The Tale of the Two Lauras

In 2001, when Laura Buxton was just 10 years old, she released a red balloon into the air over her hometown in Staffordshire, England. On a card attached to the balloon, she wrote: “Please return to Laura Buxton.” Her home address was on the other side. A few weeks later, a man 140 miles away found the balloon stuck in his hedges. When he read the note, he immediately took the balloon to his neighbor……..a 10-year-old girl named Laura Buxton. While that’s a strange enough occurrence, that’s not all. A few weeks later the two girls met for the first time. Amazingly, the outfits they chose to wear were the same — a pink sweater with faded blue jeans. They were also the same height and wore their identical brown hair in the same style. They even owned guinea pigs that displayed similar orange markings. Although they’re not related, the two Lauras have remained close all these years. The both believe that when people come together and connect, every moment holds the potential for something spectacular to happen.

 

 

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If You’re a Senior Citizen, You May Be Taking Too Many Showers

As we age, staying clean becomes even more important, but also a bit trickier. That's because as we get older, our skin changes, becoming thinner and more delicate (think crepe paper). These changes happen partly because our skin produces less sebum — the natural oil that helps keep it moisturized. Without enough sebum, skin can dry out more easily, which means older skin needs a different kind of care. That’s why senior citizens need to rethink how often they take a shower. Experts suggest that people over 65 should aim for one or two showers a week. Unlike younger folks, older adults don’t need to wash every day to stay clean. The idea is to keep the skin’s natural oils intact, maintaining its moisture. Taking daily showers can strip these oils away, making dryness even worse and potentially leading to other skin problems. By cutting back on showers, seniors can not only keep themselves clean but also help their skin stay healthier.

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First Rooftop Intensive Care Unit Opens in England

The first of its kind outdoor intensive care unit has enough space for six patients, who can be connected to power and oxygen supplies housed in a waterproof box next to each bed. The canopy design means that some of the most seriously ill patients can safely enough be outside in the fresh air. Hollie Allan (pictured below) is the first patient to try out the new intensive care rooftop ward at King’s College Hospital in south London. “I forgot what it feels like to be outside,” she said. Hollie, who is waiting for a vital heart operation, had been too ill to go outside, even before she was admitted to the hospital. Research suggests that exposure to fresh air and nature can boost patient well-being and reduce time spent in the hospital. Doctors say there could be huge benefits for these patients who have been hospitalized for extended periods. They now plan to monitor patients’ heart rates, respiratory rates and pain levels to see if the outdoor rooftop ward helps them recover more quickly. The new rooftop garden has been integrated into the hospital's 60-bed intensive care unit, one of the largest in the country.

 

 

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Cottage Cheese Egg Bake

For mornings when you need an extra filling breakfast, a cottage cheese egg bake is the perfect option. This dish starts with eggs and cottage cheese, which creates a light and fluffy high-protein base. From there, you can customize the bake to your liking with any combination of seasonings, cheese, meat or veggies. The egg casserole bakes in under an hour and can be made a few days in advance to warm up throughout the week.

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• 6 eggs

• ½ cup cottage cheese

• ½ yellow onion, diced

• ½ cup spinach, chopped

• 3 cherry tomatoes, diced

• ¼ cup zucchini, diced or shredded

• ½ cup shredded Parmesan, divided

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. 

• Grease 9X13baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil. 

• In large bowl, beat eggs, cottage cheese, salt, pepper and garlic powder until fully combined. 


• Add yellow onion, spinach, cherry tomatoes, zucchini and half Parmesan cheese to egg mixture and stir to combine.


• Pour mixture into greased baking dish and top with remainder of Parmesan cheese. 


• Bake 35-50 minutes or until edges are set and center is golden brown and barely jiggly. 

• Cool slightly and slice into 8 even squares.

 

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