Diana_Rocco's Blog

Autoimmune Disease??? What's that?  The usual response when I tell someone that I suffer from Celiac disease (a gluten allergy of sorts).  You might be more familiar with some of the more commonly diagnosed in the autoimmune family, like Multiple Sclerosis, Chrones, Lupus, Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis or Graves.  

Autoimmune Disease is when your body sees itself as foreign and starts attacking itself as it would a virus or common cold.  How it attacks itself determines which kind of disorder someone might have.  For example, Rheumatoid Arthritis, the body attacks the joints, leaving those with the condition with joint pain and feeling fatigued.  Doctors are calling Autoimmune Disease an epidemic more commonly diagnosed in women in their 20s and 30s.  The scariest part: no one knows why.  

There are some schools of thought out there that we can be born with the predisposition... like a family history, but the environment provides the trigger.  For example, the preservative and pesticide-laden foods we're eating or toxins and chemicals that surround us.  Basically what we're eating is making us sick!!!!

Treatment of some autoimmune diseases calls for a gluten-free, casein-free diet (shown to drastically improve symptoms of autism).  Leading a healthier lifestyle of organic foods, rich in nutrients and antioxidants and minimally processed (nothing packaged).  That has shown to help ward off disease and it's time we as a society (where everyone is allergic to something) got on the bandwagon!

I know. I know. Eating organic is expensive but it's money you may be saving in doctors bills later ... Your thoughts?

Today I saw grown men in tears (in their defense, so was everyone else) on the sidelines of a peewee football game in Lynnfield. They were tears of joy as a little girl with cerebral palsy crossed the goal line to score her first ever touchdown in a game no one ever thought she could play.  But don't tell 11-year-old Marin Lannon that.  
   
Marin has limited use of her legs and wears braces on both of them. About a year ago, she told her parents it was her dream to play football. After some persuasion, her parents agreed and so did Lynnfield's coaches. So far, Marin has been to every practice and keeps up with the boys. She played a few minutes in her first game of the season. For her, that was a dream come true. Today, her team staged a mock play and gave her the ball. Her teammates blocked and she ran it in from the 20 yard line for a TD!
 
Her determination in life has not only inspired her family but the entire community who helped make her dream possible.  As I looked around teary eyed myself, I saw hundreds of people cheering on a little girl that reminds us all that anything really is possible for those who believe!  

It's a simple concept, but aspiring to that seemingly impossible task takes mental strength which can only come from true character. Lynnfield players, coaches, kids and parents exemplified that character by giving back to a little girl who has taught them so much.

Hats off, you should all be proud.

My photographer and I pulled up to see Police officers lining the street with signs cursing and verbally abusing the civilian flaggers who've been hired to replace them on detail jobs... And The Chief of Police screaming at an off duty officers who purposely drove his car into oncoming traffic.... only later to deny it ever happened (all caught on tape). Someone could have been hurt.

These flaggers showed absolute professionalism not responding to the taunts, while the off duty officers were making it virtually impossible for anyone to work under those conditions.

To be honest... I'm stunned. These men (no woman were present) have sworn to uphold the law and protect the public at all cost, yet today I saw a blatent disreguard for all of those values... Not to mention, the laws already been passed. Should officers be held to a higher standard? At what point should police officers be held accountable for their behavior?

Virtual worlds are becoming an increasingly popular way to put your imagination to the test in an online world. You can buy anything or be anyone you can in the real world with a little more ease. New statistics are showing that teens and people in their early twenties are the ones leading the charge. And now starting to make money with virtual jobs... designing clothes, homes and even selling real estate in an online world. Some have made thousands... in these online jobs and companies are now offering them real world jobs based on their virtual performance. In fact, some colleges are now offering classes in virtual worlds and encouraging students to open businesses there... Is this a good idea? Is it the wave of the future? What do you think about virtual worlds?

Watch my story tonight at 10 and let me know.

With news of our ill Senior Senator from Massachusetts has come media from all over the country to wait and watch, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Kennedy's as they share some very private family moments.

I've been covering this story since Saturday when it first broke... in a matter of hours media from around the country were crowding the hospital lawns, local and network, cameras live trucks and reporters everywhere... And while some might be annoyed, the Kennedy's ordered us pizza and waived on their way into the hospital...

On Beacon Hill Today everyone on the street was talking the latest news... It was as if it was there own Uncle or Grandfather. At the State House there was a tremendous amount of concern from people who've worked side by side with one of the most influential senators in our lifetime.

It's awful news. The Kennedy's are as much a part of this country and Boston! as the Red Sox and apple pie... So as much as they'd like to have their privacy, and that's well respected... It's obvious their pain has been felt very publicly, once again.

your thoughts?

Recently we aired a story about probiotics and how they've really helped some people get rid of allergies, strengthen their immune system and helped with digestive health... also we interviewed a woman with an autoimmune disorder who says they've helped her live symptom free.

Probiotics are microflora, good or "friendly" bacteria... and recent studies show that by adding them to your diet either in supplement (capsule) form or by trying the new products on grocery store shelves like dannon activia, they've been proven to work for some.

As someone living with Celiac Disease probiotics have helped me, but they are not for everyone and certainly you should consult a doctor if you're thinking about adding them to your diet... What do you think? Have you tried them? Did they work for you? I'd love to hear your thoughts:)