Health Story Type: Newspaper or Magazine

Un chispazo de conexión humana

Agus Morales describes his visit to Faiz, a man from Pakistan, in the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He describes Faiz’s shock when he speaks to him in Urdu as he had not spoken his native language since he first arrived at the hospital. The story highlights human connections that can grow from shared language, both speaking and being understood in a medical setting. This is a part of a collection that includes visual as well as written narratives regarding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Useful for medical Spanish classes, well-told story that will resonate with general composition students, good example of a health narrative for humanities-driven upper division courses. Intermediate level, 1-2 pages.

‘Oppenheimer’, mi tío y los secretos que a EE.UU. aún no le gusta contar

The film "Oppenheimer.” which won seven Academy Awards shows both the triumph of scientific ingenuity and is a cautionary tale of unintended consequences.This opinion essay describes reckless exposure of Americans to radiation during the atomic tests that created the bomb. Soldiers, pilots, and sailors - and a military band, the leader of which is the focus of this story - were exposed to high levels of radiation that caused serious illnesses and cancer later in life. They were forbidden to disclose their participation in the nuclear testing, even to spouses and doctors, for decades, making it difficult to trace exactly what impact the exposure had on their health. 5 pps, upper intermediate readers; good for discussion of environmental health issues.

Siete voces que cuentan cómo superaron sus adicciones

This article provides seven different stories from recovering drug addicts with the intention of reducing the stigma behind drug addiction. Each story provides a glimpse into the life of each person, past their addiction. They discuss how their addictions started, as well as how they have been recovering from their addictions and beginning to reclaim their lives. Intermediate level, 4 pages.

“Una puerta se abre” por Adolfo Bioy Caseras

Almeyda considers suicide through internal dialogue that evokes the struggle to weigh life-sustaining alternatives against death. His contemplation turns surreal in an encounter with the idea that "time heals everything" and the possibility to sleep for 100 years. Theme throughout the story is that even in the darkest moments, there are options and opportunities to overcome life's challenges. The final twist, with the reappearance of a key character, emphasizes that love and human connection can overcome even the most desperate times, making clear that suicide is not reasonable or desirable. 10 pages, upper intermediate readers; Argentinian dialect. Useful for a Latin American literature course.

Tuve Depresión Postparto Dos Veces y Nunca Me La Diagnosticaron

Describes a woman’s experience with two bouts of undiagnosed postpartum depression. She explains her thoughts and experiences of feeling unable to take care of her children and how these were largely ignored by health professionals. Story is framed with Q&A about postpartum depression: symptoms, frequency, treatment, etc. Acessible, magazine-style 10 minute read, intermediate and native speakers; good discussion starter for a community group.

El misterio del duelo, aprenda cómo estar presente

This story describes the pain of a mother who gave up a foster daughter, Coco. A year later, she adopted a baby boy, and described this grief to the social worker, noticing that having language to describe the specific loss - "duelo por falta de derechos," - 'grief because you have no rights (to keep the child)' - helped the family move on. 10 minute read, upper intermediate level.

Mi hija estaba muy viva. ¿Cómo es posible que ya no esté?

Sarah Wildman describes her grief after losing her 14 year old daughter to cancer. Her efforts to describe her feelings lead through several languages, offering possibilities for discussion of translation. Intermediate level, 2-3 pages.

The ones we sent away

The author found out at age 12 that her mother had a sister who was institutionalized before age 2 with intellectual disabilities that left her unable to speak. She traces her aunt's life through various institutions, most of them deplorable, and hears her mother's grief over the separation from her only sibling. She contrasts the attitudes and treatment of such disabilities in the 1950's through the 1980's with much more open acceptance and inclusion of nonverbal persons in the 2020's, based on a photo that went viral on Twitter. Detailed memoir of three generations' relationships with the sister: the author's grandmother, her mother, and herself. Traces the evolution of attitudes toward intellectual disabilities in the 20th and 21st centuries from close relationship to the issue, noting that children born today with her aunt's condition are able to live much fuller lives because of greater inclusion in educational, social and family contexts. Includes many links to relevant sources, from memoir to scientific works. About 15 pages; also has audio version.

Columna de adictos y adicciones: Historia de Miriam

Three page first person account of a woman's drug addiction. It touches on cultural aspects: "I'm 28 years old, have never had a real job and I and live at home with my parents and five siblings, which might be part of why I've never had much freedom or agency." She descends a long way and then is saved by faith in God. Although not compelling for undergraduates, this might do well in a community group setting because it humanizes the addict.

Embodied Futures: Reimagining Aging in Conversation with Older People

8 page graphic narrative structured around a conversation between a Japanese American college student and her grandmother. Each page is a collage of images, text and drawings, allowing for both discussion of the issues (aging, intergenerational relationships, queer identities) and the techniques and