Latest news with #Hantavirus
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Gene Hackman had 'huge fight with drivers who recognised and harrassed him'
In the months following Gene Hackman's tragic death at age 95, a previously unknown altercation from his later years has come to light from a former pal Months after Gene Hackman 's tragic death at 95, a wild story from his final years has come to light involving a minor car crash, a roadside brawl, and a surreal moment of self-awareness. Doug Lanham, a close friend who met Hackman in 2004 at his Santa Fe restaurant, revealed the incident in a new interview. He recalled: 'There was a time Gene was coming down where he was living [in LA]. These guys recognised him, and they started harassing him a little bit.' According to Lanham, after being rear-ended at a light, Hackman refused to back down: 'Gene being Gene, puts it in drive, goes forward, puts it in reverse and then whacks them.' Things escalated at the next light. 'Two of them get out of the car and Gene gets out of the car, and they go for it.' When Lanham later asked how he fared, Hackman gave a typically dry, cinematic reply: 'Well I was on my back and I kinda looked up over my head and there's a bus stop with a poster and there I was on the poster! And I was like, 'Hackman what the hell are you doing?'" he told the Daily Mai l. Hackman, best known for The French Connection and Unforgiven, retreated from public life after retiring in 2004. He and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their Santa Fe home earlier this year. Autopsy results painted a picture of a man in declining health: Hackman had long battled congestive heart failure, had a bi-ventricular pacemaker since 2019, and suffered from advanced-stage Alzheimer's. He also had 'severe atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease,' with multiple heart surgeries and damage from earlier heart attacks. Tragically, Arakawa passed first, likely around February 12, due to complications from Hantavirus - a rare illness linked to rodent droppings. A report confirmed she had been researching flu-like symptoms in the days before her death. Hackman, who tested negative for the virus, died days later, on February 18, likely unaware his wife had already gone. A heartbreaking scene awaited police: their dog guarding Betsy's body, notes exchanged between the couple scattered through their home, and photographs of their beloved German Shepherds throughout the house. A subsequent health inspection found rodent infestations across eight outbuildings on their property, including sheds, garages, and even vehicles. Inspectors also discovered traps throughout, indicating the couple had been struggling with the issue for some time. Authorities later confirmed the property posed a hantavirus risk to first responders who entered it.
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa expose harsh truth of caregiving. We can't go it alone.
Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa expose harsh truth of caregiving. We can't go it alone. | Opinion Humans are meant to live in communities, not isolation. If we, as a society, value love and devotion, we must also support those who embody it. Show Caption Hide Caption Death timeline of Gene Hackman, wife Gene Hackman and his wife died a week apart and from entirely different causes. No foul play is suspected in the deaths. I pushed open the door, stepping into the dim morning light of her hospital room. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic, a faint metallic tang that clings to everything. She was sitting in bed, her face set in an expression I know too well, a picture of exhaustion and defiance. I pulled up a chair beside her bed. 'Good morning. How are you feeling today?' 'I'm fine, doctor,' she said quickly, dismissively. 'I need to go home.' I sighed. I'd anticipated this conversation. 'You were admitted with a severe case of pneumonia, and your oxygen levels were dangerously low last night. I'd like you to stay for at least another day or two to monitor.' Her jaw tightened. 'I can't stay. My husband needs me at home.' Opinion: Dementia care for aging families has an unexpected ally: You Who takes care of the caregiver? I watched as her fingers trembled against her blanket. She'd spent her later years caring for her husband as his dementia worsened. He depended on her for everything: his meals, his medications, his very sense of reality. 'I understand how much your husband relies on you,' I choose my words carefully, each spoken like a step through a minefield, 'but if you go home too soon, you might end up back here. Or worse.' She shook her head. 'I can't afford to be here another night. He won't understand where I am. He won't eat. He won't take his medicine. If I don't go home, I don't know what will happen ...' My heart clenched at the desperation in her voice. The physician in me wanted to argue, to fight for her health, yet the human in me saw her anguish and the impossible choice she faced. It was her health, or his survival. "I admire your strength," I told her. "But who takes care of you?" For the first time, she looked away. The silence between us was thick with unspoken truths. Finally, with reluctance, I said, 'I'll discharge you. But only if you promise that if you feel worse, you will come back." A long pause. Then, she nodded. "I promise." It was a lie. And we both knew it. Opinion: 'The Pitt' captures something real about doctors. Medicine can benefit from it. Why is caregiving so hard? Community can help. As I signed her discharge papers, I thought of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. How she, frail but devoted, cared for him in his final years. How she succumbed to Hantavirus, leaving him lost, confused, and ultimately following her in death. It was tragic tale of love and suffering, echoing in countless homes across our country. I watched as my patient left, hunched over but determined, ready to return to her life of servitude. I should've felt relieved, having granted her wish. Instead, grief entwined my heart for the burden she bears alone – that she shouldn't have to bear alone. That no one should have to bear alone. Humans are meant to live in communities, not isolation. We thrive on connection, not detachment. Betsy and Gene's tragic story is a stark reminder that, irrespective of social and financial circumstances, we all need a helping hand. So let's take a moment to connect. Check on your neighbors. Drop off a meal. Offer a helping hand. Sit with someone who is fraying beneath the burden of a loved one's desperate needs. A small act of kindness could lessen the pain of those who struggle in silence. If we, as a society, value love and devotion, we must also support those who embody it. In the words of Helen Keller, "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.' Let us bring back the power of community – not tomorrow, not someday, but now. Saad Khan is a hospitalist physician working at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee. This column originally appeared in The Tennessean.
Time Business News
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Time Business News
Ultimate Guide to Pest Control in Utah: Why Synergy Pest Control Is the #1 Choice
Utah's unique climate—ranging from dry desert heat to snowy mountain conditions—creates an ideal breeding ground for a wide array of pests. From ants marching into your kitchen in summer to rodents nesting in attics during the winter, pest problems in Utah are not just an inconvenience—they're a real threat to your home, health, and peace of mind. If you're looking for reliable, eco-friendly, and highly rated pest control in Utah, Synergy Pest Control is your go-to solution. With a 4.7-star rating based on over 770 reviews and a reputation for excellence, Synergy Pest Control is the leading provider of pest management services in the region. Utah experiences all four seasons, and each one brings its own pest challenges: Spring: Ants, spiders, and wasps become active. Ants, spiders, and wasps become active. Summer: Mosquitoes, earwigs, and cockroaches are prevalent. Mosquitoes, earwigs, and cockroaches are prevalent. Fall: Rodents and spiders seek warmth indoors. Rodents and spiders seek warmth indoors. Winter: Rodents often invade homes, nesting in walls and attics. Without proper pest control, these seasonal invaders can become year-round residents. Pests carry diseases and allergens. Cockroach droppings, for example, can trigger asthma attacks, especially in children. Rodents spread pathogens like Hantavirus, and mosquitoes can transmit West Nile Virus. Termites and rodents are notorious for causing structural damage. Mice chew on electrical wires, creating fire hazards, while termites silently devour wooden beams from the inside out. Ants: Especially odorous house ants and pavement ants. Especially odorous house ants and pavement ants. Spiders: Including black widows and hobo spiders. Including black widows and hobo spiders. Cockroaches: Mostly German and American cockroaches. Mostly German and American cockroaches. Rodents: Mice and rats seeking warmth and food. Mice and rats seeking warmth and food. Wasps & Hornets: Dangerous due to their aggressive stings. Dangerous due to their aggressive stings. Mosquitoes: Breeding in standing water around properties. Breeding in standing water around properties. Bed Bugs: A growing problem across urban and rural Utah. Synergy Pest Control is not just another pest service company. They are Utah's top rated pest control company, offering a blend of affordability, expertise, and eco-friendly solutions that set them apart. Customer satisfaction is at the heart of Synergy's business. Their team goes the extra mile, and it shows in their hundreds of glowing reviews. Say goodbye to band-aid solutions. Synergy's general pest control services address the root cause of infestations with long-term strategies and professional-grade treatments. 'Some pest control services only offer temporary fixes. At Synergy, we solve the problem at its source.' – Synergy Pest Control Utah families value sustainability. That's why Synergy uses environmentally conscious products that are safe for kids, pets, and pollinators—while still being deadly to pests. Need help now? Visit Synergy's website to book online instantly or request a free quote. Don't let mosquitoes ruin your backyard BBQs. Synergy's mosquito control programs use quick-acting applications that offer lasting relief, helping you enjoy Utah's outdoors again. 'Each application is designed to reduce mosquito populations fast, so you can get back to your summer fun.' A beautiful lawn is your first line of defense against pests. Their lawn care service strengthens grass, deters weeds, and enhances soil health. Got an unusual pest problem? From bed bugs to cockroaches and aggressive wasps, Synergy has the tools and expertise to handle the toughest infestations. Synergy Pest Control proudly serves: Utah County Salt Lake County Davis County No matter where you are in the Wasatch Front, you can count on Synergy for timely, effective pest control. Identifying pest issues early can save you thousands in repairs and prevent health problems. Here are signs to watch for: Droppings or urine trails Unusual smells (musty or oily) Gnaw marks on wood or wiring Dead bugs near windows Visible nests or hives Scurrying noises in walls or ceilings While sprays and traps from the hardware store may offer temporary relief, they rarely reach the root of the problem. Over-the-counter solutions often: Target only visible pests Lack the potency for infestations Can be harmful if misused With a licensed team like Synergy Pest Control, you get: Expert inspections Strategic treatment plans Safe, regulated chemicals Ongoing monitoring and prevention Even with regular treatments, here are simple habits you can implement to keep pests at bay: Seal cracks in doors, windows, and foundations. Eliminate standing water to deter mosquitoes. Store food in airtight containers. Take out the trash regularly. Trim overgrown bushes and trees near the house. Inspect items (like boxes or firewood) before bringing them indoors. Declutter storage areas—pests love hiding in piles. These habits, combined with Synergy's expert treatments, make your home a pest-free zone year-round. ✅ Transparent pricing with no hidden fees ✅ Friendly, licensed, and background-checked technicians ✅ Fast response times and emergency service ✅ Tailored pest control plans ✅ Eco-friendly solutions that work Don't miss out on Synergy's exclusive offer. When you call 801.889.2972 today, you can save $150 on your pest control service. Whether you're battling ants, roaches, rodents, or wasps, Synergy is ready to restore peace to your home or business. Living in Utah means enjoying beautiful mountains, lakes, and open spaces—but it also means dealing with pests that thrive in this environment. Don't let pests control your life. Take back your home with Utah's #1 pest control unbeatable customer service, eco-friendly solutions, and an experienced team, Synergy Pest Control is your best bet for a pest-free life. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Scroll.in
15-05-2025
- Health
- Scroll.in
There are no ‘mystery diseases', only healthcare gaps and delayed prognosis
Seventeen people in Kachchh, who developed fever and respiratory distress towards the end of August 2024, died in quick succession between September 3 and 9, prompting authorities to rush teams to the affected area – villages Bekhada, Sanhrovand, Medhivandh and Morgar in Lakhpat taluka, and Bharavandh and Valavari in Abdasa taluka. 'Door-to-door visits to every household helped to identify others who were sick, and they were all started on symptomatic treatment,' Jayesh Katira, deputy director, epidemic in Gujarat's health department, told IndiaSpend. But the authorities struggled to name the disease, prompting the media to report the outbreak as a 'mystery' disease (see here and here). 'When the causative organism or agent of a disease, and its mode of transmission from one person to another hasn't been identified, lay people and the media tend to label it 'mysterious',' said Anil Kumar, principal advisor, National Centre for Disease Control, and president, Indian Association of Epidemiologists. Back in Kachchh, samples drawn from the patients were sent for testing to the National Institute of Virology in Pune. 'When we face an unknown disease, we test for diseases that have recently been seen in different parts of the country as well as for seasonal diseases that may have just emerged,' Katira explained. Tests for the Nipah virus, the Hantavirus, Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever and other viral infections occurring in humans all came negative, and so did the zoonotic link. Essentially, the samples were also tested for diseases originating in cattle. However, 'microbiology tests showed that a single patient was infected by various types of bacteria, which we believe worsened a simple viral infection,' added Katira. So, 'we attributed the deaths to an airborne respiratory infection.' Daily surveillance and treatment helped contain the outbreak, with two more people succumbing in the ensuing week. The Kachchh experience suggests that an outbreak of disease, no matter how virulent, can be brought under control with the right intervention. 'Epidemiologists don't call diseases 'mysterious', because the cause of occurrence and channel of transmission can always be identified with careful investigation,' said Kumar. Sometimes, he agreed, 'the environment can cause the causative agent to undergo some change, in which case the investigation can take time'. The term 'mysterious' suggests that the disease cannot be figured out or controlled, which is not the case. Kumar recommends the scientific terminology: 'an illness of unknown aetiology'. Pathogen combinations The combination of a virus and bacteria made it more challenging to identify the cause of disease in Kachchh. A mix of pathogens was also confirmed to be behind the outbreak of disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2024. In early December, the World Health Organization had reported the outbreak of disease in Panzi, a remote region in the country's Kwango province. More than 400 people had taken ill, with fever, headache, cough, weakness and a runny nose. Thirty-one patients had succumbed to the disease, which at the time, was considered 'undiagnosed'. A WHO update on December 27 said that laboratory tests suggested 'a combination of common and seasonal viral respiratory infections and falciparum malaria, compounded by acute malnutrition' had caused the severe infections and deaths, 'disproportionally affecting children under five years of age'. Kumar explained that 'it is possible that combinations of various bacteria/viruses and agent hosts and environmental factors lead to atypical presentation cases and outbreaks'. However, he emphasised that 'a careful high quality epidemiological investigation using advanced tools and technology can determine the channel of transmission and precipitating factors leading to the outbreak.' Comorbidities increase vulnerability According to the WHO, underlying malnutrition is believed to have compounded the severity of illness in Panzi, the Democratic Republic of Congo. In Kachchh, Katira pointed out that the affected area is mostly inhabited by a cattle-rearing community. 'Due to the inclement weather, they would have faced some hardship, and may also have skipped meals, due to which their immunity may have been compromised.' Of the 17 deaths in Kachchh, at least two occurred due to myocardial infarction (or heart attack) and one person also had cancer, Katira said. Essentially, 'the presence of non-communicable diseases also lowers immunity.' In Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, where seven deaths were reported to have occurred due to an 'unknown' disease in October 2024, the chief medical & health officer Kapil Dev Kashyap clarified that the deceased had suffered from severe diarrhoea. There too, a couple of the fatalities were elderly and had comorbidities (diabetes and hypertension). Rainfall effect Rainfall prior to the outbreak of disease was a common factor in Kachchh, Sukma and in the Congo. In the early days of September 2024, Kachchh saw heavy rainfall events, a factor that Katira associates with the easier transmission of viruses. While viruses are always present in the environment, Katira explained, high humidity and rain are ripe conditions for their spread. In fact, in Panzi, the high number of cases of fever and other symptoms was not considered an aberration in view of the onset of the rainy season. What stood out was the high number of fatalities. The residents of Chitalnar village in Sukma had developed severe diarrhoea after inclement weather. 'The people drink raw river water, and the area had seen heavy rainfall prior to the loss of life,' Kashyap told IndiaSpend. 'They had contracted a water-borne infection.' Poor infrastructure in rural India Kachchh and other parts of west Gujarat saw 75% more than normal rainfall during the 2024 monsoon season, a factor that could predispose the area to disease outbreaks. Heavy rain creates particularly challenging conditions for those living in kuccha homes. Heavy rain also cuts off access to health services for many people. 'People were cut off, making early diagnosis and treatment difficult,' Katira told IndiaSpend, of residents of the affected villages. Liaqat Ali, a member of the panchayat of Lakhpat, a village located about 45 km away from the affected area, told IndiaSpend that their approach roads to the nearest community health centre in Dayapar, which services the area, would have been inundated. 'Roads in this area are very bad at the best of times; during heavy rainfall the situation deteriorates,' said Ali. Ali also pointed out that the community health centre was understaffed, with just three of seven posts filled, and that conditions that should have been manageable in it – such as a pregnancy with some complications – were referred out. 'Provisioning health services in rural India is a challenge,' said Kashyap, speaking in the context of Sukma district, where he is posted. 'We have 20-30 villages where we have no health workers, we have been unable to identify the right people to employ and train.' Health workers are the most basic rung in the public health infrastructure, followed by sub-centres, primary health centres and community health centres. India had 167,275 sub-centres, 26,636 primary health centres and 6,155 community health centres, as of June 2024. In recognition of the 'time to care', or the time taken to reach a care centre, the government has mandated that every habitation in a challenging terrain should have a sub-centre within a 30-minute walk. However, the skills of the staff also need to be addressed. When 38 people from related families fell sick in village Badhal, in Rajouri district, Jammu & Kashmir, in early December 2024, they sought health services but still, 17 succumbed over the next six weeks – once again, supposedly of a 'mystery' disease. While the sickness started after a marriage in the family, the sarpanch of Badhal Mohammed Farooq told IndiaSpend that he didn't attribute the sickness nor the deaths to anything consumed at the event because 'neighbours and others who attended the marriage should have fallen sick too'. News reports cited cadmium toxicity as the reason for the sickness and deaths. IndiaSpend reached out to the chief medical & health officer of Rajouri, Manohar Lal Rana, the state surveillance officer for Jammu Division Harjeet Rai, and the senior superintendent of police, Rajouri, Gaurav Sikarwar, to understand how such toxicity might have developed, what sort of exposure might the community have had, and over how much time would the disease have developed. They declined to comment, saying the matter was still under investigation. Teams from many reputed hospitals across the country have visited the area to investigate the cause of disease. A source in the know, who did not want to be named as he was not authorised to speak to the media, made this interesting statement: 'Now if people in the affected area develop the same symptoms, no one will die.' The source indicated that 'when the first few people fell sick, the caregivers were clueless. They had never seen anything like it so they had no precedent to follow.' 'It is only after losing so many victims and having so many expert medical teams visit the area and share their opinion, that the local health staff would be able to treat a patient with similar symptoms,' said the source. Essentially, health professionals in basic health centres lack the experience to treat many diseases. Low acceptance of modern medicine Sometimes, patients' socio-cultural beliefs and lack of awareness pose obstacles to their timely treatment. Chitalnar, in Sukma, lies about 4 km away from a sub-centre, and about 10 km away from the nearest doctor stationed in the primary health centre in Pushpal. But when its residents fell sick, they first visited faith healers, according to Kashyap. 'During that time, their condition worsened, they developed dehydration.' After word got out, the authorities quickly created a mini hospital in a room in the village, where many of the sick were treated, and they also distributed oral rehydration solutions. However, the delay in accessing health services proved fatal for a few of those who had first fallen sick. Kashyap said a couple of the deaths had occurred in the district hospital, two had occurred in transit when the patients were being taken to the hospital, and a couple of patients had died at home. A similar situation arose in Udaipur district's Kotra block, where 17 children were reported to have died of a mystery disease over 30 days in October 2024. Kotra is predominantly populated by tribal people, who live in far-flung scattered villages. Ghata, one of the affected villages, has a doctor but people delayed seeking medical assistance for their children, panchayat member Lasma Ram told IndiaSpend. Lasma Ram attributed the deaths to 'seasonal diseases' and 'mosquito bites'. After word got out about the deaths, the investigating team constituted by the district health authority conducted door-to-door health screening and found several confirmed cases of malaria. Possibly, the children who died may also have succumbed to malaria. 'The health department had no medical reports or other documents to rely on, and so could not confirm the cause of mortality,' Udaipur district's chief medical and health officer Ashok Aditya told IndiaSpend. No disease is too complicated Confirming the cause of mortality is tricky sometimes. Still, experts caution against mislabelling outbreaks. 'We must steer clear of labelling any diseases as 'mysterious' or too complicated to explain to the public,' Jayaprakash Muliyil, epidemiologist and consultant, Department of GI Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, told IndiaSpend. 'There is always a cause of disease, and India has sufficient trained epidemiologists to identify diseases.' Muliyil stressed the need to share scientific information with people 'in the interests of public health, even if it means informing people that the diagnosis of a disease is still a work in progress'. He also noted that 'there is a tendency to mask diseases to suppress information, or under-report deaths, sometimes for political reasons, which is counter-productive to public health'. Suppressing information only enhances rumours and gives rise to anxiety. Lapses in public health communication stood out quite starkly during the Covid-19 pandemic, the lessons behind those lapses have yet to be fully assimilated in the public health response to disease outbreaks, said Abhay Shukla, national co-convenor, People's Health Movement. Citing the 5 Ts of public health communication – Transparency, Trust, Timeliness, Truthfulness and Two-way exchange – Shukla explained that in about 10% of outbreaks, the cause may initially not be clear at local level and remains so for some time. But even then, 'whatever is known should be conveyed to the people'. 'Even letting people know the status of the investigation is helpful, the communication lines must be kept open,' said Shukla. Trust is trickier because it isn't built in a day. Trust in health systems is an outcome of successive good experiences with a health service point. However, it is a reflection of the gaps in health services – especially in remote regions – that people sometimes don't sufficiently trust the health system to accept special measures during emergencies, said Shukla. 'People aren't passive objects, they must be made partners in the control of outbreaks. But this requires building trust in the system and responding actively to people's queries.' 'Messaging must be timely and regular,' added Shukla. 'Silences generate rumours and negative emotions. The messaging must also be realistic, and based on the actual ground situation, and create channels for people to clarify their doubts.' Back in Badhal, everyone knows that high-level teams from various big institutions have investigated the deaths. But the sarpanch Farooq lamented, 'we still don't know the cause, and so, we remain fearful.' 'People no longer celebrate events together,' said Farooq. 'Nor do they want to eat or drink anything in each other's homes. Everyone thinks their family could suffer the same fate. If you get to know [the cause of the disease], please let us know too.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa, and the weight of devotion
I pushed open the door, stepping into the dim morning light of her hospital room. The air was thick with the scent of antiseptic, a faint metallic tang that clings to everything. She was sitting in bed, her face set in an expression I know too well, a picture of exhaustion and defiance. I pulled up a chair beside her bed. 'Good morning. How are you feeling today?' 'I'm fine, doctor,' she said quickly, dismissively. 'I need to go home.' I sighed. I'd anticipated this conversation. 'You were admitted with a severe case of pneumonia, and your oxygen levels were dangerously low last night. I'd like you to stay for at least another day or two to monitor.' Her jaw tightened. 'I can't stay. My husband needs me at home.' Opinion: Family caregivers struggle with duty and paying bills. TN must expand paid leave. I watched as her fingers trembled against her blanket. She'd spent her later years caring for her husband as his dementia worsened. He depended on her for everything: his meals, his medications, his very sense of reality. 'I understand how much your husband relies on you—' I choose my words carefully, each spoken like a step through a minefield—'but if you go home too soon, you might end up back here. Or worse.' She shook her head. 'I can't afford to be here another night. He won't understand where I am. He won't eat. He won't take his medicine. If I don't go home, I don't know what will happen...' My heart clenched at the desperation in her voice. The physician in me wanted to argue, to fight for her health, yet the human in me saw her anguish and the impossible choice she faced. It was her health, or his survival. "I admire your strength," I told her. "But who takes care of you?" For the first time, she looked away. The silence between us was thick with unspoken truths. Finally, with reluctance, I said, 'I'll discharge you. But only if you promise that if you feel worse, you will come back." A long pause. Then, she nodded. "I promise." It was a lie. And we both knew it. As I signed her discharge papers, I thought of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa. How she, frail but devoted, cared for him in his final years. How she succumbed to Hantavirus, leaving him lost, confused, and ultimately following her in death. It was tragic tale of love and suffering, echoing in countless homes across our country. I watched as my patient left, hunched over but determined, ready to return to her life of servitude. I should've felt relieved, having granted her wish. Instead, grief entwined my heart for the burden she bears alone—that she shouldn't have to bear alone. That no one should have to bear alone. Opinion: Tennessee is worst in the nation in supporting caregivers, but here's how to change that Humans are meant to live in communities, not isolation. We thrive on connection, not detachment. Betsy and Gene's tragic story is a stark reminder that, irrespective of social and financial circumstances, we all need a helping hand. So let's take a moment to connect. Check on your neighbors. Drop off a meal. Offer a helping hand. Sit with someone who is fraying beneath the burden of a loved one's desperate needs. A small act of kindness could lessen the pain of those who struggle in silence. If we, as a society, value love and devotion, we must also support those who embody it. In the words of Helen Keller, "Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much'. Let us bring back the power of community—not tomorrow, not someday, but now. Saad Khan is a hospitalist physician working at Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, Tennessee This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa remind us to care for each other | Opinion
