Author: Emily Nguyen Le

It was the first reported medical case of its kind, as officials issued a warning against the practice Anyone who has suffered chronic back pain will know how debilitating it is, and it can lead to people doing anything to find a way to fix it. But, as you’re probably aware, steering away from proper medical help isn’t advised and can end up having devastating consequences — as this Irishman found out the hard way. In 2019, there were reports of a man, 33, who took himself to hospital with what he described as ‘severe, sudden onset lower back pain’…

I found my prom dress at a thrift store for $12. But hidden in the lining was a handwritten note meant for someone else: a mother’s plea for forgiveness from a daughter named Ellie. She never read it — but I did. And I couldn’t just let it go. I’d always been the quiet kid in class; the one teachers nodded about approvingly while whispering about my bright future. But sitting in our cramped kitchen, watching Mom count out grocery money in crumpled singles, I knew that potential was just a fancy word for “not quite there yet.” And that…

Just as the music began, our flower girl — my stepdaughter — vanished. The ceremony stopped cold. We found her l0cked in a supply closet, crying with her bouquet in hand. What she whispered next pointed fingers at someone we never imagined… and shattered the day. When I met Amelia, she was six years old, with watchful brown eyes and a cautious smile that barely lifted the corners of her mouth. Her mom had passed away when she was three, and she didn’t open up easily to anyone new in her dad’s life. Can you blame her? But slowly, through…

When our golden retriever, Beau, wouldn’t stop barking at the nanny, we thought he was just being territorial. Maybe jealous. We even talked about rehoming him. But the night I checked the security footage, I saw something that made my stomach twist. Beau wasn’t misbehaving. He was warning us. My life was pretty good before. But after my daughter Zoey was born, it was like the world cracked open and poured in this light I didn’t even know I was missing. I used to think I’d be one of those guys who just “tolerated” fatherhood. I thought I’d show up…

Sylvia Hatzer, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, was diagnosed in late 2016 Her son Mark switched her to a Mediterranean-style diet high in kale and brocolli Now 82-year-old is back to old self, and Alzheimer’s Society have endorsed diet A pensioner with dementia has made a remarkable recovery after switching to a Mediterranean-style diet high in blueberries and walnuts. Sylvia Hatzer, from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, could no longer recognise her  son and had to be kept in hospital for her own safety because her dementia had become so severe. But her son, Mark, was determined not to lose another parent and so…

I passed him every morning near the metro station—same tree, same tattered blanket, same two dogs curled like puzzle pieces in his lap. He never asked for anything. Just sat there, quietly, stroking their ears while the city rushed past. Today, though, I slowed down. I don’t know why. Maybe it was the way one of the dogs looked up at me—half-asleep, tail thumping once. Or maybe it was the way the man cradled the food container, gently tilting it toward them like it was fine china. I offered him a coffee. He shook his head. “They eat first,” he…

A poor little girl went up to a rich man in a restaurant and said, “Don’t eat that. I saw your wife put something in it.” He didn’t believe her—but moments later, everyone in the room froze in fear. For illustrative purposes only Earlier that day, Emily was thinking about staying warm and finding something to eat. Maybe she’d be lucky enough to find a piece of bread. She walked toward a place she knew well—the back of a restaurant where food was often thrown away. The smell of fried meat and bread gave her hope that things might get…

We all know the significance of diet and exercise for good health, but did you know that your feet could be telling you something about your health? It turns out that our feet can hold a few warning signs about a serious condition, as per a pharmacist. For illustrative purposes only When was the last time you had a proper look at your trotters? Noel Wicks, a pharmacist and advisor to Excilor, has shared the importance of getting up close and personal with the much-maligned body part. So, what should we look out for? He told the Express about how…

When our mother fell ill, I was the one who cared for her. When she passed, I covered every detail of the funeral. But at the memorial, my sister stood up and took all the credit. What happened next wasn’t loud or dramatic, but she never saw it coming. Growing up, I never imagined my life would turn out the way it did. I married my high school sweetheart, Mark, right after college. We have two beautiful children, Emma, 15, and Jack, 12. My days were filled with school drop-offs, weekend soccer games, and quiet evenings with Mark on our…

At first, I thought he was just sleeping. Curled up on a pile of crushed soda bottles and wilted leaves, tucked between a wall of jagged stones and a rusted can. His fur was so matted and pale it nearly blended into the garbage. But when I crouched down, he lifted his head—and looked straight at me. His eyes didn’t show fear. Just… resignation. Like he’d given up on ever being found. I pulled out my phone to record, just in case I needed proof to get him help. For illustrative purposes only I remember whispering, “Hey, buddy. You okay?”…