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I'm grateful for the events that led me to my turning point, and I'm proud of the spiritual growth and clarity that has come from my sobriety. That's what matters most.

Calm down, people! Yes, Ebola is devastating, and it may continue to gnaw at Africa and the developing world, but it won't turn into an American catastrophe. Let me explain why I believe we will win this battle.

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The companies that succeed in solving the problems of pandemics will surely reap the large financial returns that Silicon Valley looks for. But the social returns will be far greater.

When you don't betray yourself by running away, by eating your sorrows, and by drowning your pain in food, you allow space for healing. Your heart begins to mend, your soul begins to shine, and your smile returns.

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I have healed. My jaw works, I can chew, and the pain is gone. Food has, once again, become a source of happiness, entertainment, and togetherness in my life. But I will never forget those early post-op weeks.

Some days I can forget about it. I don't have to double up on ibuprofen and paracetamol, stick menthol heat patches over my neck or wear a hot water bottle draped on my shoulders. Unfortunately, those days are few and far between.

Betsy Hnath

Now when I see the traits we have in common I secretly apologize, sure that the more features we share, the more likely we share the BRCA2 also. "I'm so sorry," I whisper, tears welling, gazing at my daughter who looks most like me. "I didn't mean it."

It may not be true for you, but it's true for them. If they think your story is the best one they've ever read or that your church solo moved them or that you look nice in that sweater, that's their business, and they get to be right.

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I've seen the vaccination debate from many angles, and I think I can help clear some things up. Above all, I want to make it clear to those frightened parents that there's nothing to be afraid of. Here are the most common concerns I hear, and some responses.

Have your children asked you about Ebola yet? The pandemic is causing quite a stir in the news and social media, and while you grapple with your own questions and fears, you should also prepare yourself for how to handle your child's questions and potential anxieties as well.

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When the risks are very high and the treatment benefits low, a duty to treat is less than categorical.

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We've come to a pivotal moment where a need created by technological advances is once again being filled by technological advances. That is what makes technology so exciting -- its ability both to shape and be shaped by humanity. So find a tech-health product that fits your needs.

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Mental-health services in the U.S. are a failed mess: underfunded, disorganized, inaccessible, misallocated, dispirited, and driven by commercial interest. The current nonsystem is a shameful disgrace that won't change unless the various voices who care about the mentally ill can achieve greater harmony.

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Imagine being pregnant while having a chronic health condition such as diabetes, hypertension, depression or asthma, or being diagnosed with an illness while pregnant. Amazingly, your doctor may not know exactly what treatments or drugs, or what dose, will work best for you. This is a reality faced by American women every day.

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Studies show as many as 48 percent of people in abusive situations stay out of concern for their pets' safety, and more than 70 percent of pet owners entering shelters report their batterer had threatened, injured or killed their pets. But despite this issue, most domestic violence shelters only take humans -- no pets are allowed.

They say there is nothing fiercer than a mama bear protecting her cubs, and when a diagnosis of cancer comes, many women feel deep fear and an unwavering will to live.

For me, what is so ruthless about Ebola in particular, is the way it forces victims to anticipate death, be ostracized and feared and remain void of human touch and personal connection. My test results came back negative for Ebola. I had never been happier to have Malaria.