Mystery heroes pulled tourist from 'pool of blood' after legs ripped off by boat
The parents of Hannah Smith, 22, a graduate who was on her dream holiday, want to track down the two strangers who saved her life with their quick-thinking actions
The family of a woman who had her legs torn off by the propellors of a boat have praised two Good Samaritans who stepped in to save her life.
Hannah Smith, 22, was on her dream trip to the Bahamas to celebrate graduating college when she slipped from a pontoon boat and was dragged underneath, suffering horror injuries including partially severed legs.
And she nearly lost her life, bleeding out into the sea as the boat docked at Nassau Cruise Port. Thanks to fellow passengers, Hannah was hauled out of the "pool of blood" and given first aid by strangers, enabling her to get to hospital where she could be treated.
Now recuperating from her eighth operation in less than 10 days, Hannah is being supported by her family - mum Tracy, dad Marvin and one of her three siblings, Rachel - who have travelled from their home in Tennessee to be by her side in a Miami hospital.
Tourist, 22, fighting for life after legs torn off in freak accident still 'doesn't know'
Now her parents wish to track down the incredible strangers who gave their daughter first aid, stopping her catastrophic blood loss so she would have the chance to survive.
"It was actually two patrons on the same excursion [as Hannah]," said Tracy. "We were able to speak to one, we'd love to speak with the other one, just to thank them. They were the ones applying tourniquets, applying pressure before the first responders even got here."
Do you know the people who saved Hannah's life? Drop us a line to webnews@mirror.co.uk
"They were Americans who tended to her injuries, they were the first ones there," says Marvin. "We know it definitely was a nurse and a firefighter, a man and a woman."
Breaking down, Tracy said: "I want to just say thank you, because they allowed her to make it to the doctor's hospital in the Bahamas for her to receive further life saving care. I would love to be able to talk to them and ask their permission before we give their names or something like that, just to be respectful."
READ MORE: Woman whose legs ripped off in horror boat propeller accident had SECOND family heartbreak
It is nothing short of a "miracle" that Hannah is still alive, said her dad. "I feel like we really witnessed a miracle, because we could have very well been planning a funeral. Thank God that we're still able to talk to our daughter."
Hannah had lost so much blood that doctors in the Bahamas called for more donors to come forward, sparking a blood drive at the hospital where she was first treated.
"What we didn't realise is that Hannah has a different blood type to the blood they were giving her," said Tracy. "Before this she'd never had any surgeries or anything."
"But it was needed," says Marvin. "It was absolutely needed," added Tracy. "She still needs blood. They absolutely saved her life there."
Hannah's older sister Rachel has set up a GoFundMe page seeking donations to Hannah's mounting medical costs, which are expected to run into the hundreds of thousands.
For now, the family's lives are on hold while Hannah remains in hospital. "She's got a long journey [of recovery] says Tracy. "There's a lot of extenuating damages. Right now we're trying to keep her in today and moving forward and how bright her future can be. We've just got to get her healed."
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
At 26, I thought I was knackered from looking after a new puppy and working nights – but it was actually ‘silent' cancer
Hannah shares how she finally uncovered her true diagnosis, and how the terrifying ordeal has left her infertile HIDDEN THREAT At 26, I thought I was knackered from looking after a new puppy and working nights – but it was actually 'silent' cancer WITH a new puppy and a night-shift job, Hannah Coggles put her constant exhaustion down to her hectic routine. When her symptoms worsened, the then-26-year-old soon thought she might be pregnant, but repeated tests confirmed this wasn't the case so she brushed her concerns aside. 14 Hannah Coggles, with her puppy Noodle, when she started to feeling exhausted Credit: Supplied 14 Then then-26-year-old was later diagnosed with cancer Credit: Supplied Even when some unexplained bruising appeared, Hannah didn't think too much of it. She was otherwise healthy after all. It wasn't until she nearly collapsed at work that she thought something more serious might be at play. Hannah, from Swaffham, Norfolk, tells Sun Health: 'In October 2020, I was deeply fatigued almost all the time. 'My husband George and I had recently got a fox red Labrador called Noodle, just before we got married, and it was exhausting. 'I almost passed out a couple of times - once at home, once at work. 'At one point I did think that maybe I was pregnant, but the tests were showing negative. 'I then got bruises on my arms and legs. They weren't necessarily big ones, but they were taking an incredibly long time to heal, and my other symptoms weren't improving.' That finally prompted her to book a GP appointment. Due to Covid restrictions at the time, this was over the phone - but thankfully, the doctor listened. Believing she might be anaemic, Hannah was referred for a blood test and the very next day she got a call from a nurse on the Macmillan Ward. Charities have raised concerns over the population's 'non-existent' awareness of leukaemia symptoms 'She told me to bring an overnight bag. I knew something wasn't right,' she recalls. In January 2021, Hannah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) - a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. There are around 760 new cases diagnosed every year in the UK. 'I couldn't process anything the consultant was saying,' Hannah says. 'It was too much for my brain to process in the moment. 'I just remember calling my loved ones. There were so many tears, a lot of crying between me and my husband.' But there was no time to pause. She was admitted to the ward immediately, with treatment set to begin within days. The pandemic meant she faced much of it alone in hospital, but FaceTime, phone calls, and quizzes with family and friends helped keep her grounded. Hannah was moved from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, where she was able to see friends and family through a window, to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where she was in a top floor ward, with no visitors permitted. The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast. I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment Hannah Coggles 'My support system was incredible,' Hannah, a housewife and karate instructor, says. 'My parents made long journeys just to drop off food and essentials, my husband brought clean clothes, and the nurses were amazing too. It was the little things that kept me going.' Hannah underwent IV and oral chemotherapy, countless blood tests, bone marrow biopsies, and intrathecal procedures. When targeted therapy failed, she had her ovary removed in the hope of preserving fertility. Then came high-dose chemo and radiotherapy to prepare her for a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia in November 2021. 14 Hannah initially brushed her exhaustion aside, then thought she might be pregnant Credit: Supplied 14 She later noticed small bruising on her arms and legs Credit: Supplied 14 A trip to the GP revealed she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) Credit: Supplied 14 She underwent treatment, including a stem cell transplant from her sister Olivia Credit: Supplied Physically, treatment left her weak and drained. 'I lost weight and couldn't tolerate the taste of onion or garlic, things I used to love,' she says. 'As a result, I lost a lot of weight and was very unwell.' Mentally, she held it together, until just before the transplant. 'The gravity of the situation hit me hard and fast,' Hannah says. 'I remember having a little breakdown the day I was due to go in to start my stem cell transplant treatment. 'But luckily I managed to stay as positive as I possibly could and faced every challenge head on.' Warning signs of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia ACUTE lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It starts from white blood cells called lymphocytes and usually develops quickly over days or weeks. Around 790 people are diagnosed with ALL every year in the UK. But cases of leukaemia generally are rising. Since the early 1990s, incidence rates have increased by around 15 per cent in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK. There is a similar trend in the United States, particularly in teenagers. A report by the American Cancer Society estimated there will be 66,890 new leukaemia cases and 23,540 deaths in 2025. Dr Keith Pratz, MD, director of the Leukemia Program at Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center, told Blood Cancers Today: "Incidence rates of leukaemia are rising in adults based on SEER data going back as far as 1975. "Many believe these are changes due to children and young adults living longer over that period, with death from other causes going down. "There is a small but meaningful increase in younger adults with leukaemia, and we need improved reporting of risks found in these young adults to improve our understanding of this issue." The most common symptoms of leukaemia include: Feeling weak or tired Shortness of breath Pale skin A high temperature or fever Picking up or not being able to shake off infections easily Bruising and bleeding easily Swelling of your lymph nodes Pain in your bones or joints Feeling full or pain in your tummy Weight loss Most people with these symptoms don't have leukaemia, but it's important to get them checked by your GP. Some people also experience no symptoms at all, or very minor ones which are easily brushed aside. Source: Cancer Research UK Even small victories mattered. 'I did laps around my bed and practiced karate. I had to keep moving,' she adds. Her time in hospital meant she didn't get to see much of little Noodle, but she was always 'so excited' to see her when she did. 'Watching her grow via pictures was sad as I missed out on a lot of the puppy stage,' Hannah adds. Thankfully, the treatment worked and Hannah, 31, is now in remission and back home. But her journey continues. She has routine check-ups, will continue to take daily antibiotics for the rest of her life to protect her spleen, and is on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), usually taken during the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, as treatment has left her infertile. Despite continued difficulties, her perspective on life has shifted completely. 'Remission doesn't mean the ordeal is magically over' 'I've made a lot of progress physically,' Hannah, who now also has a goldador dog called Queso, says. 'My muscles and joints aren't what they used to be, and the fatigue is still there. But I'm alive, and I'm grateful. 'I say 'yes' more. I don't let people take me for granted. 'The little problems don't matter so much now and I've found peace in my own company.' She stays strong in mind and body through regular gym workouts, karate practice, and dog walks - as well as staying close to her family and friends. 14 The karate enthusiast started to feel unwell in October 2020 Credit: Supplied 14 She had chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah is now in remission, but she says the ordeal 'isn't magically over' Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah with her husband George Credit: Supplied For anyone newly diagnosed, Hannah's advice is simple and powerful. 'Stay positive,' she says. 'Don't be too hard on yourself, even though it may feel like the world is crashing down. 'Some people may not be there for you that you thought would, and that's OK. Not everyone knows the right words to say - just know that it's nothing you have done. 'Get up and move, even if you're tired. And drink water - lots of water - I can't stress that enough!' And she has a message she wants the world to hear. 'Remission isn't the end,' Hannah says. 'It doesn't magically mean the ordeal is over. 'A lot of us still live with the effects of what we have experienced. 'Be patient with us. And please, learn the signs.' 'A powerful reminder' Leukaemia is a type of blood cancer. There are many different types, but collectively it affects around 10,300 people every year in the UK. Common symptoms include: Feeling weak or tired A high temperature or fever Bruising and bleeding easily Picking up or not being able to shake off infections easily Weight loss Pale skin Shortness of breath Swelling of your lymph nodes Feeling full in your tummy Colin Dyer, CEO at Leukaemia Care, says: 'Hannah's story is a powerful reminder of how vital it is to spot the signs of leukaemia early. 'Fatigue, bruising, and persistent illness are often dismissed but they can be symptoms of something far more serious. 'Every day in the UK, 28 people are diagnosed with leukaemia, and early diagnosis can make all the difference. 'Through the #SpotLeukaemia campaign, with support from JCDecaux Community Channel, we want to ensure that everyone knows what symptoms to look out for and what to do if they are worried about a possible leukaemia diagnosis. 'The sooner someone is diagnosed, the better their treatment outcome. Early diagnosis saves lives.' 14 Hannah and George got fox red Labrador Noodle just before they got married Credit: Supplied 14 Hannah wants to warn others to look out for symptoms Credit: Supplied 14 She also wants people to be 'be patient' with anyone going through cancer treatment Credit: Supplied 14 Noodle with the couple's other dog Queso Credit: Supplied Fiona Hazell, CEO of Leukaemia UK, adds: 'Unlike solid tumours, leukaemia can usually be diagnosed by a simple full blood count test. 'Unfortunately, many people aren't aware of the signs and symptoms of leukaemia until they or someone they know is diagnosed, which can lead to dangerous delays. 'Early diagnosis saves lives, so we want to make sure more people are aware of the signs and symptoms and know to contact their GP to ask for a blood test if they're experiencing them, just like Hannah did. 'Together, we can stop leukaemia from devastating so many lives.'
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I have to tuck my belly into my pants after fat jabs made me tiny but other crazy side effects will cost me £9K to fix
Tracy Hughes says no one warned her about the shocking side effects of fat jabs - including unexpected body parts which shrank dramatically JAB SNAG I have to tuck my belly into my pants after fat jabs made me tiny but other crazy side effects will cost me £9K to fix FINISHING an eight-mile run, Tracy Hughes walks into her bathroom and turns on the shower. Wearing her form-fitting exercise kit, the mum-of-four has a svelte size 10 body that women half her age would be envious of. Advertisement 8 Tracy Hughes was desperate to lose weight having ballooned to over 20st 8 She used Mounjaro to drop seven stone and is now a svelte size ten 8 However, Tracy says she's been left with a 'jelly belly' which she has to tuck into her pants But as Tracy, 47, peels off her leggings, she reveals a secret - her jelly belly - five pounds of loose and wobbly skin. 'I have lost seven stone in just eight months using fat jabs,' she says. 'I used to weigh 20st and now I tip the scales at just 13st.' However, while Tracy is thrilled with her new physique, she admits her weight loss has come with plenty of unwanted side effects. Advertisement 'Topping the list is my jelly belly and it has to be packed into my knickers and trousers every day,' she says. 'I have learnt no amount of exercise will make your body's skin shrink and ping back to normal. 'Now I have five pounds of loose skin on my stomach. The top of my thighs is also covered in flabby folds despite running eight miles a day, three days a week and working out at the gym.' But it isn't just her loose skin that is causing an issue for Tracy. Advertisement 'I've also seen my feet and hands shrink dramatically and I now have a turkey neck,' she adds. 'To fix these side effects, I'm planning on forking out more than £9,000 on plastic surgery, including a tummy tuck, face lift, liposuction, as well as filler and Botox. I wanted to lose a few pounds so hopped on the fat jab trend - 4 days in it's not worth it, the side effects are awful 'No one tells you about these side effects.' Regional childcare manager Tracy is married to Ian, 50, a postman and lives in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. The pair have four daughters aged 30, 25, 21 and 14 and three grandchildren aged between three and five months old. Advertisement Growing up, Tracy was slim but after she had her first child in 1995 she saw her weight creep up. 'I went from a svelte size 12 to an uncomfortable size 20,' she admits. 'I ballooned during pregnancy and couldn't shift the weight. 'After each child, I'd diet and exercise, but the weight never seemed to shift. Advertisement 'If I did lose a few pounds, I'd pile it back on again. 'The food noise in my head was overwhelming, and I couldn't find an eating plan that worked for me,' she says. 8 Tracy, pictured with husband Ian, ballooned during her first pregnancy and couldn't shift the weight 8 The 'food noise' stopped for Tracy when she began using fat jabs Advertisement Over the past 25 years, Tracy tried milkshake diets, low-fat eating, calorie counting, soup diets, juicing, even the Atkins eating plan and Keto diets to lose weight. 'I managed to lose five stone on the Cambridge Diet, but I couldn't control the food noise long enough and the weight piled back on again,' she says. 'I have been on a diet, or thinking about what diet to try next, for the past 25 years. It's been overwhelming.' At her biggest, Tracy was a size 20, tipping the scales at 20st and had a BMI of 45.4, making her obese and at risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Advertisement 'My family and I would spend £350 a month on greasy takeaways, I loved kebabs, burgers and curries,' she says. 'But I was covered in stretch marks and hated myself and my body.' Tracy admits her weight gain was also worsening her menopause symptoms. 'I couldn't sleep properly or get comfortable. I was constantly turning in bed. Advertisement 'My husband made me sleep in another room, complaining that I was so hot it was like sleeping next to a radiator. 'Whenever I felt down, I was stuffing my face with McDonald's takeaways, Chinese and kebabs.' However, last September when the couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a vow renewal and a second honeymoon in Cyprus, it was breaking point. 'I looked back at the vow renewal photos and burst into tears. Advertisement 'I just sobbed. I thought I looked like a whale. I can't wear a bikini until I have my 'Mounjaro plastic surgery makeover' Tracy Hughes 'It was what I needed to make me determined to lose weight.' That was when Tracy decided to take the advice of a friend who'd attended her vow renewal. She recalls: 'When she arrived, I almost didn't recognise her. My pal had lost a huge amount of weight and was glowing. Advertisement 'When I asked her what her secret was, she told me it was Mounjaro. 'So instead of relaxing on break in Cyprus, I ordered the weight loss jabs with a private prescription. 'The injections cost £170 a month and the month's supply arrived before we got home from our second honeymoon.' Tracy started taking Mounjaro in September last year and says within 24 hours she felt the food noise in her head stop for the first time in almost three decades. Advertisement 'I woke up and wasn't wanting to eat or obsessing about food,' she says. 'I went for a walk that day and signed up to a gym.' 'I was thriving' Tracy lost a stone in the first month on Mounjaro and then each month after that the weight continued to drop off. 'Within a month, I was back running, slowly building up the distance day by day,' she says. Advertisement 'I started going to the gym and training for a half marathon, my energy levels were through the roof. 'I was thriving, exercising. I was eating smaller portions. I no longer wanted a glass of wine, and I was only craving healthy foods like lean protein and vegetables.' However, in the last two months, Tracy admits she started noticing the unusual side effects while using the jab. 'As I lost the weight and was rapidly dropping dress sizes, I noticed my stomach was still flabby and floppy,' she says. Advertisement 'It's when I hit the five-stone weight loss mark, I realised the skin wasn't going to ping back into shape even though I was running 24 miles a week and working out. 'Since then, the more I shrink, the more flab folds develop on my so-called 'Ozempic jelly belly'. 'It has to be packed into my tummy control knickers.' Tracy admits that her loose skin has put a stop to her wearing certain items of clothing. Advertisement 'I can't wear a bikini until I have my 'Mounjaro plastic surgery makeover',' she says. 'I will have to wear a full swimsuit with tummy control pants to keep my belly folded into place.' Tracy is now planning on spending more than £9,000 on plastic surgery to iron out the side effects of her fat jabs. 'I know I need a tummy tuck liposuction, a breast uplift, and a thigh lift to deal with the loose skin left from the jabs,' she says. Advertisement 'I tell people losing weight is only half the journey you have to start saving now for plastic surgery.' Everything you need to know about fat jabs Weight loss jabs are all the rage as studies and patient stories reveal they help people shed flab at almost unbelievable rates, as well as appearing to reduce the risk of serious diseases. Wegovy – a modified version of type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic – and Mounjaro are the leading weight loss injections used in the UK. Wegovy, real name semaglutide, has been used on the NHS for years while Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is a newer and more powerful addition to the market. Mounjaro accounts for most private prescriptions for weight loss and is set to join Wegovy as an NHS staple this year. How do they work? The jabs work by suppressing your appetite, making you eat less so your body burns fat for energy instead and you lose weight. They do this my mimicking a hormone called GLP-1, which signals to the brain when the stomach is full, so the drugs are officially called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They slow down digestion and increase insulin production, lowering blood sugar, which is why they were first developed to treat type 2 diabetes in which patients' sugar levels are too high. Can I get them? NHS prescriptions of weight loss drugs, mainly Wegovy and an older version called Saxenda (chemical name liraglutide), are controlled through specialist weight loss clinics. Typically a patient will have to have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, classifying them as medically obese, and also have a weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure. GPs generally do not prescribe the drugs for weight loss. Private prescribers offer the jabs, most commonly Mounjaro, to anyone who is obese (BMI of 30+) or overweight (BMI 25-30) with a weight-related health risk. Private pharmacies have been rapped for handing them out too easily and video calls or face-to-face appointments are now mandatory to check a patient is being truthful about their size and health. Are there any risks? Yes – side effects are common but most are relatively mild. Around half of people taking the drug experience gut issues, including sickness, bloating, acid reflux, constipation and diarrhoea. Dr Sarah Jarvis, GP and clinical consultant at said: 'One of the more uncommon side effects is severe acute pancreatitis, which is extremely painful and happens to one in 500 people.' Other uncommon side effects include altered taste, kidney problems, allergic reactions, gallbladder problems and hypoglycemia. Evidence has so far been inconclusive about whether the injections are damaging to patients' mental health. Figures obtained by The Sun show that, up to January 2025, 85 patient deaths in the UK were suspected to be linked to the medicines. One side effect which shocked Tracy was just how much her feet changed on the fat jabs. 'I went to put on my work sandals a month ago and they are too big,' she explains. Advertisement 'I thought I was seeing things, so I pulled out a similar pair and my feet were too small for them as well. 'The weight loss jabs caused my feet to shrink and go down a shoe size. 'In the past my old shoes were tight due to my feet swelling but to realise my feet have actually shrunk from size nine to a size seven-and-a-half is jaw dropping.' Tracy says she has had to spend hundreds replacing all of her old shoes. Advertisement 'I knew I'd be buying new clothes because I was losing weight but buying new shoes because you have gone down a shoe size is unheard of,' she says. 'I sold my old plus-size clothes on Vinted and have made £800. I was going to use that for a weekend away. Now I have had to use it for new shoes.' Tracy has had to have all her rings resized due to her shrinking fingers too. 'My engagement ring pinged off in the shower and I thought I'd lost it,' she says. Advertisement 'Now after a seven-stone weight loss my husband has bought me a new wedding ring and engagement ring, and they are an entire size smaller. I'd rather experience the odd shrinking foot and jelly belly to be half the woman I was Tracy Hughes 'I didn't think the jab would mean I'd have to get new wedding rings, but it happened.' Tracy is now experiencing turkey neck – another side effect of the jabs. 'I noticed a month ago my neck skin stretches out and my under-chin skin is floppier,' she says. Advertisement 'I have added that to my list of cosmetic surgery makeovers.' But even with the various side effects, Tracy says it was all worth it. "I feel amazing as thin Tracy,' she says. "I am more in control. I am addicted to Mounjaro. I don't want to stop the jabs as I know they are helping me so much," she says. Advertisement "I know many people would complain about these weird effects. "For me it was a shock initially. "But I'd rather experience the odd shrinking foot and jelly belly to be half the woman I was.' 8 It was Tracy's vow renewal photos that pushed her to get the jabs Advertisement 8 Alongside her weight loss, Tracy's feet shrunk two sizes
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
How RFK Jr. is quickly changing U.S. health agencies
WASHINGTON — In just a few short months, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has begun to transform U.S. health policy: shrinking staff at health agencies, restructuring the focus of some regulators and researchers, changing Covid vaccine regulations and reshaping the mission of his department to focus more on alternative medicine. The directives are all part of the same issue set that drove a slice of health-conscious, left-leaning Americans to eventually vote for a Republican president whose favorite meal is from McDonald's, Trump and Kennedy catered to a type of voter who has grown distrustful of America's health care establishment — but possibly fomented a new type of distrust in federal health policy along the way. Bernadine Francis, a lifelong Democrat who backed Joe Biden for president in 2020 before supporting Donald Trump in 2024, told NBC News in an interview that she approves of Kennedy's efforts so far, despite his 'hands being tied' by entrenched forces in the administration and in Congress. 'From what I have seen so far with what RFK has been trying to do,' she said, 'I am really, really proud of what he's doing.' Francis is among the voters who left the Democratic Party and voted for Trump because 'nothing else mattered' apart from public health, which they — like Kennedy — felt was going in the wrong direction. Concerns about chemicals in food and toxins in the environment, long championed by Democrats, has become a galvanizing issue to a key portion of Trump's Republican Party, complete with an oversaturation of information that in some cases hasn't been proven. It's wrapped up, as well, in concerns about the Covid vaccine, which was accelerated under Trump, administered under Biden and weaponized by anti-vaccine activists like Kennedy amid lockdowns and firings in the wake of the devastating pandemic. 'We knew in order to get RFK in there so he can help with the situation that we have in the health industry, we knew we had to do this,' said Francis, a retired Washington, D.C., public school administrator, who said she left her 'beloved' career because she had refused the vaccine. 'It seemed to me, as soon as [Biden] became president, the vaccine was mandated, and that was when I lost all hope in the Democrats,' Francis told NBC News, referring to vaccination mandates put in place by the Biden administration for a large portion of the federal workforce during the height of the pandemic. There are not currently any federal Covid vaccine mandates. There have been 1,228,393 confirmed Covid deaths in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How RFK Jr.'s picks are changing public health agencies Dr. Marty Makary, Kennedy's hand-picked commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and a John Hopkins scientist and researcher, told NBC News in an interview that he wants to transform the agency, which he said faced 'corruption' over influence from the pharmaceutical and food industries. 'I mean, you look at the food pyramid, it was not based on what's best for you, it was based on what companies wanted you to buy,' he said, referring to the 1992 and later iterations of official government nutritional guidance. He said there would be 'entirely new nutrition guidance' released later this year, as soon as this summer. He praised the FDA's mission of research and regulation, saying the agency is 'incredibly well-oiled, and we've got the trains running on time.' He also highlighted the 75-page 'Make America Healthy Again' commission report — which focused on ultraprocessed foods and toxins in the environment — as having set 'the agenda for research' at the FDA, HHS and agencies overseeing social safety net programs such as Medicare and food stamps moving forward. (The MAHA report initially cited some studies that didn't exist, a mistake that Kennedy adviser Calley Means said was a 'great disservice' to their mission.) 'I think there's a lot we're going to learn. For example, the microbiome, which gets attention in the MAHA report, needs to be on the map. We don't even talk about it in our medical circles,' Makary said. 'The microbiome, food is medicine, the immune response that happens when chemicals that don't appear in nature go down our GI tract.' Pressed on other areas of the administration, like the Environmental Protection Agency, making decisions that run counter to the pro-regulatory ideas presented in the MAHA report, Makary said he can 'only comment on the FDA' where they are 'committed to Secretary Kennedy's vision.' But Kennedy's public health agenda goes beyond looking at the food supply and chemicals. Recently, Kennedy said in a video posted on X last month that the Covid vaccine is no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women, a change in CDC guidance that skipped the normal public review period. Days later, after critics questioned the decision and raised concerns over a lack of public data behind the move, the administration updated its guidance again, urging parents to consult with their doctors instead. Pressed about the confusion and whether Americans are now trading one side of public distrust in the health system for another, Makary defended Kennedy, who has been criticized for spreading misinformation. 'My experience with Secretary Robert F. Kennedy is that he listens. He listens to myself, he listens to Jay Bhattacharya, listens to Dr. Mehmet Oz, he listens to a host of scientists that are giving him guidance,' Makary argued, referring to the director of the National Institutes of Health and the administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, respectively. 'So he may have big questions, but the questions he's asking are the questions most Americans are asking.' The intersection of medicine and healthy lifestyle choices Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a breast cancer oncologist and integrative medicine doctor — a physician who combines conventional treatments with research-based alternative therapies — has tried to help her patients wade through medical misinformation they encounter online and in their social circles. Mussallem has an incredible story of personal survival: While in medical school, she was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer and, after conventional therapies like chemo saved her life, was diagnosed with heart failure. After undergoing a heart transplant, Mussallem ran a 26-mile marathon just one year later. 'I learned a lot in medical school, but nothing compared to what I learned being a patient,' said Mussallem, who dedicates, on average, 90 minutes each in one-on-one sessions with her patients. 'This is not about any one political choice. But we know lifestyle matters.' For example, a new study from the American Society of Clinical Oncology that finds eating food that lowers inflammation in the body may help people with advanced colon cancer survive longer. Mussallem's mission, along with her colleagues, is to elevate the modern medicine that saved her life, as well as encouraging her patients to live healthy lifestyles, including regular exercise, minimally processed foods, less screen time, more social connection and better sleep. But politics do get in the way for millions of Americans who are inundated daily with social media influencers and 'nonmedical experts,' as Mussallem puts it, who stoke fear in her patients. 'Patients come in with all these questions, fears,' she said. 'I've heard this many times from patients, that their nervous system is affected by what they're seeing happening in government.' Mussallem acknowledges that 'a lot of individuals out there' have questioned traditional medicine. For her, it isn't one or the other — it's both. 'We have to trust the conventional medicine,' she said. 'With the conventional care that marches right alongside more of an integrative modality to look at the root causes of disease, as well as to help to optimize with lifestyle, is where we need to be.'
