'Today, your son is my son': A doctor's words offer comfort before surgery Before Calvin Lowe's young son went in for a major operation, his doctor shared a comforting message. Ryan Katz
Dog walking injuries can be surprisingly common A study from Johns Hopkins University reveals the extent of dog walking injuries that are bad enough to send people to the ER. (This story first aired on Weekend Edition on May 13, 2023.) Scott Simon
Facing my wife's dementia: Should I fly off to see our grandkids without her? After 40 years of living and travelling together, a writer considers a trip without his wife. He can't explain where he's going or why he can't bring her along. Marc Silver
Watching war unfold is distressing — here's how to protect your mental health Doomscrolling won't help the people who are suffering and it might put you into a state of chronic stress. A psychiatrist who works with trauma shares advice for how to process global tragedy. Malaka Gharib
First Lady Rosalynn Carter's legacy on mental health boils down to one word: Hope The former first lady fought with persistence to put care for mental and physical health on equal footing and to eliminate discrimination toward people with mental illnesses. Christine Herman
Before dying, she made a fund to cancel others' medical debt — now $60 million worth NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Andrew Gregory about his late wife, Casey McIntyre, and the medical debt cancellation fund she set up before she died earlier in November of ovarian cancer. Mia Venkat
WHO asks China for more information about rise in illnesses and pneumonia clusters The World Health Organization has asked China to provide data on a spike in pneumonia and bacterial lung infections in children there. The Associated Press
Could a 'funky' pathogen be sickening dogs? Scientists search for clues Dogs around the country are becoming sick with an unknown respiratory illness. Some veterinarians are warning dog owners to take precautions. A strange bacterium could be involved. Will Stone
Sweet potato memories: love 'em, rely on 'em ... hate 'em Three Africans ponder the tuber. "There is simply no bad way to prepare sweet potatoes," writes a Zimbabwean. They fueled a Ugandan for his 8-mile run to school. But for one Kenyan they're a big yuck.
Salty much? These brain cells decide when tasty becomes blech Scientists say two separate brain circuits control how much salt we consume. Jon Hamilton
