HealthInfo Island

 

Second Life is a fun place to have music events and chatting with friends. But it can also be a source of information as there are a number of museums and other educational places. Gemma Cleanslate recently returned to one to write about it: HealthInfo Island. It is not static, but some displays are changed to inform about new topics, such as disease, mental health, and conditions. It's often to reflect occasions, such as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day later this month. So what did Gemma have to say about the location today?

 

Read Gemma's story in Places. 

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

Saturday October 21

 

Observe The Moon Week (Oct 21 to 28)

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

    Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Diagnosis

    By Karthik P.

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/ai-in-medical-image-diagnosis/

 

    The Science Circle (225,230,28)

      

    ~*~

 

    At 9 PM PST   

    Observe The Moon Night

    Jes Stannard

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/observe-the-moon-night/

    

    The Science Circle (72,129,30)

 

 

    ~*~

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

 

This Saturday at The Science Circle

 

 

Saturday, September 23

 

    ~*~

    

    At 10 AM PST   

     Fly Me To The Moon

    By The Moon Base Group

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/fly-me-to-the-moon/

 

    The Science Circle (72,129,30)

      

    ~*~

 

    At 9 PM PST   

    AI in Medical Diagnosis

    Karthik P.

    https://www.sciencecircle.org/event/ai-in-medical-diagnosis/

    

    The Science Circle (72,129,30)

 

 

    ~*~

    

    NOTE: Non-members required to register once

    IM Jes Cobalt or Nymf Hathaway

╚══════════════════════════════ The Science Circle (72,129,30) ═╝

 

 

The Spoonful of Sugar Festival

 

 

 The "Spoonful of Sugar Festival" is back in Second Life. This is a fundraiser event to raise money for the Doctors Without Borders charity. Based in Switzerland, the group helps the sick and injured in over 70 countries, notably where conflict and natural disaster have struck.

 

While we do not "earmark" our funds raised for MSF for any specific aspect of what they do, at the Spoonful Of Sugar, we do like to choose an area of their work for our focus and education. While in Tahiti we are looking more at environmental issues and impacts MSF/Doctors Without Borders faces. Please join us at destinations around our planet - which are not only astoundingly beautiful and wealthy, but at the same time devastatingly vulnerable and poor. Lets all learn and understand this connection between environmental imbalance and the illness, safety and resource insecurity facing so many on our planet.

 

The event area covers ten sims. Most are full of  shopping areas with items up for sale with all or part of the money going to the charity. This includes at least one limited edition item on sale only at the Festival. There's also the "Get Crabby Hunt." There are also occasional music parties with DJs (the one I saw was in the southernmost sim). There are also auctions and raffles for giftcards,

 

The scenery was picturesque, with many of the stores set up as island huts. There were also groups of script-controlled islanders dancing and playing music, as if welcoming the attendees. For shoppers, there is a variety of items to get from pets, to furniture, to Halloween goods, to farming game supplies, and more.

 

 For more information, check the event blog at https://www.thesosfestival.com/ (note, for some reason, a few of the pages have warnings on some browsers as of the writing of this article)

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SOS%20Uber%20Island/173/92/25

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: "Going To The Vet"

 

 

 (Click here if the video does not play)

From Nitwacket in Oct 2022,"BKOD Vet Clinic! Get your certificate."

 

Serenity's "The Fantastic Future of Health"

 

There are many exhibits at the Second Life Birthday.  Among them is one by Serenity (SerenKitty), "The Fantastic Future of Health Care." The exhibit at SLB Fabulous would discuss what she felt were the shortcomings of the US health care system, and the alternative she was working on.

 

Read the story in Design. 

Cutlass Hospital Ship

 

 

 It's been, interesting times, for the Sunweaver community. A few days ago, community leader Rita Mariner came back home from the hospital after a precautionary check in some days earlier due to an infection on her leg. She's been far from the only Sunny in not so sunny times. A week and a half ago, Zorro Wuramunga was checked in the hospital, and a few weeks ago so was Valkyrie Ice. Others such as Penny Shuftan, Snowbuns Lefavre, and Mattie Carlton have also not been feeling well lately.

Shockwave Yareach mused that the way things were going, Club Cutlass would soon need it's own Intensive Care Unit. So when he DJed on Friday the 13th at Cutlass, the club sported the red cross symbol on the sides, there was a heart monitor near the DJ booth, and the dance poles had IV bags. He commented with his luck, he'd be the one in the hospital next. Rita, who was there, had a chuckle over the dark humor. There was no comment from Zorro, who was also there.

 

Bixyl Shuftan.

Furry Fashion Staff Member Needs Help With Vet Care

 

A member of the staff at Furry Fashion has a problem. This would be Albright Smol-Bite (Bully Doge), who is a builder and the head of the security staff. Her pet is sick, and she doesn't have quite enough money to spare for vet bills.

One of our FF Creators has a realllllllllly sick kitty which she needs funds for to get him better! She's got commissions open or just a small donation would really help! If you can't spare a dollar, spare a hollar and share her link!

On his Ko-Fi page, Albright had this to say.

 

Just a struggling possum artist living day to day down near Memphis. I'm mostly a cartoonist, sticking to a sketchy, rough style. I also do texture work for 3D mesh in Second Life. I offer customs and commissions for both. I rely on this as my only income, so if you enjoy my creations, please consider supporting me! 

 

Albright has a DeviantArt page, with a number of drawings. As stated before, she does take commissions, with more detailed work available for more of a fee.

 

https://albrightspricesnstuff.carrd.co/ 

https://ko-fi.com/smolbite

 

Gemma Cleanslate On Medical Leave

 

After writing for the Second Life Newser steadily since it's start almost twelve years ago, circumstances in the real life of Gemma Cleanslate are requiring she take a leave of absence. She is having to do so for medical reasons. We at the Newser wish her well, and look forward to her recovery, and return.

Gemma Cleanslate began her career in virtual journalism in early 2008 under JamesT Juno's and Dana Vanmoer's Second Life Newspaper. In June 2010, she would be one of the founding staff of the Second Life Newser. 
 

Cartoon of the Day: Skunk Doctor

 *

Taken at the Happy Vixen. Rita's skunk doctor avatar, though not her character Dr. Odiferous. 

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

EOTB: "Second Life Destinations: COVID-19 Resources "

 This week, Second Life Destinations looks at the Coronavirus info center on Inspiration Island.

 

"Lissena, who also goes by Wisdomseeker, guides us through the colorful and comforting realm of Inspiration Island, which she created with several other volunteers to promote wellness in a fun and accessible way. In this region you can also find Whole Brain Health, which Lissena describes as 'the virtual arm of our nonprofit Ageless Mind Project. Our mission is to give people the tools to stay sharp, active, and healthy, based on research coming from neuroscience, gerontology, positive psychology, and creativity.'

"The COVID display in the courtyard was built by Lady Brielle, a medical librarian who maintains the text as new data becomes available. Lady Brielle has been a tireless essential worker throughout the pandemic, and her work has not gone unnoticed. Lady Brielle us that 'our outreach work in Second Life has been recognized by the National Library of Medicine and won an award in Research by the Hospital Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association.'

"Information on COVID-19 is displayed in Spanish, American Sign Language, and  English. The creators of Inspiration Island took a multidisciplinary approach to presenting information so that as many people as possible can be positively impacted by visiting. In addition to medical data there are stories submitted by other Residents about their personal experiences of social distancing to remind us that what we’re feeling is totally natural, and we’re not the only ones who feel that way. There are also many activities to facilitate mental stimulation and help people feel connected.

"Lissena wants us to know that even the scary parts of sickness are addressed here: 'Once a month Rob, a member of the Collective in Germany, hosts a Death Café -- something he is trained to do professionally outside SL -- conversations that help make death less {of} a forbidden subject. Amazingly, we laugh a lot there.'

"This vibrant region is the labor of love of a devoted community. Marly Milena, a volunteer who provides 'programs focused on creative expression on Inspiration Island. I have introduced a way of working with arts-based processes, called Symbolic Modeling (SymMod for short). We use the building tools so people can make art in SL, and then we guide them in exploring meanings, new ideas, feelings, etc'

"Thuja Hynes, the associate director of the project, builds educational exhibits and tours. Two of his current projects are called Simply Imossible and Hero Walk. There are also many weekly events. Faust hosts the Positive Change Circle at Whole Brain Health on Sundays at 3pm SLT, and Arisia Vita plays piano in the gaebo every Monday and Wednesday. Priceless contributions are also provided by community members Catseye Tennen, Ghaelen D'Lareh, and Marylou Goldrosen.

"Second Life is proud to host a space that incorporates elements of education, creativity, and community, and Inspiration Island is a living example of the positive it can bring. Lissena feels that the activities found here “give you insight into yourself, encourage your creativity and your sense of purpose and reduce loneliness, which is really important.” It is open to people from all walks of life, so stop by for a visit today."

 Video by Draxtor Despress

What's New at Health Info Island For Novemeber 2020

 

It's a new month, and there are several new displays at Health Info Island. Among them are the ones for COPD Awareness Month, Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month, and Family Caregivers Month. For more infomation, check out the Virtual Ability group, or head on over to the sim.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/173/150/22

Cartoon of the Day: Needled Nurse

 Taken at the Happy Vixen, punch line based on actual dialouge.

By Bixyl Shuftan

 

Matt Carlton Creates Gofundme For Help With Medical Bills

Matt Carlton was a big help to the Relay for Life in Second Life this year, having raised well over a hundred thousand Linden dollars at several events. Now Matt is in need of some help herself. She recently started a Gofundme campaign to help pay some medical bills.

Since around June 6th I have been having lots of digestive issues. I have been to the ER once to be given fluids and have tests ran, then to urgent car twice to have more tests and some xrays an a CT scan done. Apparently something is causing enteritis, or inflammation of my little intestines. I was recently referred to a specialist, and have been scheduled for a colonoscopy set for Aug 19th to try and get a few more answers as to why this is happening. While they will let me make payments, any help with the bills will be greatly appreciated. I set the goal at what my current ct scan bill amount and the estimated Colonoscopy bill combined would be. I know times are hard right now on everyone, and being a driver for Postmates, I have very little income at the moment, esp with not being able to be online as much as needed due to all the doctors visits in the last four weeks and frequent....restroom visits, for lack of a nicer what to put it. I am able to work a bit as of recently at least. I thank you much for the help, and even if the goal is not reached, anything helps right now, even if it just pays a bill for one of my visits with the specialist or something. Thanks again.

Soon after posting, Matt was in a car accident while riding with a friend. While she wasn't badly hurt, the visit to the hospital did add to her medical bills.

Matt's Gofundme page is located Here.

Coronavirus Info Center at Inspiration Island

For those wanting to know more about the Coronavirus, and want more than just news reports and Facebook posts, there's an information center at Inspiration Island. Here, you can read some basic facts and statistics. It was made by Briellr Coronet.

A special information area on CO-VID has been set up at the HEALTH HACIENDA on Inspiration Island by Brielle Coronet, RL Medical Librarian at a major U.S. teaching hospital in NJ,  with contributions by Veronica, a RL Consumer Health Librarian in Connecticut.

It will be kept up to date as Brielle attends daily official briefings. If you have questions, leave them for her in the Dropbox here:

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Inspiration%20Island/68/242/701

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Recent Developments in Medicine"

"Recent Developments in Medicine"

Saturday, February 29
10 AM SLT

Host: Matthew Burr
Guests: Robert Hendrix, MD, Dr. Stephen Gasior

To read more, Click Here

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Announcement: This Saturday at The Science Circle - "Wuhan Coronavirus"

"Wuhan Coronavirus"

Saturday February 1

7 to 8 AM SL time

A new contagious CORONAVIRUS has emerged from a large food market in Wuhan, China that has fish, birds and live animals. This virus is transmissible person to person and has caused the death of at least 17 and sickened 540  people in China as of 22.January 2020. Furthermore, it has quickly spread across borders in Asia and now been reported in the United States.

This talk will review prominent medical and public health features of this new virus that may become a pandemic.

For more information, Click Here

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32

Announcement: This Saturday in The Science Circle - "A Short History of the Antibiotic Era"

"A Short History of the Antibiotic Era"
by Robert A. Hendrix, MD 


We will begin by examining what in the scientific milieu led to the discovery of the first antibiotic. We will consider the transition from Paul Ehrlich and the organically bound Arsenic Compound 606 to the emergence of “natural antibiotics” beginning with Fleming and Penicillin. We will walk through the major advances chronologically, with attention to diseases that became treatable, as well as the mechanism of bacteriostatic or bactericidal action on microbes.

Finally, we will discuss the possible END of  the ANTIBIOTIC ERA with the widespread emergence off drug resistance as well as destruction of potential sources of new drugs such as reckless clearing of rain forests as ecological and bio-molecular reservoirs.

Saturday 7-8 AM PST part I
Saturday 10-11 AM PST part II

Read more here (link).

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Science%20Circle/67/129/32  

Announcement: Gofundme For Illya Leonov (Morgan Freepony)

Illya Leonov, or Morgan Freepony, is well loved for his voice work narrating My Little Pony fanfictions for the pony community and for the library. Of course he also does other voice work such as the audiobooks "Selkies' Skins: Castle and Well" and "Pearls of Sea and Stone: Book of Seals." You can listen to him on his Youtube, his Soundcloud, and usually on Thursdays at 6 PM Pacific/Second Life time in the Trotsdale Library and over his stream.

Right now he needs help handling his medical bills stemming from his fight with cancer. Even if you can't help out financially with a few bits you CAN pass word around about his Gofundme. When a pony like Illya decides it is time to actually start one then that tells us he truly does need help.

Illya's GoFundMe:
https://www.gofundme.com/surgery-is-magic

Illya's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHmZW2ThMRGG1nLWVxIqgEg

Illya's SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/illya-leonov

~Amehana Arashi/Ishtari
Curator of the Trotsdale Library, Astral Sector Alpha Library, Ibexian Library, and member of the Intersim Library Network

Update on Becky Nosferatu's Sister: Success

It was almost a month ago in which Becky Nosferatu's real-life sister was admitted to the hospital for an aneurysm in the brain. Becky didn't have the money to make what could be the last trip to see her, so she called out for help for people to donate a little cash. People in both Second Life and real life responded, and she had enough to make the trip over. Over the weekend, she offered the following statement.

So for those who are in the know, my sister was hospitalized due to a mild stroke that caused an Aneurysm. She's been hospitalized for a month now, due to them not able to get her levels stable enough to have a surgery to REMOVE said Aneurysm.

Long story short; on Tuesday the 11th, she was strong enough to get the surgery and lived through it. I asked for donations, scrambled up any money I could from RL and Online Friends so Monica and I could go see her. She's doing fantastically well, far better than any of the doctors could have imagined and by next week, she will be out of the ICU and being sent to a rehab hospital to get her legs back (She was in a medical coma that had her paralyzed from the neck down for a whole month, mind you) and to heal her tracheostomy wound.

I was only gone for a week, but I can't thank any of you enough that has donated money and linden dollars. That whole week was me preparing to see her, which I did yesterday. They told us that we had to put on like... these weird gowns that where really scratchy and rubber gloves. I left my cane in the doorway so it didn't bring in any bacteria.

 It was painful, for both of us. She, like me, wasn't expecting at all what would happen. She was laying on the bed, on her back. Her hair was wild and there where so many tubes and wires going everywhere all around her. She had her hands wrapped up because of the tube from her tracheostomy, you know, so she didn't rip it out. And she was writhing on the bed. I think she was still really to delirious to understand what was going on, but when I entered, she stopped moving around.
She saw me walk into the room, didn't realize it was me (cause I keep my hair so short now,) and went wide-eyed when she saw me. I took her hand, and smiled and said "hi, sis." She immediately started crying. She mouthed the words... something along the lines of "Why are you here?" Or "Why did you come here?" or something to that effect. I just leaned over and told her "Because I love you." There wasn't anything more needed to be said. We both just started crying and I wiped her tears away with a napkin. I told her that I was so proud of her for getting this far, and that after all that's happened, for her to never stop fighting. She was still... uh... pretty sedated; kept looking around the room and I noticed she focused on Monica a lot. So I looked back at her and she started crying again. I caught the words "She's so pretty" or "She's very pretty," but I couldn't be to sure. I told her I wouldn't be there long, that I flew all the way to just see her and she told me "You shouldn't see me like this." I told her that I would see her no matter what, cause I loved her. Then we both REALLY started crying. By the end of it, I just rubbed her arm and said "You stay strong, you hear? Prove to the world us FAMILYSURNAME are the strongest there is." And I told her bye.

The rest of that day was... hellish. I couldn't sleep, I had allergies and nightmares. Dad and I both where super irritable and our road rage was even worse than normal. But I'm glad I saw her. It made it very real in my head what she went through. What her son and husband went through. And the rest of our family.

This was far more than I intended to write, but, I'm glad she's recovering. And I hope that she gets to go home soon to her 3 year old son and her husband. And I honestly couldn't have seen her, or the family I haven't seen in over 10 years. I feel she'll only get better now, as the stent they put in her did exactly what what they expected. She can only get better from here. She will never be, 100%, but she is still my sister and my family are nothing but super fiery ***holes that don't know when to quit.

Again. I thank you guys far more than what you could ever know.
Becky Nosferatu