My husband and I took our kids and parents on a bucket list trip. It was so worth it.
My husband and I are part of the sandwich generation, raising little kids and caring for parents.
We realized that it was time to do those bucket list trips we had all been waiting for.
The trip was over a year and my dad still raves about it.
When you first have kids, lots of well-meaning (or obnoxious) folks will tell you, "The days are long but the years are short." What no one tells you is that this also applies to our parents.
As part of the sandwich generation raising young children while also seeing our parents age and all the ups and downs that accompany that, that adage now hits hard.
Both my dad and my husband's parents are now in their 80s, while our youngest child is 6. When we were in the throes of new parenthood and trying to figure out how to juggle two full-time commuting jobs with day care, daily life, and everything in between, the thought of trying to plan a multigenerational vacation honestly probably never occurred to us.
Sure, there were the little weekend trips here and there, but as it became clear our parents were aging, we started wondering about those bucket list experiences they'd always wanted to do with their grandkids that everyone just kept putting off year after year because life is always too busy and time always goes way too fast.
We'd taken for granted that our parents were relatively healthy, mobile, and active. As someone who lost my mom at 29, I was always highly aware that life is short and we should take our opportunities while able. Even with that knowledge, the years flew by.
For my dad, the bucket list dream he'd always talked about was taking all of his kids and grandkids to South Korea, where he was born, and introducing us to the remaining aunts and uncles of his eight siblings that we'd never met, along with a particular request to rent traditional Korean clothes (hanboks) and wear them for family pictures.
He was already over 80, which seems to mean you just never know if there will be a bad fall or serious health issues at any given moment. Basically, the time to go was yesterday, so after chatting with my younger siblings, we got moving.
While planning a multigenerational trip that involves five adults with their own schedules and three young kids to another country is no small feat, we managed to make it happen — and I'm forever grateful we did.
One of the primary challenges was finding places to stay that allowed room for everyone and thanks to an amazing traditional Korean house, called a hanok, my brother found on AirBnB and another spacious multi-room condo Airbnb, we were able to be together but still have some space to spread out, which I would argue is essential with a trip with multiple family members. I'll never forget meeting aunts and uncles for the first time and my kids will talk about all the things we did together with their grandfather and uncles and beg to go back.
While the trip was now over a year ago, but dad still raves about it. I made him a photo book to remember the trip and it wasn't all the sightseeing we did or delicious food we ate he remembers, it was just the time spent together.
Fast-forward a year later and we were able to make another parent's dream trip with their grandchildren come true. My mother-in-law is a lifelong equestrian and had often brought up wanting to take a trail ride with the entire family at a ranch. At the time, many of the grandkids were too young to ride, but this past year seemed like the perfect time.
We headed off to the gorgeous Alisal Ranch in Santa Ynez for a memorable girls-only trip, from Grandma to the six-year-old. It was clearly a property meant for family reunions and multigenerational vacations. The cabin we stayed in had a clever Murphy bunk bed, couch bed, and spacious bedroom for Grandma to rest comfortably.
It was a slower pace of trip that appealed to both young and old. Sitting on the porch watching horses meandering around while the sunsets will always remain a highlight, as will the friendly goats in the barn the kids went back day after day to pet.
Eating each meal together and just hanging out is basically what any grandparent really wants, and we had that in spades. The trip culminated in a wonderful morning horse ride to a "cowboy breakfast" (the youngest and I went in a wagon instead).
The all-inclusive nature of the property made it a super easy no-fuss planning process and everyone got to do what they wanted, whether it was just running around the expansive lawn, making crafts in the kids' art room, or playing ping-pong and roasting s'mores with Grandma.
If you're like me and have been sitting around wondering when to make a special trip with the grandparents happen, the answer is now. None of us are getting any younger, and it's such a precious window when everyone is healthy enough, the kids are willing and able, and you have the opportunity to make literal dreams come true.
There will never be a perfect time when work or extracurricular activities don't have to get rearranged but trust me, it's not something you'll ever regret.
Read the original article on Business Insider
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Medscape
24 minutes ago
- Medscape
Fewer ECG Abnormalities in Early T2D With Combo Therapy
TOPLINE: In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) of less than 10 years' duration who were taking metformin monotherapy, ECG abnormalities — including evidence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy — were common and associated with cardiovascular risk factors. After adding one of four frequently used glucose-lowering agents to metformin, fewer major ECG changes occurred with liraglutide than with the other treatments. METHODOLOGY: Researchers aimed to examine ECG abnormalities and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy across the different glucose-lowering treatment groups in 5029 participants (mean age, 57.2 years; diabetes duration, 4.2 years; A1c level, 7.5%; 36.4% women) from the GRADE trial. The participants had T2D for less than 10 years and were initially taking metformin monotherapy before being randomly assigned to receive metformin plus one of four commonly used glucose-lowering agents (insulin glargine, glimepiride, liraglutide, or sitagliptin). Patients were followed up for an average of 5 years. Resting ECGs were recorded at baseline and at 2‐ and 4‐year follow-ups and analyzed for overall, major, and minor abnormalities, as well as heart rate variability — a measure of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. TAKEAWAY: More than half of participants in the GRADE trial had ECG abnormalities (57.1%) and ECG-defined cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (52.8%) at baseline. The presence of these abnormalities was associated with longer diabetes duration, higher systolic blood pressure, greater prevalence of hyperlipidemia, more frequent use of lipid-lowering treatment, and beta-blocker use. Major ECG abnormalities occurred less frequently in the liraglutide group than in the other treatment groups (9% vs 13% at 4 years). Researchers found no significant differences in ECG-defined cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy between the liraglutide and non-liraglutide groups at 2 and 4 years (P = .42). IN PRACTICE: "ECG abnormalities, including those of CAN [cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy], are common in T2D < 10 years and are associated with certain CV [cardiovascular] risk factors. The development of major ECG abnormalities may differ by glucose-lowering treatment, as fewer occurred with liraglutide vs the other treatments," the authors concluded. SOURCE: The study was led by Rodica Pop-Busui, MD, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University in Portland. The results were presented on June 20 at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions, being held June 20-23 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. LIMITATIONS: This abstract did not discuss any limitations. DISCLOSURES: Some authors disclosed receiving research support, consulting fees; serving on boards, advisory panels; being stock/shareholders; or other relationships with pharmaceutical and diagnostics companies and institutions. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Lilly's once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa demonstrated A1C reduction and a safety profile consistent with daily insulin in multiple Phase 3 trials
Results from the fixed-dose QWINT-1 study, along with the QWINT-3 and QWINT-4 studies, reinforce efsitora's potential to simplify insulin management with weekly dosing Lilly plans to submit efsitora for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to global regulatory agencies by the end of this year INDIANAPOLIS, June 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced detailed results from QWINT-1, QWINT-3, and QWINT-4 Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational once-weekly insulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) in adults with type 2 diabetes who used insulin for the first time, previously used daily basal insulin, and previously used daily basal insulin and mealtime insulin, respectively. In each trial, once-weekly efsitora met the primary endpoint of non-inferior A1C reduction compared to daily basal insulin. The complete results from these studies were presented at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 85th Scientific Sessions 2025. Simultaneously, results from QWINT-1, a first-of-its-kind fixed-dose study, were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, while results from QWINT-3 and QWINT-4 were published in The Lancet. In QWINT-1, efsitora reduced A1C by 1.31% compared to 1.27% for insulin glargine at week 52 for the efficacy estimand.1,2 In the trial, efsitora was titrated to four fixed doses at four-week intervals, as needed for blood glucose control.3 In QWINT-3, efsitora reduced A1C by 0.86% compared to 0.75% for insulin degludec at week 26 for the efficacy estimand.4 In QWINT-4, efsitora reduced A1C by 1.07% compared to 1.07% for insulin glargine at week 26 for the efficacy estimand.5 In these two trials, efsitora was administered using traditional insulin dosing with adjustments based on each patient's glucose level. "The novel fixed-dose regimen used in QWINT-1 for once-weekly efsitora, which consisted of only four single-dose titration options, has the potential to facilitate and simplify insulin therapy, reducing the hesitation often associated with starting insulin to treat type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Julio Rosenstock, senior scientific advisor for Velocity Clinical Research at Medical City Dallas, clinical professor of medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, and lead trial investigator for QWINT-1. "A simpler, once-weekly regimen with efsitora may help people with type 2 diabetes initiate and manage insulin therapy with the goal of improving blood sugar levels. Across all QWINT trials, the results showed that once-weekly efsitora controlled glucose as effectively as the most popular once-daily basal insulins." QWINT-1 Primary EndpointEfficacy Estimand Treatment-RegimenEstimand6 Primary Endpoint – A1C Reduction (Resulting A1C) at Week 52 Efsitora -1.31 % (6.92 %) -1.19 % (7.05 %) Glargine -1.27 % (6.96 %) -1.16 % (7.08 %)QWINT-3 Primary and Key Secondary EndpointsEfficacy Estimand Treatment-RegimenEstimand Primary Endpoint – A1C Reduction (Resulting A1C) at Week 26 Efsitora -0.86 % (6.93 %) -0.81 % (6.99 %) Degludec -0.75 % (7.03 %) -0.72 % (7.08 %) Key Secondary Endpoint – Rates of Clinically Significant or Severe Nocturnal Hypoglycemic Events Per Patient-Year of Exposure up to Week 787,8 Efsitora 0.11 Degludec 0.10 Key Secondary Endpoint – Percent Time in Range (70-180 mg/dL) During the FourWeeks Prior to Week 26 Efsitora 62.8 % 61.4 % Degludec 61.3 % 61.0 %QWINT-4 Primary and Key Secondary EndpointsEfficacy Estimand Treatment-Regimen Estimand Primary Endpoint – A1C Reduction (Resulting A1C) at Week 26 Efsitora -1.07 % (7.12 %) -1.01 % (7.17 %) Glargine -1.07 % (7.11 %) -1.00 % (7.18 %) Key Secondary Endpoint – Participants Achieving A1C <7% at Week 26 Without Nocturnal Hypoglycemia Efsitora 39.5 % 38.6 % Glargine 36.6 % 35.9 % Key Secondary Endpoint – Rates of Clinically Significant or Severe NocturnalHypoglycemic Events Per Patient-Year of Exposure up to Week 26 Efsitora 0.67 Glargine 1.00 "Building on Lilly's legacy of innovation in insulin therapy, once-weekly efsitora may offer a significant advancement for people with type 2 diabetes who need insulin by eliminating over 300 injections per year," said Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of product development at Lilly. "These results reinforce the potential for once-weekly efsitora to help reduce the overall burden of insulin therapy through a simplified treatment approach. We look forward to working with regulatory agencies to bring this innovation to patients around the world." Across the three trials, efsitora demonstrated an overall safety profile similar to two of the most commonly used daily basal insulin therapies for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In QWINT-1, efsitora resulted in approximately 40% fewer hypoglycemic events compared to insulin glargine, with estimated combined rates of severe or clinically significant hypoglycemic events per patient-year of exposure of 0.50 with efsitora vs. 0.88 with insulin glargine at 52 weeks. In QWINT-3, these rates were 0.84 with efsitora vs. 0.74 with insulin degludec at 78 weeks. In QWINT-4, estimated combined rates of severe or clinically significant hypoglycemic events per patient-year of exposure were 6.6 with efsitora vs. 5.9 with insulin glargine at 26 weeks. Lilly plans to submit efsitora for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes to global regulatory agencies by the end of this year. About the QWINT clinical trial programThe QWINT Phase 3 global clinical development program for insulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) in diabetes began in 2022 and has enrolled more than 3,000 people living with type 2 diabetes across four global registration studies. QWINT-1 (NCT05662332) was a parallel-design, open-label, treat-to-target, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of efsitora as a once-weekly basal insulin using a fixed dose escalation to daily insulin glargine for 52 weeks in insulin-naïve adults with type 2 diabetes. The trial randomized 795 participants across the U.S., Argentina and Mexico to receive efsitora once weekly or insulin glargine once daily, administered subcutaneously. Participants treated with efsitora received a starting dose of 100 units of insulin, followed by escalation to fixed dosages of 150 units, 250 units and 400 units every four weeks, as needed, until achieving a target fasting blood glucose of 80-130 mg/dL. Participants with fasting blood glucose greater than 130 mg/dL on or after 16 weeks were transferred to flexible dosing. The primary objective of the trial was to demonstrate non-inferiority in reducing A1C at week 52 with efsitora compared to daily use of insulin glargine. QWINT-3 (NCT05275400) was a multicenter, randomized, parallel-design, open-label trial comparing the efficacy and safety of efsitora as a once-weekly basal insulin to insulin degludec for 78 weeks after a three-week lead-in followed by a five-week safety follow up period, in adults with type 2 diabetes who are currently treated with basal insulin. The trial randomized 986 participants across the U.S., Argentina, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Poland, Puerto Rico, Slovakia, Spain and Taiwan to receive efsitora once weekly or insulin degludec once daily, administered subcutaneously. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate non-inferiority in reducing A1C at week 26 with efsitora compared to insulin degludec. QWINT-4 (NCT05462756) was a parallel-design, open-label, treat-to-target, randomized controlled clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of efsitora as a weekly basal insulin to insulin glargine for 26 weeks in adults with type 2 diabetes who have previously been treated with basal insulin and at least two injections per day of mealtime insulin. The trial randomized 730 participants across the U.S., Argentina, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain to receive efsitora once weekly or insulin glargine once daily, both of which were administered subcutaneously along with insulin lispro. The primary objective of the trial was to demonstrate non-inferiority in reducing A1C at week 26 with efsitora compared to insulin glargine. About insulin efsitora alfaInsulin efsitora alfa (efsitora) is a once-weekly basal insulin, a fusion protein that combines a novel single-chain variant of insulin with a human IgG2 Fc domain. It is specifically designed for once-weekly subcutaneous administration, and with its low peak-to-trough ratio, it has the potential to provide more stable glucose levels (less glucose variability) throughout the week. About Lilly Lilly is a medicine company turning science into healing to make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help tens of millions of people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges: redefining diabetes care; treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects; advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease; providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders; and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable. To learn more, visit and or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. P-LLY The efficacy estimand represents the treatment effect on all participants who adhered to the study drug without initiating rescue therapy for persistent severe hyperglycemia. From a baseline of 8.20% for efsitora and 8.28% for insulin glargine. Participants treated with efsitora received a starting dose of 100 units of insulin, followed by escalation to fixed dosages of 150 units, 250 units and 400 units every four weeks, as needed, until achieving a target fasting blood glucose of 80-130 mg/dL. Participants with fasting blood glucose greater than 130 mg/dL on or after 16 weeks were transferred to flexible dosing. From a baseline of 7.80% for both efsitora and insulin degludec. From a baseline of 8.18% for both efsitora and insulin glargine. The treatment-regimen estimand represents the estimated average treatment effect regardless of treatment discontinuation or introduction of rescue therapy for persistent severe hyperglycemia. Blood glucose <54 mg/dL. Nocturnal hypoglycemia was defined as any event that occurred at night between midnight and 6 a.m. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about insulin efsitora alfa as a potential treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and the timeline for future readouts, presentations, and other milestones relating to insulin efsitora alfa and its clinical trials and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development, and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, that insulin efsitora alfa will prove to be a safe and effective treatment for type 2 diabetes, that insulin efsitora alfa will receive regulatory approval, or that Lilly will execute its strategy as expected. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release. Trademarks and Trade NamesAll trademarks or trade names referred to in this press release are the property of the company, or, to the extent trademarks or trade names belonging to other companies are referenced in this press release, the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, the trademarks and trade names in this press release are referred to without the ® and ™ symbols, but such references should not be construed as any indicator that the company or, to the extent applicable, their respective owners will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, the company's or their rights thereto. We do not intend the use or display of other companies' trademarks and trade names to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies. Refer to: Niki Biro; niki_biro@ 317-358-9074 (Media)Michael Czapar; czapar_michael_c@ 317-617-0983 (Investors) View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CBS News
an hour ago
- CBS News
Annual Fight For Air Climb at Soldier Field raises over $350K for lung health
Despite the heat in Chicago, climbers took to Soldier Field for the annual Fight For Air Climb event to raise thousands of dollars for lung health. Over 700 people from different skill levels participated in Sunday morning's event, presented by UnitedHealthcare, to raise money for research, education, and advocacy. In the end, they raised over $350,000. The climb helps support the over 1.4 million people living with lung disease in Illinois. Due to the weekend's dangerous weather, organizers had changed the original 1,600-step route and added portable misting fans. The heat, however, didn't stop the Firefighter Challenge as teams of firefighters climbed in full gear. The American Lung Association said it looks forward to next year's event and "continuing its commitment to improving lung health and preventing lung disease."
