Today I had the opportunity to sit down, chat with, and learn from one of our newest team members, Franjo.I find him simply remarkable and his story is even more impressive.<h2><img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/f1825f25-7867-435f-aae2-049e6937c50b-20211110_133709.jpg">Who is Franjo?</h2>Franjo is one of our front-end and back-end developers and his latest task was extensive, to say the least. We needed an update to our system that would sync the Florida Department of Health Registry with our database to check for inconsistencies, among other things. Usually, I’ll reach out to the team with issues and they’ll come up with solutions to my requests and put the right people on the task. In my mind, this process was going to take some time so when a meeting was called just a couple of weeks later I was convinced it was going to be to learn and figure things out. I was wrong, it was completed and just a few minor changes needed to be made. I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least!However, that’s not what makes this story special or even impressive. What I didn’t know, was that Franjo is 100% blind from birth. I felt like the stars were aligning! I immediately called a meeting and asked if it would be ok to share his story.Here I am, the newest board member to The Advocacy Network on Disabilities, tirelessly trying to get companies to understand that people with disabilities can and should be contributing to society and I am shocked that I unknowingly have put this into motion through my own company. I wasn’t looped into the surprise until everything was complete and running perfectly and I kind of love that it worked out that way. In my mind, Franjo is just the coolest and I really wanted to find out more. My mind was filled with so many questions I wish I had the opportunity to ask when I was a kid. I’ll admit I felt ridiculously dumb when I asked him his favorite sense, it’s sound – of course! How else would he take in the world? What impressed me most was his story – ALL OF IT!He grew up with two sisters that have their sight and his mom felt it important that he socialize with all peers so he never went to a school for blind children. He went through school just as any normal kid would, but with the added difficulty of finding books in brail.<h2><img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/3bfeef9f-2085-4608-8fb9-3ac3838264fc-20211110_133808.jpg">Fast forward to the present day where he found himself coding because he wanted to learn to automate the timer while hosting Dungeon and Dragon events.</h2>Wait!?!! What? That was my reaction. He actually went to school for something else and taught himself to code to solve a problem. I’m really starting to appreciate his resolve. It gets even more interesting, he teaches himself to code several other programs and plans to run into another one of our developers at a convention to let him know that he is up for the task if any positions are open. I’m dumbfounded at this point and trying to imagine finding someone in a convention center with my eyes closed. Of course, he succeeds because this guy knows no barriers. Tomislav gives him an opportunity because he is a great guy and that’s the kind of determination every team leader wants on their team!! Next thing you know, he sends him a test he gives all his developers and while it takes almost a couple of days, Franjo completed it overnight and with no errors! Having relied on my sight my entire life I just couldn’t conceive how the work process played out. I was grateful when they offered to make a video for everyone to see. You can click on the video to see how it works below.<h2><img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/203a47d7-b1bd-4f15-8e99-8cf1ef316934-20211110_133818.jpg">Learn to see without sight</h2>That said, The Miami Lighthouse for the Blind has the perfect logo for this story – It’s Possible to See Without Sight.“I’m incredibly grateful for Tomislav giving Franjo an opportunity and upon learning of this I became exceedingly proud of my team -- all over again.” Our company culture is outstanding and I look to the future with so much hope for our team.

We Can Always Learn More 

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Company Culture of Acceptance and Inclusion is What Choice MD is About 

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The answer to that question depends on how old you are and how long the exposure to the <a href="https://www.azafap.org/thoughts-for-families/dont-look-too-closely-traumatic-identity-101/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5oiMBhDtARIsAJi0qk2LBbR0arS9M7c34QNBfzm7Pp5D5l2v6XC2h3OnDe-nh45bxubR_AUaAnvwEALw_wcB" target="_blank">ACE impact</a> has been allowed to continue without mitigation. Like everything else, the earlier the problem is detected the easier and less painful the solution is likely to be.There has been a lot of research on the ACE questionnaire and how Adverse Childhood Experiences are indicators of future health outcomes for children. Yet very little has been proven on what the actual mechanism is for ACEs to impact future health. It is fair to say that the leading hypothesis has the impact starting with stress leading to chronic stress because stress produces hormonal responses (fight or flight as an example) these stress hormones, if chronic, impact the body. They can cause chronic illness because of the effects on the cardiovascular system and the immune system. They can also lead to mental health issues like depression, low self-esteem, anger issues, and suicidal tendencies, or even serve as catalysts for future risky behavior involving alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.<h2>Young Adults With ACEs</h2>What about young adults that are not likely to benefit from early mitigation strategies how do we use the knowledge of their ACEs exposure to <a href="https://acestoohigh.com/2016/09/18/8-ways-people-recover-from-post-childhood-adversity-syndrome/" target="_blank">improve their life potential.</a> It is likely that most physical impacts have already been hardcoded by chronic exposure to the stress hormones into their brains and bodies, and they are well on their way to a poor outcome. It is also likely that societal impacts due to inequality and poor school performance have also made their impact. Given this knowledge and information, it would be very unfortunate if we did not try to do something to improve their lives. If nothing else, we must assist them in breaking the ACE cycle for the future generation.Let us break down the impacts and at this stage of development, we should use the adult ACEs screening data to identify potential impacts and work at prevention. The other option is to address the symptoms rather than the cause. So, the question then becomes. What can we do when we know that these adults are likely to be impacted? Let us look at each area independently: <h2>Physical Health Impacts</h2>People with multiple ACEs have a higher incidence of cardiovascular problems the medical profession can use this information to specifically address the prevention such as exercise, diet, healthy living, and increased screening for early illness detection.High ACEs also manifest with a higher probability of Obesity and Diabetes and a <a href="https://stopabusecampaign.org/what-are-adverse-childhood-experiences/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw5oiMBhDtARIsAJi0qk0uFiVsJ0qrztiMvs6VPa63vOcnDm0vcCaeFtaat1u4zmZcBlIaoUQaAp-4EALw_wcB" target="_blank">shorter life span;</a> again, lifestyle improvements and early screening can improve outcomes.Cancer and Immune system problems are probably more difficult to address. Medical research on how to prevent immune problems is less advanced so early screening is less developed and lifestyle improvements do not seem to have an impact. There is some limited experience that shows an improvement with a sense of belonging.<h2>Mental Health Impacts</h2>All people with high ACEs have a greater probability of manifestations of depression, low self-esteem, and suicide. But in this area treatment must be trauma-specific and not just general. Mental Health professionals should direct the person to resources capable of dealing with the specific ACE for each person as well as teaching resilience. Here the support groups and non-profit organizations that deal with the specific traumas are of immense value. Substance abuse problems are where mental health impacts cross over to societal impacts and deserve special treatment.<h2><img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/e77642ff-2e83-4502-ad3c-7a03cf0f4d06-MicrosoftTeams-image_(39).png">Take Action</h2>It is also vital that you <a href="https://www.choicemd.com/provider-search" target="_blank">find a doctor</a> that you are completely comfortable around. Having a good patient- In conclusion, we cannot abandon the adults that have been subject to ACEs, yet the mitigation of those impacts is much more difficult and requires a societal will to change and to make things better. The only way we will achieve this is through education and exposing the impacts of ACEs to the general population.

So, I have a High ACEs Questionnaire Score. Now What?

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A small act of kindness can change someone’s day, but these valiant donors changed someone’s life forever.Thanks to my stepdaughter, Madisen, we were able to connect with Jeanette Cudney to share her remarkable story on her experience with a live&nbsp;organ donation. A living donation is when a live person donates their organ, or part of an organ, for the transplant to another.&nbsp;Spreading awareness about living organ donation is critical. It’s something that many either have concerns about going through with or don’t have much knowledge on to begin with. Madisen and Jeanette both share similar stories (and share a donation date on August 4th which is crazy!)<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/11b93a39-9d87-41cc-aa77-68a4b9a505d6-HikingPostDonation.jpg">Read our exclusive Q&amp;A where Jeanette’s humility and altruism shine through her words, as she shares her donation experience with us. Q:&nbsp;Please start by telling me a little about yourself. Where are you from? What are your interests, hobbies, etc.?A: My name is Jeanette and I am 25 years old. I was 24 years old at the time of donation. I have an older brother named Lee who I am very close to (unfortunately not geographically though, he lives in California). I am currently living in Wisconsin and finishing up my fourth and final year of veterinary school. I am originally from central New York and grew up in a small town called Cazenovia. I go back to visit my parents there as much as possible! It is a really tight-knit community, and I was lucky enough to grow up with a ton of support and many role models. I am finishing up my last year of veterinary school and clinical rotations keep me very busy! I don't have as much free time as I would like but fill my free time (if I have any) with hiking, long-distance running (especially on trails), and hanging out with friends.Q: How did the thought process of donating a kidney transpire?A: I can't actually pinpoint a moment where I decided to or was inspired to donate a kidney. I don't personally know anyone who has gone through this process, has received a kidney or is in need of a transplant. Donating a kidney is just something that I had always wanted to do since I found out that it was a possibility. I am lucky and privileged to be healthy enough to donate a kidney and am so glad that I had the opportunity. I am also incredibly grateful for this opportunity to help increase awareness of living organ donation. I am hesitant to speak out about donation because of the risk of seeming disingenuous in my decision to donate but believe it is critical to increasing the number of people that donate. I was guided along in my donation journey when I read the stories of athletes who have donated their kidneys and maintained their athleticism while achieving wonderful things post-donation via the organization, Kidney Donor Athletes. I became an active member of this organization after donation. I recently started&nbsp;mentoring athletes interested in and actively pursuing living organ donation through KDA. It is an absolutely wonderful organization and the athletes featured on the website and Tracey Hulick (the founder) are wonderful people. I found a lot of courage in their stories and they helped calm my fears about returning to normal life after donation. Here is a link to my story on their website:&nbsp;<a href="https://kidneydonorathlete.org/2021/04/22/jeanettes-story/" target="_blank" style="color: blue; background-color: white;">https://kidneydonorathlete.org/2021/04/22/jeanettes-story/</a>. I shared my story through them in the hopes of relieving the concerns of other potential donors as they had done for me when I first found them.Q:&nbsp;What were your fears or concerns?A: A major concern for me was being able to return to my previous activity level after donation. Kidney donation is not something that should be considered lightly as there are both transient and permanent risks, in addition to complications that can occur. I donated at a young age and there is not a huge body of research following younger living kidney donors long term. Overall, a lot of the research conducted only follows donors for a few years post-donation which definitely leaves a lot of room for concern about long-term effects. I considered a donation for a significant amount of time and conducted a lot of research into the risks and complications before I was comfortable beginning the process. The whole process for me involved around 2 years of careful consideration, research, testing, and ensuring that I could donate within time constraints for veterinary school and summer jobs. I found a lot of inspiration in reading other donors’ stories and Kidney Donor Athletes was a wonderful resource. There are a ton of resources for prospective donors including the Facebook group where Madisen and I met!Q: What did friends and family say?A: I didn't tell many people other than my immediate family prior to donation and don't actively share that I am a donor with many people now. I do try to spread awareness by wearing some gear from Kidney Donor Athletes and am happy to share my story with people if they are interested. The more information we can get out about living organ donation the better. My family was a little hesitant and nervous when I let them know I was moving forward with a donation, but it was all coming from a place of concern and love. Not many people know about the process and I think that is where a lot of the concern and fear stems from. Being open about the ins and outs of donation and sharing information and resources with family and friends is often what is needed to alleviate concerns. Ultimately, it is an individual's decision to go through with the donation.&nbsp;I understood my family members’ concerns and did my best to alleviate them but ultimately, it was my body, my kidney, and my choice to donate.Q: Did you know who the kidney was going to? A: I didn't know who would be receiving the kidney and still don't have a clue! I eventually found out that it went to a young man, but that is as much information as I have, and I am totally okay with that! I am open to meeting my recipient if he would like, but understand that there are many factors that would make a recipient not want to meet their donor.&nbsp;Q: Did everything go as expected? How did you feel afterward and what did recovery look like?&nbsp;A: Everything went exactly as expected. I was in quite a bit of pain after the surgery and it was hard not being able to have anyone with me in the hospital because of covid precautions. Overall, my recovery went smoothly and I only spent a night in the hospital before discharge. I was definitely reliant on help in the first week home from the hospital and was lucky to have my mom with me to get me through the tougher moments. Everyone recovers differently but for me, the first week was full of some pretty significant pain and nausea but every day I felt exponentially better. Moving around post-surgery is really important and I tried my best to move around as much per day as I could. I stopped regularly taking the pain medications pretty soon after surgery, with only Tylenol for some referred shoulder pain, from the gas insufflation needed after the first week (I had laparoscopic surgery). I had some residual fatigue for around 6 months post-donation but was active and healthy enough to return to veterinary school shortly after donation. I even performed my first surgery, a cat spay, only 2 months after donation.&nbsp;Q: How do you feel a year later? A: Now that it has been a year, I feel absolutely amazing. I have had to make no real major modifications to my lifestyle or diet and no longer have any residual fatigue. I am busy with clinical rotations and a rigorous schedule but feel no different than pre-donation. Without the scars, and without the fact that donation was a big moment in my life and something I am proud of and passionate about, I would easily forget that I donated. I am beyond grateful that I was able to donate a kidney and hope that just one person reading this is inspired to donate or spread awareness about living organ donation. I am lucky to have found a friend in Madisen and am so glad this experience has connected us. The kidney donor community is a really special one and if any potential donor or advocate has questions, you would be hard-pressed to find one of us not willing to share our thoughts and experiences.&nbsp;Q: Do you have anything you would like for people to know from this experience?A: I'm going to copy a section of my Kidney Donor Athletes page below. I think it is an incredibly important aspect of donation to talk about!"A lot of people place living organ donors on a pedestal and I would be doing a disservice to the process if I did not address this. In my opinion, living organ donors are incredibly lucky and privileged in their ability to donate an organ. I am healthy enough to donate an organ because of both luck and privilege in my access to comprehensive healthcare, mental health support, adequate nutrition, finances, and overall support from family and friends. Not everyone has the same resources available to them.If you are reading this and&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;donate an organ that does not mean you can’t support living organ donation.&nbsp;Spreading the word about organ donation, helping others gain access to adequate nutrition, mental health services, and being supportive of the people in your lives can all, directly and indirectly, help raise awareness of and increase support of organ donation. Unfortunately, healthcare and in some cases the kidney donation process itself is impacted by systemic racism and the oppression of marginalized&nbsp;groups.&nbsp;Donors and non-donors alike can improve the process <a href="&nbsp;https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/12/28/949408943/is-it-time-for-a-race-reckoning-in-kidney-medicine" target="_blank" style="background-color: white; color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">through equity and justice</a> and make living organ donation an even more beautiful process than it already is. "Thank you, Jeanette and Madisen, for being so courageous and passionate about making a difference in the life of someone who truly needed it. We often can take our health for granted and it’s so inspiring to see others, despite their fears and concerns, go and spread awareness on live organ donations.<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/b97833cd-ec08-4739-b69e-4e9d54604916-Hiking.jpg"><img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/22eb744b-9a3d-4a45-ba0e-f67df08fbbe9-IMG_2691~4.jpeg">

An Interview with a Valiant Kidney Donor 

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An invisible illness, resilience, and&nbsp;PTG (<a href="https://choicemd.com/blog/a-story-of-post-traumatic-growth" target="_blank">post-traumatic growth</a>) are some of the many stories that we shared. Illnesses can in fact change you, but they don’t have to define you.I often wonder&nbsp;what events have contributed to an individual’s resilience.&nbsp;Resilience is, after all,&nbsp;the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.&nbsp;In my opinion, it’s a learned trait. Having gone through my own health complications at a young age has really taught me to have a deep appreciation for those who are able to recover at a faster rate. When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, I wallowed in my depression for years, before I realized not much had changed. Talk about wasted time!Today, I want to talk about Leilani Pearl. A wife and champion for Parkinson’s, as she is the&nbsp;Senior Vice President Chief Communications Officer&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.parkinson.org/" target="_blank">The Parkinson’s Foundation</a>. Not only is she also a brain tumor survivor, but a dear friend.&nbsp;She is actually one of the first people I met when I moved to Miami and I’ve always appreciated her down-to-earth demeanor. After&nbsp;reconnecting during the pandemic over her health struggles, I have learned a lot about a whole new set of traits to appreciate and love.&nbsp;Resilience, determination, and positivity are some to name a few.<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/94ecc5fc-5641-4734-941e-c34874a2dc2e-MicrosoftTeams-image_(40).png">Leilani shared with me that she was diagnosed with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uptodate.com/contents/hemangioblastoma#:~:text=Hemangioblastomas%20are%20uncommon%2C%20slow%2Dgrowing,the%20posterior%20fossa%20in%20adults." target="_blank">hemangioblastoma</a>, a brain tumor in the cerebellum part of her brain, at the early start of the pandemic in 2020.&nbsp;A hemangioblastoma is benign or non-cancerous, however, it can press on the brain and cause neurological symptoms. This can lead to headaches, weakness, sensory loss, balance and coordination problems, and/or hydrocephalus (a buildup of spinal fluid in the brain).<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/207987ed-9446-4868-bf58-8088096d2b51-MicrosoftTeams-image_(39).png">I, along with the rest of the nation, was terrified to step foot into a hospital for fear of catching <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html" target="_blank">COVID </a>in March of 2020 and she was having brain surgery, multiple times. Imagine that? For those who are unfamiliar with the anatomy of the brain, the cerebellum controls one’s posture, balance, coordination, and speech.&nbsp;No one knew&nbsp;exactly&nbsp;what her recovery would look like, but that alone sounded&nbsp;like she would have to relearn a lot. To top it off,&nbsp;most of the time she spent in the hospital was spent either alone or only with her husband, as visits to hospitals were not allowed at the time.<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/1722f557-0fcc-4ec7-b538-7c5b5abc7403-MicrosoftTeams-image_(38).png">We all have&nbsp;two options when faced with adversity. Taking the positive road and making&nbsp;the best out of what&nbsp;we’re dealt with or accepting loss&nbsp;and wallow in our sorrows. Sometimes the road to recovery involves both, or maybe it doesn’t. The point is, recovery is subjective and I am simply astonished by Leilani’s path to recovery. She has managed to stay steadfast in her physical recovery all&nbsp;while keeping a positive attitude.&nbsp;I’m not saying it has been easy or that it’s&nbsp;over,&nbsp;as we also recently discussed the unknowns of traveling for the first time after having a metal plate inserted. Will it go off in the metal detector? Will it feel&nbsp;different from the pressure of the plane? I’m sure there are many more questions she is going to have to answer throughout her recovery process, but I couldn’t be more proud of who she is.&nbsp;<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/80f8bfe1-7306-4ac6-9fbb-4f70dd5c752a-MicrosoftTeams-image_(36).png">When I asked what has helped most in her recovery process, she shared with me that aside from the support of her family and medical staff, what helped most through the recovery process was setting small goals each day that incrementally grew. For example, today she would walk around the condo, tomorrow she would walk around the condo five times…one mile, etc. It was important for her to see progress each day until the days became months and then she could see how far she had come. She is now up to walking three miles everyday! I share this story because&nbsp;these are the types of stories that need to be immortalized in cyberspace. She&nbsp;will forever live with an invisible illness that she overcame during a worldwide pandemic. Her mental strength is unparalleled.<img src="https://images.sitesails.com/1/original/39a9d05a-111a-4abe-aac6-45ed44a6694f-MicrosoftTeams-image_(37).png">

We Can Always Learn More

Company Culture of Acceptance and Inclusion is What Choice MD is About

So, I have a High ACEs Questionnaire Score. Now What?

An Interview with a Valiant Kidney Donor

The Story of a Resilient Brain Tumor Survivor, and Dear Friend

Hi, I'm Vanessa

So, you're probably wondering what I’m about?

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