Michelle Eubanks

AL.com •

Adoption by north Alabama family transforms life for young woman with cerebral palsy

TUSCUMBIA, Alabama — On the outside, Haylee Cain looks mostly the same: chestnut hair, bright hazel eyes, big smile. Inside, however, she admits she doesn't recognize the woman who, just more than a year ago, was living in a nursing home, unsure of her future and totally dependent on others. "That's not who I am anymore," Haylee said. "I'm opening up, coming out of my shell, laughing and happy. It feels great." The past 12 months have been nothing short of a metamorphosis for Haylee, and Juds
Association of Health Care Journalists •

Officials, reporters offer conflicting advice on getting public documents

The fight by journalists to obtain public documents isn’t likely to get any easier, according to the four panelists who led the discussion “Right to know: Getting information from government agencies” as part of Health Journalism 2011. Peter Ashkenaz, director of communications for the FDA Office of Regulatory Affairs, said his best advice for reporters looking to get these documents is to develop a relationship with the press officers at federal and state agencies. “That means being friendly
Blessed Earth •

Going Green for God

It was that “ah-ha” moment Betty McGee said she was hoping to get from members of First Presbyterian Church of Florence. “It came when we put recycling into context,” she said of the Sunday morning experiment of separating trash from the pulpit into piles of what is garbage and what can be reused. McGee said a recycling program has been in place at the church, the Shoals’ oldest organized congregation, since the 1980s, but this year, the decision was made to ratchet up the members’ commitment
Cunningham Group •

Calling all surgeons - Shoals faces critical shortage of general surgeons

Dr. Shelby Bailey was like a lot of his peers when he began his private practice: burdened with student loan debt but determined to solve the medical problems of his patients. “Everyone has their own reasons for becoming a doctor, and I chose it for a variety of reasons,” he said. “I liked being able to identify an acute type of problem, be able to repair or remove the problem and have the patient go on and fully recover.” His reasons are what make being a general surgeon worthwhile, even with
Marriage and Family Courts •

Time, faith and attorney bring couple back together

Article from the Times Daily about a couple's journey back from the brink of divorce, which began when a divorce lawyer -- now a judge -- encouraged his client to take some time to think about it and to explore counseling before proceeding with divorce. Almost 20 years after it happened, Stan and Stacey Pruitt still find it hard to talk about how their marriage almost ended. "There will always be part of the story that is between me and Stan," Stacey Pruitt said. "But if we can help one person

Hall & Associates LLC

The sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the United States has long been fodder for debate among political, religious and special-interest groups, especially as it concerns minors. Fast forward almost 40 years to 1970. The U.S. is becoming further embroiled in the Vietnam War, and men being drafted for service argued that fighting and dying in a foreign war allowed them the privilege of legally consuming alcohol. Many states responded by lowering their drinking age from 21 to 18. By