By The Survivors Club Staff

March 30, 2010

When Chelsea Segura was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she was pregnant and terrified that the baby would not be able to survive the treatments. However, despite having undergone a mastectomy and chemotherapy, she delivered a healthy baby girl named Cami, according to WECT.com.

The Seguras thought their worries were over until another mass was found in her breast tissue two weeks ago, and the new mom was forced to begin another course of treatment.

But the mother of two has remained positive throughout the experience, and is focusing on her children to help her survive the disease for a second time.

"[My children] are the reason for me to have a big smile on my face when I wake up," Segura told the news source.

To show her commitment to the cause, Segura is walking in a Relay for Life in her native Wilmington, North Carolina, this coming Sunday.

According to the National Cancer Institute, 192,370 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past year, and 40,170 died of the disease. However, early detection greatly increasesan individual's chances of survival.

The American Cancer Society suggests women over the age of 40 schedule a mammogram to monitor their breast health. It is also recommended that at age 20 women begin conducting breast self-examinations, which may further boost their chances of early detection.

A healthy lifestyle, which includes a low-fat diet, physical exercise and refraining from smoking, are other positive steps a woman can take to stave off the disease.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 26, 2010

When Lia Markwick and Stephen Winslade agreed to take Lia's brother's Springer spaniel Poppy for a walk, on England's south coast, they had no idea what they were getting into. During their stroll on the beach, the playful pup took off after a seagull, and bounded away. Unfortunately, he was so focused on the bird that he ran off a cliff and plunged to the sea 300-feet below.

Neither Markwick nor Winslade expected the pup to have survived the fall, but Poppy somehow avoided hitting the craggy rocks directly below the cliff and bounced off of a wave. The couple saw her struggling in the water and called the Coast Guard authorities who attended to the dog after she had swum to shore.

The dog suffered from a partially collapsed lung, but was able to make a full recovery and is now thriving.

''She is really well-trained and well-behaved, but I think she ran so fast there was no chance of her stopping," Winslade told the Telegraph. "I threw myself down and looked over the edge and saw her paddling."

Though Poppy is one lucky dog, humans should be cautious of steep drops as well. When hiking through the woods or by the seaside, it's important to know the terrain. Kaboose.com suggests planning ahead and packing maps of trails and the direct number of nearby Park Rangers when planning an outdoor expedition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are nearly 213,000 outdoor recreational injuries each year, and more than half of those reported occur to young people between the ages of 10 and 24.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 26, 2010

When bystanders saw a small plane crash into the South River in Edgewater, Maryland they were shocked and doubted anyone could have survived such an impact. However, within moments, the pilot, Lieutenant Cliff Kooser, made his way to the surface and began waving his arms, according to CBS affiliate WJZ.

However, the survivor soon disappeared back into the river, and onlookers were not sure if he was alive. A boater who saw the crash launched a rescue mission, scouring the waters where the plane went down and searching for the aviator. Happily, they soon spotted Kooser, and he was rescued.

Jodee Carvalho told the news source that during the moments prior to the accident the pilot "knew what he was doing. He got the plane down safely, and he was already out of the plane by the time we got there."

The Discovery Channel offered advice that travelers should remember if they are ever involved in a plane crash at sea. The source suggests working hard to get clear of the debris and immediate site of the crash, which can become toxic or explosive. However, survivors should try to stay within the vicinity, so that rescue crews can spot them.

Swimming away from fuel-covered water is crucial as the fuel may ignite.

The National Transportation Safety Board reports that there were 1,559 airplane accidents in U.S. civil aviation in 2008.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 25, 2010

In China, teenager Xiao Wei was spending the afternoon at a video game café when he began to fight with another player who accused him of cheating. The aggressor then dragged Wei outside and stabbed him in his left temple with a 10-inch knife, according to FoxNews.com.

Somehow, Xiao remained conscious throughout the attack. When his friend discovered what had happened to the teen, he was rushed to the hospital where he underwent emergency neurosurgery.

The X- rays and CAT scans have revealed that no main arteries or nerves were damaged in the stabbing, and that Xaio is currently in stable condition.

Though the incident took place in China, the debate over the correlation between graphic video games and teen violence is a hot button issue in America.

The American Psychological Association suggests that the active role required of video game players could make them more dangerous than television or cinema.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 35.5 percent of high school-aged youth reported being in a physical fight within the last 12 months, and the tendency toward violence seems to be more prevalent among young men than women.

Parents of teens who have been displaying violent tendencies could turn to their child's physician, school psychiatrists or the CDC's website called The Preventing Youth Violence: Program Activities Guide.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 25, 2010

In 1993, Greg Taylor was convicted of murdering a prostitute, and locked away in a North Carolina prison where he was isolated from the outside world and from his friends and family for 16 long years, according to CNN.com. Unfortunately, Taylor was innocent.

However, thanks to the efforts of the state innocence commission, Taylor's case was revisited and he was released last month.

"All that frustration and confusion I had stored up all those years was just let out," Taylor told the news source of his release day. "There was a lot of relief and gratitude. There was a whole lot to get used to."

When he was released from the jail, Taylor was greeted by his 26-year-old daughter, Kristen Puryear, who was a 9-year-old girl when he was incarcerated, according to the news provider. Puryear is now a mother herself.

The Life After Exoneration Program, which is responsible for Taylor's release, has cleared the names of approximately 500 men and women who were wrongly convicted of a crime. On average, the freed individuals had spent more than 12 years behind bars.

In addition to freeing those who were wrongfully convicted, the program works to help those whom the justice system failed get back on their feet and thrive. It does so by helping them access support systems and resources that will enable them to find employment as well as medical care and housing.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 23, 2010

When Scarlett Queen's son Logan was born with a tiny hole in his heart, the baby's serious condition led to other health complications and caused him to have difficulty breathing.

Happily, the treatment methods that doctors used were successful, and Logan survived. The experience also inspired Queen to return to school in order to help other families whose children have respiratory problems.

"He's getting better," the new mother told the news source of her fifth child. "He's the whole reason I decided to go back to school and get my degree in respiratory therapy."

Not only has she endeavored to begin a new career that will help others, but the conscientious student is also being recognized for her outstanding academic performance. Queen, who is enrolled at the Georgia Northwestern Technical College, was recently named the GNTC's Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership winner.

According to the Mayo Clinic, children who are born with congenital heart defects will sometimes heal on their own, and at other times surgery or other treatment methods will be necessary. Parents should be aware of the symptoms, which include pale gray or blue skin color, swelling in the legs, abdomen or around the eyes, and shortness of breath during feedings.

According to the American Heart Foundation (AHF), approximately 36,000 babies are born with a congenital heart defect each year.



It's important that individuals visit their doctor on a regular basis to maintain their overall health, and those with heart problems can turn to resources such as the AHF.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 23, 2010

Louis Rogers, a 64-year-old guitar player, had decided to take the long, scenic route when driving from his home in Lakeside, Montana, to Calder, Idaho, last Thursday. However, his pleasant trip took a turn for the worse at dusk when the weather turned dark and snowy. Rogers' tried to turn around and return home, but his 1996 Cadillac STS got stuck in a snowbank, according to the Associated Press.

The professional musician didn't have cell phone service in the remote spot, and he was unable to remove himself from the vehicle. To make matters worse, Rogers is a diabetic with liver and heart health problems. However, he was able to melt snow to drink and turned on the car heater for short bursts of time at night.

"That is very rough country up there. There's nothing but big, steep mountains all around you," Rogers told the news source.

Rogers had resigned himself to death after being trapped in his vehicle for four days, but he was saved from his plight when a couple happened upon the scene and took him to safety. The survivor didn't even require hospitalization after he was fed, the news provider reports.

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics says that 16,520 people lost their lives in passenger car crashes in 2007 and 1,475,000 were injured in 2006 (the last year for which the date are available).



Though Rogers was very lucky to have survived the accident unharmed, those who are injured in car crashes can turn to organizations such as the The Crash Survivors Network, which can provide support and resources.

By The Survivors Club Staff

March 23, 2010

Though soldier Mike Scotti had been looking forward to his return home, when he came back to the U.S. from Iraq in 2003 he was surprised by how different he felt from those around him.

The veteran felt as if he could no longer relate to the cares and concerns of civilians, which seemed trivial to him, and he began to feel incredibly isolated, according to CNN.com.

However, when Scotti became aware that the anger, resentment and detachment he felt were impacting his relationships with those he cared about, he sought help.

"After realizing that my sense of isolation was alienating me from those I loved, I made the conscious decision to use my experiences in combat as a source of great strength, versus letting them become a weakness," Scotti wrote on the news site.

Scotti has since gone on to found a nonprofit called Reserve, which aims to provide financial support to veterans and their families who have survived combat but been adversely affected by their service.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 5.2 million Americans between the ages of 18 and 54 suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).



Experts believe that there are many different treatments available for those with PTSD, and patients who are suffering from the condition should consult with their physician to determine the best method for them.



Individuals who have survived war or violent incidents may turn to organizations such as the Trauma Resource Institute or the American Red Cross for resources and information.

By The Survivors Club Staff

March 23, 2010

Many soldiers who survive combat face another battle when they return home - they must overcome the physical and emotional injuries inflicted upon them as they served their country. Ryan Kules, who lost an arm and a leg when an IED detonated, is one such veteran.

For those who have been permanently injured, like Kules, The Day of Rivals in Jacksonville, Florida, is an opportunity to receive recognition for their sacrifice while enjoying a good old fashioned college lacrosse rivalry.

Every year at the Day of Rivals, veterans who were hurt in the line of duty are named as the honorary team captains for a few rousing games. The annual competition divides teams into Army versus Navy and Johns Hopkins University against the University of Maryland. The winners from each game then face off.

After his return home, Kules began working full-time as Wounded Warrior Project alumni director, and is helping other veterans who have been disabled assimilate back into civilian life.

"It is an honor to represent WWP and the University of Maryland," said Kules. "The opportunity to promote the organization with the University of Maryland's help is something that I couldn't pass up."

In addition to WWP – which works to meet the needs of severely injured service members - war survivors are also encouraged to explore the many resources available to them through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which may help them live thriving lives.



According to the VA, some 23 million Americans have a veteran status and more than 3 million receive federal disability compensation.

By The Survivors Club Staff

March 23, 2010

Bobby Bowden is a legendary football coach whose long career has been peppered with victories, shining moments and 389 wins. However, the 80-year-old retired Florida State coach encountered a setback when he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Bowden, who was in his seventies at the time, felt he was in excellent health and wasn't expecting bad news during his check-up. When his doctor diagnosed him with the disease, he could hardly believe it.

However, when reality eventually set in, Bowden began to look after his health in earnest and has since gotten his blood sugar under control.

"My doctor set me straight," he says. "He told me that it didn't matter if I feel good now. What matters is what could happen down the road. I could go blind, lose a leg or even have a heart attack. Since then, I behave much better."

Bowden is far from being alone in his struggle. The Centers for Disease Control report approximately 23.6 million Americans have diabetes.

Though most experts believe that type 1 diabetes has a strong genetic component and cannot be prevented, a healthy lifestyle that includes avoiding cigarette smoke, eating a healthy balanced diet and getting plenty of exercise, is thought to be helpful in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Survivors and their families may take advantage of the variety of resources available to them through the American Diabetes Association. By learning to manage their condition, those who suffer from the disease can thrive and go on to live a long and healthy life.