Latest news with #Imogen
ABC News
3 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Mother calls for change after daughter with intellectual disability told to wait five months for CT scan
One of Imogen's favourite games is to play doctor with her teddy. As she pretends to take a blood sample, it is clear how familiar she is with being reassured during medical procedures. "It's OK Teddy, it doesn't hurt," she tells a knitted bear fitted with a cannula. The five-year-old knows what it is like being scared of needles, hospitals and health workers. Imogen lives with a rare condition, which involves intellectual disability and profound hearing loss. To prepare for medical procedures, her parents use games, toys and stories. But nothing they have tried works when it comes to CT scans. Her mum Ineke once managed to get her into the room at Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney, where the scanner was decorated with colourful fish to reassure young people. "It was just too overwhelming. Even though she desperately wanted to try, she was not able to," Ineke said. So when their ear nose and throat specialist had concerns a mass may be growing in her middle ear, a scan under anaesthetic was ordered. Ineke was shocked when she was told her daughter would have to wait five months for the procedure. Do you have a story to share? Email More than 450,000 Australians live with intellectual disability, according to government data. People with intellectual disability die on average 27 years earlier than the rest of the Australian population and have double the preventable death rate, according to research from UNSW's National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health. A review into deaths of people with disability in care in Queensland also found "many people [were] not diagnosed with the condition that led to their death until either just before their death or at autopsy." Cathy Franklin, a researcher with the Queensland Centre for Intellectual and Developmental Disability and Autism Health, said there was not enough support for people with intellectual disability in the medical system. She said even having a simple procedure like a blood test could be challenging for this community and the people who cared for them. Accommodations that can help make it possible for a person with intellectual disability to undergo a medical procedure include role play or visual stories that explain the smells, sensations, sounds and movements to expect. Dr Franklin said only a few medical centres across Australia do this and are generally set up to accommodate children. "In most parts of Australia, there's simply nowhere to refer if someone with intellectual or developmental disability needs a blood test under sedation or even just with additional psychological support," she said. It took several weeks and many phone calls before Imogen's mum was able to secure an appointment for her CT scan under a general anaesthetic. When her GP saw the results, the family was told to take her straight to hospital. The radiologist's report noted the bones in her middle ear were "almost completely eroded" and other parts were facing "near complete obliteration". Within 48 hours, Imogen underwent urgent surgery to remove the rapidly advancing growth. "That there could have been even more serious consequences is really scary." Ineke said the family was grateful for the care Imogen received over the years across multiple hospitals, but lamented it often fell on individual healthcare workers to ensure her daughter received the care she needed. She has written to NSW Health asking for an increase to the number of days allocated to medical imaging under anaesthetic, worried that others were missing out on the kind of care Imogen received. "It was a near miss," Ineke said. "Many families, especially families who have kids with disabilities, don't have the time, energy or resources to be able to advocate in the way that I was able to." In a statement, NSW Health said it was "committed to providing safe, inclusive, person-centred care to people with disability". It said the decision to conduct imaging under sedation or general anaesthetic was based on the needs of the patient and in conversation with the treating practitioner, the patient, their families and in line with relevant policies. A statement from the Sydney Children's Hospital Network focused only on MRI scans. "All children and young people requiring an MRI scan, with or without general anaesthetic, are triaged and prioritised based on clinical need, with the most urgent cases always seen first," a spokesperson said. "Parents are given an estimated timeframe for an MRI scan, however, this timeframe may change based on a child's clinical assessment," they said. "For children who do require general anaesthetic, MRI sessions are held five times a week, with emergency sessions run on weekends, as required. There is no anticipated change to the service." If a parent feels their child's condition has worsened, they can contact their child's treating team so a clinical review can take place, the spokesperson added.
CBS News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Bay Area dad's viral hair braiding movement is brushing off stereotypes
Forty-year-old Strider Patton loves being a hands-on dad. He picks out the sweater, helps with the shoes, and zips the backpack. But when it came to hair, he admits, he was in over his head. "My wife needed to get out to work in the morning for her children's theater she has in the city," he said, "and so I was with my daughter and it was so much harder than I thought." Like most of us, he turned to YouTube. But that only made things worse. "A lot of the other moms that have huge hairstyle accounts are just flying," he said. So Patton started making his own tutorials—slow, simple, and designed for dads like him. He wasn't trying to go viral. He just wanted his five-year-old daughter Imogen to be proud. "When I started to get half-decent, people would come up to my daughter and say, 'Oh, I love your hair—did your mommy braid it?' And she'd say, 'No. Dad braids.' " The name stuck. Now, "Dad Braids" is more than just a hobby. It's a movement, with more than 350,000 followers on social media. Daniel Hong, a fitness trainer from Vancouver, Washington, one of many dads who've picked up a brush thanks to Patton's videos, said braiding has become about more than just hair. "She can tell me about what she's coloring or maybe what she's watching or what she did that day," Hong said. As for Patton, he's built up a serious braiding portfolio: "Your French braid, your Dutch braid, your fishtail braid… and then you can move on to a waterfall, dragon, bubble braid…" But the only review that really matters comes from the client in the chair. When asked who braids better—Mom or Dad—Imogen didn't hesitate. "Daddy," she whispered.
The Sun
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Designer Karen Millen forced to issue an apology after sparking backlash by calling breastfeeding mothers ‘selfish'
KAREN Millen has been forced to issue an apology after causing backlash with her claim that breastfeeding makes mothers "selfish". The fashion designer was on Channel 5 show Vanessa on Tuesday when she made the controversial comments, as she weighed in on a viral story about a U.S. mum breastfeeding her three-year-old. 3 3 3 "There's no benefit, is there, for a child to be breastfed beyond six months, really," Karen said when asked for her opinion on the story. "I think it's quite a selfish thing on the mother's part." "Do you?" host Vanessa Feltz asked. "Why do you feel that?" "I do, actually, yeah," Karen continued. "I just think, you know, that's not good emotionally for that child." Influencer and mum-of-two Imogen was among those slamming Karen for the interview, as she said she "can't even bring myself to watch it" because she's "so angry and upset". Calling her a "woman bashing women", Imogen continued in her TikTok video: "Breastfeeding is incredible for your children. "The amount of antibodies, the goodness, everything that comes with that. "We can say how amazing something is without offending every single person in the world. "I just think comments like that should be kept to your own Whatsapp chat." Following the backlash surrounding the interview, Karen issued a statement to Vanessa, as she insisted it wasn't her "intention to upset a lot of your viewers". "The question was aimed at a three-year-old being breastfed, and my thoughts on that," she said. "And my answers reflected that, not the subject of breastfeeding. "I have three children, and I breastfed all three of them up until six, seven months, despite it being incredibly painful. "I got mastitis each time, and cracked and sore nipples. But I did it because I knew it was the best thing for them for at least six months. "So, you know, I think my issue was more on the fact that, you know, as a baby, breast milk is the best. What are the recommendations around breastfeeding? The NHS recommends breastfeeding your baby exclusively (feeding them breast milk only) for the first six months, but it's completely up to you to decide when you want to bring it to an end - and there's really no right or wrong way to do it. The NHS says weaning often happens gradually as your baby begins to eat more solid foods. They note that solid food shouldn't replace breast milk, as there is evidence to suggest breast milk helps a baby's digestive system when processing solid food for the first time. "Once they are eating solids, your baby will still need to have breast milk or formula as their main drink up to at least their first birthday," recommends the NHS. "Cows' milk isn't suitable as a main drink for babies under one, although it can be added to foods, such as mashed potatoes." You can also combine breastfeeding with formula, too and the NHS says "phasing out" of breastfeeding is often the easiest way. For example, dropping one feed in the day or at night time. After around a week, you can begin to think about dropping another. "If your baby is younger than one year, you'll need to replace the dropped breastfeed with a formula feed from a bottle or (if they are over six months) a cup or beaker, instead," they say. You can breastfeed for as long as you want, and while the NHS recommends breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first six months, you shouldn't feel like you cannot continue for longer. The World Health Organization says: "Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond." "And beyond being a baby, growing into a toddler, I just found it more difficult to come to terms with how that would benefit a three-year-old, a toddler. "So anyway, everyone has their own personal choice and decision in these things, and I respect that. "And as a woman, to women, I do respect your choices, and I do want to support you. "So my apologies once again - I hope you forgive me." But many people in the comments section were unwilling to accept the apology, with one writing: "This issue was that there was no balance and it was factually incorrect. "As a programme you should know better. Very disappointing. "Karen Millen came across as really smug and was quite rude, there was no compassion from her!" "We don't accept her apology. Cancel Karen Millen," another urged. "Well that's not an apology is it," a third sighed. As someone else called it the "most pathetic apology ever". "Karen Millen specifically mentioned breastfeeding past 6 months," they added. "She likened it to an addiction. She is completely uneducated and ignorant of the FACTS and recommendations by WHO (the World Health Organisation). "That is what she should apologise for. Not a half hearted back peddle. "She judges parents that breastfeed past 6 months - shameful." Vanessa concluded by saying: "The World Health Organisation recommends that children be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives, and then up to the age of two and beyond that, if it suits the family." Others insisted that Karen is entitled to her own opinion, with some agreeing with her. "Apologise for your own opinion?? Why?" one questioned. "I don't see why she she should apologise," another added. "Karen is 100% right," a third insisted.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
It started with a scrunchie. How Strider Patton is building a girl dad community, one braid at a time.
When Strider Patton learned that he and his wife, Brooke, were expecting a daughter, he immediately went into girl dad mode. 'The image of me braiding her hair just flashed in my mind,' the 40-year-old professional artist from Half Moon Bay, Calif., tells Yahoo Life. 'I just started to think about what it would be like to have a little special time for us every day.' First, though, he needed to learn how to braid. Patton decided to do 'what every millennial dad does,' he says, and hop on YouTube. But many of the videos he saw were by moms who already knew the basics. 'They were just flying through the simple stuff,' he says, like how to tie a hair tie. Patton sifted through dozens of videos to get the fundamentals down. It would be a few years before his daughter, Imogen, now 5½, had enough hair for Patton to work with, and the beginning of their braiding adventures was a little hairy. 'I was horrible at it,' he recalls. 'But she [didn't] care because we're just playing and having fun.' Patton soon got the hang of it, though, and their daddy-daughter styling sessions have since become treasured time together. He never imagined other dads would be inspired to follow suit. Imogen regularly received compliments on her hair at school and on the playground. Everyone wanted to know: 'Did your mommy do your hair?' Imogen very matter-of-factly would reply, 'No, Dad braids,' and the line stuck. Soon after, dads were approaching Patton on the playground for pointers. Sensing an audience, he started publishing how-tos online last June under the handle Dad Braids. His instinct proved right: His first TikTok got more than 30,000 views. He's since made more than 120 videos and amassed more than 139,000 followers on TikTok (more than 237,000 on Instagram). Every day, he receives messages from married, single and widowed dads from around the world. The content is resonating, he thinks, because it's tailored to his audience. 'I'm going in real time and showing very simple moves,' says Patton, who is also dad to Hudson, 1. 'I'm explaining the different types of brushes and hair care products because these are things no guys know about.' Still, Patton insists he's no expert and that he's learning right alongside his viewers. That beginner's mindset is important to his message, he says. The goal isn't perfect braids — it's connection. 'I think it's really great for us to show our kids, 'Look at me, I'm taking on a challenging new task,'' he says. ''You're learning how to ride a bike? I'm learning how to braid hair. It's hard, so let's struggle together, but let's have fun while we're doing it.'' While Patton and his family have been surprised by his success, he also thinks there is a simple explanation. 'I think what I've tapped into,' he says, 'is one of the most passionate and most overlooked audiences on the internet: girl dads. This is surface-level braids, but really, it's [about] how to be a good dad.' Dad Braids is currently a passion project but might not be for long. Patton sells merch and will soon release courses for dad braiders of all levels. He even wants to make different colored scrunchies that convey expertise, similar to martial arts belts. He laughs when he reflects on how his life has changed over the last year. 'Ten months of Dad Braids just annihilated 10 years of my art on Instagram,' he says. 'It's one of the most meaningful things that I've ever done, and I never could have ever seen this coming.' Get the right gear. Patton was skeptical at first, but now fully gets the hype behind detangling brushes and sprays. He keeps all his braiding equipment corralled in a metal toolbox. Distract her. To get your little one to sit still, Patton recommends having her play with dolls, Legos or kinetic sand. Prevent bad hair days. 'The best way to tackle a bad hair day is the night before,' he says. 'It is an absolute game changer.' He recommends a loose braid overnight. Start from the bottom. Don't brush top to bottom; lightly brush the ends and work your way up to avoid knots. Don't force it. It's OK if it doesn't always go as planned. 'There should be no forcing or shaming,' Patton says. 'You want the braiding time to be sacred and beautiful.'
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
From Braids to Bows, These Dads Love Doing Their Daughters' Hair
Strider Patton says there's one moment that makes all the hours of perfecting braids and bows and high ponies worth it. "Someone leans down to my daughter and says, 'Wow, your hair looks great today! Did your mommy do it?'" Patton, who teaches fathers how to style kids' hair on his popular @ Instagram account, tells His daughter Imogen was 2 years old at the time. "She turns around and points at me. She says, 'Dad braids.' And I was like, 'Yes! That's it!'" In the three years since that moment, Patton's hair styling skills have improved dramatically. Now he can do lace braids, bubble braids and even a double French high pony. And he has brought almost 250,000 followers on Instagram along for the ride. Patton is one of the many fathers who are taking on hairstyling duties and loving every brushstroke. The growing number of dads who do their daughters' hair with pride speaks to a change in the way fathers view their roles in the family, he says. He doesn't aim for perfection. He aims for presence. "It doesn't matter how bad your hair (styling) is," Patton says. "Your daughter's just going to love that you're there with her." When he was first struggling with his Imogen's hair, Patton searched for hair tutorials online but most featured moms doing their daughters' hair. They sailed too quickly through the basic steps that Patton still needed to learn. So Patton started an Instagram account for dads who didn't know where to begin. He set up a camera and shared videos of him doing Imogen's hair every morning. As a professional artist, he had a more flexible schedule than his wife, who owns a children's theater. "It's just so fun to not be an expert and just be like, 'Hey, I'm just a dad trying to learn how to do this, just like you guys.'" Patton certainly isn't alone on his journey. chatted with several dads who have surpassed their wives' hairstyling skills. And they're not just tooting their own horn — their wives volunteered them for interviews. Shounak Shah, who says his daughter Arya is "6 going on 15," shares that if he lets Arya choose a parent to style her hair, "she would pick me, 100 percent." He jokes, "Mommy is not the styling type." Shah, a physical therapist, will call out to Arya, "It's salon time!" and she sits at a little desk and watches a show while Shah adds product and styles her hair. Dad Jon Studham plays 'Baby Alive' for his 5-year-old while he styles her hair every morning. "I was terrible at first, but she didn't care," he says. "It isn't about getting every strand in place. It's about showing up, being part of her rhythm, building the moments in life that matter and showing she can count on me." He continues, 'One day, she won't need or want me to do her hair. But until then, I'll be there — with a brush, a bow, and all the time she needs.' "I love finding ways to bond with my kids in so many different ways, and doing hair was just one of those creative outlets," says Scott Wormser, who heads up the marketing department at a print shop. He is so adept at doing his 10-year-old daughter Marni's hair that he's even in charge of her styles for dance competitions, which are often difficult and specific ... and must stay intact throughout an energetic routine. "My wife would always try to do a braid on my daughter's hair, and she just wouldn't get it as tight as I could." Wormser laughs, "And I definitely have much more patience than my wife." Patton points out that the sheer number of dads who have taken on hair duty suggests a change in our outlook on modern fatherhood. "For quarter of a million dads out there, it's saying that I care enough to try something new," he says. "It's hard, but it's fun, and it means something. And it gives me a moment, every day, with my girl." Patton sums it up by adding, "At the heart of this, it's really simple: dads want to connect with their daughters, but a lot of us don't always know how. We're better with tools than tea parties, better with our hands than with our feelings. Learning to braid brings those two worlds together." This article was originally published on
