By The Survivors Club Staff
March 5, 2010

Last week's massive earthquake in Chile caught Osvaldo Gonzales on an island just off the coast where he had been vacationing with his extended family.

Fearful that a tsunami might hit the island, the man made three boat trips to ferry his relatives back to mainland, although a cousin who operated a separate boat to help him out was not so lucky - he was swallowed by a tidal wave 30 feet high, according to The Miami Herald.

In fact, Gonzales' survival was nothing short of miraculous since his boat got stuck on the shore before he could make a final run.

"If I hadn't [got] bogged down in the mud, I would have gone back into the water," he said, quoted by the news provider. "But I saw the wave and began to run.''

As devastating earthquakes can also happen in the U.S. - where they have killed approximately 4,000 people since 1811 - The Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis recommends anchoring heavy objects, such as bookcases, mirrors or cabinets, to walls.

When a tremor begins, it is best to crouch under a desk or table, or stand in a stout doorway, away from windows. Those who are caught outdoors should stay away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines. If on the road, it is important to drive away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area and stay inside the vehicle.

If a tsunami warning is issued, individuals should immediately head to higher ground. Fast receding waters may also be a sign of an impending tidal wave, necessitating a similar evacuation.

Those who would like to support victims of the Haiti quake can donate to the Red Cross or UNICEF.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 5, 2010

Florida attorney Edwin "Eddie" Mulock is already a heart transplant and a kidney/liver transplant survivor, but a new adversity is looming on the horizon in the form of a foreclosure on his 42-year-old law practice.

Mulock told Bradenton.com that he has been unable to make loan payments on his business property because of the 2006 surgeries and the subsequent economic downturn, but has vowed to keep his career going.

Demonstrating resilience and a strength of spirit, Mulock - who is also a noted local child advocate and philanthropist - told the news provider, "I will be practicing law for a long time."

"I'm a survivor. Somehow, I'll make it," he added.

According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Company, which cites figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association, some 250,000 American families enter into foreclosure every quarter.

Recovery from foreclosure is time-consuming, but financial experts say affected individuals are likely to succeed if they straighten their financial situation, which includes paying new bills on time.

In the longer run, it is recommended to check one's credit report on a regular basis to avoid identity theft that can make applying for loans more difficult and to live within one's means so that spending does not exceed income.

Those facing foreclosure may access valuable information through the Federal Reserve Mortgage Foreclosure Resources webpage or via NeighboorhoodWorks.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 5, 2010

In September 2009, venerable actor Burt Reynolds checked into rehab for painkiller addiction, and last week underwent a heart bypass at a Florida hospital, according to media reports.

However, Reynolds, who starred in the 1997 hit movie Boogie Nights, is already back home and making good progress on the road to recovery, his representative told reporters.

Conveying the 74-year-old's resilience and good spirits, his manager Erik Kritzer thanked fans for their good wishes and quoted Reynolds as saying that "he has a great motor with brand new pipes and he is feeling great."

The Centers for Disease Control says heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more than 600,000 Americans each year.

However, even though some cases are hereditary, it is possible to modify one's lifestyle to reduce the risk and live a full, thriving life. In particular, physical exercise and a diet rich in fresh produce and low in red meats have been shown to bring health benefits.

Those who would like to support efforts to educate society about the dangers of heart disease and ways to prevent it may donate to the American Heart Association. This and other organizations also offer valuable information and resources for survivors and their families.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 4, 2010

Five Coast Guard members - including Petty Officers Darren M. Hicks and Edward Sychra - were on their way from Vancouver, where they provided security support for the Olympics, to North Carolina when their helicopter crashed on a snowy ridge in Wasach County, Utah.

All five survived, although two are listed in critical condition, while Hicks and Sychra sustained only minor injuries and were brought out with the help of snowmobiles, according to KSL.com.

Search and Rescue crew member Buzz Burgener was quoted by the news provider as saying that some of the survivors were able to use text messages to call for help, which alerted another Coast Guard helicopter in the area that landed and picked up the more severely injured people.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, a total of 491 individuals died in aviation accidents in the U.S. in 2007.

Safety experts say that survivors of similar crashes should move away from the wreckage, if possible, as it may ignite. It may also be a good idea to take blankets in order to protect themselves from the elements while waiting for rescue.

Meanwhile, those who go down in the water should refrain from swimming as physical exertion causes the body to lose heat at a much faster rate. It is also important to avoid panic as air trapped in clothing can provide buoyancy as long as one remains still, according to the United States Search and Rescue Task Force.

Individuals dealing with the aftermath of a crash may consult the resources of the Crash Survivors Network that may help them put their adversity behind and live thriving lives.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 4, 2010

In the early hours of last Saturday, Eduardo Ravani Jr. was photographing a wedding reception outside of Santiago, Chile, when the earth began to tremble violently, sending guests screaming outside.

In describing the eerie atmosphere following the three-minute magnitude 8.8 earthquake, Ravani said that "it was like something you see in the movies - one by one, each of the blocks of the city went dark," quoted by CNN.

"It felt like the shaking would never stop ... then all you heard were people crying and the sound of car alarms and house alarms," he added.

The man was fortunate to find his family safe when he returned home, but that was not the case for the families of the nearly 800 people who died. However, the survivor also told the news source that given the shortages and the looting that have taken place since the disaster, he is now focusing on ensuring his family's safety so that he, his wife and two young daughters can thrive again.

Although earthquakes are rare the U.S. - where they have killed approximately 4,000 Americans since 1811, according to the U.S. Geological Survey - residents of danger zones should take precautions by anchoring heavy objects, such as bookcases, mirrors or cabinets, to walls.

Such objects should never be placed over beds and should be kept lower than head height of the shortest member of family.

When a tremor begins, it is best to crouch under a desk or table, or stand in a stout doorway, away from windows. Those who are caught outdoors should stay away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines. If on the road, it is important to drive away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area and stay inside the vehicle.

Those who would like to support victims of the Haiti quake can donate to the Red Cross or UNICEF.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 4, 2010

University of Victoria student Eva Markvoort has been struggling with cystic fibrosis, a painful disease that is likely to kill her after her body rejected a double lung transplant in 2005.

However, even though her health has been deteriorating in recent months, and she now spends most of her time in the hospital, the university has made an exception by granting her a bachelors degree in fine arts, although she is still short of two electives, the Montreal Gazette reported.

One of her professors, Jan Wood, visited the 25-year-old in hospital and said the young woman was thrilled to get the degree.

"She was an inspiration while she was (at the university) and she's still an inspiration," Wood said, quoted by the news provider. "We're incredibly proud to have her as one of our alumni."

According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which also accepts donations, about 30,000 Americans suffer from the condition that affects the lungs and digestive system.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder, it cannot be prevented, but individuals can take certain steps to blunt its impact by keeping immunizations current, refraining from smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke, following a nutritious diet and seeking care at a specialty treatment center, if possible.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 3, 2010

While serving in Iraq in 2006, First Lieutenant Andrew Kinard suffered the loss of both legs when he and his Marine unit were attacked by an IED. However, the support he received after returning home allowed him to overcome the adversity and enroll at Harvard Law School, inspiring him to become involved and help other wounded soldiers.

The programs and services offered through the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) were instrumental to Kinard's recovery, and he ultimately joined its Board of Directors.

"I was thrust into the community of disabled veterans when I least expected it," he said, adding that he is constantly seeking new ways to engage with this community.

"This group brought meaning to my life, both through their direct support and also as a means by which I can support future generations of veterans," he stressed.

On March 4, the 26-year-old will testify before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees to lay out the WWP legislative agenda for 2010. He will also call attention to the needs of veterans living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health issues, in particular the need for improved access to rehabilitation options as well as vocational rehabilitation and employment programs.

In addition to WWP, war survivors are also encouraged to explore the comprehensive resources of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which may help them live thriving civilian lives.

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

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 3, 2010

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, an avid and frequent cyclist, was involved in a bicycle crash yesterday morning that sent him to a hospital with broken ribs.

The accident happened shortly after 6 a.m. when Ritter, wearing a helmet, went for his regular morning ride and collided with another rider who sustained minor injuries. By contrast, the governor had multiple rib fractures and was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, according to his office, quoted by KDVR.com.

Still, despite being in pain, his spokesman Evan Dreyer affirmed that the 53-year-old is in good spirits, laughing and joking with hospital staff and his wife Jeannie. He added that the governor wanted to convey the message to riders about the importance of wearing a helmet.

"Anybody who rides a bike without a helmet is just nuts," he reportedly said, quoted by the news provider.

In fact, experts from Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute stress that non-helmeted riders are 14 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than helmeted riders, as head injuries account for more than 60 percent of bicycle-related deaths.

The source also states that 698 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2007.

Road accident survivors may consult the resources of the Trauma Resource Institute or Crash Survivors Network, which can help them overcome physical and emotional scars and live thriving lives.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 3, 2010

Although she is living with autism, which deprived her of the ability to relate to or experience a range of emotions, Temple Grandin was fortunate enough to grow up with a supportive family and mentors who ensured that she could reach her full potential.

In fact, their success has been so phenomenal that Grandin went on to become a professor of animal science at Colorado State University as well as an author and animal activist.

As a person with high-functioning autism, the 62-year-old is also a noted advocate, whose support for early therapies, and an inexhaustible desire to share her inspiring story, are credited with changing society's attitudes towards autism.

Grandin recently spoke at the TED Conference in California, saying that the fact that people's brains work in different ways should be appreciated, not stigmatized, and that her autism is a gift, rather than a disability, according to CNN.

She also described how she thinks in pictures, "like Google for images," and has a highly developed ability to focus on details, a function she joked could help politicians.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 26,670 children born in the U.S. each year will eventually be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).

The cause of autism is not known, and genetic components are believed to play a role, but some cases have been linked to chemical exposure during pregnancy. Therefore experts say expectant mothers should not take unauthorized drugs and refrain from drinking alcohol.

Families facing the challenge of ASDs may consult the resources of the Autism Society of America which also accepts donations.

By The Survivors Club Staff
March 2, 2010

As fans around the world prepare for the excitement and the emotions of the 2010 World Cup, Argentinean soccer player Francisco Varallo can recall the times when the sport was played using a heavy leather ball, substitutions were not allowed and players had not yet become global mega-celebrities.

That is because Varallo has just turned 100 years old and is officially the last survivor of the first World Cup final in 1930 that pitted Argentina against the neighboring Uruguay.

Despite his age, the venerable athlete is thriving and was honored last week by FIFA - soccer's international governing body - at a ceremony in La Plata. The event drew hundreds of people to pay tribute as Varallo received FIFA's order of merit for his contributions to the sport, according to Reuters.

During the event, Varallo recalled details of that memorable game and teared up when presented with the medal. "Never in all my years have I been honored this way," he said, quoted by the news provider.

According to the Census Bureau, nearly 36 million Americans are 65 or older.

Although secrets to good health and longevity vary from person to person, experts agree that physical activity, proper diet and low alcohol consumption may be key to a long and healthy life.

In addition, many people who reach venerable age and report high personal satisfaction confirm the importance of a trusted network of friends, strong family relationships and a satisfying career path.

Individuals who would like to learn more about how to thrive in old age may consult the National Council on Aging that accepts donations towards improving the lives of seniors in America.