10 Best Stories of Parent Herald 2023: Pilot Mother-Daughter Dou, RSV Vaccine, and More!

Wrapping up the 10 best stories of Parent Herald!

As 2023 comes to an end, here is the news that caught a whirlwind of attention this year in the Parent Herald. 

Our articles have touched on both the joys and the risks of parenting, from talking about child safety in the water to the breakthrough development of a new vaccine to talking about social media apps to following the story of Baby India, who was once abandoned four years ago, to finding her justice. 

This year also saw tremendous advances in child health, most notably the introduction of an RSV vaccination for infants and for adults as well, a breakthrough that gives our children hope and protection. 

Blue swimsuits for kids made a splash in summer style, which was a pleasant trend in children's fashion. 

Come along with us as we relive these significant moments and experiences, each of which sheds light on the many facets of the path of parenthood.

10 Best Stories of Parent Herald 2023

1. Mother-Daughter Duo Make History as First To Co-Pilot International

One of the news stories that caught the attention of many is about the first mother-daughter duo that broke records and became the first co-pilot internationally, working for FedEx.

A mother-daughter duo, FedEx pilots Teri Eidson and Nicole McCallister, recently made history as the first to co-pilot an international flight. The two pilots piloted FedEx Flight 5434 from Memphis International Airport to Incheon International Airport, South Korea. The journey takes just over 14 hours.

The memorable day for the mother-daughter duo occurred just before Mother's Day. Eidson, who is a Boeing 777F captain for FedEx, has been working for the airline for 28 years.

She began her career as a flight attendant before pursuing a career as a pilot. Her daughter, McCallister, is a 777 first officer and followed in her mom's footsteps.

The company they work with, FedEx, is inherently a company supportive of women in aviation. In fact, FedEx was the first to sponsor the Women in Aviation International Conference.

2. Texas Investigates a Children's Hospital for Gender-Affirming Care Allegations

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin for allegedly offering its gender-affirming care to minors.

The investigation by Paxton is part of a wider effort to clamp down on the medical care and rights of transgender people in the state.

The Texas Attorney General's office investigation seeks information from Dell Children's Hospital about its policies on puberty blockers and documents identifying patients referred for treatment or counseling

The investigation attempts to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors in Texas and other states, highlighting the ongoing debate over the medical care and rights of transgender people.

Transgender youth are at a heightened risk of mental health issues and suicide, and access to gender-affirming care can help reduce these risks.

Restricting or banning this care can have serious consequences for the health and well-being of transgender minors.

3. Swim Instructor Urges Parents Not To Buy Blue Swimsuits for Kids

A TikTok video from a swimming instructor went viral on the platform, urging parents and guardians not to put their children in blue swimsuits.

The viral video that which has received 4.6 million views, features a certified swim instructor

Nikki Scarnati demonstrated with her own daughter the risk of wearing blue swimsuits for kids.

The video shows her daughter wearing a blue one-piece swimsuit while swimming in a pool. Scarnati uses this as an example to warn parents not to buy blue swimsuits for their kids, as it makes it hard to see them in the water.

Read Also: Setting Boundaries: Create Healthy Screen-Time Schedule for School-Aged Kids

4. Fatal Hot Car Incidents Claims Lives of Three Children

Another story that dominated headlines this year was the number of children killed in hot car incidents.

Three small children were killed after being left alone in hot cars in a series of terrible occurrences in Washington, Texas, and Florida.

A one-year-old toddler in Washington was left in a parked vehicle for roughly nine hours while the foster mother was at work. Despite obtaining rapid medical assistance, the infant was found unresponsive and was confirmed dead.

Puyallup police believe the event was caused by the foster mother, who was unaware that the infant was in the car.

Similarly, over Memorial Day weekend in Houston, Texas, an adult discovered a 4-year-old boy and a 2-year-old daughter unresponsive in a parked automobile.

Unfortunately, the boy died, but the girl is likely to recover. Before the tragedy, the youngsters were reportedly playing outside their home. In addition, another tragedy occurred in Florida when an 11-month-old kid was discovered lifeless in a parked vehicle after being left there for three hours while the parents attended church services.

Temperatures were rising across the country, creating potentially fatal circumstances in abandoned vehicles. Even on comparatively chilly days, vehicles can function like greenhouses, rapidly raising internal temperatures. This is especially dangerous for youngsters, whose core temperatures can increase three to five times quicker than adults, resulting in heatstroke and death at 104 and 107 degrees, respectively.

5. Pfizer's RSV Vaccine for Infants

A noteworthy achievement in the field of medicine in the year 2023 is the approval of the RSV vaccine for use in newborns and old persons by the Food and Drug Administration.

An important step forward in the field of pediatric healthcare was taken by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) when it evaluated Pfizer's RSV vaccination for newborns. In the event that this crucial choice is ultimately authorized, it would indicate the introduction of the very first RSV vaccine for infants in the United States.

It has been determined by the (CDC) that RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under the age of one in the United States.

On an annual basis, it is estimated that it causes between 6,000 and 10,000 deaths among adults aged 65 and older, in addition to 100 to 300 deaths among children under the age of five.

Medical professionals and parents who are concerned about their children's health are eagerly awaiting the vote that the FDA advisory group will make on the Pfizer RSV vaccination for infants.

6. Abandoned 'Baby India' Case Sees Breakthrough

On June 6, 2019, a family in Cumming, Georgia, about 40 miles north of Atlanta, thought they heard animal noises coming from a wooded area.

They decided to look into the weird sounds, which led them to a horrifying discovery. They discovered a newborn baby girl hiding among the bushes in a tightly knotted plastic bag with her umbilical cord still attached.

Authorities were then called for help, and the delicate child, called 'Baby India' by the kind nurses, was discovered to be just a few hours old. Nearly four years later, law enforcement identified and apprehended the child's mother.

Karima Jiwani, 40, was arrested by deputies from the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office on charges of criminal attempt to commit murder, reckless abandonment, aggravated assault, and cruelty to minors.

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office made a breakthrough in the 'Baby India' case by using modern DNA investigation methods.

The child's father was discovered utilizing sophisticated family DNA testing, providing the police with an important clue.

Furthermore, family members and medical specialists claim that Jiwani had a history of hidden pregnancies and unexpected deliveries and that when she was pregnant with 'Baby India,' she went to great lengths to conceal the pregnancy.

Fortunately, the Sheriff of Georgia pleased everyone by announcing that 'Baby India,' who is about to turn four, is safe, happy, and in a secure environment.

7.FDA Approves GSK's Arexvy: First RSV Vaccine for the Elderly

The FDA has approved GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Arexvy vaccine, which protects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). 

The vaccine, created by the British pharmaceutical company GSK, is intended for those aged 60 and older who are particularly susceptible to RSV infection and requires only one shot.

Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, underlined that older people, particularly those with underlying health issues, are more likely to experience severe RSV symptoms. This is the first time that an RSV vaccination has been approved for use in the US. 

He added that the FDA's approval of the first RSV vaccine is an important public health achievement that underscores the FDA's commitment to assisting in the development of safe and effective vaccinations.

8. TikTok CEO Admits Not Allowing His Children to Use The App

A hot topic that politicians, parents, advocates, and creators themselves have been seriously dealing with is the use of the TikTok app and the overall access to social media by minors. 

A man who found himself in a hot seat is Shou Zi Chew, the CEO of TikTok. Amidst it, one viral short video of him circulated in the media, admitting that his children, who are eight and six years old, do not have accounts on TikTok. 

Of course, a lot were in shock as to why, but he explained himself, saying he lives in Singapore. 

Chew then explained that on TikTok, here in the United States, if you are below the age of 13, you get a very constrained version of TikTok, and in many other nations across the world, they do not allow users who are below the age of 13.

Critics were immediately jumping to conclusions, saying that he wouldn't allow his kids on the app because he knew the dangers of TikTok; however, everyone was astonished to hear that reason out. 

9. Two Children Experienced a Bear Attack in Pennsylvania

This year, the Parent Herald also covered a horrifying bear attack that occurred around May, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and resulted in the injuries of two small children. Fortunately, the Pennsylvania Game Commission responded quickly to the incident. 

Two bear traps were strategically placed near the scene of the attack with the primary purpose of capturing the offending animal. Authorities, on the other hand, report that a bear assaulted them and was later killed after being captured. 

The incident appeared to take place on a typical weekday while a five-year-old and a one-year-old were playing in the driveway of their Wright Township house.

The bear bit and scratched the children, turning their innocent pastime into a horrifying encounter. When they were rushed to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, they got immediate medical attention.

Luckily, after receiving treatment, they were eventually allowed to return home, and they are now on the mend.

10. Self Care for Busy Moms

We asked mental health expert Sarah Slater Snyder to weigh in on the top three questions we get about self-care for busy women. 

Sarah is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a private therapy practice in Hawaii who specializes in dealing with adolescent girls and young adult women.

Snyder remarked that the most difficult problem that busy moms face today is finding the correct balance. Many mothers struggle with people pleasing, trouble setting boundaries, and the belief that they are insufficient. 

Perfectionism and the need to impress others, in her professional view, are two of the key reasons why working mothers feel burned out.

She noted that many working mothers are constantly in fight or flight mode, which contributes to their lack of ideal health and fitness. As a solution, Snyder created the Embodied Paradise Method, a program designed specifically for burnt-out mothers. 

She has taught hundreds of busy, stressed-out mamas how to rewire their brain and body by improving sleep, stress, and health with my Embodied Paradise Method, allowing them to construct their own personal paradise anywhere, at any time, in a matter of weeks.

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