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June 8, 1999

Inhalant Abuse Deadly

Hello,

I'm writing to warn you about the very real and increasingly popular dangers of inhalant abuse. I am living every parent's nightmare!

My pain and grief and the anger I carry inside motivate me to fight to prevent another family from every having to live in the hell I now dwell in. It motivates me to do everything in my power to see that no other child is lost due to stupidity, selfishness and ignorance. I lost my 15-year-old son in a senseless and preventable car accident. The driver chose to start ‘huffing’ (aka sniffing, chroming, whipping) at the wheel. The driver passed out. My son, Keith, died on impact.

If you are a parent, take a few minutes to investigate whether your children may be experimenting with these dangerous (though perfectly legal) chemicals. If you are someone with siblings or other young people that you care about, please talk to them. The user can die the first, 10th or 100th time a product is misused as an inhalant. The wrong choice of aerosol can starve the body of oxygen, which can lead to unconsciousness and death.

A search of your own home will produce at least one product that can be used as an inhalant. I want the world of parents to be aware of the dangers of aerosols. For more information call the Inhalants Hotline, 1-800-322-5585; National Inhalant Prevention Coalition at 1-800-269-4237or visit their site at www.inhalants.org.

Thank you,

Keith’s Mom

Checked Out Recipes Today

I just visited Recipes Today and joined your e-newsletter. I love the idea of the recipes for preconception and pregnancy.

Thanks,

Dominique

No Feta During Pregnancy

Now I am depressed. Your Recipes Today food tip says that I shouldn't be eating feta while pregnant. I have been eating feta, and probably quite a bit of it. I will stop now, but am sad to be losing one of the foods that still tastes like it used to :(

Your site looks very promising. I will enjoy watching it grow!

Suzette Bradley
(14 weeks pregnant and grumpy)

Editor's Note: Feta, and other soft cheeses such as Brie, have been linked to Listeria, a bacteria that can be deadly to your fetus. Get more food safety tips on Recipes Today.

Great Support

Thanks for showing Mary such support during her pregnancy. It's nice to know that iParenting cares about its visitors.

Sarah Greene

An Update on Mary, Pregnant With Twins

We are nearly at 27 weeks. I had an ultrasound today. The babies are both weighing in at 1 pound, 14 ounces and should hit the 2 pound mark by Wednesday. There has been substantial growth in the last two weeks and the doctors are pleased with the weight gains.

I am, however, beginning to show some signs of what could be labor. In talking with the doctor today, we didn't get the usual, "Oh, let's go for 28 weeks, then 30..." We got, "Well, you go into labor, we'll go for it..." So while they are not saying much, I believe the steady increase in aches and pains, the changes I have been feeling in their positioning, well, it could be the beginnings of the end.

So that's where we are at. Our feelings are mixed. On one hand, I will be glad to see this month-long visit to the hospital come to an end, but on the other hand, we really want them to cook as long as we can. But I guess I take comfort in knowing that this is not in my control and when God is ready to introduce to us these sweeties, well, they'll come.

Mary


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