Determined sisters keep fatal disease at a distance
When Trae Kottler looks at Gretchen Atwood, she sees what her own future holds: a wheelchair, an increasing reliance on machines to help her breathe, certain death as every muscle in her body gives out.
( BY KAREN SHIDELER, The Wichita Eagle, 09/02/2002 07:16 AM PDT)

Surgery allowed woman to walk
An experimental nerve-graft surgery allowed a paraplegic woman whose spinal cord was severed in an automobile accident to reacquire limited use of her legs, an Italian doctor reported this week at a conference in California.
( ANDREW BRIDGES, AP Science Writer, 08/30/2002 06:39 AM PDT)

Band on the rise
Their designer casually refers to them as ``rubber bands.'' Indeed, they look like giant rubber bands, in shades of red, black and purple.
( By Thrity Umrigar, Beacon Journal staff writer, 08/27/2002 07:14 AM PDT)

Art Carey | Balls that massage away pain
It's been awhile since I've seen Janine Galati, so I'd forgotten how fetchingly frank she can be. Within minutes of greeting me, Janine made reference to my "tight end" - and it wasn't a compliment.
( By Art Carey, Inquirer Columnist, 08/26/2002 07:22 AM PDT)

In stimulation, calm
Julian Rodgers, 24, is inside a "multisensory" room at the Elwyn Baring Street Center, in a day program for people with developmental disabilities or mental-health problems. The room is designed to help people such as Rodgers, who is blind and has mild mental retardation, by stimulating their senses and improving their cognitive abilities.
( By Aparna Surendran, Inquirer Staff Writer, 08/19/2002 07:16 AM PDT)

Art Carey | In rowing away from defeat, he found the athlete within
Yes, he was young and stupid, Scott Brown readily admits. The young part: He was 20. The stupid part: He was driving too fast on a twisty road on a September night in 1987. And he was drunk.
( By Art Carey, Inquirer Columnist, 08/12/2002 07:04 AM PDT)

Child burn victims enjoy special camp
The roar of firetruck sirens could barely be heard over all the laughter Thursday at Portage Lakes State Park. Ten-year-old Caitlyn Surducian giggled as a hose from a firetruck spewed bubbles onto her and her newfound friends.
( By Cheryl Powell, Beacon Journal medical writer, 08/12/2002 07:13 AM PDT)

Art Carey | With a new canine helper, her burden lightens a bit
Sick and tired of the depressing news on the front page - strife in the Mideast, pervert priests, corporate sleazeballs, Allen Iverson?
( By Art Carey, Inquirer Columnist, 07/22/2002 06:40 AM PDT)

Car accident stands woman's life on end
A voice echoed in Kristen Gregoire's ears. "Are you OK? Are you OK?" The 20-year-old opened her hazel eyes to find a paramedic standing over her. "Yeah," Gregoire answered.
( By Carolyn Lucas, CONTRA COSTA TIMES, 07/22/2002 07:52 AM PDT)