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Update on the Pope’s health after he reportedly informed aides he ‘won’t make it this time

According to people close to the veteran, Pope Francis was admitted to the hospital last week for the same illness that caused him to become ill in 2023, but this time he doesn’t think he’ll be as fortunate. The 88-year-old was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Friday last week (February 14) with bronchitis, a respiratory infection, and was later diagnosed with pneumonia in both of his lungs.

“Pneumonia is inflammation and fluid in your lungs caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. In addition to making breathing difficult, it can result in fever and coughing up crimson, green, or yellow mucus.

Additionally, it states that “if left untreated, especially if you have an underlying health condition,” pneumonia can be fatal. Thankfully, it is recognised that baby is breathing on his own despite the diagnosis.

Politico said that the head of the Catholic Church has been “suffering from intense pain and has privately expressed certainty he won’t make it this time,” according to two persons who were supposedly aware of the situation.

However, a third source reportedly told the US-based website that Francis, who was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Flores neighbourhood, is only following “doctor’s orders.”

On Wednesday, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni paid the Pope a visit and emphasised that he was healthy enough to joke about. “I’m glad to have found him responsive and attentive.

As usual, we made jokes. “He still has a good sense of humour,” she clarified. Today, February 21, the Vatican released a statement that said, “The night went well, and this morning Pope Francis got up and had breakfast.”

The Vatican maintained on Wednesday that the Pope was recovering, despite reports from people close to him suggesting otherwise. They added: “The blood tests, evaluated by the medical staff, show a slight improvement, particularly in inflammatory indices.” “Pope Francis has had a restful night and this morning, got out of bed and had breakfast in an armchair,” the Vatican wrote on Thursday, February 20.

Pope Francis greets people at the end of the weekly general audience on February 12 – just two days before he was admitted to hospital (FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)

Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in March 2023 with acute bronchitis, so this is not the first time he has been hospitalised with a respiratory ailment.

“I am still alive,” he declared to the public after being released from the hospital.

Twelve years ago, in March 2013, Pope Francis was chosen, making him the first pope from the Southern Hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years.

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What grabs your attention immediately?

Optical illusions have always intrigued us, capturing our attention and leaving us with many unanswered questions.

Rather than just using flashy tricks, these fascinating images take us on a deep, thoughtful journey, showing us the complexities of how we see things.

Our special optical illusions will make you rethink everything you know about yourself. They might give you more insight into your life.

What grabs your attention immediately?

This picture is interesting because it shows how you see both the world and yourself. If you see a duck first, it means you’re outgoing, enjoy being around people, think quickly, and handle stress well.

If you see a rabbit first, it means you believe slow and steady wins the race. You prefer to think things through carefully before making a decision.

When you want something done right, you follow the proper steps. You are more introverted than most people. Like me, you prefer a few close friends over many acquaintances.

Do you see the faces or the vase?

This picture trick was created by a Danish psychologist to show how people see their strengths and weaknesses. If you see two faces first, you’re good at noticing small details and understand many different jobs.

But if you noticed the vase first, you’re someone who focuses on the overall picture and might miss small things.

Do you see an old man or a young woman?

At first, you might see one of two images. If you see the big-nosed older man looking down, you’re someone who pays close attention to details. Sometimes, though, you might overthink things because you’re very sensitive and understand others’ needs well.

But if you see the woman turning the other way, you’re more spontaneous and like to do things quickly. Your optimism helps you stay in control of your adventurous side.

Do you see an older or younger woman?

Who you see first in this picture might give away your age. If you see the young woman turning away, you’re probably still young. But if you notice the older woman, you might be older yourself. This was studied and published in the academic journal Scholarly Reports.

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Heart surgeon shares four types of foods you should ‘always avoid’ as they ‘poison’ your body

When it comes to our health, there are plenty of things that we should consider. However, a well-balanced diet is one of the most important factors.

Heart surgeon Dr. Jeremy London, who’s very famous on TikTok with his valuable advice he shares with his followers, shared a video in which he highlighted four foods that are dangerous for our body.

Fast Food

As expected, he places fast food on the top of the list of foods that need to be avoided.

Dr. London labels fast food as “edible food product,” emphasizing the fact that they lack important nutritional value.

A 2017 article published by the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine notes that fast foods are high in calories and low in nutrients. They are loaded with various synthetic ingredients, chemicals, extra corn syrup, sugar, artificial sweeteners, salt, and coloring agents. All these can affect our health in a negative way.

Soft Drinks

Dr. London, who has almost 400,000 followers on his TikTok account, refers to soft drinks as to “liquid death.”

These drinks are full of sugars and their consumption can easily lead to obesity and diabetes.

The same goes for the diet sodas, which are expected to be a healthier option but are actually disrupting our metabolism and increasing the hunger.

The surgeon’s opinion about soft drinks is backed up by a number of research conducted over the years. A particular one, from the UCLA Health, highlights that even a single can of soda per day can increase the risk of developing type II diabetes.

Milk Products

Further, the heart surgeon lists milk products as type of foods that poison our bodies.

Humans are the only mammals who consume milk beyond infancy and consume the milk of other species.

Milk products are full of saturated fat, whose consumption is linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.

The website of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine states that “Studies have also linked dairy to an increased risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.”

Dr. London advises that we either limit or avoid milk products altogether.

Alcohol

According to Dr. London, alcohol is  “absolutely toxic to every cell in our bodies.

“Even moderate or occasional use is in fact detrimental,” he says. “So if we are working so hard to optimize our health, the least you could do is stop actively poisoning your body.”

Instead, we should focus on diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, and consume minimally processed foods such as beans and wholegrains.

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Homeless Man Asked Me to Take His Dog – A Month Later, I Received a Mysterious Letter

It was a day like any other, a simple trip to the grocery store, when my life took an unexpected turn. I never thought a simple question from a homeless man would change everything. That day, he looked at me and asked, “Will you take my dog?”

My life had been difficult. A year had passed since my husband, Jason, died in a car accident. I was now a single mom, trying to raise our eight-year-old son, Liam. The sadness of losing Jason was always with me, and even though I tried to be strong for Liam, every day felt like a hard fight. But Liam, with his kind heart, just like Jason, gave me the strength to keep going.

On that particular afternoon, Liam and I were leaving the grocery store. Liam saw a man sitting on the edge of the parking lot. The man had a small, thin dog with him. Liam pulled on my sleeve, worried about the shivering dog. “Mom, can we help?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure. Money was tight, and I already had a lot to handle. But before I could answer, the man came to us. His face showed how much he was suffering. He told us his dog, Daisy, was the only thing he had, but he couldn’t take care of her anymore. He asked if we could take her. His eyes were full of tears. Liam, always wanting to help, asked me to say yes. I couldn’t refuse.

Daisy came home with us that day. Even though I was worried at first, she quickly became part of our family. Liam loved taking care of her. He even read her bedtime stories, saying she liked “Goodnight Moon” the best. Having her in our home brought a happiness I hadn’t felt since Jason’s death. It was like a little light in a dark room.

A month later, we got a letter in the mail. It didn’t have a return address. It was from the man we met that day. The words in his letter told us how much Daisy meant to him. He was thankful we were taking care of her. He wrote that he thought about her every day and would never forget her friendship during hard times.

Liam read the letter with me and said we had to find him. “He shouldn’t be alone, Mom,” he said. I agreed. With Daisy, we went back to the grocery store and found him at a soup kitchen. When Daisy saw him, she ran to him, her tail wagging. He held her close, crying. It was a very touching moment.

That day started a good thing. We began to visit him often, bringing food and things he needed. Daisy spent time with him. We learned his name was Edward, and he had gone through very difficult times. Even with all that, he loved Daisy very much.

A few months later, we got another letter. This time, Edward had found a job and a small place to live. He thanked us for giving him hope when he had none. He promised to stay in touch. And he did. Edward became a friend to our family, and Daisy loved being with him.

Then I think about that day in the parking lot, I wonder what would have happened if I had said no. Helping Edward and Daisy helped them, but it also showed Liam and me how important kindness is. It taught Liam that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. It reminded me that even when we are having problems, we can still help others.

Sometimes, life gives us chances to help. Saying yes that day didn’t just save Daisy. It brought hope and love to three people, creating a story of kindness that continues to inspire me. In a world that can be unkind, moments like these show us how powerful a simple act of caring can be

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