Writing Samples

Why good posture matters whatever your age

Why good posture matters whatever your age

Even before 'pandemic posture' was a thing, people have been struggling to stay upright. The causes are many, but we ...
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'Life is short' - the motivation behind pandemic pivots

‘Life is short’ – the motivation behind pandemic pivots

From launching a food truck to art classes to even joining a different book club, how the pandemic is inspiring ...
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Survivor support

Survivor support

Even though cancer treatment ends, the need for physical and emotional care continues. When Marty Hogan found out at age 34 ...
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Paying it forward

Paying it forward

Alumna Bobbi Rougeau '06 established the Alphabet Soup Scholarship to benefit students in HCC's Early Childhood Education program ...
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Counts can be scary

Counts can be scary

On Halloween, I enjoyed a treat: Wynton Marsalis and a big band playing arrangements of Sesame Street songs while The ...
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Easy to get confused after four re-birthdays

Easy to get confused after four re-birthdays

It’s probably unusual for someone to wake up and wonder if it’s their birthday, but that’s what happened to me ...
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A family business

A family business

You just got to keep showing up, going in every day, and doing the best you can ...
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See more smiles

See more smiles

Inspired by a student, a Holyoke Community College literacy specialist launches accessible face mask campaign ...
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Stem cell transplant: just the basics

Stem cell transplant: just the basics

A friend who has a friend facing a stem cell transplant thought, with good reason, that I could pass on ...
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Some people just don’t get it

Some people just don’t get it

A friend made a comment that shows some people have no idea. No idea what, you might wonder. No idea ...
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Virtual theater keeps people engaged

Virtual theater keeps people engaged

Many are staying connected to live productions during the pandemic ...
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Is it safe to take my dog to the groomer?

Is it safe to take my dog to the groomer?

When I mentioned to a friend that I was thinking of taking my Labrador Retriever to the groomer, she suggested ...
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High school tradition with friends

High school tradition with friends

We didn’t plan for the bench photo to symbolize long-term friendship when seven of us high school seniors sat on ...
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Cancer and COVID

Cancer and COVID

While individuals are at greater risk, treatment and screening must continue ...
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Airport therapy dogs comfort anxious travelers

Airport therapy dogs comfort anxious travelers

Afraid to fly? These dogs can help. Therapy dogs are making people smile ...
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Proprietary blends: supplements with hidden risks

Proprietary blends: supplements with hidden risks

Supplements that have a mixture of ingredients are called proprietary blends — which are not required to list all the ...
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Putting treatments into motion

Putting treatments into motion

Parkinson’s disease — a progressive movement disorder — has no cure, but better treatments are giving more hope ...
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Coronavirus: coping with uncertainty

Coronavirus: coping with uncertainty

Questions prevail about risk, existing health conditions and daily routines ...
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This tennis pro helps older adults stay mobile

This tennis pro helps older adults stay mobile

You might think that when getting a tennis lesson, you would pick up a racquet and ball. But if you’re ...
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Is skin cancer chronic?

Is skin cancer chronic?

Could we think about Skin Cancer as a Chronic Disease? A while ago, when someone who knew I had had skin ...
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A world of possibilities

A world of possibilities

Francesco Maria Del Re, a marine biologist from the University of Florence in Italy, has spent the academic year working ...
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Beating the odds

Beating the odds

Thanks to new treatments, many women are living longer with ovarian cancer ...
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Doctor and nurse team up for blood cancers support group

Doctor and nurse team up for blood cancers support group

When my year of isolation ended after a stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in 2003, I ...
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Easing into activity

Easing into activity

Cancer exercise specialist and survivor Julie Goodale offers tips for staying active during and after treatment ...
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Sports and SPF clothing

Sports and SPF clothing

Hard to be safe without stifling ...
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No bones about it

No bones about it

Treating Osteoporosis and Bone Loss Without Medication ...
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How to find pet-friendly senior living

How to find pet-friendly senior living

Asking the right questions is key ...
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Bringing home baby

Bringing home baby

There’s more to it than tossing a newborn’s blanket at the family dog. Luckily, parents now have the resources to ...
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At home 'In the Heights'

At home ‘In the Heights’

Director draws inspiration from Latino community ...
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Sex after cancer

Sex after cancer

Helping female survivors reclaim sexual health ...
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Sun safe vs. sun phobic

Sun safe vs. sun phobic

How to stay safe in sun without going crazy ...
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Gabapentin new drug of abuse

Gabapentin new drug of abuse

Why opiod abusers crave it ...
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After menopause, painful sex

After menopause, painful sex

Relief opens door to pleasure ...
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Experiencing two worlds at once

Experiencing two worlds at once

Augmented reality artist places 'border wall' in Boston Common ...
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Neuropathy difficult to treat

Neuropathy difficult to treat

For many, pain a lifelong fact of life ...
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After stem cell transplant, chronic symptoms

After stem cell transplant, chronic symptoms

Symptoms linger long after cure ...
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A favor returned

A favor returned

Two miraculous recoveries, intertwined ...
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Health benefits of pets for older people

Health benefits of pets for older people

They help lower blood pressure, for one ...
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Putting words in motion

Putting words in motion

Dancer makes are out of painful memories ...
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When you have 2 sets of DNA

When you have 2 sets of DNA

This Is What It’s Like Living With Two Types of DNA There was little hope for blood cancer patients until ...
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The healing powers of tennis

The healing powers of tennis

How tennis helped in leukemia fight ...
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Toe pain can hinder runners

Toe pain can hinder runners

Changing shoes, stretching, may help ...
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 The crazy orchid lady

 The crazy orchid lady

Grower tends to unusual garden ...
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What to do for migraines in teens

What to do for migraines in teens

Learn how to prevent, treat episodes ...
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The little coffee chain that could

The little coffee chain that could

Coffee roasters keep it in the family ...
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True life epic

True life epic

Telling the story of legendary African filmmaker ...
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On a mission

On a mission

Graduate takes aim at bullying ...
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Building bridges

Building bridges

Conference highlights refugee issues ...
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No fly list 'Kafkaesque'

No fly list ‘Kafkaesque’

Lawyer challenges constitutionality ...
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Coming to terms with disfiguring surgery

Coming to terms with disfiguring surgery

Roger Ebert faces the critics ...
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Running for my life

Running for my life

While running the St. Patrick's Day 10K in Holyoke, Mass., in 2003, I could hardly catch my breath ...
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