is for sure, when you decide to homeschool your children, many people become experts in giving advice on raising them, even if their kids didn’t turn out to be successful well-rounded adults, they now know what is best for yours. Even if a person doesn’t have any kids, some still think they know what’s best for yours.

That happened to me a lot back then. I took most of the flack because I am the children’s primary care giver, and my husband is the bread winner. He always seemed to be at work or in another room when people questioned me. Sometimes I felt as if I had to defend my position like Grant defending the Union. But my husband, Bryon, always had my back, and if someone would sneak in from the left flank when my defenses were down—he was on guard and there to protect me. Once a close friend of Bryon’s was questioning me about homeschooling after Bryon went out of the room. He was getting madder and madder at the fact that we weren’t sending Keith to school; not now and not any time in the near future. Neither of us knew that Bryon could hear his every word. I was feeling overwhelmed and was really getting upset, when Bryon came in like the knight in shining armor he always is for me. He sat down banging his fist on the table and saying, in a rather commanding voice, “If anyone has anything to say about our decision to homeschool, they need to come to me and I will answer any questions they may have.” No one questioned us much after that. Everyone knew we had made a decision and were sticking together and sticking to it. This meant more to me than words can say. It gave me confidence in myself, our decision, and our marriage.

Each of us is a different individual raised in different home environments with a variety of discipline techniques and belief systems. When you marry and have a family you must take the best from both sides and leave the rest rumbling behind, creating new values and new ideas. George Washington once said, “I have always considered marriage as the most interesting event of one’s life, the foundation of happiness or misery.” Keep a loving and respectful open mind toward your spouse’s views and opinions.

Encourage him to do the same for you and you’re most likely to experience happiness and not misery. The country music song by Diamond Rio, Meet in the Middle, tells us how to stick together and avoid arguments. It goes like this, “I’d start walking your way, you’d start walking mine. We’d meet in the middle ‘neath that old Georgia pine.” Sometimes, it’s not quite the middle where we have to meet. Sometimes one spouse has to walk a lot farther than the other. Once a decision is made, stand by your spouse. Be proud of each other. Your family will be much stronger and you’ll create a home that no one can divide.

Laura Ann Huber is the author of The ABC’s of Homeschooling and the proud parent of three children.More information about their adventures can be found at: www.laurahuber.com.

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