The Number Hospitalized For the Bombing Continues to Drop

Good news is being reported by hospitals treating patients who sustained injuries during the bombing at the Boston Marathon. The Boston hospitals are reporting that the number of people remaining in the hospitals for more treatment is continuing to go down each day, within just two weeks of the incident. 

The tragic attack killed three and injured more than 260. A total of 26 hospitals held and treated those who were injured during this horrific event. Massachusetts General Hospital reports that only six bombing victims are left being treated, one is in serious condition while the others' condition is fairly stable. Right after the attack the hospital had 31 patients being treated in their facility.

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Brigham and Women's Hospital began with 36 patients after the explosion and now nine victims remain. The hospital reports that seven of the nine are in good condition. 

Another hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said that they started with more than 20 victims but by Sunday morning, six patients with injuries were still being hospitalized.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are still hospitalized and to the families of the three who lost their lives during the terrifying explosion. We remain hopeful that soon the others will be in good enough condition to return to their homes and families and we applaud the staff at the hospitals in Boston who are doing such a phenomenal job getting the patients well and back home! 

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Victim of Boston Explosion Says She Will Run Again Next Year

Adrianne Haslet-Davis from Washington has dedicated her life to dancing, but like many others, her life changed completely after participating in this year's Boston Marathon. Although she survived the tragic explosion, her left foot did not. 

She recalls the moment she awoke in the hospital and had to be told by her mother, Chauni Haslet, that a portion below her knee on her left leg had been amputated after irreversible damage done as a result of the explosion. 

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During the time of the explosion, she and her husband, Adam Davis, were standing outside of a restaurant on Boylston Street. Despite being injured as well, Adam- who had recently returned from military deployment, managed to use his belt to make a tourniquet and tie it around his wife's mangled leg. Adrianne says she remembers looking down and seeing her leg practically detached and thinking she was going to die. As paramedics rushed to help her, Adrianne told her husband how much she loved him, that she was not ready to leave him, and that they would make it through this. 

Although she has had her fair share of very dark days, Adrianne is determined not to let this tragedy consume her. She says that no matter what she will not only dance again, but she intends to return to the Boston Marathon and run in it. She says that the message she wants people to receive from her heart wrenching story is that you "can come out of a situation that might seem like the end of the world, and come out stronger." 

Adrianne's attitude and strength is such an inspiration as well as a reminder to all of us that no matter what happens, all is not lost and as long as we support one another during these tough times, we can overcome them.  

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How You Can Get Involved This Earth Day

Today we celebrate a safe and healthy planet with Earth Day! This day is important because it serves as a reminder that it is our responsibility to keep our precious earth clean and do whatever we can to minimize pollution in the environment. There are several easy ways to get involved and join the fight for a clean environment!

1. Plant a tree

Planting a tree in your backyard is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday! Not only is it a fun activity that can get the whole family involved, but it also will provide a habitat for other plants and animals. This activity will help to combat pollution by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

2. Create a vegetable garden

Expand on the tree idea by not just planting one tree but a whole garden! Spring is the perfect time for gardening, so why not get started today? Get your children involved by letting them choose which fruits and vegetables they want to have in the garden and show them how to plant and take care of their designated plants. 

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3. Clean up your local park

Help make a difference this Earth Day by heading to your local park with friends and family! Use this time to circle the park, picking up the litter that detracts from the park's natural beauty. Maybe you will even meet other families who are also trying to help out while you're there!

4. Go on a hike

Even if you aren't going to get hands on for Earth Day, set some time aside to admire and surround yourself with nature! Find some trails nearby, put on some sneakers, and go on a nice nature hike. Not only is it asthetically pleasing- but you'll also be able to sneak a work out in! 

5. Recycle 

If you don't already, take the time on this holiday to sit down with the family and construct a recycling system that works for you. Recycling is so important for our environment and will really help to make a difference in making our Earth a healthy place!

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6. Attend an Earth Day event

Countless Earth Day events are held across the nation on April 22nd, so find one near you and bring the kids along. These events are filled with fun and informative activities that people of all ages can enjoy!

Whether it is planting a vegetable garden or simply making a pledge to recycle, everyone can make a difference in keeping our environment clean. So honor Earth day by stepping up in your community and joining the fight for a healthy planet!

The Heroes of the Boston Marathon Explosion

When tragedies like the bombing at the Boston Marathon happen, many of us find that we immediately begin to question humanity and ask ourselves what is happening to the world. I found myself in this trap as well. Several of us at ONCEkids have family in Boston or even grew up there, so news of this tragedy really hit home. 

Not long after hearing the news, I was surfing the Internet letting myself sink into that inevitable pessimism, when I stumbled upon some articles and pictures people had shared on Facebook. 

Clicking on one share led to another and another until instead of being depressed and disappointed with humanity, I found myself becoming inspired. It was then that it hit me, instead of focusing on the few individuals who have lost their sense of compassion, we should instead focus on all the people who still display infinite amounts of kindness. The shares I was reading on Facebook were stories and pictures of all the people who stepped out of the shadows to demonstrate courage and bravery that is both admirable as well as inspiring. 

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One of the first things I read was how many of the people who finished the marathon continued running all the way to the hospital to donate blood or find some other way they could pitch in. On Twitter people tweeted stories about a responder who wheeled a woman to safety and then ran back into the danger to rescue more people. Countless pictures and videos were shared of people finding their loved ones after being separated by the explosion and others comforting injured or scared strangers. 

Even former New England Patriot Joe Andruzzi stepped up to help carry an injured woman to help. Restaurants all over Boston opened up their doors, giving free food to any locals or runners in need. One of the most moving posts I saw was the list of hundreds of entries on Google Doc of people living in the Boston area offering to pick up or house any people who may be stranded. 

 So tell us your stories! Share with us any knowledge you have or stories you've heard of heroes at the Boston Marathon explosion. We would love to hear anything from small acts of kindness to extreme displays of heroism, everyone is a hero to us!

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

ONCEkid's Unsung Heroes (Part Three of Five)

Our list continues with two more females whose heroic actions are known by little but deserve to be acknowledged by all. 

Another one of the youngest females on our list is Caitlin Crommett. At just 17 years old she has dedicated countless hours toward granting the wishes of terminally ill patients. Her inspiration began after she volunteered at a Hospice Care facility in Foothill Ranch, California singing at memorial services. 

She recalls noticing the dramatic effects her singing had on the families of the patients and wanting to find a way to interact with them on a more personal level. Her idea came from "Patch Adams", a movie that tells the story of a doctor who entertains his patients and tries to make them laugh. This inspiration was what led to the eventual development of Dream Catchers, a group that works to grant the final wishes of Hospice patients. 

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Our next hero's passion also began in California, but instead of helping those at the end of their life, she works with those who's lives are just beginning. Lisa Klein donates much of her spare time to collecting baby clothes for mother's in need. Her inspiration came after Hurricane Katrina, when she read an article about displaced families in desperate need of clothes for their young children and babies.

After only a few days of reading the article, Lisa and her friends had managed to gather up over 200 pounds of pajamas, sweaters, hates, and booties, packed them up, and shipped them all to New Orleans. Since then, she has started a nonprofit organization called Loved Twice, which collects donations of used baby clothing, which they distribute to local hospitals, shelters, and pre-natal clinics. She says her goals of the group are to help new mothers alleviate some of the stresses of having a baby and the finances that come along with it. 

Both of these women demonstrate admirable levels of compassion and kindness, so whether you're helping to fulfill the wishes of the terminally ill or assisting new mothers in keeping their infant's clean and warm, try to pitch in and help your community like these two strong and inspirational women! 


To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

April 10th is National Sibling's Day

April 10th is a special day for anyone, young or old, who has a sibling. Beginning in 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a presidential message recognizing April 10th as National Siblings Day, followed by President George Bush in 2008. The establishment of this holiday is thanks to the founder and director of the Siblings Day Foundation, Claudia Evart. 

After losing both of her siblings in separate accidents, Evart has dedicated her life to making sure all siblings feel loved and appreciated. She chose April 10th to be that special day in remembrance of her late sister, Lisette, who's birthday is that day. 

Mother's Day and Father's Day holidays provided the inspiration that lead to the creation of National Siblings Day, a day to celebrate and cherish your brothers and sisters. There is a similar holiday celebrated in many parts of Asia, known as Children's day, which falls on May 5th. 

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All of these holidays are a testament to family. Our families are the anchors of our life. Siblings are the people who are there with us throughout the most significant points in our lives. They grow up by our sides, acting as both family and best friends all at once. This day is a time to remind them of how much you appreciate them, so give them a call or go visit them if you can. So have a great National Siblings Day and don't forget to reach out to all of yours!

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

ONCEkids Unsung Heroes (Part Two of Five)

Our list continues with two more women who have dedicated their lives to helping others. These women have shown their passion for helping others by speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves. 

Laurie Marker has been living in Namibia for the last 33 years fighting to save Africa's most endangered big cat- the cheetah. The prickly thornbush that covers the plains of Namibia has been injuring the cheetahs when they run through it up to speeds of 70 mph, which has been interfering with their ability to wild game. Unable to hunt in the wild, the cheetahs have been forced to resort to farmer's livestock- resulting in many of them being cornered and trapped by farmers. 

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Marker took it upon herself to solve this problem by sending wood chippers in to chop up all the brush. Since she took this initiative, cheetahs have been returning to the cleared areas and successfully hunting. Her love for the big cats began in the 1970s, when she worked at a wildlife refuge in Oregon. There, she raised both a tiger and a cheetah from the time they were born. She continued her mission by opening up the Cheetah Conservation Fund before heading to Namibia. 

The next inspiring woman on our list also has a passion for saving animals, but instead of cheetahs, she focuses her attention on a different kind of animal-horses. 

Erin Hurley has been riding horses since she was a little girl, riding in competitions beginning at the age of nine. As she grew into adulthood, she shifted her attention from competing with horses to rescuing them. After finding out the fate of many horses who retire from racing, she was determined to give a better life to them. As you can imagine, this was a very expensive goal- seeing as horses are not cheap by any means. 

For the first few years after establishing South Jersey Thoroughbred Rescue & Adoption, Hurley often had to pay out of pocket to feed and care for the horses. Flash forward to today, she can afford to keep and care for up to 15 horses at a time- thanks to some help from a Philadelphia racetrack. In just six short years, Hurley has save hundreds of horses from a life of misery, and many times even the slaughterhouse. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter

ONCEkids Unsung Female Heroes (Part One of Five)

When I looked up the definition of a hero my results included a statement that said a hero can be defined as "a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and qualities." Many of the people who meet this definition are recognized for their heroic actions in the news and through social media each day, but I found myself wondering- what about the heroes that are missed by the news and don't appear in the headlines? And notice, the definition stresses that a hero is a man who demonstrates these characteristics. So we at ONCEkids have compiled a list of the unsung female heroes of today, people who have reached out to others in a way that is both moving as well as inspiring, whose stories we feel ought to be told. 

Our first hero is our youngest female on our list, Allison Winn. Her organization, named the Stink Bug Project, has partnered with the Morgan Adams Foundation to give dogs to children with cancer, providing them with comfort and companionship during their difficult cancer treatments. Her idea came about after adopting a bichon frise during the time of her 14-month-long treatment for a brain tumor. She recalls that the dog's presence helped her feel better and more upbeat during her recovery. It was then that she decided she wanted sick children everywhere to feel the same type of affection from such a lovable animal- also did we mention that Allison is 10 years 
old? 
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She set her plan in motion by first setting up a lemonade stand. For the entire summer she worked the stand, selling homemade lemonade and dog biscuits. By the end of the summer she had saved up $1,000- which gave her enough to adopt and train two dogs to give them to two children. Since that summer, the program has raised $33,000 and organized the adoption of 10 different dogs, paying for everything from the adoption fee to the dog bed, crate, food, toys, and a collar. Allison and her family has continued their efforts towards helping kids with cancer feel just a little bit better and she has said that it is her ultimate goal to spread the cause to other states as well, instead of keeping it to just Colorado. 

To learn more about Modern Moms and The Mom Code, please visit ONCEKids Publishing website, Facebook and Twitter