Maria Sevilla and her son Tyrone. Photo: change.org The mother of a nine-year-old boy facing deportation back to Philippines because of his autism has begun an online campaign to have him stay in Australia. Ma Cecilia Maria Sevilla moved to Australia in 2007 to study nursing and build a life for herself and her then two-year-old son. This year she applied for a 489 skilled visa but it was refused because her son did not meet the health requirement of the Migration Act. Her only options are to send Tyrone back to Philippines and she stay in Australia, they both return to their native Philippines, or she take a stand and fight the decision. She has now launched a petition on change.org pleading with Immigration Minister Scott Morrison to allow her and Tyrone to stay in Australia. I've worked for years, raising my son and studying to be a nurse. Yet all of it could be taken away because the government thinks that children with autism are going to be more of a cost to Australian society than a benefit - but thats just not true! she writes on the petition. He is a happy child with full of life … Continue reading →

Autism is a form of developmental disability that causes impairment of social interaction, communication (both verbal and nonverbal), behavior and interest. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are currently living with autism, and 60,000 individuals live with it in the state of North Carolina. In many children, loss of language is the major, initial impairment. However, other unusual behaviors may become apparent, such as spending hours lining up toys, showing interest in a very restricted range of topics, avoiding eye contact and having difficulty relating to other people. While the cause of autism has not been identified, researchers in the field believe there is a strong genetic component to the condition, although it is possible that autism is caused by a combination of several factors. Parents are usually the first to recognize concerning changes in their childs behavior; and this should always be brought up with the childs pediatrician. Pediatricians can do an initial assessment as to what may be causing these behavioral changes, and may then refer the child to a neurodevelopmental specialist who can make the diagnosis after a series of neuropsychological tests. Pediatric neurologists may be brought in to rule out several neurological, genetic or metabolic issues that … Continue reading →

By Randy Dotinga HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Sept. 23, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- People using cholesterol-lowering drugs while in the hospital for a hemorrhagic stroke -- which causes bleeding in the brain -- were more than four times more likely to survive than people who weren't taking the drugs, according to a new study. People taking the commonly used drugs known as statins were also 2.5 times more likely to be discharged home or to a rehabilitation facility, the study reports. When it comes to the best treatment for hemorrhagic stroke, there hasn't been a standard treatment recommendation, according to the study's lead author, Dr. Alexander Flint, the medical director of neuroscience quality at Kaiser Permanente in Redwood City, Calif. Now, he said, physicians should know that taking patients off statin treatment in the hospital "may carry a risk of substantially worse outcome." The findings from this study aren't considered definitive because it wasn't designed to prove that the statin treatment directly caused the lower risk of death. There are two types of stroke -- ischemic and hemorrhagic, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Ischemic strokes are caused by a blockage in a blood vessel in the … Continue reading →

Pat Preston says she has even insulted her grandchildren [NCJ] Pat Preston, 65, has sworn in front of her doctor and has even called her grandchildren rude words. The retired bank customer service advisor, from Gateshead, says that her language is a complete departure from how she used to talk. She said: "Before I had a stroke I would still get annoyed at things but I could control my upset, however now I just can't help it. I can swear during conversations and a couple of weeks ago my grandchildren were playing up and I called them 'little b*****s'. "My husband gets annoyed because he's a retired headteacher and gets horrified sometimes at what I say. I can get a little nervous too about what language I might use. "I was not aware that a stroke could affect someone in this way and change their personality." Pat was rushed to hospital in January after she struggled to get her words out and lost control of her legs. She was kept in a stroke unit for more than six weeks. Mrs Preston says she gets "nervous" about what she might say [NCJ] Patients can have a change of personality following a … Continue reading →

Pat Preston, 65, was a polite, well-mannered bank customer service adviser But she suffered a stroke in January which changed her personality Now can't stop swearing, in front of doctors, friends and her grandchildren She is seeing a psychologist to help with the personality change Stroke can damage parts of the brain causing behavioural changes By Madlen Davies for MailOnline Published: 06:13 EST, 24 September 2014 | Updated: 09:57 EST, 24 September 2014 112 shares 51 View comments Pat Preston, 65, of Whickam in Gateshead used to be prim and polite but she now can't stop swearing after a stroke she suffered in January Grandmother Pat Preston used to think of herself as a was a prim and proper woman. The nature of her job as a bank customer service adviser demanded she was extremely polite and well-mannered. But now the 65-year-old can't help but swear like a trooper after suffering a stroke that changed her personality. Original post: Grandmother Pat Preston can't stop SWEARING after a stroke altered her personality … Continue reading →

Prim pensioner Pat Preston swears like a trooper for the first time in her life after waking from a stroke with a changed personality. Grandmother Pat, 65, has shocked her husband, Michael, 66, by turning the air blue with a stream four-letter words in front of her doctor; has sworn in the presence of friends; and has been known to call her grandchildren little b****s since suffering a stroke in January. It is a complete departure from the type of language the retired bank customer service advisor would have used in the past and she even has a swear box she adds money to after using inappropriate words. Pat, of Whickham, Gateshead, said: Before I had a stroke I would still get annoyed at things but I could control my upset, however now I just cant help it. I can swear during conversations and a couple of weeks ago my grandchildren were playing up and I called them little b*****s. My husband gets annoyed because hes a retired headteacher and gets horrified sometimes at what I say. I can get a little nervous too about what language I might use. If something really annoys me I am not able to … Continue reading →