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Feeling hurt by family betrayal

Dear Annie: My sister moved in with our parents in the family home. After my mother sadly passed away, my father and sister continued living there together. Over time, my sister seemed to take over the running of the household. She even had the telephone disconnected, and there were other decisions made that left me feeling increasingly shut out. My sister and I have never been close. Her life was often a burden on my mother, but my mother always stayed loyal to her and protected her. Later, when my father moved into a nursing home, he allowed my sister to sell the family home for her ...

Positive HPV test sparks panic due to a lack of explanation

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 61-year-old retired African-American woman. This past week, I just had a Pap smear (I hadn’t had one since 2021) and was told that it was positive for human papillomavirus (HPV). I’m upset because I was celibate from 2021-2024, and then in January 2024, I got married to my current husband, who lives in Africa. I was there for a week, and we honeymooned and consummated our marriage. I came back home and have since been monogamous. This week, I found out that I have HPV. What can I do? Will the vaccine help? I’ll be going back to Africa later this year to be ...

In a world that keeps telling us no, resilience becomes resistance

Sometimes life lets us set the record straight. It happens in big and small ways and reminds us to stay true to who we are, to believe in our talents, pursue our interests and develop our skill sets. The world is filled with people who will tell you “no,” and it feels like we are hearing “no” more frequently these days. Legislation, academic priorities and corporate policies are clawing back so much of the progress we’ve made in this country. Even still, I remain optimistic that our resilience will eventually see us through. Because when faced with people who tell us “no,” ...

Dear Annie: We’ve done everything, but it wasn’t enough

Dear Annie: My husband and I took in five siblings after both of their parents died, even though we were already raising a large family of our own. Overnight, our lives changed. The children were 7, 9, 12, 13 and 15 when they came to us, and we did our best to give them safety, stability and love. We showed up for school events, sports, camps and counseling, though one child’s severe behavioral struggles made daily life especially difficult. Now they are adults, and four of them have cut ties with us, saying we “gave them trauma.” That accusation has been heartbreaking after all ...

High cortisol causes patient to feel awful amid normal tests

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’ve been feeling just awful. My doctor put me through the normal tests, and all were good. A neurologist recommended that I get a cortisol test. I did, and it showed a high cortisol level. I’d never heard of this. Would you explain what high cortisol is, how it is treated and if there are any natural cures or therapies? — S.K. ANSWER: Cortisol is a critical hormone that is needed for the function of many body systems. Without cortisone, the body cannot respond to stress, and a stressful event can literally kill a patient. A medical condition called ...

Spring in full force: Don’t forget about the Centre County Grange Fair!

Spring has finally arrived, unfolding with flowers poking through the soil, longer days, and the feeling of renewal as the sun hits your skin for the first time in a while. For most Pennsylvania farmers, spring brings the start of the planting season. This marks a quiet but powerful start of growing not only crops but also growing hope for a better tomorrow not only in agriculture but also as a community. The thoughts and brainstorming begin within the community for people of all ages who are thinking ahead about what exhibits they might proudly show at the Centre County Grange Fair this ...