Terry Fox :: essays research papers

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. As an active teenager involved in many sports, in 1977 Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with bone cancer and forced to have his right leg amputated six inches above the knee. The night before his operation, Terry read an article about an amputee who had competed in the New York Marathon. Indirectly that story, along with Terry's observations of the intense suffering of cancer patients, set the stage for what would ultimately become the most important decision of his young life. In 1980, Terry Fox inspired the nation by attempting to run across Canada with an artificial leg. He called this journey the Marathon of Hope. Its mission was to raise money and awareness for cancer research in Canada. With little to no attention, Terry started his journey in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980. Although it was difficult to get attention in the beginning, hype soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to rise. He ran 43 kilometers a day through Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Quebec and Ontario. September 1, 1980 -- it was a dull day in Northern Ontario when Terry Fox ran his last miles. After 18 miles he started coughing and felt a pain in his chest. Terry knew how to cope with pain. He'd despite it as he always had before, he'd simply keep going until the pain went away. For 3,339 miles, from St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada's eastern most city on the shore of the Atlantic, he'd run through six provinces and now was two-thirds of the way home. He'd run close to a marathon a day, for 144 days.

The Return: Midnight Chapter 32

â€Å"Damon doesn't mean to be such a – a bastard,†Bonnie said explosively. â€Å"He's just – so often he feels like it's the three of us against him – and – and – â€Å" â€Å"Well, who started that? Even back riding the thurgs,†Stefan said. â€Å"I know, but there's something else,†Bonnie said humbly. â€Å"Since it's only snow and rock and ice – he's – I don't know. He's al tight. Something's wrong.† â€Å"He's hungry,†Elena said, stricken by a sudden realization. Since the thurgs there had been nothing for the two vampires to hunt. They couldn't exist, like foxes, on insects and mice. Of course Lady Ulma had provided plenty of Black Magic for them, the only thing that even resembled a substitute for blood. But their supply was dwindling, and of course, they had to think of the trip back, as well . Suddenly Elena knew what would do her good. â€Å"Stefan,†she murmured, pul ing him into a nook in the craggy stone of the cave entrance. She pushed off her hood and unrol ed her scarf enough to expose one side of her neck. â€Å"Don't make me say ‘please'too many times,†she whispered to him. â€Å"I can't wait that long.† Stefan looked into her eyes, saw that she was serious – and determined – and kissed one of her mittened hands. â€Å"It's been long enough now, I think – no, I'm sure, or I would never even attempt this,†he whispered. Elena tipped her head back. Stefan stood between her and the wind and she was almost warm. She felt the little initial pain and then Stefan was drinking and their minds slid together like two raindrops on a glass window. He took very little blood. Just enough to make the difference in his eyes between Stillgreen pools and sparkling, effervescent streams. But then his gaze went Stillagain. â€Å"Damon†¦Ã¢â‚¬ he said, and paused awkwardly. What could Elena say? I just severed al ties with him? They were supposed to help one another along these trials; to show their wit and courage. If she refused, would she fail again? â€Å"Send him quick then,†she said. â€Å"Before I change my mind.† Five minutes later Elena was again tucked into the little nook, while Damon turned her head back and forth with dispassionate precision, then suddenly darted forward and sank his fangs into a prominent vein. Elena felt her eyes go wide. A bite that hurt this much – Well, she hadn't experienced it since the days when she had been stupid and unprepared and had fought with al her strength to get free. As for Damon's mind – there was a steel wal . Since she had to do this, she had been hoping to see the little boy who lived in Damon's inmost soul, the one who was the unwil ing Watch-Keeper over al of his secrets, but she couldn't even thaw the steel a little. After a minute or two, Stefan pul ed Damon off of her – not gently. Damon came away sul enly, wiping his mouth. â€Å"Are you okay?†Bonnie asked in a worried whisper, as Elena rummaged through Lady Ulma's medicine box for a piece of gauze to staunch the unhealed wounds in her neck. â€Å"I've been better,†Elena said briefly, as she wrapped up her scarf again. Bonnie sighed. â€Å"Meredith is the one who real y belongs here,†she said. â€Å"Yes, but Meredith real y belongs in Fel ‘s Church, too. I only hope they can hold on long enough for us to come back.† â€Å"I only hope that we can come back with something that wil help them,†Bonnie whispered. Meredith and Matt spent the time from 2:00 A.M. to dawn pouring infinitesimal drops from Misao's star bal onto the streets of the town, and asking the Power to – somehow – help them in the fight against Shinichi. This brisk movement from place to place had also netted a surprising bonus: kids. Not crazy kids. Normal ones, terrified of their brothers and sisters or of their parents, not daring to go home because of the awful things they had seen there. Meredith and Matt had crammed them into Matt's mother's second-hand SUV and brought them to Matt's house. In the end, they had more than thirty kids, from ages five to sixteen, al too frightened to play, or talk, or even to ask for anything. But they'd eaten everything Mrs. Flowers could find that wasn't spoiled in Matt's refrigerator and pantry, and from the pantries of the deserted houses on either side of the Honeycutts'. Matt, watching a ten-year-old girl cramming plain white bread into her mouth with wolfish hunger, tears running down her grimy face as she chewed and swal owed, said quietly to Meredith, â€Å"Think we've got any ringers in here?† â€Å"I'd bet my life on it,†she replied just as quietly. â€Å"But what are we going to do? Cole doesn't know anything helpful. We'l just have to pray that the un-possessed kids wil be able to help us when Shinichi's ringers attack.† â€Å"I think the best option when confronted by possessed kids who may have weapons is to run.† Meredith nodded absently, but Matt noticed she took the stave everywhere with her now. â€Å"I've devised a little test for them. I'm going to smack every one with a Post-It, and see what happens. Kids who've done things they regret may get hysterical, kids who're already just terrified may get some comfort, and the ringers wil either attack or run.† â€Å"This I have to see.† Meredith's test lured out only two ringers in the whole mob, a thirteen-year-old boy and a fifteen-year-old girl. Each of them screamed and darted through the house, shrieking wildly. Matt couldn't stop them. When it was al over and the older kids were comforting the younger ones, Matt and Meredith finished boarding up the windows and pasting amulets between the boards. They spent the evening scouting for food, questioning the kids about Shinichi and the Last Midnight, and helping Mrs. Flowers treat injuries. They tried to keep one person on guard at alltimes, but since they had been up and moving since 1:30 A.M., they were al very tired. At a quarter to eleven Meredith came to Matt, who was cleaning the scratches of a yel ow-haired eight-year-old. â€Å"Okay,†she said quietly, â€Å"I'm going to take my car and get the new amulets Mrs. Saitou said she'd have done by now. Do you mind if I take Saber?† Matt shook his head. â€Å"No, I'l do it. I know the Saitous better, anyway.† Meredith gave what, in a less refined person, might have been cal ed a snort. â€Å"I know them well enough to say, excuse me, Inari-Obaasan; excuse me, Orime-san; we're the troublemakers who keep asking for huge amounts of anti-evil amulets, but you don't mind that, do you?† Matt smiled faintly, let the eight-year-old go, and said, â€Å"Well, they might mind it less if you got their names straight. ‘Obaasan'means ‘grandma,'right?† â€Å"Yes, of course.† â€Å"And ‘san'is just a thingy you put at the end of a name to be polite.† Meredith nodded, adding, â€Å"And ‘a thingy at the end'is cal ed an ‘honorific suffix.'† â€Å"Yeah, yeah, but for al your big words you've got their names wrong. It's Orime-grandma and Orime-Isobel's-mother. So Orime-Obaasan and Orime-san, too.† Meredith sighed. â€Å"Look, Matt, Bonnie and I met them first. Grandma introduced herself as Inari. Now I know she's a little wacky, but she would certainly know her own name, right?† â€Å"And she introduced herself to me and said not just that she was named Orime, but that her daughter was named after her. Talk your way out of that one.† â€Å"Matt, shal I get my notebook? It's in the boardinghouse den – â€Å" Matt gave a short sharp laugh – almost a sob. He looked to make sure Mrs. Flowers wasn't around and then hissed, â€Å"It's somewhere down at the center of the earth, maybe. There is no den anymore.† For a moment Meredith looked simply shocked, but then she frowned. Matt glared darkly. It didn't help to think that they were the two most unlikely of their group to quarrel. Here they were, and Matt could practical y see the sparks flying. â€Å"All right,†Meredith said final y, â€Å"I'l just go over there and ask for Orime-Obaasan, and then tel them it was al your fault when they laugh.† Matt shook his head. â€Å"Nobody's going to laugh, because you're going to get it right that way.† â€Å"Look, Matt,†Meredith said, â€Å"I've been reading so much on the Internet that I even know the name Inari. I've come across it somewhere. And I'm sure I would have made†¦made the connection†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Her voice trailed off. When Matt turned his eyes down from the ceiling, he started. Meredith's face was white and she was breathing quickly. â€Å"Inari†¦Ã¢â‚¬ she whispered. â€Å"I do know that name, but†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Suddenly she grabbed Matt's wrist so hard that it hurt. â€Å"Matt, is your computer absolutely dead?† â€Å"It went when the electricity went. By now even the generator is gone.† â€Å"But you have a mobile that connects to the Internet, right?† The urgency in her voice made Matt, in turn, take her seriously. â€Å"Sure,†he said. â€Å"But the battery's been kaput for at least a day. Without electricity I can't recharge it. And my mom took hers. She can't live without it. Stefan and Elena must've left their stuff at the boardinghouse – â€Å"He shook his head at Meredith's hopeful expression and whispered, â€Å"Or, should I say, where the boardinghouse used to be.† â€Å"But we have to find a mobile or computer that works! We have to! I need it to work for just a minute!†Meredith said frantical y, breaking away from him and beginning to pace as if trying to beat some world record. Matt was staring at her in bewilderment. â€Å"But why?† â€Å"Because we have to. I need it, even just for a minute!† Matt could only gaze at her, perplexed. Final y he said, â€Å"I guess we can ask the kids.† â€Å"The kids! One of them has got to have a live mobile! Come on, Matt, we have to talk to them right now.†She stopped and said, rather huskily, â€Å"I pray that you're right and I'm wrong.† â€Å"Huh?†Matt had no idea what was going on. â€Å"I said I pray that I'm wrong! You pray, too, Matt – please!†

Essay: A Visit to the Zoo

A Visit to the Zoo Zoo is a place where all sorts of tame and wild animals are kept. There are birds and beasts which tell us about the flora and fauna of our country as well as foreign countries. It is in this respect a giver of knowledge and information. Delhi zoo is housed in the Purana Kila on the Mathura Road. It has a fine and rare collection of birds and animals from all parts of the world. The zoo is spread over several acres of land. The birds and animals are kept, as far as possible, in their natural surroundings. There is a moat encircling the enclosures of wild animals so that they might not escape.One day I went to the zoo in the company of some of my friends. We bought tickets at the gate, and entered the zoo. First we came upon the enclosure where water fowls were swimming in water. The ducks and drakes were swimming and picking up things thrown to them. We enjoyed their playful antics for some time and moved on. Next we came to the enclosure of the wild animals. There were lions, tigers, and leopards belonging to different countries. The Gir lion of India seemed to be most ferocious. The enclosures smelt of meat, provided to them everyday.In another enclosure were the monkeys. They too, were of several varieties. The ape with a black face seemed to be the most mischievous. He was all the time grinning at the onlookers. The visitors threw parched grams to the monkeys and they seemed to relish it. At a small distance we saw a peacock. It was dancing. I ran to that side. The peacock seemed td be unmindful of the presence of the crowd. Closeby was an enclosure for the deer. It covered a vast area and the deer were roaming about freely- Near to the enclosure we saw a buffalo-like animal.It was the rhino munching some maize plants. It looked dreadful with its sharp horn on the nose. The sight of the rhino at once reminded me of the adventure of Colonel White as given in our text-book of English. On our way back we saw some elephants. They were being u sed for a joy-ride on payment. Lastly, we saw the covered enclosures where birds were flying about. They were of different colours and shapes. Now it was getting dark. The bell rang and we came out. The visit to the zoo added a good deal to our knowledge of birds and beasts.

Nursing Accountability Vte Essays

Nursing Accountability Vte Essays Nursing Accountability Vte Essay Nursing Accountability Vte Essay Running head: NURSING ACCOUNTABILITY Nursing Accountability Sarah Redmond Grand Canyon University Professional Dynamics NRS-430V July 24, 2011 Nursing Accountability Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a disease that includes both deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). More than 2 million Americans suffer from VTE each year, with over half of these individuals developing their VTE in the hospital or in the 30 days post hospitalization. In a large registry trial capturing more than 5,450 patients at 183 sites over a 6-month period, 50 percent (2,726) developed their VTE during hospitalization. Nurses are accountable in helping change the practice of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis. There are many risk factors that can cause VTE including recent hospitalization, surgery, prolonged immobility, recent travel, trauma, and certain conditions including heart disease, respiratory disease, cancer, and clotting disorders. In our study, waist circumference was more predictive of a VTE than body mass index. We also found that heavy smoking predicted a VTE, whereas hypertension did not (Hansson et al. , 1999). There are pharmacological and non pharmacological ways to protect patients in the hospital setting. Using these in conjunction with each other is the overall safest method. Non pharmacological methods of VTE prophylaxis include early ambulation, sequential compression devices (SCD), and compression stockings. Early ambulation promotes venous return and helps minimize length of stay in hospitals. Compression stockings and SCDs help prevent venous stasis. A recent systematic review found that graduated compression stockings, intermittent pneumatic compression devices, and foot pumps reduce the risk of DVT in surgical patients by two thirds when used in monotherapy and by an additional 50% when added to drug prophylaxis (Roderick et al. 2005). Pharmacological methods of VTE prophylaxis include anticoagulants such as low molecular weight heparin, unfractionated heparin, and vitamin k antagonists. These medications are given to prevent clot formation, not to actually dissolve the clots. It’s important to know which patients are at greater risk and which type of prophylaxis should be used. In most hospitals there is a VTE protocol that is followed to determine the risk level of patients and which prophylactic measure to implement. It’s important for medical personnel to help develop and implement these VTE protocols. These protocols should be mandated in every hospital at time of admission. Doctors need to review VTE risks for patients and order which prophylactic measure to use along with admission orders. In addition to the doctor’s risk assessment for VTE, nurses should assess their patients for risk factors and signs or symptoms. If prophylactic measures are not ordered, nurses can ask the doctor if they feel prophylaxis is warranted or make them aware. Quality improvement teams can be initiated throughout hospitals. Team members can help develop, improve, and review VTE protocols to make sure they are being ordered and are effective in prevention. There are many ways nurses can be accountable in the prevention of venous thromboemobolisms. Nurses can walk high risk patients often and help patients perform leg exercises without a physician’s order if not contraindicated. Proper measurement and correct application of compression stockings are essential to their performance, so helping the patients with this would be beneficial. There should be frequent assessments of patient’s skin integrity, pulses, and comfort when using compression stockings. Patient education is very important in the prevention of VTE. Nurses should make sure patients understand reasons for the different prophylactic measures and make them aware of signs and symptoms to watch for. Proper medication administration of anticoagulation agents is essential, as with any other medication. It’s important to have the patient’s exact weight, because even the slightest wrong dose of some of these anticoagulants can be very detrimental and even kill a patient. To make sure these medications have a purposeful effect, it is important to teach the patients how to take them properly. Nearly two-thirds of 9,675 medical patients at risk for venous thromboembolism received no inpatient pharmacologic prophylaxis, and more than 98% received no outpatient prophylaxis, a retrospective analysis showed (Wendling, 2010). Prophylaxis is the most important way to prevent these deadly venous thromboembolisms from forming. References Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2011). Retrieved from ahrq. gov/qual/vtguide/vtguideapa. htm Hansson, P. O. , Eriksson, H. , Welin, L. , Svardsudd, K. , Wilhelmsen, L. (1999). Smoking and abdominal obesity. Archives of Internal Medicine, 159(16), 1886-1890. Roderick, P. , Ferris, G. , Wilson, K. , Halls, H. , Jackson, D. , Collins, R. et al. (2005). Evidence based guidelines for the prevention of venous thromboembolism. Health Technology Assessment, 9 Wendling, P. (2010). Many at-risk patients lack VTE prophylaxis. American College of Chest Physicians. Retrieved from chestnet. org/accp/article/chest-physician/many-risk-patients-lack-vte-prophylaxis

Sexual revolutions impact on the american character essays

Sexual revolutions impact on the american character essays In the mid-1960s, a major change in morals and attitudes towards sexual expression, known as the Sexual Revolution, affected all of American society. Popularity of rock music, fashion changes, displays of nudity, youth rebellion, and openness to ones sexuality, brought on by the Sexual Revolution, contributed to anchor young Americans awareness of cultural change in the 1960s. The Sexual Revolution created a major change in the music styles of the sixties from the music styles of the fifties. The music styles of the fifties was mainly rhythm-and-blues and pop, but over the decade between 1960 to 1970 music, shifted to psychedelic mysticism. Fashion was more exciting and risqu in the sixties. Womens fashion changed from traditional shirtwaist dress suits in the fifties to pants. The sixties was the first decade fashion designers began to design pants for women. Another difference the Sexual Revolution created between the youth of the fifties and the youth of the sixties was their sex ual attitude. In the 1950s most young people were awaiting getting married, having a nice home, and having children whereas youth of the sixties looked at marriage as being part of the straight society they disliked. Not only did the youth of the sixties marry later, but also the birthrate decreased due to the legalization of contraceptives. The Sexual Revolution contributed to a chaotic decade of youth rebellion and protests against traditional social customs with its influences on music, fashion, media and personal choices through its impact on sexual and individual freedoms. One of these freedoms impacted by the Sexual Revolution was the music world. Music in past decades was considered music that was good for the soul. It had soothing melodies and lyrics focused on true love, crushes, and dancing. The music of the sixties created a completely different tune. It began to take on a hipper beat with lyrics that alluded to drug ...

Creons Dramatic Monologue from Antigone

Creons Dramatic Monologue from Antigone Considering he appears in all three plays of  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Sophocles Oedipus trilogy, Creon is a complex and diverse character. In  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Oedipus the King, he serves as an advisor and moral compass. In Oedipus at Colonus, he tries to negotiate with the blind ex-monarch in hopes of gaining power. Finally  in, Creon has attained the throne after a long civil war between two brothers,  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Eteocles, and Polyneices. Oedipus’ son Eteocles died defending the city-state of Thebes. Polyneices, on the other hand, dies trying to usurp power from his brother. Creons Dramatic Monologue In this monologue  placed at the play’s beginning, Creon establishes the conflict. The fallen Etecles is granted a hero’s funeral. However, Creon decrees that the traitorous Polyneices will be left to rot in the wilderness. This royal order will stir up a singular rebellion when the devoted sister of the brothers, Antigone, refuses to abide by Creon’s laws. When Creon punishes her for following the will of the Olympian Immortals and not the rule of the king, he incurs the wrath of the gods. The following excerpt is reprinted from Greek Dramas. Ed. Bernadotte Perrin. New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1904 CREON: I now possess the throne and all its powers, by nearness of kinship to the dead. No man can be fully known, in soul and spirit and mind, until he hath been seen versed in rule and law-giving. For if any, being supreme guide of the state, cleaves not to the best counsels, but, through some fear, keeps his lips locked, I hold, and have ever held, him most base; and if any makes a friend of more account than his fatherland, that man hath no place in my regard. For Ibe Zeus my witness, who sees all things alwayswould not be silent if I saw ruin, instead of safety, coming to the citizens; nor would I ever deem the countrys foe a friend to myself; remembering this, that our country is the ship that bears us safe, and that only while she prospers in our voyage can we make true friends. Such are the rules by which I guard this citys greatness. And in accord with them is the edict which I have now published to the folk touching the sons of Oedipus; that Eteocles, who hath fallen fighti ng for our city, in all renown of arms, shall be entombed, and crowned with every rite that follows the noblest dead to their rest. But for his brother, Polyneiceswho came back from exile, and sought to consume utterly with fire the city of his fathers and the shrines of his fathers godssought to taste of kindred blood, and to lead the remnant into slaverytouching this man, it hath been proclaimed to our people that none shall grace him with sepulture or lament, but leave him unburied, a corpse for birds and dogs to eat, a ghastly sight of shame.

Environmental studies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Environmental studies - Essay Example A region’s environment and climatic conditions will usually determine its adaptations do handling of the environmental problems that arise. Ideally, at their core, the environmental problems faced and the available solutions are culturally and organizationally rooted in the society (Howard-Grenville, 2007). In this topical discussion, Michael Maniates points out that it is the environmental imaginations of people that are too narrow or egocentric in offering solutions that can deal responsibly with environmental problems. Furthermore, James Speth notes that the lack of a new consciousness in the society has also led to the deep embeddedness of the environmental problems in the worldview. However, Lynn White Jr. clearly spells this out when he recognizes that there is a cultural aspect in the creation and provision of viable environmental solutions, and that non-reliance on technological, scientific and economic solutions should not be at the expense of the culture. In all thes e aspects, I would like to take a stance and agree with these ideologies and state that solutions to environmental problems cannot be sought through the same worldviews that caused them. The world’s biggest problem environmentally is to overlook the social dimensions regarding environmental problems and concentrate on the economic and technological aspects. In essence, the provision of the solutions should be based on totally different cultural perspectives. First, there is an urgent need for control of the population growth in most countries. Nearly everyone relies on the environmental resources for survival and in cases of overpopulation the available resources become strained thus, adverse effects on the environment. Coupled with unsustainable development, the results on the environment are usually adverse and if not corrected, may lead to environmental degradation (Johnston, 2012). Second, it is true that the economical and technological activities too have a direct impac t on the degradation of environmental conditions. However, the core causes are personal beliefs, cultural norms and societal institutions. In line with the personal beliefs, an environmentalist or environmental program manager will have to ensure that the way people act and think towards the environment is changed for them to be able to appreciate its benefits. For instance, if a person constantly thinks about cutting of trees and dumping of garbage without considerate thoughts, bringing that person into accepting the benefits of maintaining environment will begin by culturally transforming his thoughts and acts. Finally, the solutions to the environmental problems need to be based on the addressing of the lack of attention that has been propagated towards the achievement of improved environmental sustainability. This can be possible when a consideration for the full scope that cultural shift presents in the real world today is critically analyzed and idealized. Consequently, the va rious forms of individual and organizational barriers towards environmental preservation need to be enhanced as only through these can the causative effects become easily mitigated upon. Better still, there needs to be an informed understanding of the available strategies that can be applied towards the overcoming of organizational barriers that hinder environmental preservation and restoration activities. Some of these strategies can be applied based on the societal understanding of