Coming to terms with the COVID death of an estranged mother We remember Holly Serl, one of more than 700,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus. Ayen Bior
Coronavirus FAQ: Should I humor my friend's request for a pointless COVID precaution? Fly in and stay with us at our cabin, they said. And get a COVID test right after your flight to see if you picked up an infection while traveling. But that's too soon for a meaningful test result. Marc Silver
Hospitals brace for an onslaught this winter, from flu as well as COVID America's hospitals are already strained from the delta surge. Now they fear they'll be further overwhelmed by pent-up demand for services and a potentially bad flu season. Will Stone
Kids are losing school days to quarantines. Here's a way to keep them in classrooms Test-to-stay policies could help keep students in in-person school. But amid a national shortage, rapid tests can be hard to come by, and the practice isn't common. Anya Kamenetz
A Louisiana clinic struggles to absorb the surge created by Texas' new abortion law In Shreveport, La., near the Texas border, the Hope Medical Group for Women is seeing increased demand after the restrictive law was passed — and after a hurricane impacted other parts of the state. Jonaki Mehta
Host of 'Making Gay History' reflects on coming of age during the AIDS crisis NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Eric Marcus, the host of the podcast Making Gay History, about his audio memoir on coming of age during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. Ari Shapiro
People who want organ transplants must get the COVID-19 vaccine, a hospital says The UCHealth hospital system in Colorado says unvaccinated patients won't be eligible for an organ transplant, citing the "significant risk the virus poses to transplant recipients." Bill Chappell
Diet soda may prompt food cravings, especially in women and people with obesity New research adds to growing concern over zero-calorie drinks. Consuming artificial sweeteners may confuse our body, leading to increased hunger and weight gain. Allison Aubrey
Pfizer officially asks the FDA to authorize its COVID vaccine for kids aged 5-11 "With new cases in children in the U.S. continuing to be at a high level, this submission is an important step in our ongoing effort against #COVID19," the pharmaceutical giant said. Joe Hernandez
COVID is changing medical fly-in missions — and it might be for the better For decades, Western docs and nurses have parachuted into poor countries to perform surgeries. That's not working in this pandemic. But there's a new twist that holds promise. Adela Wu
