My Sister's Keeper

My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

At the age of two, Kate Fitzgerald is diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In order to save Kate’s life, her parents genetically design their third child, Anna, so that her blood and bone marrow matches with Kate’s genetic combination. Since her birth, Anna goes through numerous surgeries and transfusions so that Kate can live, and now at the age of thirteen, Anna is expected by her family to donate her kidney to her sixteen-year-old sister so that she can survive. However, although Anna loves her family with her whole heart, she does the unpredictable: she hires a lawyer and files a lawsuit against her own mother for infringing upon her own rights to her own body. Kate’s survival is now dependent on the outcome of the trial: Will Anna win the case, legally receive the right to refuse the kidney transplant, and ultimately lose Kate to leukemia? Or will she lose the case, her rights, and her liberties and be forced to donate her kidney to save Kate?
MY SISTER’S KEEPER is a novel that questions the rights, roles, and responsibilities of parents, children, and siblings. This story shows that regardless of who we are, we all have the power to give inspiration and hope to others amid life’s unexpected twists and turns.

Happy reading!
Seika K.

Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation: the Side of the All-American Meal 

by Eric Schlosser

Published in 2001, Eric Schlosser’s book, Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal, examines the impact of the American fast food industry on the lifestyles, diet, health, values, cultures, politics, economy, business, and food production of both Americans and of people around the world. Schlosser, an investigative journalist, provides extensive amounts of alarming and upsetting facts, observations, and details of the fast food industry that will surely disgust any reader who has ever been tempted to take a bite of a tasty Big Mac and some golden French fries. In this well-researched book, Schlosser thoroughly describes the beginnings and history of the hamburger and the fast food industry in southern California and the ramifications of the industry to every sector in the American society. Though it is at times tedious to read through longer passages in this book that deal solely with factual information, overall, Schlosser’s passionate argument against the brutal and life-threatening working conditions in food production, unsanitary food preparation, and unhealthy diet of fast food follows through. This book will undoubtedly make you pause and realize what you are about to eat before you purchase your next fast food meal.

Happy reading!
Seika K.

Denufosol: First Phase 3 Clinical Trials Results

I received the following message from CFF today and it sounds very exciting so I thought I would share it with you all.

"We have good news! Today, Inspire Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from the first Phase 3 clinical trial of denufosol, an inhaled drug that targets the basic defect in cystic fibrosis.
CF patients who took the drug showed significant improvement in lung function. Denufosol aims to treat the basic defect by using an alternative chloride transport channel, which allows sodium and chloride to move in and out of the cell, thereby enhancing mucus hydration and clearance.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation has been involved from the very beginning, funding basic science research of alternate chloride channels, which led to the development of denufosol. The Foundation has worked closely with Inspire during the drug's development and provided funding for a key Phase 2 clinical trial.
We need your help to complete development of denufosol, so the drug can be brought to market. You can make a difference by participating in the final Phase 3 clinical trial of denufosol. To learn about participating in the final denufosol clinical trial—or other clinical trials—please click here. Or, call (877) 8CF-JOIN.
To learn more about this promising development, please visit the CF Foundation's Web site to read our news story and the announcement issued by Inspire Pharmaceuticals.
Thank you for all you are doing to bring us one step closer to a cure."

Thanks to CFF for keeping us all updated on the new drugs for CF