Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

This week American Airlines (AA) made the announcement that they are partnering with Dallas-based Susan G. Komen foundation on a mission to promote breast cancer research.

The partnership represents a newly created fundraising category for Komen called Promise Grants, which are collaborative, inter-disciplinary research projects with the strong potential to discover and deliver the cures for breast cancer more quickly.

AA has pledged to raise a minimum of $1 million annually for eight years, to fund Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s first Promise Grant — a $7.5 million, five-year study of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) at The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The remainder will be used to fund health and community programs.

The specially co-branded aircraft — an American Airlines Boeing 757, and an American Eagle Embraer 145 — will raise money for a breast cancer cure.

Distinctive pink streamers extend the full length of the fuselage of the two airplanes.

As this story was about to be posted to the Dallas.IsMyHome blog, we were contacted by a woman that works at a high-level position with an internationally known technology company. (She requested that her personal details be kept private.)

After several years of utilizing AA as a primary transportation means for her business trips to Europe and South America, she contacted AA yesterday via email to find out if they would please extend her Elite privilege for another year as she has been dealing with a diagnosis for breast cancer, surgeries, chemo and recovery since February of this year and wasn’t going to be able to make the 50,000 mile minimum.

Now keep in mind that the Elite privilege that she is requesting are perks that she has already earned on an annual basis and doesn’t cost AA any money. These perks include:

As you can see, these are trivial perks but can make a world of difference for a woman that is still in recovery.

AA’s customer service replied that no, they would not extend her elite status but that she was welcome to PURCHASE her status when she began traveling again.

We contacted AA’s media department today via email requesting an official response as we strive to report a balanced view; however, at the time of this posting, AA has not replied.

The email from the woman to AA and AA’s response are posted here in their entirety:

Original Message Follows:
>————————
>E-mail received from:
>TERI MXXXXXX, 7LXXXXX, TERI.MXXXXXX@XXXXX.COM,
>(Home)XX4-XXXXXX,4 Date Generated: 08/12/08 08:50
>Regarding:
>—Message Comments—
>Hello,
>
>So Far this year I have not been able to travel due to breast
>cancer and chemotherapy. I will loose my platinum status but
>will be resuming travel in November. I am hoping that my
>platinum status can be extended through next year where I will
>then be earning it again. Thank you for your compassion and
>understanding.

American Airlines Reply:
>From: ext AAdvantage Customer Service
>[mailto:Aadvantage_Customer_Svc@aa.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 11:29 AM
>To: XXXXXXX Teri (XXXXX-D/Miami)
>Subject: Re: Other (KMM6745123V54191L0KM)
>
>Dear Ms. MXXXXXX,
>
>We’re glad you contacted AAdvantage(r) Customer Service. I’m
>happy to help.
>
>Under the circumstances, we certainly understand your concerns
>about your AAdvantage(r) elite membership. We sympathize with
>what you are going through, and extend our best wishes for a
>rapid recovery.
>
>Please contact us than and at that time we will afford you the
>opportunity to regain your elite Platinum membership by buying
>your Platinum status back. In the interim, please accept our
>apologies that we are unable to suspend your AAdvantage
>Platinum(r) membership until your health improves. The elite
>Membership Year extends from March 1 to the last day of
>February of the following year, at which time all memberships
>are downgraded one elite level unless members requalify for
>the same or higher status.
>
>We wish you all the best and encourage you to let us know as
>soon as you’re back on your feet — and back up in the air! It
>would be our pleasure to assist you in once again qualifying
>for AAdvantage Platinum membership.
>
>Thank you for participating in the AAdvantage program. We
>appreciate your business.
>
>Regards,
>
>Carmen N.
>AAdvantage Customer Service
>American Airlines

A new project broke ground Tuesday in Dallas that will thrill hikers and bikers. The Trinity Strand Trail will connect the existing Katy Trail to the Trinity River corridor.

In its current point in history, Dallas is not much of a walking, jogging city — not an outdoor town like Austin or Denver. However, there is a lot of work being done to try and change that.

On Tuesday along Turtle Creek, city leaders and leaders from the business community proudly turned over some soil to signify the start of work on the Trinity Strand Trail.

This will be a $25 million deal and part of the Trinity River revival project. By 2010, the trail will combine with the popular Katy Trail in uptown to give North Texans more than 22 miles of urban trails, providing access to Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas Market Center, Stemmons Corridor, and the Dallas Design District.

This is the time of the year when the windows are thrown open and everything given a thorough cleaning.

Perhaps it’s time to do the same for your body!

Gabriella Strebel of Pegasus Holistic Health Practice is offering an April special for those of you that are ready to declutter your body of old cheesy poofs and other nastiness.

Pegasus is offering a Colon Detox and Organ Detox program for an amazing value $150 and this does include all supplies needed for one month and a 60 minute session to address your questions.

If you aren’t familiar with why your body might need to detox, here are some of the culprits that might be cleaned up:

Frequent fatigue and low energy
Flatulence, gas & bloating
Excess weight
Food allergies
Impaired digestion
Irritability, mood swings
Bad breath & foul-smelling stools
Parasites in stool
Frequent colds
Recurring headaches
Chronic constipation
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Protruding belly (”pooch”)
Powerful food cravings
Skin problems, rashes, etc.
Metallic taste in mouth
Hemorrhoids
Candida infection

The Colon detox program is designed to:
Cleanse the colon of accumulated toxic build-up and prevent the formation of new
build-up through the use of herbal dietary fiber

Eliminate harmful parasites, including intestinal worms and their eggs from the colon
and other parts of the body

Help restore normal bowel function and promote regularity.

The Organ detox program works synergistically with the Colon detox to:
Remove heavy metals, including lead and mercury, as well as other toxins

Detoxify the liver, kidneys and other organs

Replenish friendly bacteria with a top-of-the-line probiotic supplement, and

Recharge the immune system through powerful antioxidant support.

Call today to reserve this special April 2008 only pricing:
Pegasus Holistic Health Practice
Gabriella Strebel, Cert. HHP, Cert. Hom., EFT Practitioner
3880 Parkwood Blvd., Suite #203
Frisco, TX 75034
phone: (972) 890 8674

December 1 is World AIDS Day.

While AIDS isn’t as scary now as it was 20 years ago, there are still far too many people suffering from the ravages of this disease.

Many organizations in Dallas provide services for those battling from AIDS complications. Learn how you can do more to raise awareness by getting involved with these organizations:

If you are wanting to protect yourself against a possible bout with the flu, the Dallas County Health & Human Services site provides a listing of locations offering immunization.

For a number of years I have chosen to fast on occasion. It might be for a day but usually it’s 3-5 days. In October 2006, I managed to fast for 30 days which was an amazing experience. Some people find it insane to willingly go without food, but I fast because I truly like the way it makes me feel physically with higher and more consistent energy levels, easily go to sleep at night, have a restful slumber and giving my body a chance to detox.

A number of people think I am nuts and it drives them batty when I attend lunch meetings and only sip water while they are having something battered, deep fried and covered in cream gravy. I don’t do a water fast but I do fast with fresh vegetable and fruit juices coupled with water and green tea.

I’ve done a great deal of reading on the benefits of fasting and for me, I love it!

So, imagine my delight in reading that the Dallas-based American Heart Association released details about the benefits of fasting! Based upon research from a study at the University of Utah, fasting for as little as one day a month seems to give people healthier heart arteries.

As explained by study author, Dr. Benjamin Horne, removing food for a 24-hour period allows the heart’s arteries to rest and to reset by having the exposure to glucose removed. This in turns allows the arteries to become more sensitive to insulin when it is re-introduced to the system and it can better assimilate it.

*DISCLAIMER*
Please consult your doctor before fasting, eating healthy, partaking in homeopathy remedies, exercising, etc. Remember, the world of pharmaceuticals is big business and it’s important to keep the populace overweight and medically induced while increasing the drug companies profit margins!

A big “HOORAY!” to Parkland Hospital for taking their kitchen’s organic.

Effective next week and in an effort to address the health and well being of staff, patients and visitors, Parkland will be providing organic meals prepared with produce from local suppliers which helps our local farmers and economy.

Parkland is the first hospital in North Texas to make this change and we hope that others will soon follow suit!