Susana's Blog

Postcards from the World to the New President

Stay tuned

posted by Susana Rosende on November 8th, 2008, 1:29 PM

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Barack Obama Wins. The USA and The World Celebrate

posted by Susana Rosende on November 8th, 2008, 3:29 AM

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Today is the Day: McCain vs. Obama


For a lighter look at the Turning Points of the 2008 Election, click: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/opinion/04points.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

posted by Susana Rosende on November 4th, 2008, 7:29 AM

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The Important Thing is To Vote!

This year's presidential race is exciting on so many levels. And for the first time in years, I like all four candidates, both presidential and vice presidential, so much so in fact, that I am still undecided.

Historically, Cuban Americans are staunch Republicans, citing reasons such as the Bay of Pigs fiasco and the fear that any view left of center may be socialistic, and therefore lead to Communism. If it sounds paranoid, you must understand that Fidel Castro denied he was a Communist until he was in power. Yet, the current issues of two wars (Iraq/Afghanistan) and the economy (layoffs, high gas prices, housing crisis, healthcare insurance) have me wishing for CHANGE (Obama), EXPERIENCE (McCain) (Biden), and WASHINGTON OUTSIDERS (Palin).

So, being the Technical Writer that I am, I research both sides, by reading about the issues and the candidates, and trying to attend and/or watch all the speeches and debates.

Sarah Palin was in Kissimmee one weekend, and my son Joey and I attended the rally with Republican friends. If you watch closely at the beginning of the video, you will see me with camera in the lower right-hand corner of the screen behind Governor Sarah Palin:



  

Click video below:



Despite the seriousness of the issues, I'm enjoying the humor and hope you enjoy the political parodies I've posted below, including the most recent Saturday Night Live show, featuring Senator John McCain:

Obama Rallys in 39 Degree Rain in Widener, Pennsylvania




Obama Rally with 75,000 People in Attendance on May 18th, 2008


"Evita Palin" 2008

Rednecks in the News and The Red Diaper Baby:

MORE HUMOR:

  • Angry McCain Gets Teletubbies off his Lawn:
  • Don't Cry for Me Sarah Palin:
  • Obama: Both a Red Diaper Baby and the American Messiah

    • Whether you vote for John McCain/Sarah Palin or Barack Obama/Joe Biden, the important thing is to vote. It is a privilege to vote in the United States. All American Citizens are urged to vote on November 4th!

    Last, but not least, while you're at it, vote for Time Magazine's "PERSON OF THE YEAR!"

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 26th, 2008, 9:19 PM

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    The Real Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live

    Will the Real Sarah Palin please stand up?! The following videos present the clever and funny skits featuring Vice Presidential Candidate Governor Sarah Palin on last night's SNL. For the write-up, click http://www.celebitchy.com/16356/sarah_palins_saturday_night_live_appearance_featuring_mark_wahlberg.



    posted by Susana Rosende on October 19th, 2008, 7:19 PM

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    Little Old Ladies Attack Obama Supporters at Palin Rally



    Many in the community have expressed shock and dismay about this growing trend of violent old ladies, some of whom brutally attacked Obama supporters at a recent Palin rally, by punching, kicking, scratching, and elbowing their victims, coupled with verbal abuse. For story, see     http://stix1972.typepad.com/stix_blog/2008/10/old-lady-repubs.html

    As terrorized Americans prepare to protect themselves from further attacks, they look to their British allies across the pond. The Brits have been dealing with notorious violent biddies in both rural and urban neighborhoods since the sixties. See video, below:

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 19th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    The Vice Presidential Candidate Debate - ALSO Deemed a Tie by Most



    The Parody:


    For another response, see     Folksy Palin Charms and Seasoned Biden Shines

    posted by Susana Rosende on October 6th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    The First Presidential Candidate Debate - Deemed a Tie by Most



    The Parody


    posted by Susana Rosende on September 28th, 2008, 6:19 PM

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    Sarah Palin

    Yikes! Which one of the following two interviews is the funny one?
    (Suddenly, there's a lot of humor in the media about America's Sweetheart, the Republican VP candidate. Unfortunately, not all the humor was intentional.)







    posted by Susana Rosende on September 28th, 2008, 2:19 PM

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    USA Vote 2008!

    Obama-Biden vs. McCain-Palin The upcoming 2008 presidential election is going to be a very exciting one, indeed.

    Taking into consideration all the national and global issues impacting the United States today, it is crucial to vote, and even more so to select the very best candidate to handle the unique challenges facing today's presidential candidates.

    (Click below to learn more about each of the presidential candidates.)

    All citizens of the United States of America should take the privilege of voting very seriously and carefully scrutinize both the position and the experience of each presidential hopeful before casting their votes.















    Digital Art of Susana's faced superimposed on the Statue of Liberty with the American flag in the background

    Thousands of Americans have already made up their minds. For those who have not, it's not too late, as the following video shows.

    Please click the link in the video (below) for a special presentation about the most recent presidential candidate to "come up from behind."

    For more humor, see the following video:

    posted by Susana Rosende on September 26th, 2008, 2:19 PM

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    Petition Against Trademark

    As many of you know, my middle child, Sean, had Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a birth defect that today afflicts 1,600 babies, and kills 800 per year. Although CDH occurs as often as Spina Bifida and Cystic Fibrosis, CDH most often has fatal results. Dawn Torrence, the President of CHERUBS- The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Advocacy, and Support, also lost a son at six years of age to this birth defect.

    Dawn has worked tirelessly to bring awareness and support to the community, especially back when there were no support groups and CDH families had nowhere to turn. I, myself, credit Dawn's website and forums for the knowledge and support I received for years after the loss of Sean.

    Now, another organization has filed a trademark to "own" the phrase "Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness" preventing others from using this language for fundraising and support in the future, as well as demanding that Dawn, and others, stop using this phrase on websites or literature for CDH advocacy, research, and support.

    While Breath of Hope is also a good resource for support and fundraising, it should join forces with CHERUBS to bring awareness to this devastating birth defect.

    One shouldn't be able to trademark the name of a health issue, birth defect, disorder, or disease, as it implies the ability to profit from it. So, just as Dawn supported me and all the other countless families across the world, I now support her in her fight against the filing of this trademark.

    I ask that you also please consider signing this petition. To do so, please click the following link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cdhawareness/

    We thank you for your support and ask that you please forward the link to family and friends, because it is important that all of us be free to raise Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Awareness.

    In Memory of my son, Sean Matthew Lutz, (April 29th-30th, 1988)

    On behalf of Dawn Torrence
    President & Founder
    CHERUBS - The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support http://www.cdhsupport.org
    270 Coley Rd, Henderson, NC 27537
    (252) 492-6003

    For more information on CDH, as well as resources and support information, please click the following links: Sculpture of an Angel holding an infant

    posted by Susana Rosende on August 13th, 2008, 2:19 AM

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    My Father, My Inspiration

    Photo of my dad holding me in his arms in Havana, Cuba. I was just an infant. My father, Alberto Carlos Rosende, Sr., has had a great impact on my life, both personally and professionally. He has instilled in me the values of family, hard work, and integrity, as well as the knowledge for the importance of having goals in life, and for never giving up, no matter the obstacles. He also inspired me to earn a university degree.

    Born in Havana, Cuba in 1926 to a working class family, my father learned at a young age that earning an advanced education was essential to gaining financial security. After receiving a scholarship to the University of Havana, he endured hardships (such as lacking bus fare or lunch money and needing to share college text books with his twin brother) to earn his Civil Engineering degree.

    His professional engineering career was curtailed in the early 1960s, when he chose to leave Cuba during Fidel Castro's revolution, and was then rejected for engineering positions in the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Previously in management, he was forced to start over as a Land Surveyor to support his family. However, he persevered, eventually landing a structural engineering position in NYC to support his wife and--eventually five--children. After 20 years with the company, he was transferred to Houston, Texas during the oil crisis. In Houston, the company folded. My father was laid off and lost all his retirement benefits. Undaunted, he found an engineering job at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he was laid off and re-hired numerous times, and then continued working until a few months before his 80th birthday (even after undergoing prostate and quadruple bypass surgeries, and even after losing my mom, his wife of 44 years, to congestive heart failure). My UCF ID

    After my divorce, my father encouraged me to return to college to earn my degree. My parents then welcomed me back into their home, and helped care for my then-two-year-old son, while I worked two jobs and commuted to school. My father, who prided himself on not missing days from work, took the day off to attend my college graduation. Because of his example, I am inspired as a single mother to continue striving toward new education and career goals, and in turn, to pass my father's values and legacy to my sons.

    (In the top photo, I am being held by my father, in Havana. In the bottom photo, I am at my college graduation from the University of Central Florida.)

    posted by Susana Rosende on May 1st, 2008, 10:51 AM

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    Diagnosed with Epilepsy

    Joey with rolled up jeans walking in surf (Photo at right is of Joey at Cape Canaveral, Florida during Spring Break in March 2008)

    On August 7th, 2007, my 14-year-old son Joey was swimming underwater at his grandparents' subdivision pool when his grandmother noticed he had remained in one spot for several minutes. She swam over to him, nudged him, and receiving no response, turned him over and lifted his face out of the water.

    Joey was blue and motionless. She thought he was dead.

    Luckily, his 74-year-old grandmother is a retired emergency room nurse. Although she couldn't lift him completely out of the water, she pulled him over to the steps and was able to get him breathing. Then she screamed for help, alerting a neighbor who was in a nearby weight room. The man pulled my son out of the water and dialed 9-1-1 on his cell phone. He then drove Joey's grandparents to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where Joey was rushed by ambulance, and where he remained unconscious.

    Joey was unconscious for almost 24 hours. When he came to at 3:00 AM the next morning, he asked, "Mom, where am I?" All he could remember was swimming underwater and then waking up at the hospital. The doctors had no explanation for what happened to Joey. They suggested that perhaps he had fainted while holding his breath for too long. This phenomenon is often referred to as shallow water drowning, when a person hyperventilates to hold his breath for as long as possible and then passes out. Many deaths of strong swimmers have been attributed to this phenomenon.

    One doctor at the hospital asked if Joey had a history of seizures. We all told him "No."

    Joey with big brother Brian Since then, Joey has visited numerous doctors (pediatrician, neurologist, endocrinologist) and has been poked and prodded and subjected to many brain scan M.R.I.s, E.E.G.s, and blood tests.

    From the results of the E.E.G., the pediatric neurologist determined my son was indeed having     Absence Seizures from Generalized Epilepsy, and may have been having them for quite a while. (The previous school year, in 8th grade, Joey's grades had dropped dramatically, and his teachers had complained of his constant daydreaming. One had remarked that it was as if he "wasn't even there.") For several years before that, teachers had hinted at Joey's lack of focus or possible ADD or ADHD. More recently, his older brother Brian had become concerned during a visit home from college, when Joey had forgotten an entire conversation they'd had the night before. But, when Joey argued that he'd been tired and nodding off, I'd believed him. (Photo above is of Joey with his big brother Brian.)

    Now, we learned Joey had Epilepsy, and all of us - including my ex-husband, son Brian, grandparents, and I were in shock - but especially Joey. In retrospect, we should have realized there may have been a physical reason for Joey's lack of focus on his classwork - that it was not attributed to day dreaming, adolescence, lack of discipline, or plain laziness. How could we have been so blind?

    Joey with paternal grandfather at restaurant (Photo at right is of Joey with my dad, his grandfather Alberto Rosende, in March 2008.)


    The following videos are about Epilepsy. The first shows an example of the Absence Seizure, or "staring spell" that Joey experiences. This type of seizure used to be referred to as Petite Mal Seizure.

    In the second video, a 19-year-old young man explains Epilepsy and speaks out against prejudice and ridicule used against people with Epilepsy.




    For more videos by Dynamiteskillsx, click here.

    Click here for the story about how a taunted little girl
    with Epilepsy gets support from strangers    .

    Below is a series of videos about Epilepsy:


    Example of the eye-fluttering Absence seizure


    Example of what to do in case of a convulsive seizure


    Example of a seizure where a person appears to be intoxicated


    Teenagers with Epilepsy speak out on how they won't be held back from activities and dreams

    The following information is from the The Epilepsy Foundation:

    Seizures and Syndromes

    Types of Seizures

    There are many different types of seizures. People may experience just one type or more than one. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance that produces seizures. Experts divide seizures into generalized seizures (absence, atonic, tonic-clonic, myoclonic), partial (simple and complex) seizures, nonepileptic seizures and status epilepticus.

    Generalized Seizures

    Generalized seizures affect both cerebral hemispheres (sides of the brain) from the beginning of the seizure. They produce loss of consciousness, either briefly or for a longer period of time, and are sub-categorized into several major types: generalized tonic clonic; myoclonic; absence; and atonic.

    Type Duration Seizure Symptoms Postictal (post-seizure) Symptoms
    Absence (petit mal seizure) 2 to 15 seconds Stare
    Eyes fluttering
    Automatisms (such as lip smacking, picking at clothes, fumbling) if prolonged    		 Amnesia for seizure events
    No confusion
    Promptly resumes activity
    Generalized Tonic-Clonic (grand mal) 1 to 2 minutes A cry
    Fall
    Tonicity (rigidity)
    Clonicity (jerking)
    May have cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes from lack of oxygen)    		 Amnesia for seizure events
    Confusion
    Deep sleep

    Generalized tonic clonic seizures (grand mal seizures) are the most common and best known type of generalized seizure. They begin with stiffening of the limbs (the tonic phase), followed by jerking of the limbs and face (the clonic phase).

    Myoclonic seizures are rapid, brief contractions of bodily muscles, which usually occur at the same time on both sides of the body. Occasionally, they involve one arm or a foot. People usually think of them as sudden jerks or clumsiness. A variant of the experience, common to many people who do not have epilepsy, is the sudden jerk of a foot during sleep. First aid is usually not needed, however, a person having a myoclonic seizure for the first time should receive a thorough medical evaluation.

    Atonic seizures produce an abrupt loss of muscle tone. Other names for this type of seizure include drop attacks, astatic or akinetic seizures. They produce head drops, loss of posture, or sudden collapse. Because they are so abrupt, without any warning, and because the people who experience them fall with force, atonic seizures can result in injuries to the head and face. Protective headgear is sometimes used by children and adults; the seizures tend to be resistant to drug therapy. No first aid is needed (unless there is injury from the fall), but if this is a first atonic seizure, the child should be given a thorough medical evaluation.

    Absence seizures (Joey's diagnosis, also called "petit mal seizures") are lapses of awareness, sometimes with staring, that begin and end abruptly, lasting only a few seconds. There is no warning and no after-effect. More common in children than in adults, absence seizures are frequently so brief that they escape detection, even if the child is experiencing 50 to 100 attacks daily. They may occur for several months before a child is sent for a medical evaluation.

    Infantile Spasms are clusters of quick, sudden movements that start between 3 months and two years. If a child is sitting up, the head will fall forward, and the arms will flex forward. If lying down, the knees will be drawn up, with arms and head flexed forward as if the baby is reaching for support. What to Do: No first aid, but doctor should be consulted.

    Partial Seizures

    In partial seizures the electrical disturbance is limited to a specific area of one cerebral hemisphere (side of the brain). Partial seizures are subdivided into simple partial seizures (in which consciousness is retained); and complex partial seizures (in which consciousness is impaired or lost). Partial seizures may spread to cause a generalized seizure, in which case the classification category is partial seizures secondarily generalized.

    Partial seizures are the most common type of seizure experienced by people with epilepsy. Virtually any movement, sensory, or emotional symptom can occur as part of a partial seizure, including complex visual or auditory hallucinations.



    Type Duration Seizure Symptoms Postictal (post-seizure) Symptoms
    Simple Partial 90 seconds No loss of consciousness.
    Sudden jerking
    sensory phenomena    		 Possible transient weakness or loss of sensation
    Complex partial 1 to 2 minutes May have aura
    Automatisms (such as lip smacking, picking at clothes, fumbling)
    Unaware of environment
    May wander    		 Amnesia for seizure events
    Mild to moderate confusion
    sleepy

    Key Things to Remember about Partial Seizures

    Although partial seizures affect different physical, emotional, or sensory functions of the brain, they have some things in common:

    • They don't last long. Most last only a minute or two, although people may be confused and need a lot more time afterwards to recover fully.

    • They end naturally. Except in rare cases, the brain has its own way of bringing the seizure safely to an end after a minute or two.

    • You can't stop them. In an emergency, doctors may use drugs to bring a lengthy, non-stop seizure to an end. However, the average person should wait for the seizure to run its course and try to protect the person from harm while consciousness is clouded. People who have been shown how to use a Vagus Nerve Stimulator (VNS) magnet may try to stop a partial seizure in that way.  

    • They are not dangerous to others. The movements produced by a seizure are almost always too vague, too unorganized and too confused to threaten the safety of anyone else.

    Nonepileptic Seizures

    Nonepileptic seizures are episodes that briefly change a person's behavior and often look like epileptic seizures. The person having nonepileptic seizures may have internal sensations that resemble those felt during an epileptic seizure. The difference in these two kinds of episodes is often hard to recognize by just watching the event, even by trained medical personnel.

    But there is an important difference. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal electrical changes in the brain and, in particular, in its outer layer, called the cortex. Nonepileptic seizures are not caused by electrical disruptions in the brain.

    Status Epilepticus

    Most seizures end after a few moments or a few minutes. If seizures are prolonged, or occur in a series, there is an increased risk of status epilepticus. The term literally means a continuous state of seizure.



    Joey grinning Since Joey has begun taking the Lamictal medication, we have all noticed a tremendous improvement in his attentiveness and ability to focus. This year, he is back on the Honor Roll.

    Since the age of 11, Joey has been creating websites, building PCs from scratch, and networking all the computers in our home. He even gets paid to update the website for his grandparents' Orchid Club. He has dreams of going on to college and then pursuing a career in software engineering. His doctors say there is no reason why he shouldn't.

    It's important for people with Epilepsy to know they're not alone; there are successful and even famous people in the world, both in history and currently living and thriving, with Epilepsy.

    The following examples are of famous people in history with Epilepsy:

       
    Julius Caesar - Roman Statesman (100-44 B.C.)
    Napoleon Bonaparte - Emperor of France (1769-1821)


    Joan of Arc, or Jeanne d'Arc in French, (1412 – May 30, 1431),
    15th century national heroine of France.
    Tried and executed for heresy at 19 years old.
    Judgment broken by the Pope and declared innocent/martyr 24 years later.
    Beatified in 1909 and canonized as a saint in 1920.


    Vincent Willem van Gogh (30 March 1853 – 29 July 1890),
    Dutch Post-Impressionist artist.



    St. Valentine is the Patron Saint of Epilepsy

    An M.R.I. also revealed that Joey has an unrelated Adenoma (a benign brain tumor). Joey balancing on boardwalk fence railing at the beach Upon learning this latest bit of news, Joey responded with typical adolescent defiance: "Mom! If I REALLY have a brain tumor, I'll be pissed!" He then added that he would never permit anyone to operate on his brain.

    It is highly likely that Joey has no cause for concern. Pituitary Adenomas are found in 45% of the healthy population, most of whom will never be aware of their existence unless the tumor is discovered during an exam for an unrelated condition. In fact, these benign tumors are common during adolescence due to rapid growth and excessive hormones. There is only need for concern if the adenoma begins to grow and exerts pressure on the optic nerve, causing visual disturbances, or if it begins to secrete hormones, which may create other complications, such as gigantism. But, these conditions, are rare, and highly unlikely. However, Joey will receive annual MRIs and blood tests to monitor the adenoma.

    The horror of Joey's near-drowning accident has been a blessing, as it led to a timely diagnosis - before Joey received his driver's license. Our whole family continues to learn about Epilepsy, especially Absence Seizures from Generalized Epilepsy. We now make it a rule to educate others about Epilepsy, including the teachers at Joey's high school, friends, and family.

    The following websites and support forums have been very helpful:

    Famous People with Epilepsy, as listed on Epilepsy.com:
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