Latest news with #Alissa
Axios
3 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Grab coffee at Bitty & Beau's in Upper Arlington
A coffee chain that's gained national attention for employing people with intellectual and developmental disabilities recently opened its first Ohio location in Upper Arlington. Why it matters: Bitty & Beau's brands itself as a "a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop," as people with disabilities disproportionately face barriers to employment. The business started in North Carolina and is named for the founders' two children with Down syndrome. It now has 18 locations nationwide. 💭 Alissa's thought bubble: The local cafe is already a popular gathering spot. When I stopped by for an iced latte on Friday morning, most of the tables were full. I wish I'd had room for a dessert — they're picturesque! Stop by: 8am-5pm daily, 3110 Kingsdale Center. Menu.
Irish Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Teen drank five litres of water a day before devastating diagnosis
A teenager's insatiable thirst turned out to be a symptom of a rare hidden brain tumour, leaving her family and doctors stunned. Alissa Bowman, now 17, began suffering from "extreme thirst" in June 2023, which led to her consuming an excessive amount – up to five litres – of water daily and night. Her intake soared from about two litres a day to over twice the recommended level, as she couldn't satisfy her need for hydration. Despite gulping down gallons, Alissa's thirst remained unquenched. Suspecting early signs of diabetes, her mum Fran, 49, took her to their local GP in Leeds for blood tests. Nevertheless, these tests did not reveal the underlying issue, leaving the cause a mystery. As the year progressed, Alissa's symptoms only got worse; she felt "constantly exhausted" and lost her appetite. During a trip to Thailand in October 2023, her condition became so dire she required a rehydration drip for severe dehydration, reports the Mirror. By December, she was bedridden due to her body being severely undernourished. The situation came to a head when Alissa, from Leeds, was admitted to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on December 22. An MRI scan there uncovered a cancerous brain tumour that was so unique that the doctors couldn't even classify it. Unbeknownst to anyone until that point, this tumour had compromised her pituitary gland function, responsible for producing vital hormones. Fran recalled the heartbreaking moment, saying: "It was awful news to hear, and my heart just dropped for Alissa – she was strong beyond her years. But medics didn't know what type of tumour she had, and so they had to try and figure that out before they gave her a prognosis." Despite undergoing further examinations and biopsies, doctors were stumped by the type of brain tumour afflicting Alissa, and after several months she commenced chemotherapy in a staunch bid to conquer it once and for all. She was told by experts that her tumour was incredibly unique, even being touted as the first case of its kind globally. Alissa showed tremendous fortitude, completing six cycles of chemotherapy. By November 2024, there was cause for celebration as her tumour had diminished by an astounding 90 per cent. Recounting the initial concerns, her mum Fran said, "Alissa's constant thirst sent alarm bells ringing. I thought it might be type 2 diabetes, but medics ruled that out. When the doctor said it was a brain tumour, we couldn't believe it." With its exceptional nature, Alissa's condition has been put forward for discussion at a national conference to establish the specifics of her tumour. Furthermore, she's participating in a research initiative based in Newcastle which aims to delve deeper into her particular case. "It's been the hardest couple of years of our lives," her mum reflected. "But Alissa is a tough cookie. She is the bravest, most inspirational person I know. I'm in awe of her bravery." Determined to make a difference, Fran is gearing up to tackle the London Marathon on Sunday April 27 to rally support and funds for the Brain Tumour Research Charity. Remarkably, she has already amassed over €24,500 (£21,000) in donations. "That's why I set myself the challenge of the London Marathon," her mum explained. "She's been through so much; now it's my time to be challenged. I'm proud to be running for the Brain Tumour Research Charity so they can continue to help families like us." Fran confessed to feeling a mix of nerves and excitement about the upcoming marathon, but she's driven by a powerful cause. She shared her feelings: "I'm nervous about the run, but I'm also excited and honoured to be running for such a good cause. I'm running for my superstar Alissa, but for anyone who needs or will need the Brain Tumour Charity. I had no idea how important the research they do is – Alissa's story has shown me how vital it is. Alissa's fighting spirit makes her so very special." JustGiving's Pascale Harvie couldn't hold back her praise for the awe-inspiring fundraising efforts of Fran. Harvie expressed: "Fran's fundraiser is an incredible tribute to her daughter Alissa's ongoing strength and determination. By taking on the London Marathon, Fran has already raised an incredible £21k for The Brain Tumour Charity, and we at JustGiving cannot applaud her enough." To chip in and support Fran's heartfelt marathon run, donations are welcome here. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Axios
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Cedar Point and Kings Island feature new coasters in '25
Cedar Point and Kings Island amusement parks are set to debut new coasters this summer, and one of them looks absolutely terrifying. Why it matters: This is the first full season after the parks' parent company, Cedar Fair, completed its merger with rival Six Flags last July. A season pass add-on now gains access to over 20 parks across the country. State of play: Cedar Point's season begins May 3 and roller coaster enthusiasts anticipate the opening of Siren's Curse later this summer. The ride will have a unique tilt feature, with a "broken off" section of track lowering into place for the first drop. Words don't do it justice … watch the animated video and be prepared to gasp. 🎢 Top Thrill 2 is expected to be back up again this season. It debuted a year ago, but was quickly shut down with mechanical issues. The Millennium Force coaster also celebrates 25 years since opening as the first giga coaster (over 300 feet tall). The intrigue: Kings Island is already open and has its own coaster debuting this summer — inside Soak City water park. RiverRacers will use water jets to propel riders through dueling slides at speeds up to 30 miles an hour. The Beast had some of its famous wooden track replaced, while the kid-friendly Queen City Stunt Coaster was rebranded to feature landmarks of nearby Cincinnati. 🎟️ Daily admission starts at $45 for Kings Island and $50 for Cedar Point. Plus: The All Park Passport add-on starts at $80 and gets you into many other Cedar Fair and Six Flags parks. The closest drives from Columbus are Michigan's Adventure (5 hours, 30 minutes; opens May 23) and Six Flags Great America in Illinois (6 hours, 15 minutes; open weekends until mid-May). 💭 Alissa's thought bubble: I grew up in Sandusky with Cedar Point practically in my backyard, so this time of year always brings a wave of nostalgia.
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Teen drank five litres of water a day before devastating diagnosis
Alissa Bowman would 'relentlessly' drink water, day and night A teenager was so thirsty she was drinking up to five litres of water every day, only to find out her symptom was due to a rare hidden brain tumour. Alissa Bowman, now 17, started experiencing "extreme thirst" back in June 2023, resulting in her "relentlessly" necking water, day and night. It quickly escalated from having around two litres a day to then downing more than double the recommended amount. However, it would be gallons of water later, and the teen still felt unable to quench her thirst. Initially thinking it might be due to onset diabetes, Alissa's mum Fran, aged 49, took her to their local GP in Leeds and carried out a series of blood tests. Unfortunately, the blood test failed to identify the cause and left them with no answer. However, later on that same year, Alissa's symptoms continued to worsen, to the point where she felt "constantly exhausted" with little to no appetite. In October 2023, the suffering teenager was even placed on a rehydration drip while holidaying in Thailand because of her severe dehydration. By December, she was unable to get out of bed because her body was completely undernourished. Alissa was admitted to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on December 22, where an MRI scan revealed a cancerous brain tumour, one that doctors couldn't even name. With no knowledge, this tumour had been affecting the function of her pituitary gland, which produces hormones that regulate growth, metabolism and reproduction. Fran said: "It was awful news to hear, and my heart just dropped for Alissa – she was strong beyond her years. But medics didn't know what type of tumour she had, and so they had to try and figure that out before they gave her a prognosis." Despite further tests and biopsies, medics were unable to diagnose the type of brain tumour Alissa had, and months later she began chemotherapy in a fight to get rid of it for good. Specialists told the teen her tumour was so rare she was the first person in the world with it. She went on to successfully complete six rounds of chemo, and by November 2024, her tumour had shrunk by an impressive 90 per cent. Her mum Fran said, "Alissa's constant thirst sent alarm bells ringing. I thought it might be type 2 diabetes, but medics ruled that out. When the doctor said it was a brain tumour, we couldn't believe it." Due to its rarity, Alissa's case is being presented to a national panel to try to determine the name and nature of her tumour, and she has also been enrolled in a research project in Newcastle to study it further. "It's been the hardest couple of years of our lives," her mum shared. "But Alissa is a tough cookie. She is the bravest, most inspirational person I know. I'm in awe of her bravery." Fran has set out to run the London Marathon on Sunday 27 April to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Research Charity and has already raised more than £21,000. "That's why I set myself the challenge of the London Marathon," her mum explained. "She's been through so much; now it's my time to be challenged. I'm proud to be running for the Brain Tumour Research Charity so they can continue to help families like us." Fran said: "I'm nervous about the run, but I'm also excited and honoured to be running for such a good cause. I'm running for my superstar Alissa, but for anyone who needs or will need the Brain Tumour Charity. I had no idea how important the research they do is – Alissa's story has shown me how vital it is. Alissa's fighting spirit makes her so very special." Pascale Harvie, President and General Manager of JustGiving, said: "Fran's fundraiser is an incredible tribute to her daughter Alissa's ongoing strength and determination. By taking on the London Marathon, Fran has already raised an incredible £21k for The Brain Tumour Charity, and we at JustGiving cannot applaud her enough."
National Geographic
09-04-2025
- National Geographic
This chef is proving Eastern European food is more than cabbage
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). How would you define the cuisine of Eastern Europe? The tradition of sharing food around the table with multiple generations and passing on stories through recipes is at the heart of Eastern European cuisine. There's also a sense of diversity across cultural and ethnic groups. In terms of specific dishes, techniques and ingredients, fermentation spans the region. Pies are a simple way of making the most of a few ingredients. And there will always be some form of dumpling. Sour cream is used for stirring into sauces or soups and for dipping dumplings, fritters or pancakes. In summer, there's an abundance of herbs — dill, parsley, coriander — and lots of simple but fragrant spices like caraway, fennel seeds and black pepper. How did your upbringing shape your relationship with food? I grew up in Omsk, Siberia, in the 1980s and 1990s, and I remember endless food queues. It's nothing compared with what previous generations went through, but it was still a difficult time economically for a huge chunk of Eastern Europe and Russia. Life revolved around finding food, cooking food and making the most of what you had. Back then, several generations would live in one flat. That created magical moments of having lots of people around, especially in the kitchen. I had three generations living under one roof and cooking for me. That gave me first-hand experience of almost 100 years of Eastern European history, all of which was represented in different dishes. The Dormition Cathedral is a popular monument in Alissa's hometown of Omsk in Russia. Photograph by Zoonar GmbH, Alamy Beetroot and plum twarog cheese is a bright celebration of Slavic dining heritage. Photograph by Lizzie Mayson What were your biggest influences when writing your second cookbook? The starting point was the war in Ukraine, which pushed me to revisit my family identity. Until recently, I called myself Russian because that's where I grew up. But my family is Ashkenazi Jewish, Ukrainian and Belarusian, then further down the line, there's some Polish heritage. It's very much about seeing that complexity — Eastern Europe is a fascinating place from a historical perspective. Different regimes come and go, borders collapse and new countries and sovereign states are formed. Food is the most powerful and relatable language to explore this history through. How has the region's history shaped individual countries' culinary traditions? Kapusta: Vegetable-Forward Recipes from Eastern Europe, by Alissa Timoshkina (£28, Quadrille) Photograph by Alissa Timoshkina It's like a mosaic that keeps shifting depending on which historical period or angle you look at it from. The Soviet government had a clear idea of how to use food to implement the notion of Soviet identity. Its dream house was without a kitchen; you'd have a private home, but then communal dining spaces. In the 1930s, the minister of foreign trade went to the US to learn about mass food production. A lot of mayo salads date back to the 1930s, and meat patties inspired by American fast food, though Soviet canteens would use more bread because there wasn't a lot of meat available. Going further back, the Ottoman Empire also breaks the borders. Suddenly, we have a lot of Mediterranean dishes, similar to Moldova and parts of Romania. In more southern parts of Eastern Europe like Bulgaria and Ukraine, you find filo pies filled with salty, crumbly brynza cheese, similar to Turkish and Greek feta pies. Then there's the central European influence in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and parts of Hungary, where you'll find strudels and dishes we associate with German or Austrian cuisine. It's beautiful how these little details open the door to a fascinating history behind the dishes. What inspired you to name the book after cabbage? Kapusta means cabbage in many Eastern European Slavic languages. When I studied in the UK, I would always be faced with some form of 'all you eat over there is cabbage'. I internalised that and felt embarrassed, but the older I got, the more fascinated I became with my region's cuisine. I felt it was time to turn this cliche on its head. Kapusta has accompanied Eastern Europeans through the most unimaginable hardships. The more I thought about it, the more it became a symbol of the defiance and endurance of their spirit. Published in Issue 27 (spring 2025) of Food by National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
