Named for the type of cells that become malignant (cancer), skin cancer’s three most common types are melanoma (starts in the pigment cells of the skin called melanocytes), squamous cell and basal cell.

Dr. Sajeve Thomas of MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando sees patients diagnosed with melanoma year-round (Florida has the second highest rate of melanoma cases in the nation), and here he discusses some of the risk factors for melanoma, which include long sun exposure, family and personal history, a history of sunburns and use of tanning beds, check out the video below:

However, melanoma can be preventable with some simple precautions such as wearing protective clothing, sunscreen with sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 30 and avoiding the sun as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dr. Thomas explains below:

Melanoma is growing at an epidemic rate with an estimated 3 percent increase in cases annually, but you can take precautions to lower your risk factors, as Dr. Thomas mentions in the videos above. Wear sunscreen when you are exposed to the sun, protective clothing (hats, shirts, etc.) and wear sunscreen. Also, visit your dermatologist yearly to have your skin examined for asymmetrical dark spots or atypical moles.

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Sajeve Samuel Thomas, MD, is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and serves as a GI medical oncologist for MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando with specific interest in neuroendocrine malignancies and melanoma. Dr Thomas also has genuine interest in medical education of the fellows, residents and medical students. He serves as an associate professor for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine.

As a computer engineering graduate from the University of South Florida, Dr. Thomas went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Florida. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of South Florida, receiving the Outstanding Resident Award; and his hematology/oncology fellowship at the University of Florida, where he served as the chief fellow in his final year. 

He is a member of many organizations, including the American Society of Hematology, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American College of Physicians. He has made multiple presentations in oncology topics and has published articles in several journals. Dr Thomas is currently a very active investigator on multiple cooperative group and industry-supported clinical trials.  

Dr. Thomas looks forward to being fully involved in clinical research and medical education while providing excellent clinical care to his patients.

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A fraction (5-10 percent) of breast cancers result from an inherited gene mutation, and it varies from woman to woman, but in general a faulty BRCA1 gene mutation amounts to about a 65 percent chance of getting it. BRCA mutations are inherited in a dominant fashion, meaning one copy of an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 (another breast/ovarian gene mutation) gene in each cell is sufficient to increase the child’s chance of developing certain cancers. However, not everyone who inherits them will develop cancer.

Children of anyone who carries the BRCA mutation have a 50/50 chance of inheriting the BRCA mutation and also a 50/50 chance of inheriting the working BRCA gene copy. Those children who do not carry the mutation can not pass it to their children, but if they do inherit the mutation, their children will have the same chances of inheriting the working gene or the mutation.

In the New York Times article, authored by Jolie, the factors that made her decision clear were centered on her own experience losing her mother, and her children asking if the same thing might happen to her. She also alluded to potentially undergoing preventive ovarian surgery in the future, “I started with the breasts, as my risk for breast cancer is higher than my risk of ovarian cancer, and the surgery is more complex.”

Jolie also stated in the article that her procedures, from beginning (nipple delay) to end (reconstructive surgery) was a three-month process.

Breast cancer today is routinely treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, but as in Jolie’s case, we know enough about the risks with a BRCA mutation that women can elect to potentially forgo the risk altogether with elective surgeries. Today we also expect most women will be able to undergo breast conservation surgery (lumpectomies) or reconstructive surgery. This was not always the case: in the past, surgery was the mainstay of treatment for breast cancer, and it was usually horribly disfiguring. This month, 28 years ago, a radical shift began to occur in how we treat breast cancer and how we think about all cancers today.

On March 14, 1985, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article by Bernard Fisher and colleagues entitled “Five-year Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Total mastectomy and Segmental Mastectomy with or without Radiation in the Treatment of Breast Cancer.” It was the culmination of a randomized trial started in 1976 on over 1800 women with early breast cancer. Some received the standard total mastectomy, some received a “segmental mastectomy” (a partial breast resection), some then received radiation, some did not. Remarkably, women who had undergone a lesser breast resection did better in terms of disease-free survival, as did women who received radiation therapy.

This paper heralded a radical departure from traditional thinking about cancer. In 1985, when the paper was published, the lead author of the paper, Dr Bernard Fisher received the prestigious Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, an honor in medicine that is regarded at the level of the Nobel Prize. The study opened the door to numerous trials to follow that have gone on to improve care for hundreds of thousands of patients with breast cancer. It was also a powerful demonstration of the ability of collaboration among physicians to bring about incredibly meaningful change and improve the quality of our patients’ lives.

In Jolie’s case, by electing for a double mastectomy, her chances of developing breast cancer were decreased from 87 percent to under 5 percent. Her choice to share her experience is an effort to help educate women on the choices they have, “It is my hope that they, too, will be able to get gene tested, and that if they have a high risk they, too, will know that they have strong options.”

Make breakfast in bed

Shop the day before and get up early! Make an omelet with spinach, lean turkey and cherry tomatoes with fortified orange juice and whole wheat toast on the side.

Spinach is packed with iron she needs to feel more alert by bringing oxygen to her cells and the OJ helps her body absorb the iron. Many women of childbearing years are iron-deficient and natural resources such as spinach are the best way to get these essential nutrients.

Gift card to favorite restaurant for dinner

Great way to spend some quality time; go to her favorite restaurant for a meal that includes lean protein such as fish or chicken. Protein helps replenish muscle, skin hair and nails.

B vitamins found in lean proteins serve a variety of functions in the body. They help the body release energy, play a vital role in the function of the nervous system, aid in the formation of red blood cells, and help build tissues.

Get creative with a basket of fruit

You can always order one online from Harry & David, but if you want to have a little fun with it, do it yourself! Fill it with bananas, oranges, dried apricots, kiwi, papaya and mango

Fruits are sources of many essential nutrients that are underconsumed, including potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid). Potassium helps strengthen muscles, including the most important one, the heart! It also helps to reduce blood pressure.

Dietary fiber from fruits, as part of an overall healthy diet, helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. Fiber is important for proper bowel function. It helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis. Fiber-containing foods such as fruits help provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories. Whole or cut-up fruits are sources of dietary fiber; fruit juices contain little or no fiber.

Quick and easy snack bags

It might sound strange, but if you have a mom on the go, she’ll appreciate custom snack bags as opposed to leftover gummy snacks she offered the kids on the way to soccer practice. And it’s really simple!

Just fill some ziplock bags of mixed nuts, grapes, mozzarella cheese stick, whole grain granola bar – you can get as creative as you want!

Fiber in mixed nuts, whole grains help to reduce cholesterol, prevent colon cancer, keep you fuller longer. Eating peanuts and certain tree nuts (i.e., walnuts, almonds, and pistachios) may reduce the risk of heart disease when consumed as part of a diet that is nutritionally adequate and within calorie needs.

Make her dinner

Make a salad with high-folate foods such as spinach, edamame , avocado, kidney beans, peanuts, strawberries. As mentioned before, folate is important for women of childbearing age to help prevent birth defects.

Bake or grill salmon, which is high in omega 3 which boosts serotonin levels and helps fight depression. It also reduces inflammation in the body.

As a side, sautéed mushrooms, which are high in vitamin D that helps the body absorb calcium, strengthens the immune system and helps protect against breast/colon cancers.

And for dessert, try a homemade smoothie or milkshake!

Use frozen yogurt, which is lower in sugar than ice cream but still has calcium for strong bones, protection against osteoporosis. Add some fresh or frozen berries for antioxidants and phytochemicals, which are the chemicals that help plants defend against environmental challenges, such as damage from pests or ultraviolet light, appear to provide humans with protection as well. Mounting research shows their effectiveness in preventing and treating a range of conditions including everything from cancer and heart disease to diabetes and high blood pressure. (Learn more about phytonutrients at Natural News).

Make sure you don’t forget her favorite indulgences!

Coffee, choose a rich, organic blend for the most health benefits. Coffee enhances blood flow in brain, motives alertness & concentration, lowers rates of depression in women and can reduce the risk for colon cancer.

Dark chocolate, the darker the better. It means more cocoa, less sugar, more antioxidant power.

Red wine, in moderation, reduces heart diseases risk.

Happy Mother’s Day! 

The first thing that everyone should do is talk to his or her physician. You want to make sure you are healthy enough to get moving and cut some calories every day. Once you get clearance from your doctor – you are ready to get moving.

Remember to keep things simple. There are so many theories, fads, and gimmicks out there. We are bombarded with commercials and spokespeople with the latest and greatest way to lose weight. The bottom line is – we need to consume fewer calories than we take in, and we need to avoid processed food as much as possible. Men and women are different in the amount of calories that they need to consume each day. You can get a general estimate of the amount of calories you need by using online tools such as My Pyramid Tracker by the USDA or set up an account with a free phone app like myfitnesspal.

If you are a numbers person, one pound of weight is equal to 3500 calories. In order to lose one pound a week, you need to cut or burn 3500 per week. That is 500 calories per day. There are about 150 calories in one 12-ounce soda. About 100 calories can be burned per mile walked, depending on your weight, and percentage of body fat. Cutting some high-calorie foods and incorporating exercise can help you reach your goal each day. The greatest weight loss success is found in those who burn 2,000 calories per week. Keeping track of what you intake is a great way to keep you on task. Keep a food diary and write down everything you eat or drink. Make sure to read your food labels carefully. Look at the amount of servings as well as the amount of calories. People who keep food diaries are more likely to have success with weight loss.

Counting your calories and keeping logs may not be for everyone. If you’d rather not think about the numbers or do the math, try a few simple steps to make some lifestyle changes. Cut out all drinks but water. Eat a vegetable at every meal. Don’t skip meals. Make sure to eat only lean meats like chicken, fish, and turkey. Make sure to eat whole grain products. Above all, watch your portion sizes. Check out Choose My Plate for a quick view of what a typical dinner plate should consist of: more than half the plate should be vegetables, about a quarter of the plate should be protein and the last quarter should be whole grains.

Successful weight loss requires incorporating exercise into your daily routine. To start an exercise program, just strap on a pair of sneakers and go for a walk. Start off easy and slow with a ten-minute session. When you know you feel good and your body is able to handle exercise stress – you can increase your intensity level or the duration of the exercise. Increase your intensity to a moderate pace. You want to work up a sweat. Don’t just go through the motions. Challenge yourself.

How do you lose 5 pounds?

• Set a goal to lose five pounds in a month. A healthy weight loss is 1 to 2 pounds per week.
• Cut out any high calories juices or sodas out of your diet. Drink water.
• Keep a food diary.
• Eat more vegetables each day. Vegetables are typically low in calories, high in nutrients and high in fiber. They will fill you up without the calories. Make sure to skip the high fat dip.
• Work your way up (slowly) to burning 300-400 calories in each exercise session (remember, you generally burn about 100 calories per moderate-intensity mile walk). Do this five times a week.
• Read food labels and watch the amount of servings. You may be surprised at what you are taking in!
• Weigh yourself often – but don’t get discouraged with small fluctuations that are not in your favor. A small fluctuation may happen from time to time – but if it happens often you may want to consult a professional to see if you are doing something wrong.
• Celebrate the small achievements in order to stay motivated, but don’t do it with food or alcohol!

While the dangers of delivering preterm are easy to see, predicting who will have a baby early is often challenging. Though we know that some things do increase the chances of preterm birth, most women who deliver early do not have known risk factors. The most important thing that can increase the chance of a preterm birth is a history of a previous spontaneous preterm delivery, and the earlier it was the greater the chance of it happening again. Other factors include:

• Multiples
• A short cervix
• An abnormal shape of the uterus
• Smoking or drug use
• A short time between pregnancies (usually 12 months or less)
• Infections of the vagina or bladder as well as significant systemic illnesses like those of the lungs or kidneys
• Substantial or repeated vaginal bleeding during the current pregnancy
• Clinically important anemia (low red blood cells)
• In-vitro fertilization and some other assisted reproductive techniques
• Certain prior surgeries on the cervix

We can decrease some of these risks by eliminating things like smoking and drug use, or treating infections. Beyond those interventions, we have found that using a hormone that the body naturally produces, progesterone, can significantly reduce the chances of preterm birth as well. Progesterone is made by the ovary (and placenta) and normally increases dramatically during pregnancy. In fact, it is the substance that is most responsible for nourishing pregnancies for the first 8-10 weeks.

While progesterone can be a great help to fight preterm deliveries, its use has found to be beneficial for certain types of patients only, which are listed below:

1. For patients with a previous spontaneous preterm birth (from 20 weeks through 36 weeks; from preterm labor or premature “water breaking”), it has been well demonstrated that receiving weekly injections of progesterone can reduce the chance of another preterm delivery by around a third. Ideally these shots are started at 16 weeks of pregnancy and continued through 36 weeks.
2. For patients that have not had a prior preterm delivery, but are found to have a “short” cervix (the ring of strong connective tissue that connects the vagina and the uterus) before 24 weeks of gestation, vaginal progesterone pills, rather than progesterone shots, have been shown to be beneficial. The length of the cervix is determined by measuring it with an ultrasound, and it is diagnosed as “short” if it measures 2.0 cm (about 1 inch) or less from around 14 to 24 weeks. If this is confirmed, progesterone pills placed in the vagina nightly from the time of diagnosis through 36 weeks has been shown to reduce the rate of preterm birth by 30–40 percent.

In addition to progesterone supplementation, another treatment, called a cerclage, can offer help for women with very specific risk factors for preterm birth. A cerclage is when a suture is placed around the cervix to aid in prolonging a pregnancy, and it is done as an outpatient surgery. Numerous research studies have shown that the issues listed below can benefit from having a cerclage placed:

• Women with a history of a prior spontaneous preterm birth AND a short cervix (in this case 2.5 cm or less) in the current pregnancy
• Women who have had 3 or more pregnancy losses during the second trimester (14 to 28 weeks)
• Women who are found to have a dilated cervix, with the amniotic sac membranes exposed to the vagina, prior to 24 weeks

Unfortunately these are the only patients that seem to benefit from a cerclage based on current research, and these types of patients do not appear to get an additional benefit from progesterone if it is started after a cerclage is placed. It is also important to note however, that patients who are carrying twins, triplets, or more babies do not benefit from either type of progesterone or cerclage, and there is evidence from medical research that these may actually be harmful.

Some, though not all, experts have recommended screening every pregnant woman for a short cervix by transvaginal ultrasound during the 2nd trimester (up to 24 weeks). By doing this they hope to find more patients that have an elevated risk of preterm birth and potentially reduce this through treatment with progesterone.

If you have a history of a previous preterm birth, or are concerned due to possible symptoms of preterm labor, talk to your doctor about what may be done to increase the chances of a full term delivery, and thereby reducing the potential harms of prematurity. Hopefully by combining patient knowledge with up-to-date healthcare, we can all work towards decreasing the number of preterm births and give all our babies the best start in life possible.

He is passionate about helping to provide the highest quality obstetrical care, based on the best current medical evidence, to the patients of Winnie Palmer Hospital. In this vein, he participates in the Obstetrics Collaborative Committee, administers a monthly journal club along with the labor and delivery nursing team, and actively disseminates impactful new research to his colleagues. He is also a Junior Fellow officer for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the governing body for OB-GYNs in America.

He will be obtaining sub-specialty training in high risk pregnancies, maternal-fetal medicine, beginning in July of 2013 at Washington Hospital Center, along with Georgetown University Hospital and the National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC. After this he also plans to complete further fellowship training in critical care so that he can focus his area of practice on complex cases involving significant maternal diseases during pregnancy.

He currently lives in downtown Orlando, with his wife Julie, and two sons, Jude and Remy.

As you plan your meals, each food, each ingredient on your list can act as your personal shield against disease, your very own elixir for good health and wellness. The following seven vegetables can be easily incorporated into your meals and they tout some hefty health benefits as well!

Kale

• One of the world’s top sources of vitamin A, promoting eye and skin health and has been shown to help strengthen the immune system
• Great source of fiber
• One cup has almost as much vitamin C as an orange
• Sneak kale into soups and pastas, or add some to your berry smoothie. Also, Check out the Top 10 Ways to Prepare Kale. 

Eggplant 

• 1 cup = almost as much fiber as a slice of whole wheat bread with less calories
• Nasunin- an antioxidant in the skin, can prevent against heart disease and cancer
• Eggplant “chips”- slice into thin rounds, brush w/ olive oil, sprinkle w/ salt, bake at 400°F for 20 minutes
• Grilled- cut into thin slices, cook until golden and tender, check out some of these creative eggplant recipes for the family.

Cauliflower

• Glucosinolates- plant chemicals shown to lower the risk of certain types of cancer
• Excellent source of folate
• Women who eat it regularly may have lower risk for rheumatoid arthritis
• Steam and puree in food processor and sprinkle w/ favorite seasonings for faux mashed potatoes
• Chop into small florets, toss with olive oil, Madras curry powder and a pinch of salt, bake at 475°F for 18 minutes or until browned and crisp tender, or make cauliflower rice as a rice substitute for any recipe! 

Brussels Sprouts

• Flavonoids- antioxidants; have been shown to reduce risk of heart disease and cancer
• 1 cup= as much vitamin C as an orange and 5 grams of protein
• Good source of folate, magnesium
• Slice raw and toss with vinaigrette, nuts, and a little of your favorite cheese
• Cut in half, toss with olive oil and garlic powder, roast at 400°F until brown (about 20 minutes)

Swiss Chard

• Excellent source of vitamin A, C, K
• Plant chemicals that fight macular degeneration and cataracts
• Antioxidants that help prevent heart disease
• Sauté chopped chard in a skillet with olive oil and lemon juice until leaves are slightly wilted
• Julienne the leaves and stir into stews, sauces, soups

Mushrooms

• One of the few plant foods with vitamin D, they make it when exposed to sunlight, some growers treat them with UV light, can contain up to a whole day’s work of vitamin D
• Chop and sauté, mix in with ground beef to lighten burgers, casseroles, meatloaf, add to pasta sauces
• Keep whole and sauté with olive oil, lemon juice, garlic until brown

Beets

• Betacyanin- powerful antioxidant found in the flesh
• Good source of folate- may reduce risk of premenopausal breast cancer by 40 percent
• Peel and coarsely grate over salad
• Cube, toss with olive oil, roast at 400°F for an hour, view other tips on how to prepare beets here

I am not writing this as a medical paper on MS though. I guess you could call this my coming out party. Although quite a few people in my life know that I have MS, there are still many that I have not shared it with mainly because I don’t want people to feel that I am flawed somehow. I also don’t want pity, or for my MS to be the “elephant in the room.” There is no reason to have pity or for it to be an uncomfortable topic of discussion. It’s not who I am. It’s just something I have to deal with in this lifetime. MS has been an enormous challenge in my life, but it has also expanded my compassion for others, and for myself. I have had to learn so much more about health and wellness. Living a great life with MS is possible, but it means living within certain boundaries and really paying attention to what your body is communicating. Balance, good nutrition, and proper self-care are paramount. This is my way to open up and admit that I have MS and as an account of what living with a chronic disease is like. I want to give other people who are suffering in silence the courage and confidence to break free and invite the light in to help heal. Healing doesn’t happen in isolation.

In many cases, MS is a silent disease, so people think you must be fine because they can’t see any visible symptoms. MS tends to follow a course of a flare up and then remission, although it doesn’t mean the person won’t have ongoing issues like fatigue and altered sensations. That is how my MS manifests right now. I find that it is a double-edged sword. It’s good that I’m not disabled or look unhealthy, but it’s also frustrating because many times I just don’t feel good and am very fatigued. Sometimes I have tingling sensations and my legs feel weak. Since my symptoms aren’t visible, people don’t understand why I want to wait for a close parking space to open up or why I need to cancel plans because I just need to take a nap and rest. I can say that I am never 100 percent fine; just by knowing that I have an unpredictable lifelong disease can be overwhelming at times. However, I truly feel blessed that my disease has not progressed at a rapid rate and that treatments do exist.

What I have found after all these years of keeping silent about MS is that in my silence is my shame. Not sharing it is due to fear, pure and simple. I am afraid that people will not accept me, employers will see me as a weak link, people might decide it’s just too heavy to deal with and run, and the biggest fear of all is that no one will ever love me again, because I am less than perfect.

When I was first diagnosed, I worked in pharmaceutical sales. I had only been with my company for a little over a year, but I was making an impact and on the way to being very successful. Nothing was going to hinder my progress. I decided to work even harder. I think I wanted to prove that I was still capable, more than capable actually. I set out to see more doctors, open more new offices, and sell my heart out. I would often skip lunch in my quest to build my territory, work long hours of driving, getting in and out of the car in all kinds of inclement weather, wearing myself very thin. Extremes in temperature have a big impact on MS. Heat causes nerve impulses to slow so anywhere there is damage, nerve conduction is already limited and symptoms can flare. In the summer, I am much more tired and have more issues. I hadn’t learned the consequences of living that type of lifestyle with MS.

Having a chronic disease causes people to go through so many stages. I don’t believe these stages follow a certain path or are on any particular timetable. I have gone through many waves of denial, grief, defiance, strength, depression, repression, acceptance, and hate. At one point, after about six years of living with MS, I was very sad and told my husband that I thought I was going through my grief stage. He disagreed and said, “grief happens earlier on.” That was such an awakening for me. I realized I had been taught about the stages of grief when I was a psychology major and had been under the same impression. Since you tend to think of stages as time-dependent, linear, set parameters, you think they follow a natural course. Now that I have been going through them, I can say with absolute resolution that they don’t. Just when I think I’ve totally accepted the fact that I have this disease and I’m strong, making statements like, “I have MS, but MS doesn’t have me,” the next day I am a puddle on the floor weeping for what I have lost and what I have to live with for the rest of my life. Then it vacillates again and I think, “I don’t really have MS. I don’t need medication.” There is no set time period for when these feelings occur. They just do, because it is hard and scary and unknown.

My hope is that we can all be more compassionate and understanding in the face of what is uncomfortable. I choose to believe that all that exists in our world does so to move us closer to the love and light that we are here to have and know. What better gift is there than to love someone, really love them, even when they feel unworthy? The hard times are our gifts, for they allow us to really give love and to feel love on such a deep level. The even more magnificent love is cherishing your own being through all of the good, bad, ugly, and indifferent. There will always be people that don’t stick around or say unkind things, or that don’t have the capacity yet to love in the face of what is challenging. I no longer want to be hurt by those actions. That is their sadness, and I feel that because I believe they are missing out on the biggest gift. MS has given me that gift and many more, but I must be okay with sharing that part of myself if I am truly to increase my bounty of goodness from it being a part of me. I am not defined by this disease unless I choose to be. In pushing it away and keeping it from others, I feel that I have it given it more power than it deserves. I have allowed it to make me feel unworthy, unlovable. Unconsciously, I’ve also kept the opportunity from my fellow human beings to learn, grow, love, and expand their hearts and minds. I’ve decided to be candid and honest so that those moments can now happen.

Several incidents  have occurred in the years since my diagnosis that solidify the reason I have had fear regarding this admission and I’d like to share these as examples. My stepfather is in a nursing home and I was visiting recently when my mother was there. She pointed out a woman that was in a wheelchair. She then said, “She has MS.” I inquired if that was the only disease she had or was there a combination? She said, “No. Just MS. That’s what happens when you don’t take your medication.” Wow. That was a heavy blow. MS is a tricky disease and the treatment options all come with risky and unpleasant side effects. I, like many others, have gone through periods of being consistent with medication and waning when the side effects or painful injections become too much. Another incident occurred when my mother-in-law stopped by one day and we were chatting about various topics. She mentioned that when I first started having MS-related symptoms, her stepson and I were not yet married. Someone said to her, “Well, at least they’re not married. He can still get out.” Ouch. There it is again…the shining example that I am not lovable or worthy; I have MS and that is the sum of who I am now. Not to mention that people could or should leave in the face of a chronic illness. A friend of mine told me that I needed to figure out the reason I chose to have MS because I would never get better until I “worked it out.” Another enlightened friend told me that my MS would be cured once I became more spiritually aware and worked on myself more. Huh. So, it’s my fault and it is a test. If I fail, then I’ll be stuck with MS and be punished. That sounds pretty enlightened to me.

Within our suffering, there is truth. It lies in seeing the light, love and beauty inside ourselves and one another. It is a process. It is easy to gravitate towards what is beautiful, smart, and good in what society deems to be. True growth comes from helping what is ugly, submissive, lacking, scared, and sick to feel lovable, confident, exposed, bountiful, and beautiful. In opening up to that experience, we become those things too. There is no better feeling or experience in the world than to love, to give, to be present. These are the moments we feel most alive.

I hope that those of you who are living with an illness will be kinder to yourself and release any shame or unworthiness that you are feeling and allow the light and love that is readily available to envelope you. I also hope that others will not be quick to judge someone who is suffering with a disease and will open to the opportunity to give love and be of service.

There is a lesson in diseases such as MS, and it really is a beautiful gift.

Have a question for Kimberly? Ask it here! 

Dream closet from The Container Store

deadlines, working longer hours and losing our minds over losing important stuff. Clutter means stress, and it can be overwhelming to think of working toward a solution. Where do you start simplifying?

The Container Store has been helping individuals and families with their storage and organization challenges at work and at home for 35 years. No matter what area you’re organizing or how much space you have, follow these 12 simple tips (courtesy of The Container Store) to create a well-organized, efficient space.

1. Start in one place

You may have several areas in your home you want to get under control, but start with just one. Do you want to start with the area that gives you the biggest headache? Or the area that guests most easily see? Whatever your priorities, select one area and stick to it. Many attempts at organization fail when the task of cleaning up the entire house seems daunting and folks give up. When you complete one area, celebrate and then move on to the next.

2. Allow plenty of time

Don’t expect organization to happen overnight. Depending on the area to be organized, schedule a couple of hours each day to work on getting the area organized. Getting a garage whipped into shape will take more time than it takes to organize a linen closet.

3. Clean house

Once you’ve selected an area, go through the contents. Donate or hold a garage sale for anything you don’t or can’t wear or use anymore. Use the two-year rule — if you haven’t worn it in two years, it’s time to say goodbye to it. Seriously. These items take up valuable space and probably won’t be missed.

4. Take inventory

After you’ve removed extraneous items, take a look at what remains. Does it belong here?

Office organization from The Container Store

Does it make sense to keep it here? Is there another place where you’ve got more room to keep it, or another area where it would be more easily accessible for its purpose? For example, you know that professional-grade mixer that you’ve been keeping in the back of your closet? Try moving it to the kitchen. When it’s time to organize the kitchen, you can incorporate the mixer into the new storage plan.

5. Look for wasted space

If you’re in need of more storage space, think creatively about additional areas that you can put to work. Prime examples include over doors and underneath beds. These areas are valuable real estate in your home and are often overlooked.

6. Maximize vertical space

If you don’t have a lot of room to work with, a surefire way to instantly create more space is to think of working upwards. Instead of only having a couple of shelves to store your kitchen items, take them up to the ceiling to really maximize the vertical space — you’ll store the things you need less often on the higher shelves (like that mixer, for instance).

7. Divide the space

By adding additional shelves to a single shelf, or by using containers that stack atop one another, you can divide the vertical space and make efficient use of the area you have to work with. By dividing the space, you eliminate the possibility of stacking tall piles of clothing, papers or other items that are destined to topple over. Meaning you have to take the time to refold and replace, which is no pleasant task for anyone. Especially because you’re already running late because you were looking for your keys.

8. Keep it moving

Consider storage options on wheels. This will allow for greater flexibility and to help keep the clutter under control. Carts can hold an assortment of accessories in a small amount of space, and can be wheeled back into a closet or storage area when not in use.

9. Organize with color

Whether you’re working to organize the family room or trying to get your home office under control, use color to enhance your efforts. Assign each child a different colored container to keep his or her belongings in and keep them responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Also, organize projects, bills and other important papers by function and color in your home office.

10. Visibility

The three rules to organization are visibility, accessibility and flexibility. Choose containers that are either transparent or that you can easily label to help immediately identify the contents and save valuable time.

11. Accessibility

Make sure that the items you need most often are the easiest to access. Likewise, place the items you don’t need to get to as frequently on a higher shelf or in another area.

12. Flexibility

Select a storage system that can adapt to your changing needs. That way, you can reconfigure and reuse solutions to solve a variety or storage and organization problems.

Today, with so many activities, appointments, deadlines, meetings and commitments to manage, families need a solid organization system to make the most of each day. Getting

Craft area organization from The Container Store

and staying organized promotes a sharp and healthy mind! There are 10,000 products at The Container Store that are designed to save space and time in your life, creating less stress at work and at home, also adding more free time to your day (we could ALL use a little of that!).

We are excited about the opportunity to partner with The Container Store during the Grand Opening Weekend of their Orlando location on April 27th and 28th. This new location will be located across from the Mall at Millenia, at Conroy Rd. and Millenia Blvd. Join us for the Grand Opening Celebration and shop their amazing collection of storage and organization products! Ten percent of the grand opening weekend sales in Orlando will be donated to Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/10ikl2X.

Check out the flyer - The Container Store Coming to Orlando 

Is any type of fertility screening that you would recommend for a healthy, 33-year-old single woman? With the high cost of fertility treatment, is there any way to find out if I need to do anything now to improve my chances of having a baby after age 35? Freezing eggs seems like a scary and expensive proposition!

Dr. Colimon answers: 

“Questions regarding fertility can be tough to provide a generalizable answer. If you are a healthy woman without any history of sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia that can cause scarring in the fallopian tubes, have never had surgery involving your fallopian tubes, and have regular monthly periods, you likely have little to worry about other than timing (and of course, finding “Mr. Right”). Having a regular period is key to letting you know that you are ovulating. If you have irregular periods you may need some help becoming pregnant from a specialist once you do commit to starting a family. Many women over the age of 35 become pregnant without needing fertility treatment. For some women getting pregnant as we age may take more time. The true definition of infertility is the inability to conceive a pregnancy after 12 months of having regular unprotected intercourse. Male factor infertility can be the culprit in over 40% of  cases. So before committing to any invasive testing, it’s important for women to have their partner have a semen analysis and testicular exam FIRST if you have not become pregnant after a full year of actively trying. We also recommend you seek help if you are over the age of 35 and have not conceived in 6 months. We do not recommend initiating any testing before you have actually been diagnosed with infertility as you may be putting the cart before the horse! Bottom line, if you haven’t been trying to get pregnant, then you can’t be sure you will actually have any problems. Freezing eggs is typically not recommended. Some families choose to freeze embryos, which are eggs that have already been fertilized by sperm. If you describe yourself as 33-years-young and healthy, the best thing you can do is eat healthy, exercise, maintain an ideal body weight, and be proactive in you personal life. I’ve often told my girlfriends you have to be as goal-orientated in your personal life as you are in your professional life! I hope that helps.”