Latest news with #NeedtoKnow
Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
'My son became brain damaged after someone kissed him'
A mother from Londonderry has cautioned others to avoid kissing babies after her son contracted herpes simplex from a cold sore and was diagnosed with brain damage. Jed Scanlon was taken to the hospital by his parents, Amanda, 39, and David, 40, after he developed a high fever. Doctors said the three-year-old had contracted herpes simplex and encephalitis. As a result of the virus affecting his brain, Jed now faces significant learning challenges. Amanda is urging parents to prevent anyone from kissing newborns and to ensure that hands are washed before holding them. She said he was thriving and ahead of his milestones until he was six months old. "When he was diagnosed, I didn't realise how serious it was and the complications he was going to be left with," Amanda, from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, told Need to Know. "They knew that the virus had attacked his brain instead of the immune system and left him with an acquired brain injury. He has significant brain damage to his temporal lobes and a rare form of epilepsy caused by the damage. They didn't know if he'd be able to walk or talk." Amanda and David say they've been left absolutely devastated. "We couldn't believe it," she added. "We were in shock. I knew cold sores were dangerous but I didn't know the extent to leave someone with brain damage." The baby has seizures every night and is non-verbal. Doctors are trying to control Jed's seizures, but they can't determine what his future will look like. Jed has occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. Hospital housekeeper Amanda said: "Before this, he was thriving. He was rolling over, he was meeting all his milestones, and he was so smart. Jed could give me a high five at five months old, which is amazing. When he was diagnosed, it wasn't a great prognosis. "They hadn't met any cases like Jed, and they didn't have a great outlook on his life. He has development delays and he's non verbal. We don't know what his future looks like. He can walk and finger feed himself. Jed is full of life, and he's constantly up to mischief. 'You need eyes on the back of your head to watch him." Amanda documents Jed's story on her TikTok page, Jedsjourney, to raise awareness of the dangers of kissing newborns. She added: "I want to raise awareness of how dangerous cold sores can actually be. Don't kiss anyone's baby, even if you don't have a cold sore, especially not on the lips. "It never crossed my mind not to let people kiss him, I just made people wash their hands but cold sores never came into my head. We don't remember Jed being around anyone with a cold sore, but you don't need to be able to see the cold sore to have the virus. Once you get the virus it lives dormant and can flare up any time." Amanda says she and David don't get cold sores and never have. She continued: "We try not to dwell on where he picked it up from because it won't achieve much. Babies could also get the virus from someone sneezing or coughing around him. You have to be really careful." Neonatal herpes refers to a herpes infection occurring in an infant. The younger the infant, the more susceptible they are to the detrimental impacts of the infection. Herpes can pose significant risks for a young baby, as their immune system has not yet fully matured to combat the virus. In the UK, neonatal herpes is uncommon and is triggered by the herpes simplex virus. This virus is widespread and is responsible for cold sores and genital ulcers in adults. By adhering to some straightforward guidelines, neonatal herpes can be avoided. The NHS says: "Because newborn babies have underdeveloped immune systems, they can quickly become seriously ill after catching the virus". Call a GP or contact 111 straight away if your baby: These are early warning signs that your baby may be unwell. Call emergency services immediately if your baby: The NHS adds: "Very often the baby will not have any specific herpes symptoms, such as a rash. But they can become unwell very quickly, so you need to act fast."
New York Post
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
$6M for ‘emotional support': The shocking reason men are spending so much on OnlyFans
They're not in the mood. Attention-starved men are dropping huge sums of money on their favorite OnlyFans models — not for raunchy content or online liaisons, but for simple conversation. According to a new report from Supercreator, a management platform, 78% of chats between creators and their top spenders are about everything except doing the deed. Advertisement 3 A new report says 78% of top OnlyFans chats skip the sex talk — it's all pets, work and TV. Sophie Rain's $6M fan just wants to chat, not strip. Jam Press/@sophieraiin The hottest topics? Pets, work, childhood memories, TV shows, hobbies — basically, the mundane stuff they reportedly can't talk about with their real-life significant others. Sophie Rain, crowned the 'MVP of OnlyFans,' knows this all too well. Advertisement Her top fan, Charley — a married American man — has shelled out over $6 million over two years, but rarely asks for nude pics. 'We talk every single day, without fail,' Rain, who boasts seven million Instagram followers (@sophieraiin), told NeedtoKnow. 'Charley, who is married and lives in the US, will send voice notes wondering how my day is going, and he loves getting to know me on a personal level. I am more of an emotional support system for him.' 3 'Charley, who is married and lives in the US, will send voice notes wondering how my day is going, and he loves getting to know me on a personal level. I am more of an emotional support system for him,' Sophie Rain told NeedtoKnow. Jam Press/@sophieraiin Advertisement She added, 'People often think that high-paying clients want kinky stuff. But funnily enough, he prefers to see me fully clothed and doing everyday tasks.' The report breaks down the top seven topics men chat about with OnlyFans models: Their hometown and upbringing Work — to brag or vent Hobbies like gaming, cooking, sports Pets The model's latest holidays or social posts TV shows, movies, and books Fitness and workouts 3 The 'girlfriend experience' is raking in the big bucks — top bombshells like Sophie Rain pull in up to $300K a month, per Supercreator. Jam Press/@sophieraiin Advertisement Yuval, CEO of Supercreator, underscored the trend. 'Contrary to popular belief, our data shows that top spenders on OnlyFans aren't just looking for explicit content, they're seeking emotional connection,' he told the outlet. 'Nudity is easy to find online, but meaningful, consistent attention from the creator of your dreams? That's what drives loyalty and revenue.' The so-called 'girlfriend experience' is big business, with top adult models earning up to $300,000 a month, according to Supercreator. Meanwhile, busty Brazilian Babi Palomas has charged as much as $30,000 to be a 'surrogate wife' for lonely married men — digitally, of course. 'I do tasks that average wives often prefer to avoid — like watching a football match on television without complaining,' Palomas told Jam Press in 2023. Advertisement Palomas noted, 'Many of the men who are married and have families feel lonely,' and they appreciate 'having someone with whom they can share these 'masculine' activities with.' Advertisement
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Man who filmed himself setting fire to Bible on social media found shot dead
Police have launched an investigation after Antônio Rocha de Sousa was fatally shot just 10 days after he shared a video of himself using a lighter to burn a copy of the Bible onto social media A man who filmed himself setting fire to a Bible before uploading it to social media has been found shot dead. Antônio Rocha de Sousa was found dead on Wednesday, May 14, having suffered several gunshot wounds to his body. Police are treating his death as murder. 10 days before being killed, Antônio shared a video of himself setting fire to a Bible on social media. in the clip, the 47-year-old used a lighter to burn the religious text, as reported by Need to Know. Speaking to the camera, he said: "This here is a Bible, which they say is sacred. Look what it does when faced with fire. It burns. "To me, God doesn't exist. This is just a way to enslave and manipulate people. If you haven't woken up yet, it's time to wake up. Look what this 'sacred' thing does in the face of fire. It's time to wake up - God doesn't exist." The authorities say Antônio was shot on a street in a rural part of Tianguá, west of Fortaleza, Brazil. But other reports say locals found his body in his home, where he lived alone, and called the police straight away. Local police are investigating but still have no concrete leads regarding the perpetrators or the motive. A police spokesperson told local media: 'We are looking into all possibilities. 'We're not ruling out any lines of investigation, whether related to the video or to the other crimes he was involved in.' The authorities say Antônio has previous convictions for intentional bodily harm. And they believe the Bible he set fire to was stolen. The police opened a case of theft, damage, and desecration of a religious object on 10 May. In a statement, the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) reported that the victim had a criminal record for intentional bodily harm. Teams from the Military Police (PMCE) and Forensic Expertise (Pefoce) were at the scene and carried out the initial investigations. The last time Antônio was active on social media was the day before. He regularly posted videos of himself sharing his thoughts for his followers. His bizarre bio said: 'Follower of Christ, (peacekeeper of Peace). Born again in (Christ), among the living, who were once dead…after having been tested, tried, and approved by God.' The case echoes that of Salwan Momika, who was shot dead in his flat in Södertälje, south-west of Stockholm, in January. The 38-year-old Iraqi had arrived in Sweden as a refugee in 2018 and repeatedly burnt Qurans in 2023.
Daily Mirror
19-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I almost lost my leg to addiction - after 24 years I'm now clean'
Charlotte Seamon first started taking drugs when she was 11. She was eventually diagnosed with Hepatitis-C and almost lost her leg A mum of three has spoken about how drugs nearly killed her. Charlotte Seamon was at one point spending around £3,500 a week on her addiction. She almost lost a leg and slept in train stations. But after 24 years of addiction, she is now four months clean and has secured a council house for her and her three children. The mum from Clacton-on-Sea now plans to help other people win their battle against addiction. The 35 year old's battle with drugs dates back to when she was just 11. She started by smoking weed and then moved onto speed. She told NeedtoKnow: 'I always felt different when I was a child, like there was something missing. "Drugs were escapism. I was raised by a really good family and I don't come from a broken home but I was searching for something." By the time she was 19, she started injecting drugs and spent 'around £3,500 a week' on her addiction. Three years later, she was facing a devastating medical emergency, after being diagnosed with Hepatitis C. She recalled: 'I almost lost my leg because I got blood clots where I was injecting. That's the depths of addiction." Charlotte was in and out of homelessness throughout her adult life - but had three children on the way who all ended up living with her parents. She explained: 'I kept thinking having a child would change or stop me but it didn't. "I was homeless on and off. I've slept in train stations, behind an Argos and been in dangerous situations. For the last 10 years of my life, I've woken up and wanted to die, but now I want to live.' In January, Charlotte joined Cocaine Anonymous and listening to people's stories of recovery gave her hope. She is now marking four months clean. Despite never having worked before, Charlotte hopes to work with addicts to help turn other people's lives around. She said: "I never felt right and now I do. 'I want to try and help other people and I want to send the message that we can recover. It is possible to get clean. We think we aren't worth it but we are. Everyone deserves help." The mum of three has also taken to social media to share her journey. She has a large amount of visual evidence from her years of addiction thanks to her mum. Charlotte said: 'My mum said she felt like she was grieving. She used to record me and show me the states I would get into. I tried to get clean before but I wasn't ready. I have to pinch myself when I think about how my life has changed. "I have my own four-bedroom house and my children come and go as they please. I don't have any health problems or mental health issues any more.'
Daily Mirror
13-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
‘I ditched takeaways to fund my skinny jabs - now I'm saving money'
She lost 7st and gained £250 each month Natalie Strange has faced a lifelong struggle with her weight, tipping the scales at 19st or 120kg. After years of unsuccessful attempts with various programmes like WeightWatchers, Natalie encountered Mounjaro. The innovative weight loss and type 2 diabetes treatment has been making waves globally for its impressive outcomes. Despite its cost, she found it balanced out by putting the £250 a month she spent on takeaways into funding her weight loss jabs instead. Natalie, 36, from Norwich, shared with NeedtoKnow: "I felt disgusted by my body and avoided travelling with my husband because I felt like an embarrassment. I didn't even really enjoy eating takeaways. It just left me feeling guilty and bloated. People used to tell me I looked unhealthy, or severely bloated." The turning point came when doctors highlighted the severe condition of her physical health: "It really got me down and I was desperate to find a way out of this never-ending cycle. When doctors told me how poor my physical health was, though, that was the moment I knew something had to change." Her journey with Mounjaro began in March 2024, and the results were quickly visible. Natalie recounted: "In the first week, I lost 10lbs and then in less than a month, I went down by two stone. "I never felt full before and was constantly craving junk food; but not anymore. Now I feel like a new person. I'm struggling to find my new style though, as I'm unsure what to wear now since none of my clothes fit me." Before embarking on her weight loss journey with medication, Natalie's diet was far from ideal. She would often start her day with three bowls of cereal, pastries or a full English breakfast. Lunchtime meant a trip to McDonald's for a Big Mac meal, an extra cheeseburger, apple pie, and a milkshake. Come evening, dinner was typically a takeaway, with choices ranging from Chinese dishes to kebabs, while snacking on chocolates and sweets throughout the day was the norm. This costly and unhealthy eating habit had consequences for her health. Nowadays, Natalie opts for a healthier start with a protein shake or berries and Greek yoghurt. Lunch is a more balanced affair with a jacket potato and baked beans or a protein bagel with ham and cream cheese. For dinner, she enjoys chicken with vegetables or a high-protein, low-calorie ready meal, and she has cut down on snacking, choosing fruit when she needs something between meals. Natalie's transformation has seen her drop an incredible 12 dress sizes and she's been sharing her progress and challenges on Instagram, attracting thousands of followers. Alongside her weight loss, she's discovered a surge in energy, which she channels into yoga, strength training, and running. However, the journey hasn't been without its difficulties. The stay-at-home mum has faced side effects of the medication, such as nausea, stomach cramps, and frequent headaches. Stopping her takeaway habit allowed Natalie to pocket around £250 each month. While close to £200 of that is now spent on her Mounjaro injections, she has plans to stop this year as she's currently on a maintenance dose of 5mg. Natalie said: "I think there is a general thinking that using medication for weight loss is cheating. I feel like it's just levelling the playing field. "My desperate need to overindulge was a health problem, not a willpower issue. The skinny jabs have just made me normal."
