7-of-adults-1-of-children-have-struggled-with-long-covid

Electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, which cause COVID-19.

small

medium

large

Although the percentage of adults reporting long COVID has declined over time, long-term symptoms can still be debilitating.

7% Of Adults, 1% Of Children Have Struggled With 'Long COVID'

genetic-breakthrough-could-pave-way-for-cure-of-hereditary-eye-disease

Retinitis pigmentosa is a rare vision disease, with 1 in 3,000 people worldwide affected by some form of hereditary retinal dystrophy — damage to the eye leading to blindness.

Genetic Breakthrough Could Pave Way For Cure Of Hereditary Eye Disease

turmeric-is-actually-an-effective-treatment-for-indigestion

New research suggests turmeric may work just as well as a common over-the-counter medication omeprazole to help relieve gastrointestinal issues like indigestion. Here's what to know, including if you should start using turmeric for indigestion, and how to consume it safely.

Turmeric Is Actually An Effective Treatment For Indigestion

national-blood-shortage-red-cross-asks-please-give-blood-now

The American Red Cross national blood supply remains at critically low levels and donors of all blood types are urgently needed.

National Blood Shortage: Red Cross Asks... Please Give Blood, Now

several-common-vaccinations-are-linked-to-lower-alzheimers-risk

“Vaccines may change how the immune system responds to the build-up of toxic proteins that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease..."

Several Common Vaccinations Are Linked To Lower Alzheimer's Risk

48k-costco-mattresses-recalled-buyers-report-mold

The manufacturing company operates 34 manufacturing facilities across the U.S. and Mexico, according to its website

48K Costco Mattresses Recalled - Buyers Report Mold 

morning-exercisers-tend-to-have-healthier-habits-study-finds

A newly published study has found morning exercisers may have healthier habits that help with weight loss.

Morning Exercisers Tend To Have Healthier Habits, Study Finds

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — In the chaos after a Norfolk Southern train careened off the tracks and caught fire in eastern Ohio in February, it took roughly 45 minutes for firefighters to learn exactly which chemicals were involved.Now the railroad industry is trying to ensure that never happens again.Ever since that Feb. 3 derailment prompted concerns about rail safety nationwide, the major railroads have redoubled their efforts to make sure that more and more first responders can immediately look up the contents of any freight train.This week, the two counties that handled the initial response to the East Palestine, Ohio, derailment on the Ohio-Pennsylvania border were set up with the AskRail program that will allow dispatchers to look up everything a train is carrying as soon as they get one car number. That is part of an effort the Association of American Railroads trade group launched this spring to sign up emergency dispatch centers in the program.“It’s going to allow us to make better, more informed decisions quicker -- not only for the responders but for the community,” said Eric Brewer, director of emergency services in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.Previously, first responders would have to either track down the train crew to get a copy of the train's contents or reach out to the railroad directly — both of which can take precious time.Knowing which hazardous materials are on a train is key to helping firefighters decide how to respond and whether evacuations are needed. For some chemicals, specialized firefighting foam may be needed instead of water and in some cases, as in East Palestine, the chemicals can make it too dangerous for firefighters to attack a blaze directly. That night, firefighters had to pull back and contain the blaze while the chemicals continued to burn.The railroads worked with emergency responders to develop the AskRail app in 2014 that firefighters could download to their phones or the computers mounted within their fire trucks. By the end of last year, only about 40,000 users had signed up, though some of those were individual firefighters and some were department computers available to multiple responders.Then this year, the industry began working to get the program set up in dispatch centers. So far, 42 of them nationwide have joined and another 37 are in the process of joining. Railroads expect that number to grow quickly as word spreads.But the railroads also had the idea to make their train consist information, which provides details about all the cargo on a train, available through the chemical industry's hotlines that firefighters can call to get advice on how to deal with specific chemicals. So now any time a firefighter with hazardous materials training calls either the Chemtrec hotline in the United States or the similar Canutec hotline in Canada they can find out what is on a train as long as they have a car number.That move made the AskRail information available to about 2.3 million firefighters with hazardous materials training.Railroads are trying to ensure the information is available in multiple places to reduce the chances that firefighters will struggle to find out what is on a train after a derailment. Even though the app itself has been available for years, not every firefighter knew about it, and volunteer fire departments account for nearly 82% of all firefighters nationwide.“We’re trying to create redundancies in the system to make sure the information is available,” said Jessica Kahanek, a spokeswoman for the main rail trade group.Norfolk Southern announced Wednesday that in addition to the industrywide efforts to expand AskRail access, it is working with the makers of the RapidSOS software that more than 15,000 emergency response agencies already use to make its train consist information available within that program.If that effort succeeds across the Atlanta-based railroad's 22-state network in the East, the other major railroads could follow. The railroad said it expects to have its train data available within the RapidSOS program early next year.“Our partnership with Norfolk Southern will provide first responder agencies with advanced situational awareness to best respond in the event of a train emergency,” said Jose Mejia, chief operating officer at RapidSOS. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Norfolk Southern to provide this data to support public safety to aid in keeping communities prepared and safe.”Federal regulators have also proposed requiring railroads to quickly notify every emergency responder within 10 miles of a derailment as soon as a railroad becomes aware of an accident.The Association of American Railroads emphasizes that railroads remain the safest way to ship dangerous chemicals by land, with more than 99 percent of those shipments arriving safety.But even one derailment involving hazardous materials can prove disastrous, and last year there were more than 1,000 derailments — roughly three a day. More than three quarters happened at slow speeds in railyards, without causing major damage.

learning-whats-burning-can-save-lives-and-time-when-a-train-wrecks

Norfolk Southern freight train that derailed in East Palestine, Ohio

In the recent Ohio Derailment it took 45 minutes for firefighters to learn exactly which chemicals were involved.

Learning What's Burning Can Save Lives And Time When A Train Wrecks

By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health WriterFederal regulators declined to approve a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions late Tuesday, calling for more research on what would have been the first alternative to injections using devices such as an EpiPen.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration told ARS Pharmaceuticals Inc., of San Diego, that the company needs to conduct another study on repeat doses of epinephrine, a drug that halts potentially life-threating reactions, called anaphylaxis, using the company's nasal spray device compared with injections.The move comes four months after an FDA advisory committee recommended approval of the device, dubbed neffy. The FDA is not required to follow the committee's recommendations, though it usually does.Richard Lowenthal, president and chief executive of ARS, said in a statement that the company would appeal the FDA's decision and resubmit an application in early 2024.The ARS product is one of several needle-free devices being developed to treat dangerous reactions to food, insect stings and medications. Such a device could alter treatment for the between 33 million and 45 million Americans with severe allergies to food and other triggers.Advocates for people with allergies said they were “frustrated” by the FDA's request for more research.“Our community believe this innovation would finally come to the more than 10% of Americans with life-threatening food allergies, but instead, the FDA will force us to wait even longer,” Sung Poblete, chief executive of Food Allergy Research &amp; Education, a nonprofit group, said in a statement.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.&nbsp;

fda-we-need-more-research-before-approving-nasal-spray-to-treat-dangerous-allergies

Federal regulators declined to approve a nasal spray to treat severe allergic reactions, calling for more research on what would have been the first alternative to injections using devices such as an EpiPen.

FDA: We Need More Research Before Approving Nasal Spray To Treat Dangerous Allergies

it-s-going-to-change-save-lives-public-school-mental-health-facility-opens-soon

A referral is needed in order to enroll at Traverse. Students will be referred through the mental health provider at their home school.

"We’ve got access to outdoor spaces, which we know is regulating. We've got a climbing wall. Many students who are experiencing mental health care or needs in mental health care, they need to move.”

'It’s Going To Change, Save Lives' - Public School Mental health Facility Opens Soon

Kraft Heinz said Tuesday it's recalling more than 83,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because part of the wrapper could stick to the slice and become a choking hazard.The company, which is based in Chicago and Pittsburgh, said one of its wrapping machines developed a temporary issue that makes it possible for a thin strip of film to remain on the slice even after it's been removed from the wrapper. The machine has since been fixed.Kraft Heinz said it initiated the voluntary recall after it received several consumer complaints. In six cases, people said the issue caused gagging or choking, but no injuries or serious health issues have been reported, Kraft Heinz said.The recall affects 16-ounce Kraft Singles American Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product with a “Best When Used By” date between Jan. 10, 2024, and Jan. 27, 2024. Also included in the recall are 3-pound multipacks of Kraft Singles American Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product with a “Best When Used By” date between Jan. 9, 2024, and Jan. 13, 2024.Consumers who bought those products should not consume them and should return them to the store where they were purchased for an exchange or a refund, Kraft Heinz said. Consumers can also contact Kraft Heinz at 1-800-280-8252 to see if a product is part of the recall and to receive reimbursement.

choking-hazard-voluntary-recall-of-select-kraft-singles-american-processed-cheese-slices

The recall affects 16-ounce Kraft Singles American Pasteurized Prepared Cheese Product

Choking Hazard: Voluntary Recall Of Select Kraft Singles American Processed Cheese Slices

A recent study by the employee wellness company Gympass reveals that 79% of respondents feel better when they follow a regular exercise regimen. On the other hand, 48% report being too busy with other work/life obligations to manage one.The <a href="https://gympass.com/en-us/">Gympass study</a> also discovered that many American workers have largely abandoned organized fitness routines and gym visits. 60% report feeling too mentally and physically drained after work to perform any exercises, such as the trending “ <a href="https://gethealthyu.com/what-is-cozy-cardio/">cozy cardio</a>,” or participate in sports.The <a href="https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/physical-activity-guidelines/current-guidelines">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a> recommends that healthy Americans exercise at least twenty minutes of exercise every day. However, only an estimated 28% reach that goal regularly. Here are some common reasons why fewer Americans are getting physical:Work/Life ObligationsFor many American workers, the physical and mental demands of their jobs or family obligations are so draining that the thought of additional exercise can be overwhelming. While participation in a company-sponsored wellness program or a personal exercise regimen may start as a priority, maintaining long-term interest is challenging for professional trainers and their clients.Mike Julom, founder of <a href="https://www.thisiswhyimfit.com/">This Is Why I’m Fit</a>, knows how to address this issue. “To keep clients dedicated, it’s crucial to set realistic goals. This involves guiding them toward sustainable, long-term achievements. I like to break down larger objectives into smaller, more manageable milestones, which can provide a consistent sense of accomplishment and in turn, keep motivation levels high.”“Another key aspect is variety,” Julom continues. “It’s not just about avoiding boredom; it’s about ensuring that clients are getting a well-rounded fitness experience, targeting different muscle groups, and promoting overall functional fitness. Regularly introducing new exercises and routines keeps things fresh and ensures clients are getting the most comprehensive training possible.”Sports and Exercise Programs Are RiskyAnother reason many people lose interest in exercise is the risk of injury. Participating in contact sports, for example, offers participants a way to release tension and improve conditioning, but it can also lead to debilitating injuries if an accident occurs. Activities such as weight training can also take a toll on the body. Some people choose to stop these riskier forms of exercise rather than take a chance on serious injury.However, health risks are associated with abruptly ending an exercise regimen, especially for <a href="https://gethealthyu.com/strength-training-moves-for-women-over-50/">older participants</a>.Julom explains, “First off, cardiovascular health can take a hit. Regular exercise keeps the heart strong and blood flowing smoothly. Without it, there’s a potential increase in the risk of heart-related issues. Muscle loss is another concern. When you’re not challenging your muscles like you used to, they can start to weaken and shrink. This not only affects strength but also metabolism, as muscle tissue <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/kettlebell-swings/">burns more calories</a> than fat.“Another subtle change is in the body’s insulin sensitivity. Regular exercise helps the body use insulin more effectively, which is crucial for blood sugar regulation. Without consistent physical activity, some individuals might find their blood sugar levels harder to manage.”Workout Routines Become Workout RutsRepetition often leads to boredom, but exercise routines such as aerobics and weight training rely on consistency and repetition to be effective. The lack of variety or modulation in an exercise routine can affect motivation and interest, creating a challenge for personal trainers and clients alike.Alexa Duckworth-Briggs, a certified running coach at UK-based <a href="https://www.we-run.co.uk/">We Run</a>, points out,” One significant factor contributing to the waning interest in exercise regimens is the lack of modulation in workout intensity. Many people enter into <a href="https://gethealthyu.com/101-fitness-tips-that-rock/">fitness programs</a> with the perception that ‘more is better’ and that each workout session has to be strenuous to be effective.“While a challenging workout can indeed be satisfying, pushing too hard, too frequently can lead to both physical and psychological burnout. This ‘all or nothing’ mindset can quickly make exercise feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable and sustainable activity.”“From a health perspective, constantly pushing oneself to the limit without adequate rest or lower-intensity sessions increases the risk of injuries or ‘niggles,'” Duckworth-Briggs adds. “This can be detrimental in two ways. First, the injury itself can be a barrier to further exercise, breaking the habit and routine that the individual has built up. Second, the fear of future injury can also serve as a psychological deterrent, causing people to disengage from exercise programs altogether.”Gyms Are Too Expensive/Inconvenient/IntimidatingEven if interest in a wellness plan or personal training is high, the costs associated with those goals can be even higher. <a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/save-on-gym-membership/">Gym membership</a> fees can be prohibitively expensive, and the closest facility requires a lengthy commute.The gym’s atmosphere could also be intimidating for members not in peak physical condition. The fear of ridicule from other members or staff is another reason why many people have canceled gym memberships or stopped participating in organized programs.Michele Paiva, a yoga studio owner and Finance Therapist at <a href="https://thefinancetherapist.com/">The Finance Therapist</a>, offers this suggestion, “I feel that professional trainers need first to meet people where they are; meaning, often trainers have an idea of what they think a client wants or what they want for the client, but sometimes the client has other ideas.”“When someone quits their workout, they often struggle with a bit of depression. They had high hopes, and now they feel deflated. They may have an injury that they don’t want to tell you about, or maybe they feel that you don’t ‘get’ them,” Paiva adds.“Maybe they have financial struggles. The idea here is to problem-solve for them. If it is financial, understand that this is a huge source of shame for most people. Many people connect their assets or available income to their self-value. Show them that this isn’t the case. Offer payment plans or a discount if that is the case.”Although interest in wellness programs may be waning among American workers, the health benefits of exercise remain. Physicians and other professionals still recommend some form of cardiovascular exercise to maintain ideal health.

experts-recommend-exercise-but-many-americans-arent-getting-the-reps-in

No (More) Sweat: Why Many Americans Have Stopped Exercising

48% of people report being too busy with other work/life obligations to manage a regular exercise regimen

Experts Recommend Exercise But Many Americans Aren't Getting The Reps In

maple-syrup-the-ultimate-natural-sweetener

Scientists explore the myriad benefits of maple syrup, revealing its nutritional, pharmacological, and sensory advantages over traditional sweeteners

Maple Syrup: The Ultimate Natural Sweetener?

Alisha Alderson placed her folded clothes and everything she needed for the last month of her pregnancy in various suitcases. She never imagined she would have to leave the comfort of her home in rural eastern Oregon just weeks before her due date. But following the abrupt closure in August of the only maternity ward within 40 miles, she decided to stay at her brother’s house near Boise, Idaho — a two-hour drive through a mountain pass — to be closer to a hospital.“We don’t feel safe being so far away from a birthing center,” said Alderson, noting her advanced maternal age of 45. “I was sitting in a hair salon a few days ago and some people started joking about me giving birth on the side of the road. And in that moment, I just pictured all the things that could go wrong with my baby and broke down in tears in front of strangers.”A growing number of rural hospitals have been shuttering their labor and delivery units, forcing pregnant women to travel longer distances for care or face giving birth in an emergency room. Fewer than half of rural hospitals now have maternity units, prompting government officials and families to scramble for answers.<blockquote>One solution gaining ground across the U.S. is freestanding midwife-led birth centers, but those also often rely on nearby hospitals when serious complications arise.</blockquote>The closures have worsened so-called “maternity care deserts" — counties with no hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care and no OB providers. More than two million women of childbearing age live in such areas, the majority of which are rural.Ultimately, doctors and researchers say, having fewer hospital maternity units makes having babies less safe. One study showed rural residents have a 9% greater probability of facing life-threatening complications or even death from pregnancy and birth compared to those in urban areas — and having less access to care plays a part.“Moms have complications everywhere. Babies have complications everywhere,” said Dr. Eric Scott Palmer, a neonatologist who practiced at Henry County Medical Center in rural Tennessee before it ended obstetric services this month. “There will be people hurt. It’s not a question of if — simply when.”Reasons behind the closures &nbsp;The issue has been building for years: The American Hospital Association says at least 89 obstetric units closed in rural hospitals between 2015 and 2019. More have shuttered since.The main reasons for closures are decreasing numbers of births; staffing issues; low reimbursement from Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people; and financial distress, said Peiyin Hung, deputy director of the University of South Carolina’s Rural and Minority Health Research Center and co-author of research based on a survey of hospitals.Officials at Saint Alphonsus, the hospital in Baker City where Alderson wanted to give birth, cited a shortage of OB nurses and declining deliveries.“The results are devastating when safe staffing is not provided. And we will not sacrifice patient safety,” according to an emailed statement from Odette Bolano and Dina Ellwanger, two leaders from the hospital and the health system that owns it.While they said financial concerns didn’t factor into the decision, they underlined that the unit had operated in the red over the last 10 years.<figure class="image text-center"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/66504.jpg" alt="Alisha Alderson and her husband, Shane, sit with their daughter Adeline, 5, in the living room of their house in Baker City, Ore."><figcaption>[Photo Credit: AP Photo/Kyle Green] Alisha Alderson and her husband, Shane, sit with their daughter Adeline, 5, in the living room of their house in Baker City, Ore.</figcaption></figure>A lack of money was the major reason why Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee, closed its OB unit. CEO John Tucker told The Associated Press that it was a necessary financial step to save the hospital, which has been struggling for a decade.The percentage of births there covered by Medicaid — 70% — far exceeded the national average of 42%. Tennessee’s Medicaid program paid the hospital about $1,700 per delivery for each mom, a fraction of what the hospital needed, Tucker said.Private insurance pays hospitals more — the median topped $16,000 for cesarean sections in Oregon in 2021. State data shows that’s more than five times what Medicaid doles out.Tucker also said the number of deliveries had dropped in recent years.“When volumes go down, losses actually get bigger because so much of that cost is really fixed,” he said. “Whether we’ve got one baby on the floor or three, we still staff at the same level because you kind of have to be prepared for whatever comes in.”The last week in a delivery ward&nbsp;&nbsp;Six days before the Tennessee unit closed, just one woman was there to deliver. All of the other rooms contained empty beds and bassinets. The special care nursery was silent — no beeping machines or infants’ cries. Art had been removed from the walls.Lacy Kee, who was visiting the ward, said she’ll have to drive 45 minutes and cross the state line into Kentucky to give birth to her third child in early October. She’s especially concerned because she has gestational diabetes and recently had a scare with her fetus’ heart rate.Kee also had to switch from the Henry County obstetrician she trusted for her other pregnancies, Dr. Pamela Evans, who will stay at the hospital as a gynecologist.Evans fears that things like preterm deliveries, infant mortality and low-birthweight babies — a measure in which the county already ranks poorly — are bound to get worse. Prenatal care suffers when people must travel long distances or take lots of time off work for appointments, she said. Not all insurance covers deliveries out of state, and some alternative in-state hospitals families are looking at are an hour or more away.Evans' office and exam rooms contain bulletin boards covered with photos of infants she’s brought into the world. During a recent visit, Katie O’Brien of Paris handed her a new photo of her son Bennett — the third of her children Evans delivered. The two women cradled the baby and hugged.The closure “makes me absolutely want to cry,” said O’Brien, 31. “It’s a horrible thing for our community. Any young person looking to move here won’t want to come. Why would you want to come somewhere where you can’t have a baby safely?”A place to turn&nbsp;&nbsp;About two hours away, inside a house in the woods, a handful of women sat in a circle on pillows for a prenatal group meeting at The Farm Midwifery Center, a storied place in Summertown, Tennessee, that's more than a half-century old.Led by midwife Corina Fitch, the women shared thoughts and concerns, and at one point tied on scarves and danced together. One by one, Fitch pulled them into a bedroom to measure bellies, take blood, listen to fetal heartbeats and ask about things like nutrition.Betsy Baarspul of Nashville said she had an emergency C-section in a hospital for her first child. She’s now pregnant with her third, and described the difference between hospital care and birth center care as “night and day.”“This is the perfect place for me,” she said. “It feels like you’re held in a way.”Some states and communities are taking steps to create more freestanding birth centers. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont recently signed legislation that will license such centers and allow them to operate as an alternative for low-risk pregnancies.Alecia McGregor, who studies health policy and politics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, called midwife-led birth centers “a major sort of contender among the possible solutions” to the maternity care crisis.“The kinds of lifesaving procedures that can only be conducted in a hospital are important for those very high-risk cases,” McGregor said. “But for the majority of pregnancies, which are low-risk, birth centers can be a very important solution to lowering costs within the U.S. health care system and improving outcomes.”A lack of data and the small number of births in freestanding centers or homes prevents researchers from fully understanding the relationship between birth settings and maternal deaths or severe injuries and complications, according to a 2020 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.The Farm said fewer than 2% of clients end up having C-sections, and a report on deliveries in its first 40 years showed 5% of clients were transported to the hospital — which Fitch said can happen because of things like water breaking early or exhaustion during labor. Clients usually give birth at The Farm or in their own homes.“We always have a backup plan," she said, “because we know birth is unpredictable and things can come up.”Rural hospitals will need to be part of the equation, doctors told the AP, and they believe governments must do more to solve the maternal care crisis.<figure class="image text-center"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/66506.jpg" alt="Dr. Eric Scott Palmer, a neonatologist, in the special care nursery at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tenn. Palmer said that when the facility closes its maternity and special care facility, &quot;There will be people hurt. It"><figcaption>[Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mark Humphrey] Dr. Eric Scott Palmer, a neonatologist, in the special care nursery at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tenn. Palmer said that when the facility closes its maternity and special care facility, "There will be people hurt. It's not a question of if — simply when."</figcaption></figure>Oregon politicians mobilized when the Baker City hospital announced in June that it was shutting down its birth center — including Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden and Baker County Commissioner Shane Alderson, Alisha's husband. As a temporary fix, they suggested using OB nurses from the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a branch of the country’s uniformed services that largely responds to natural disasters and disease outbreaks.It was a novel and “innovative” idea to request federal nurses to boost staffing at a rural maternity unit, Wyden’s office said. While it didn’t end up panning out, the public health service sent experts to Baker City to assess the situation and recommend solutions — including looking into establishing a freestanding birth center.Shane Alderson wants to help people who are facing the same tough decisions his family had to make. He said rural communities shouldn’t be stripped of health care options because of their smaller size or because of the number of low-income people with public insurance.“That’s not equitable,” he said. “People can’t survive like that.”<figure class="image text-center"><img src="https://cdn.corpemf.com/news/66505.jpg" alt="Katie O"><figcaption>[Photo Credit: AP Photo/Mark Humphre] Katie O'Brien holds her son, Bennett, in the birthing room where she delivered him in July at the Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tenn.</figcaption></figure>___Rush reported from Baker City, Oregon, and Kuna, Idaho. Ungar reported from Paris, Tennessee, and Summertown, Tennessee.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

maternity-care-deserts-why-are-many-rural-hospitals-closing-their-maternity-wards

Shane Alderson, his wife, Alisha, and their daughter, Adeline, 5, pray before dinner at their home in Baker City, Ore. Because of the closing of Baker City's only obstetrical unit, the family is traveling to the Boise, Idaho area, a little over 100 miles away, to give birth.

“I was sitting in a hair salon a few days ago and some people started joking about me giving birth on the side of the road. And in that moment, I just pictured all the things that could go wrong with my baby and broke down in tears in front of strangers.”

“Maternity Care Deserts" - Why Are Many Rural Hospitals Closing Their Maternity Wards?