Autism and Three Little Bears - A Mother's Voice

Please Welcome Guest Blogger and Friend, Lois Fontanez-Molina

Daniel

 When my son Daniel was first diagnosed with Autism in May 2010, it was a heartbreaking event.  At the time, I was a mom of two, Adriana is older than Daniel by 2 and a half years, and pregnant with my third child, Chloe.  I didn't know much about autism but I knew that our lives as we knew it was about to change in a way that I couldn't imagine.

Save the Date FREE Pap Screens in New York City

We are so happy to announce that on Saturday, May 18, 2013, Tamika & Friends New York Chapter, in collaboration with New York Presbyterian Hospital, will be providing FREE pap screens to women in need.

We want to especially thank Dr. Jason D. Wright, M.D. for participating again this year! Please do not miss out on this opportunity, and help us spread the word. A recent Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer shows that while the U.S. is making progress on controlling some cancerous tumors, the rates for human papillomavirus related cancers still remain high. Early detection and prevention saves lives, and with screening, education and vaccination, cervical cancer is nearly 100% preventable. 

Lots of love, health and happiness,

xoxo Helen

Treating my tresses with TRESemmé

I love New York City. It's a city where walking down every block is like going to a different country - minus the passport. Of course there's always something going on, but two weeks in a year we get invaded by some of the most respected designers in the business, otherwise known as Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week.

Protecting our kids from Respiratory Syncytial Virus

As a health educator, I visit children of all ages and teach them about their personal hygiene, how to get fit, and how to make healthier eating choices. Have you visited your child's school recently? The kids love to tell me the scoop on what's going on in their house, give me (and their friends) big hugs, and of course, share their germs with everybody! 

You might think that getting head lice or the flu is bad enough, but did you know about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)? I sure didn't. Did you also know that most children will get RSV by the time they are 2 years old? Me neither. RSV is a contagious viral disease that can infect the lungs and breathing passages, leading to serious lung infections and hospitalizations for some children. While the virus is present year-round, it's especially present during the fall, and peaks in the winter. Here in New York, RSV season began in November, and is expected to end sometime in March. RSV spreads rapidly among children, and while most will get better in 1 to 2 weeks, they can still continue to spread the virus for 1 to 3 weeks. There is no cure for RSV, but there are ways to prevent it from affecting your children.