Health & Wellness
Baltimore Boy Becomes Youngest Recipient Of Double-Hand Transplant
An 8-year-old Baltimore boy who is being dubbed a medical phenomenon is looking forward to finally being able to play with his little sister and swing on the monkey bars.
An 8-year-old Baltimore boy who is being dubbed a medical phenomenon is looking forward to finally being able to play with his little sister and swing on the monkey bars.
Things that we take for granted, Zion Harvey only wished for the simple things like picking up his 2-year-old sister or eating a slice of pizza. Both things he had difficulty doing after losing his feet and hands to sepsis as a toddler. Today Zion will be able to fulfill those goals as he’s youngest patient to receive a double-hand transplant last month.
Harvey, 8, from Baltimore, lost both of his hands and feet when he contracted sepsis at age 2 and experienced multiple organ failures, reports The Associated Press. When he was 4, he received a kidney transplant from his mother, and leg prosthetic have enabled Zion to engage in many activities. Even bullying did not faze the eternally happy boy.
“They don’t mean to say mean things to me, but it just slips out,” Harvey said, according to CNN. “Somebody says something to me, and I just figure it slipped out and they didn’t mean to say it.”Although he was able to use his stumps to write, play video games, eat meals, scroll through an iPad, Harvey could not fulfill his goals of throwing a football and swinging from the monkey bars on the playground.
Because he had been already taking immunosuppressants due to his kidney transplant, the surgeons believed that the chances his body would reject new hands was low, and his name was added to the waiting list, according to ABC News.
“When I get these hands I will be proud of the hands I get,” Harvey said in a video released by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “If it gets messed up, I don’t care because I have my family.”
Although several adults in the U.S. have received double-hand transplants since the surgery began in 1999, no children as young as Harvey have been recorded as undergoing the same surgery, according to the AP. But after an intense 11-hour surgery with a 40-person medical team on duty, steel plates and screws were attached from the new bones to the old ones, and Zion’s arteries, veins, muscles, tendons, and nerves were all carefully connected.When he appeared on Tuesday at the hospital press conference, his brand-new hands were visible from his heavily bandaged arms, and he flashed a wide grin at those assembled.
“I think the difference is finding a family who has the courage to relinquish the arms of a child who just died and give hope and life and quality of life to a child who’s still living,” said Dr. L. Scott Levin, one of Harvey’s surgeons, according to CBS Philly.
Health & Wellness
Hydeia Broadbent’s father launches GoFundMe following the activist’s death
Hydeia Broadbent passed away from natural causes on Tuesday, February 20th.
HIV/AIDS activist Hydeia Broadbent’s father has launched a GoFundMe following her death.
Hydeia passed away Tuesday, February 20th, at 39 years old.
She passed away peacefully
Her father, Loren Broadbent, shared the news Wednesday on Facebook that she died peacefully from natural causes.
Hydeia was abandoned at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and was adopted by Loren and Patricia Broadbent.
At three years old, she was diagnosed as HIV-positive with advancement to AIDS.
Several years later after her diagnosis at age 6, Hydeia became a steadfast HIV/AIDS activist, committed to spreading awareness about the disease.
She appeared on various national television programs, including “A Conversation with Magic Johnson” on Nickelodeon, “Oprah,” “20/20,” and “Good Morning America.” She also appeared in New York Times, People, Teen People, Essence, Ebony and Sister 2 Sister Magazine.
In 2014, Hydeia became a spokesperson for the Magic Johnson Foundation.
Hydeia Broadbent GoFundMe
In light of Hydeia’s untimely passing, her father has set up a GoFundMe.
“Hi, I am Loren Broadbent, the father of Hydeia Broadbent. Yesterday afternoon Hydeia unexpectedly passed away. Our hearts are broken. Hydeia spent her whole life since the age of five showing us all how to love, fight, and speak up for those affected with HIV and AIDS. And as much as I wish she was still here fighting the great fight, God called her home. Letting us all know. Job well done”, the GoFundMe reads.
“In honor of her memory the family would like to lay her to rest. So at this time we are asking for donations. Along with well wishes and prayers. We would like to thank you in advance. Thank you, and let’s all keep her memory alive and continue the fight where she left off.”
The family is seeking to raise $20,000. At the time of this posting, they have raised approximately $14,000.
If you are interested in donating to Hydeia’s celebration of life and supporting the family, please visit the GoFundMe for more information.
Health & Wellness
Hydeia Broadbent, AIDS activist and motivational speaker, dies at 39
Hydeia Broadbent passed away at 39 from natural causes.
Hydeia Broadbent, a prominent AIDS activist and motivational speaker, has passed away at age 39.
Confirmation of Hydeia Broadbent’s passing
Her passing was confirmed by her father Loren Broadbent, in a post on Facebook, sharing Hydeia died from natural causes.
“With great sadness, I must inform you all that our beloved friend, mentor, and daughter Hydeia, passed away today after living with AIDS since birth,” his post read.
“Despite facing numerous challenges throughout her life, Hydeia remained determined to spread hope and positivity through education around Hiv/AIDS.”
Her incredible story
According to her website, Broadbent was abandoned at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and, as an infant, was adopted by Loren and Patricia Broadbent.
At three years old, she was diagnosed as HIV-positive with advancement to AIDS.
Hydeia Broadbent and her activism
Hydeia became an activist at age 6, telling her story to the masses on various national television programs, including “A Conversation with Magic Johnson” on Nickelodeon, “Oprah,” “20/20,” and “Good Morning America.” She also appeared in New York Times, People, Teen People, Essence, Ebony and Sister 2 Sister Magazine.
Motivational speaker
In 1996, she was a speaker at the Republican National Convention, she stated “I am the future, and I have AIDS.”
In 2002, her family published a book entitled “You Get Past The Tears,” she appeared with her family on “Extreme Home Makeover” in 2004.
Until her passing, she was an international motivational speaker and AIDS activist.
In 2014, she became a spokesperson for the Magic Johnson Foundation, as well as other AIDS activist organizations, in order “to educate people about HIV/AIDS, raise awareness, and fight discrimination against those living with HIV/AIDS.”
“People think because I was born with HIV my story does not apply to them. Well, this same disease I am living with is the same disease you can get if you are aware and informed,” Broadbent said.
“I use my testimony as a warning of what you don’t want to go through.”
Most of us watched Hydeia and her bravery as she shared her story on this autoimmune disease. Her courage was something to be admired.
Unheard Voices sends its heartfelt condolences to Hydeia’s family and loved ones.
Health & Wellness
Snoop Dogg’s daughter suffers “severe” stroke
Snoop Dogg’s daughter Cori Broadus revealed in an instagram post she suffered a “severe” stroke.
Snoop Dogg’s daughter Cori Broadus revealed she suffered a stroke.
Cori Broadus suffers stroke
On Thursday, the 24-year-old posted a photo on her Instagram Story from the hospital following the health scare.
“I had a severe stroke this a.m. I started breaking down crying when they told me,” she wrote. “Like I’m only 24, what did I do in my past to deserve all of this.”
Although Broadus didn’t provide any specific details on what led to her stroke or her recovery, the singer has had a difficult health journey for years after being diagnosed with lupus at age 6.
What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system damage organs and tissue throughout your body. It causes inflammation that can affect your skin, joints, blood and organs like your kidneys, lungs and heart.
Let’s keep Cori and all those battling autoimmune diseases like Lupus in our prayers. It is certainly a daily fight.
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