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University Of Arizona To Offer A Three-Year MD Program

University Of Arizona To Offer A Three-Year MD Program

Forbes2 days ago

The University of Arizona is joining the ranks of institutions offering an accelerated three-year ... More medical degree.
The University of Arizona has become the latest institution in the nation to offer a three-year medical degree. The program, approved this month by the Arizona Board of Regents, is intended to address the shortage of primary care physicians in the state, particularly in its rural communities.
The new three-year medical degree program will be offered at both of the university's separately accredited medical schools in Tucson and Phoenix.
'We appreciate the Arizona Board of Regents' approval of this new medical degree pathway, which will allow us to leverage the strength of the University of Arizona's two medical schools to improve access to health care for all Arizonans,' said University of Arizona Provost Patricia Prelock, in a news release. 'We are committed to reducing the state's primary care physician shortage, and these new programs will allow us to move expeditiously to improve the well-being of all Arizona residents.'
More than 30 universities in the U.S. offer a three-year medical degree program. Most of them are members of the Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs (CAMPP), an organization of medical schools in the United States and Canada that was formed in 2015 by an original consortium of eight institutions: New York University School of Medicine, McMaster University, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Mercer University School of Medicine, University of California Davis, Medical College of Wisconsin , University of Louisville and Penn State College of Medicine
Since then, more than two dozen other medical schools have joined the group with each of the member schools developing their own unique version of a three-year MD degree or other accelerated curricula leading to the MD.
All students in the University of Arizona's three-year program will be required to complete the same core coursework and clerkships as those in its four-year program. The accelerated pathway shaves time off the degree by eliminating some electives in the curriculum and the transition-to-residency coursework that's usually offered in the fourth year.
According to the news release, Arizona currently meets only 39.2% of its primary care physician needs and requires an additional 600 primary care physicians to satisfy that need. The university projects that 2,000 more physicians will be needed by 2030 to serve the state's growing population.
The College of Medicine – Tucson's program will focus on competency-based education and provide a pathway to a family medicine residency.
The College of Medicine – Phoenix will emphasize early immersion in clinical experiences during medical students' first and second years, providing direct interactions with faculty members from a primary care residency program.
The two medical schools hope to enroll a combined 36 medical students in the accelerated program across the next three years. The first cohort will begin this fall.
According to CAMPP, three-year MD programs have several advantages. They appeal to future doctors who may opt for primary care specialties like family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics. They reduce the total cost of medical school and help minimize student debt loads. And, as in Arizona, they tackle the problem of doctor shortages, increasing the capacity of states to offer primary medical care, especially in underserved communities.

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Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What's the Difference?
Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What's the Difference?

Health Line

timean hour ago

  • Health Line

Coke Zero vs. Diet Coke: What's the Difference?

There isn't much difference between Coke Zero and Diet Coke. You can drink either coke if you want to reduce your sugar intake, as both of them contain artificial sweeteners. You've likely heard that limiting the amount of added sugar in your diet is important for your health. People who regularly consume sodas may try switching to sodas made with artificial or non-nutritive sweeteners to reduce their added sugar intake. These alternatives make products taste sweet but don't lead to the blood sugar increases that traditional sugar may cause. Diet drinks are a way to avoid added sugars in beverages, but more recently, sodas with 'zero' in their name have hit the market alongside them. Coca-Cola is a popular example of a brand with both 'diet' and 'zero' varieties. If you're wondering about the differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke — and how to determine which is a better choice for you — read on. Nutrition facts and ingredients of Coke Zero and Diet Coke Below are the ingredients and nutrition facts for both Coke Zero and Diet Coke. In this section, we'll break down some of the key differences and similarities you may want to consider. Coke Zero nutrition facts Coke Zero's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color phosphoric acid aspartame potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors potassium citrate acesulfame potassium caffeine It also contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Coke Zero provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 grams (g) Sodium: 40 milligrams (mg) Total carbohydrate s: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Potassium: 60 mg Caffeine: 34 mg Coke Zero contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. It comes in a variety of flavors, including cherry, cherry vanilla, orange vanilla, and vanilla. Coke Zero also has less caffeine than Diet Coke. Caffeine-free Coke Zero is also available. Diet Coke nutrition facts Diet Coke's ingredients include: carbonated water caramel color aspartame phosphoric acid potassium benzoate (to protect taste) natural flavors citric acid caffeine Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke contains the amino acid phenylalanine, so people with PKU should avoid it. A 12-ounce (355-mL) serving of Diet Coke provides: Calories: 0 Total fat: 0 g Sodium: 40 mg Total carbohydrate: 0 g Total sugars: 0 g Protein: 0 g Caffeine: 46 mg Diet Coke contains no added sugars since it uses artificial sweeteners instead. Regular Diet Coke uses aspartame, but you can also purchase a variety of Diet Coke that's made with Splenda, a brand of sucralose. Flavor varieties of Diet Coke include ginger lime and feisty cherry. Like Coke Zero, Diet Coke also comes in a caffeine-free version. Key differences between Coke Zero and Diet Coke These products are essentially the same, especially regarding their main selling point: not containing sugar. What differs between the two is the type of sweetener they contain, as well as their caffeine content, although these two differences are still unlikely to be significant to most people. While Diet Coke uses aspartame as its sweetening agent, Coke Zero uses both aspartame and acesulfame potassium, also called 'Ace K' or 'acesulfame K.' Acesulfame potassium is another calorie-free sweetener that passes through the body without raising blood sugar levels. Per Diet Coke's ingredient label, its primary sweetener is aspartame, and since ingredients are listed in order by weight, it's reasonable to assume that it contains much less acesulfame potassium. This means that these drinks are quite similar in terms of ingredients. The other key difference is caffeine content. Coke Zero has less caffeine than Diet Coke. However, both beverages are well below the recommended daily caffeine limit of 400 mg per day for adults. One debatable difference is the taste of these two drinks. Some say they cannot taste a difference, while others swear by either Diet Coke or Coke Zero as tasting closest to the 'real deal.' Taste comparison As of late, Coca-Cola writes on its website and in its most recent marketing materials that it has developed a new recipe for Coke Zero. The company doesn't go into detail about how it has changed but maintains that it 'has more real Coca-Cola flavor, still without any sugar'. Coke Zero has a slightly different aftertaste than Diet Coke, likely due to its acesulfame potassium. Diet Coke tastes more like regular Coke to many people. However, for some, it's the reverse. Neither tastes just like the original Coca-Cola. Depending on multiple factors — like whether you get it from a beverage fountain, in a can, or in a bottle — each type may have a slightly different taste. Potential side effects For most, not many harmful side effects come from drinking carbonated beverages in moderation. However, caffeine and artificial sweeteners may negatively affect some people, even at moderate intake levels. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends that adults have no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. That's about 4 cups of coffee, or nine or eleven 12-ounce (355-mL) cans of Diet Coke or Coke Zero, respectively. So, you're unlikely to exceed the limit by drinking these sodas in moderation. If you're highly sensitive to caffeine, though, you may want to watch your intake of these beverages. Otherwise, they contain a relatively low amount of caffeine. Aspartame may cause headaches for some people, according to the American Migraine Foundation. While this effect may vary, it's good to know ahead of time so you can connect the dots if you start experiencing headaches after drinking these beverages. In addition, some research has indicated that aspartame may be carcinogenic. More long-term, high quality human studies are necessary before we can connect aspartame to cancer. A concluded that products containing aspartame are safe to consume by the general population at current levels. However, it may pose certain health risks for certain populations, such as: people with seizures neurological conditions people with phenylketonuria people who are pregnant Those who take a more cautious approach to ingredients in foods may want to avoid aspartame, and that's OK. However, it's worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers aspartame safe. Similar to aspartame, acesulfame potassium has been evaluated for potential carcinogenic effects. Again, however, the evidence is unclear, and more long-term, high quality human studies are necessary. Acesulfame potassium is FDA approved. Which is a better choice? There are very few differences between Diet Coke and Coke Zero. As such, there is no concrete, measurable reason to suggest that one is superior to the other. Nutritionally, there are no significant differences. Their ingredient and caffeine contents are similar as well, so neither is healthier than the other. Remember that diet soda is not considered a healthy drink. It's a fun treat that can be consumed in moderation — and switching from original sodas to diet ones is a great starting place if you're trying to cut back on added sugars. Whichever you choose will depend largely on which tastes better to you. Coke Zero has been said to taste more like regular Coke, but some people feel differently and even prefer Diet Coke over regular Coke. Tips for reducing diet soda intake With the conflicting evidence surrounding artificial sweeteners, you may be wondering how you can get your fizzy fix while limiting your artificial sweetener intake. Here are some ideas you can try: Flavored waters: Calorie-free flavored waters can be refreshing and hydrating. Consider them as a healthy addition to your fridge or cooler. Kombucha: Kombucha is a probiotic-filled beverage that promotes healthy gut bacteria and is naturally fizzy due to the fermentation process. Most kombuchas have less sugar than regular sodas, but compare labels to ensure you're not overdoing it on added sugars. Probiotic sodas: Some brands of probiotic 'soda' are similar to kombucha. They're designed to taste similar to soda but have far less sugar. Their benefits are similar to those of kombucha due to the probiotics. Stevia sodas: Several brands of fizzy drinks mimic popular soda flavors and contain no artificial sweeteners. Instead, these sodas use plant-based alternative sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit. They still taste similar to soda but have no sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sparkling water: If it's fizz you're after rather than the sweetness, sparkling waters may come to your rescue. While they're not always sweet, they still provide carbonation without any sugar or artificial sweeteners. The bottom line If you want to limit added sugars, sodas made with artificial sweeteners — like Diet Coke and Coke Zero — may seem like a good choice. While some of the artificial sweeteners in these two drinks have faced controversy over their potential negative health effects, consuming either beverage in moderation should not be a concern, especially when compared with the negative effects of their sugar-laden alternative. Coke Zero and Diet Coke are essentially the same nutritionally. They differ mostly in their flavor.

Focus more on strength and mobility and less on weight
Focus more on strength and mobility and less on weight

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

Focus more on strength and mobility and less on weight

Food & health Wellness Chronic diseasesFacebookTweetLink Follow Editor's note: Shift Your Mindset is an occasional series from CNN's Life, But Better team. We talk to experts about how to do things differently to live a better life. Anti-aging aspirations have turned longevity products and services into a wellness-industry gold mine. But who wants to add on years only to spend them struggling to move, dependent on others and unable to enjoy basic activities? What's the point of sticking around longer if you can't actually live life? Building and maintaining strength and mobility helps preserve the independence you need to age with dignity — and the actions you take now make all the difference. In their new book 'The Complete Bone and Joint Health Plan: Help Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis and Arthritis,' dietitian and personal trainer Sydney Nitzkorski and orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein share the strategic diet and exercise choices you can make now to help maintain your quality of life well into your later years. Nitzkorski is a sports dietitian at Marist University in Poughkeepsie, New York, and she runs a private fitness and nutrition practice. Wittstein is an associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. CNN: What's the biggest misconception about bone and joint health? Dr. Jocelyn Wittstein: Most people don't realize that bone mineral density (BMD) peaks at around age 30. After that, your goal is to maintain your BMD and try to slow down bone loss. For women, bone density decreases about 1% annually until menopause and then accelerates to 2% a year. Men experience a roughly 1% annual decline. The key is to build a strong foundation early and continue supporting your bone and joint health throughout your life. Another misconception is that cardiovascular exercise alone is enough to preserve mobility, but strength training and light impact exercises are critical, too. These activities can elevate the peak bone density of people in their teens and 20s, while people older than 30 need those same exercises to minimize loss. This is important considering that 1 in 4 adults will get osteoarthritis, and anyone older than age 50 has a heightened risk for both arthritis and osteoporosis, women in particular. A full 77% of postmenopausal women reported joint pain in a randomized study. Sydney Nitzkorski: As a dietitian, I find that people don't think enough about how much calcium they're taking in, and most people are not getting enough. Your body can't make the calcium it needs, not just for bones and teeth but also heart, muscle and nerve function. If you're not consuming enough, your body will raid the reserves in your skeleton to meet its requirements. This is why everybody, at every age, needs to get enough calcium. If you have kids, make sure they're consuming enough now, because this is when they're building bone mass. But sufficient calcium is still important even if you're 60 or beyond. Boosting your bone health is incredibly important at every age, and it's never too late to start taking proactive steps. CNN: Are calcium supplements necessary? Nitzkorski: Whole foods are the best sources for calcium, with supplementation as a secondary option. I recommend that people track their intake for a typical week and then adjust accordingly. Adults need 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily. Good sources include milk, fortified plant milks, broccoli and kale, as well as sardines and anchovies because you eat the bones. Wittstein: Plus bok choy, which I consider a superfood. It's the green vegetable with the highest bioavailability of calcium. The calcium your body gets from a food depends on two factors: the total calcium the food contains and the bioavailability of that calcium, or how well the body absorbs and uses the mineral. A cup of milk has 300 milligrams of calcium that is 30% bioavailable, while a cup of bok choy has 160 milligrams that is 55% bioavailable. Yet, each one provides the body with an equivalent amount of calcium: about 87.5 milligrams. Along with bok choy's excellent calcium bioavailability, it also provides fiber and vitamins A and C. I love to prepare this green vegetable superfood with garlic, ginger and olive oil, making it an excellent anti-inflammatory food for joints and overall health. CNN: Pressing question: Can we count the calcium from milk in coffee? Nitzkorski: Yes! In the book, Jocelyn and I share that we both nail our calcium targets by drinking a lot of milk with a little bit of coffee. It's true that consuming more than 300 milligrams per day of caffeine lowers your body's calcium absorption — but that's a high bar when you consider an 8-ounce cup of coffee contains around 100 milligrams and a double shot of espresso contains about 140 milligrams. Wittstein: Milk, whether it's from cows or a plant-based type that's been supplemented, is a good source of vitamin D, too. We know that consuming 2,000 IU of vitamin D a day can benefit bone health and may help decrease joint pain. When it comes to coffee, people are often glad to learn that it is rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants. It contains the polyphenol quercetin, which may help alleviate pain and has anti-inflammatory properties. I like to add cinnamon to my coffee for added anti-inflammatory effect and glucose control. You can also add whey protein — which provides amino acids that your body uses to build muscle — and/or collagen supplements, which can improve both bone density and joint pain, depending on the type. CNN: What's the connection between inflammation and joint health? Wittstein: Inflammation can break down cartilage and contribute to joint pain. Chronic inflammation accelerates joint deterioration. Anti-inflammatory nutrition taken in through diet and supplements like omega-3 fatty acids and curcumin, for example, can help ease symptoms like pain and swelling. CNN: What does an anti-inflammatory diet look like? Nitzkorski: What I love about recommending anti-inflammatory foods is that they provide so many other benefits, too, such as decreasing heart attack risk, increasing longevity, improving digestion and giving you more energy. An anti-inflammatory diet is rich in lean proteins, which could be animal-based — such as non- or low-fat dairy, eggs, fish, chicken or turkey — or plant-based like beans, lentils and soy as well as pea proteins, which are found in a lot of protein powders. An anti-inflammatory diet also includes healthy fats, such as olive oil and foods containing omega-3 fatty acids like fish as well as walnuts and flax, chia and basil seeds. Alliums — including garlic, onion, leeks and shallots — are flavorful plants that have multiple anti-inflammatory properties. And there's a whole spectrum of spices including turmeric, cayenne, black pepper and ginger. Wittstein: Also important is dietary fiber from fruits, vegetables, beans and whole grains that provides short-chain fatty acids, higher levels of which are associated with lower levels of inflammation. Fruits and vegetables also contain myriad anti-inflammatory phytochemicals — naturally occurring compounds that provide an array of health benefits. Avoiding or limiting inflammatory ingredients like processed meats, red meat, fried foods, saturated fats and processed carbohydrates is also important. CNN: What types of exercise promote bone and joint health? Wittstein: It's critical to incorporate resistance training and impact exercises. The goal is to work into your 150 minutes of weekly activity a combination of the following: three days of weight-bearing aerobic exercise, two days of resistance training, and two days of balance work and light-impact exercises. That might sound like a lot, but these don't have to be long, intense sessions, and several of these types of conditioning can be combined. Standing on one leg and doing an overhead press counts as resistance training as well as balance work, for example. There are multiple things we want you to do to stimulate your bones and your muscles in different ways, but some of these activities can count as two. Nitzkorski: You can also integrate little exercises into your daily life. Just as we lose muscle and bone mass with age, we also lose our ability to balance. Practice intentionally throwing yourself off balance a little bit so your body must work to find its equilibrium again. Stand on one foot while brushing your teeth. Instead of sitting while watching TV, stand on one leg. Pretend a paintbrush is strapped to your toe and try to write your name or the alphabet. Write A through M on your right leg, and then switch and do N through Z on your left. To work on muscular endurance, do little arm circles. These start out super easy, but if you do them for two or three minutes it becomes exhausting. CNN: What do you mean by light-impact exercises? Wittstein: These include small jumps, jumping jacks or jumping rope. Studies show that doing 10 to 50 jumps three times a week is enough to stimulate your bone density. I encourage people to weave them into their day. By doing a little bit of hopping while you're waiting for the bus, you're getting your heart rate up and getting in some light-impact conditioning. CNN: Do you recommend jumping if it causes knee pain? Nitzkorski: No, people should listen to their joint pain! If jumping hurts your knees, focus on other kinds of conditioning like shallow squats, for example. You can also spread out your jumps over the course of the day or a week so you are not doing too many in a row. Or you can modify jumping exercises by using the back of a chair, or something else, for balance. Wittstein: Or try modifications like pool jumping, which adds resistance and partly reduces impact. Water-based exercises are not as effective as land-based jumping exercises, but they are definitely beneficial for bone mineral density. Although the gains from some of these exercise-based interventions may seem small, they actually translate to big risk reductions. We know from studies of pharmaceutical interventions that a 2% increase in lumbar-spine-bone density reduces spine fracture risk by 28%. A 4% improvement in hip-bone density decreases hip fracture risk by 32%. So even small improvements matter significantly. CNN: Is it ever too late to start boosting your bone and joint health? Nitzkorski: Absolutely not. While it's ideal to start early, you can always benefit from improving your diet and exercise routine. Start small — even 10 minutes of activity is better than nothing. Over time, small dietary changes can become a habit that sticks. The goal is consistency and gradual improvement so you can enjoy the life you live for that much longer. Editor's note: Sign up for CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter series. Our seven-part guide will help you ease into a healthy routine, backed by experts. Jessica DuLong is a Brooklyn, New York-based journalist, book collaborator, writing coach and the author of 'Saved at the Seawall: Stories From the September 11 Boat Lift' and 'My River Chronicles: Rediscovering the Work That Built America.'

My 94-Year-Old Father Dropped A Bomb During A Zoom Call. The Explosion Changed Everything.
My 94-Year-Old Father Dropped A Bomb During A Zoom Call. The Explosion Changed Everything.

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

My 94-Year-Old Father Dropped A Bomb During A Zoom Call. The Explosion Changed Everything.

I seldom heard from my father. We had never been close, but when he was 94 years old, he left me a brief voice message. 'I have something important to tell you — something very personal and private,' he said. A feeling of dread swept over me. Was he ill? Had I done something wrong? We never shared anything that was 'personal and private.' Even his suggestion to meet by Zoom surprised me. When did my father start using Zoom? I agreed to talk to him, and when I signed into Zoom, he was already there waiting for me. He appeared nervous and had difficulty directly looking at me. It took him a moment to get started. 'When I was a medical student, I worked at a pioneering fertility clinic,' he said. 'On several occasions, I donated sperm. A year ago, I was contacted by a woman who thought I might be her father.' He took my stunned silence as an invitation to go on. 'I know this is a shock, but it appears that I fathered over a dozen children through sperm donation.' 'Oh my God,' I barely managed to reply. 'Yes, they had been searching for me — well, not for me at that point, but for their father,' he said. 'They found each other on one of the DNA websites, shared their stories, did some research, and narrowed it down to me.' My father was a highly renowned OBGYN and researcher. He was a brilliant man, capable of great charm and humor, who, even at the age of 94, remained astute and worldly. His children were thrilled to have discovered him, and he soon found himself the object of fascination of these newly acquainted offspring. My father reveled in these relationships, basking in the loving light they cast. He held Zoom meetings with them, corresponded with some over email, and met others in person. I learned this had been going on for almost a year before he had his Zoom call with me, and that he had become particularly close to one of my new half-sisters. She adored my father. He told me that she said she had never experienced such a quick bond with another human being. They described each other as 'soulmates.' They even had loving nicknames for each other — he called her 'Dollie' and she called him 'Poppie.' This was hard for me to take in. The father I knew was full of rage and violent. Taunting, threatening, blaming and shaming were the currency he used with our family. His nicknames for me during my childhood were 'bitch,' 'birdbrain,' and 'moron.' As the family scapegoat, I was beaten. I thought I was so 'bad' that I didn't believe I was worthy of having weight on this earth. I was anorexic for much of my adolescence, and when I was a freshman in college, I tried to kill myself. My healing journey included years of therapy and recovery. Though my relationship with my father was complicated and tenuous, I loved my father. Despite the way he often treated me, he had always been supportive of my passion for creating art. Even in his 90s, he continued to help me with my website. He could still be unpredictably demeaning and cruel, however, and our interactions were stiff and formal. I could understand why he had waited to tell me. These new relationships presented him with the chance to have a do-over — an opportunity to reset his self-image as a father. I'm sure he feared that I might say or do something to pollute my half-siblings' high regard for him. It's hard to explain. But though I felt hurt about being kept in the dark, I also felt glad for my father — that this final chapter of his life brought him some joy — and I felt a flutter of excitement for myself. I had miraculously inherited a whole new family of brothers and sisters. We did not share a history of growing up with this complex man, but we shared something profound, ancient, mysterious, and awe-inspiring: a DNA passed down through generations. I was genuinely intrigued. I wanted to meet them. Also, despite the years of hurt, fear and estrangement I suffered, I also wanted a closer relationship with my father. The fork in the road was stark and clear: I could travel with him in his pursuit of these new relationships or I could watch him fade away from my life. My father was apprehensive about me reaching out to my new siblings, but he provided me with their contact information. I began emailing them and eventually spoke to many of them by phone. They invited me to join an upcoming Zoom call with my father, where they intended to ask him more about himself. The meeting was visually stunning: all of these strangers bore a resemblance to my father, and I saw variations of my sister's and brother's faces filling the screen. One of my half-sisters was a mirror image of me! It was both fascinating and exciting, yet also awkward and lonely. All of these people shared a common awakening to their new reality. I was connected to everyone, too, of course, but it was also very different for me, and none of us knew quite how I fit into the group. Over the next several days, a few more siblings I hadn't talked to reached out to me, including the half-sister that my father referred to as 'Dollie.' She seemed to want to get to know me. I was pleased, but part of me also wanted to run away while screaming my renunciation of my father and these starry-eyed half-siblings. Still, I had resolved early on that I would not do anything to try to sabotage the new relationships, and I was determined to keep my promise. Over time, Dollie and I reached a point of mutual understanding. I had the courage to hear more about her and her love for my father, and she dared to ask me about my history with him. We had some difficult conversations, and there were times we had to help each other through the hurt. I learned that, like me, she was in recovery and attended a 12-step program. Her love for him and their open discussions about her recovery resonated deeply with him. In one of our conversations, he sheepishly disclosed that he had begun attending a 12-step program with her. My parents had always denigrated my involvement in self-help and therapy, and I had learned to keep my recovery hidden so as not to face their disdain. Now he was speaking my language! He talked with me about believing in a higher power and beginning to work the 12 steps of recovery, which included taking an honest self-inventory and making amends. Rather than a wedge between us, itbecame a foothold for a spiritual place of healing and union. We could actually talk with each other. Dollie also began telling my father how close she and I were becoming and that we supported him in his relationships with both of us. Hearing this profoundly touched him. His anxiety about how my presence might undermine his new relationships seemed to disappear. This progress was amazing, but there was more. My father wrote me a letter stating that he wished he had been 'a different kind of dad, more outwardly caring and loving.' He said that facing his deficiencies as a parent was 'like looking into the abyss.' He wanted to make amends for his 'shortcomings and the hurt I had caused you.' I called him to thank him, tell him I loved him, and let him know that we could embark on a healing journey together. My half-sister's love for him, untainted by the past, coupled with my openness to his overture of amends, was a lifeline for him. Despite how far the three of us had come together, we were still apprehensive about meeting in person. What would happen? We weren't sure, but we agreed it was time to find out. We agreed to meet at my half-sister's house, which was located just outside the city where my father lived, and a seven-hour drive from my home. It would be Dollie and her partner, my husband and me... and my father. It was a most remarkable visit. Yes, it was awkward at times, but there was also a feeling of togetherness — that we were all trying our best to do something hard but important. At one point, the five of us were sitting at the dinner table when my father said he had something he needed to express. Then he turned and looked directly at me. 'I want to apologize to you for my over 60 years of abusive behavior toward you,' he said. He told me that he saw me, was proud of me, and loved me very much. He turned to Dollie and said that he loved her too. Tears streamed down my face. I could barely speak. There's a photo of the five of us from that weekend, and it looks like a photo of a family, which is exactly what we'd become. Of course, it's nearly impossible to heal from a lifetime of hurt in just a few years, and not all of my mistrust had simply evaporated. My father is now 98. We have a long way to go and a short amount of time, but we are both invested in each other and moving forward. We begin and end each phone call with 'I love you,' and that feels like the most important thing. This story could have ended so differently. Though I was still trying, my connection with my father had been degraded to the point that I had little expectation or hope for a reconciliation. My father and I had become accustomed to the coldness. I thought there would be nothing more for us to learn or gain. The sudden arrival of — and his quick attachment to — 16 new, charming, loving adult children felt like one more mortal threat to my years-long efforts to find a loving place with him. The miracle is that we all played our parts and dared to stay open to one another. I will always be grateful for that. Dollie and I continue to call each other. We update each other about our lives. We reflect on our remarkable journey. And we talk about our father. My father passed away as this article was being edited. As his condition worsened and he could barely speak, he would open his eyes and tell me that he loved me. In the days before his death, I was in touch with everyone to let them know he didn't have much time left. His loving family — including my brother, two of my new half-sisters and two of my new half-brothers — gathered at his bedside. What good fortune it is that I have so many more people in my life to love and with whom to share my sorrow. My grief has been complicated. I never expected to cry as much as I have. I'm surprised at my utter desolation. I wish I had had more time with my 'new' father. I forgive him — this flawed man whom I love — but what I hope for most is that he was able to forgive and love himself. Meryl Ruth has gained international recognition for achievement of high-quality, intricately detailed and imaginative ceramic and fiber art. Her work is on display on her website Meryl lives with her husband on a small lake in Maine, where she also has her art studio. She and her husband are currently collaborating on her memoir, from which this essay is drawn. When Meryl is not working in her studio, she is spending time with her children and grandchildren, practicing yoga, kayaking on the lake and cultivating orchids. She has a small Chihuahua, who is a certified therapy dog and accompanies her to hospice where she has volunteered on a weekly basis for the past ten years. She would like to acknowledge her husband, Fred Wolff, 'for helping me put my thoughts and feelings into words.' Do you have a compelling personal story you'd like to see published on HuffPost? Find out what we're looking for here and send us a pitch at pitch@ My Husband And I Assumed We Would Have Kids. Then Something Incredible Happened That Changed Our Minds. My Patient Invited Me To Her Home To Watch Her Die. What I Saw When I Arrived Gave Me Goosebumps. People See Me And Think I'm Pregnant. They're Shocked When I Tell Them The Heartbreaking Truth.

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