NFL fans joke about Beyoncé’s halftime gesture: ‘Where’s the flag?’
Beyoncé stole the show Wednesday when she performed at halftime of the evening Christmas Day game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens.
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer entered Houston’s NRG Stadium on a horse and performed songs from her most recent album, “Cowboy Carter.”
She was joined on the field at one point by Shaboozey and Post Malone.
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As Beyoncé started to wrap up, she stood on a scaffold and was raised high above the field. She then made a finger-gun gesture with her hands as a big “Bang” banner unfurled behind her.
Fans in the stadium cheered, and the reviews were mostly positive on social media. But NFL fans started to poke fun at the finger-gun gesture because of the league’s crackdown this season.
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Several NFL stars have shown finger guns after touchdowns or to signal a first down. Game officials have thrown flags after those celebrations as the league has cracked down on demonstrations that include gestures of violence.
NFL executive Troy Vincent addressed the issue at a league meeting in October, according to NFL Network.
“There’s no place in professional football for that,” Vincent said of the gestures. “Think about where we are as a society. … I don’t think that’s where we are and what we’re trying to represent. We have a responsibility as professional athletes.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also talked about the issue.
“It’s a long-standing policy, and we are going to enforce that,” he said. “Troy had a direct conversation with the union, I think, just last week about it. We’re going to continue on that focus. We don’t think it’s appropriate in those circumstances and sends the wrong messages. So, we’ll continue to do that.”
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A high-ranking NFL employee told The Athletic last week that players are warned about the gestures each year and that they could result in penalties.
Tragic discovery made after United Airlines Christmas Eve flight lands in Maui
A tragic discovery was made on a flight from Chicago to Maui on Christmas Eve.
A spokesperson for United Airlines confirmed to Fox News Digital that upon arrival at Kahului Airport in Maui on Tuesday, a body was found in the wheel well of one of the main landing gears on a United aircraft.
Flight 202 departed O’Hare Airport at 9:30 a.m. on Dec 24 and landed at Maui’s Kahului Airport at 2:12 p.m. local time, according to United Airlines’ website.
The airline spokesperson said that the wheel well was only accessible from outside the aircraft.
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The plane was a Boeing 787-10.
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“At this time, it is not clear how or when the person accessed the wheel well,” the spokesperson said.
The airline added that it is working with law enforcement authorities on the investigation.
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The person that was found dead has not yet been identified.
NFL star raises eyebrows over postgame handshakes with Chiefs stars
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens raised eyebrows Wednesday when he congratulated Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce after a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Mahomes and Kelce joined Netflix’s Stacey Dales to talk about the team’s 29-10 win.
Mahomes threw for 320 yards and three touchdowns, and Kelce had eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and reached the 1,000-career reception mark during the game.
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As the two star players were talking, Pickens interrupted the interview to give his respect.
The move sparked a debate among fans. Some praised Pickens for good sportsmanship, while others cynically suggested it was the wide receiver attempting to influence a future trade.
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Pickens had three catches on seven targets for 50 yards.
The wide receiver has been a source of consternation this season. He got into a fight with a Cleveland Browns player on one of the last plays of a game in a matchup last month. He was then flagged for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about Pickens’ antics earlier this month.
“I’m not going to give you any detail about what goes on behind the scenes in terms of his growth and development,” Tomlin said. “That’s my style, and I’m going to be really consistent in it. Being transparent with you guys doesn’t necessarily help or accelerate the growth process, and that’s my agenda, not necessarily feeding the beast.”
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Wednesday’s game was Pickens’ first after missing three with injuries.
Michael Bolton shares new family photo amid brain tumor diagnosis
Michael Bolton is spending Christmas with his family as he continues to focus on his health.
On Wednesday, the 71-year-old took to Facebook and shared a photo of himself with loved ones as they cozied up on the couch.
“Sending warm wishes for a holiday season filled with peace, love, and joy,” the star captioned the post. “May the New Year bring health, happiness, and countless moments to cherish.”
“Here’s to fresh starts and beautiful moments in 2025!” the “When a Man Loves a Woman” singer added.
MICHAEL BOLTON DIAGNOSED WITH BRAIN TUMOR, TAKING BREAK FROM TOURING
In the photo, Bolton and his family are all smiles as they rock matching pajama tops. Bolton completed his festive look with a Santa hat.
Bolton has three daughters, whom he shares with his ex-wife Maureen McGuire. He is also a grandfather to six grandchildren.
In January, Bolton told fans that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor.
“Just before the holidays, it was discovered that I had a brain tumor, which required immediate surgery,” he wrote on Facebook. “Thanks to my incredible medical team, the surgery was a success.”
Bolton also revealed that he would be taking a “temporary break from touring.”
“It is always the hardest thing for me to ever disappoint my fans or postpone a show, but have no doubt I am working hard to accelerate my recovery and get back to performing soon,” he wrote.
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“I am beyond grateful for all the love and support you have so generously shown me through the years. Know that I’m keeping your positive messages in my heart, and I’ll give you more updates as soon as I can.”
Bolton didn’t share any additional details about his brain tumor or his symptoms.
According to Bolton’s website, the musician was expected to kick off his tour in February with shows throughout 2024.
Last year, Bolton told People magazine how his album “Spark of Light” was his way of spreading positivity through hard times.
“We were basically observing our friends and family and seeing that they all really needed some light, that it was so dark and oppressive, and basically we were all just carrying layers of fear to our every day,” Bolton said, reflecting on the coronavirus pandemic.
“And so we started to feel a sense of responsibility to deliver hope and promise and all these feelings that seem to be so elusive, and it started to become a feel-good record.”
After a successful career in the music industry, Bolton explained that he found the most joy in his home life.
“I’m filled with more love and pride in my girls as they raise their own families,” Bolton said. “The people I love bring me a lot of happiness… The important things never really change. Love is the most important thing, the center of the universe. There’s nothing greater.”
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Bolton noted that he took himself “too seriously” at the beginning of his career. But now, things are different.
“The fun starts happening when you let go of things… I don’t feel like I’m near slowing down yet,” Bolton said.
The singer canceled a string of upcoming concerts in October due to his health, People magazine reported. Bolton stated that he’s “just not quite 100% yet” and is still on the “road to recovery.”
“It is challenging and oftentimes frustrating because I just want to be out there performing for you but I need a little more time to build back my full strength and stamina,” he wrote on Facebook. “My progress is good and I have been able to get a little work done on a couple exciting projects that you’ll be hearing about very soon.”
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But the future is looking bright.
According to Bolton’s website, he’ll be traveling across the pond in July 2025 where he’ll be performing at London’s O2 arena.
5 fast food restaurants that use ‘real’ whole eggs, and 5 that don’t
When placing an order at the drive-thru for an egg sandwich, one might expect there to be a real egg inside. However, a look at ingredients in popular breakfast items sold at fast-food chains shows some restaurants are selling items that might not contain what customers consider “100% real egg.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) notes food manufacturers often use pasteurized egg products because of their convenience and ease in handling and storing.
Egg products are also required to be edible without additional preparation to ensure food safety, according to the FSIS. This makes egg products processed in sanitary facilities that are inspected by the department of agriculture more appealing to fast-food chains, restaurants and care facilities like hospitals and nursing homes.
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Here’s a look at five fast-food chains that have items containing whole eggs on their menus, and five chains that don’t.
DO: McDonald’s
McDonald’s breakfast menu items are all made with real whole eggs, but each is prepared differently.
The chain’s signature round egg, found on an Egg McMuffin, is made with a USDA Grade A egg cracked into an “egg ring.”
However, it’s scrambled and folded eggs — like the ones on a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit — are made with liquid eggs that are pre-cooked and folded before being flash frozen by its suppliers, according to McDonald’s. Once they arrive at a local kitchen, they are prepared on a grill with real butter.
McDonald’s sausage burrito eggs are pre-cooked liquid eggs with ingredients including: sausage, tomatoes, green chilies, onions and seasonings, before flash freezing to help maintain their taste, according to the company.
DON’T: Starbucks
Starbucks lists its breakfast sandwich as containing “whole eggs,” but the long list of additives that follow distinguishes the item from something that could be found in a grocery store or household refrigerator.
Some of the additives listed include: water, soybean oil, modified food starch, whey solids and citric acid, according to nutrition facts.
Other items on the breakfast menu, such as the egg bites, list egg whites alongside other additives.
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DO: Taco Bell
After making a commitment to source real, whole eggs, Taco Bell succeeded in transitioning to carry 100% whole cage-free eggs in all U.S. Taco Bell restaurants.
“We’re proud that our eggs come from hens raised in an open environment where they can feel comfortable and display their natural behaviors,” the company wrote in a statement on its website.
Taco Bell expanded its commitment, also serving 100% cage-free egg ingredients across its entire menu in all U.S. and Canada restaurants, including limited-time offerings such as specialty sauces, according to the company.
DON’T: Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A openly admits it does not yet serve 100% cage-free eggs, but claims it is working toward the goal.
The eggs that it serves are made from whole eggs, water and other additives, according to nutrition facts.
“We’re dedicated to prioritizing ingredient transparency and responsible sourcing partnerships, which is why we’ve made a commitment to source only 100% cage-free eggs by 2026,” the company wrote in a statement on its website.
DO: Wendy’s
Wendy’s only uses fresh-cracked, Grade-A eggs on its breakfast sandwiches, according to its website.
Further, the company’s U.S. egg suppliers are required to have independent, third-party audits conducted annually by auditors certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO).
“We work closely with our suppliers and industry experts as part of our responsible sourcing goal and through the Wendy’s Animal Care Standards Program to drive continuous improvement,” according to Wendy’s.
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Since its establishment in 2004, PAACO has been the authority on animal welfare auditing. Prior to its creation, there was no standardization or accreditation for animal welfare auditing.
The organization provides high-quality training and certification credentials for auditors, according to the site.
Some of PAACO’s sustaining partners include McDonald’s, Tyson Foods, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association and the National Pork Producers Council.
DON’T: Dunkin’
Dunkin’ offers egg patties on various breakfast items, but whether they should be classified as “real whole eggs” is in the eye of the beholder.
The patties include “real” egg, but a number of additives are also mixed in.
Additional ingredients include water, modified corn starch, xanthan gum and citric acid, according to nutrition facts.
DO: Whataburger
Whataburger has proved it is “committed to freshness,” offering North American farm-fresh tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, eggs, poultry and bacon at its locations.
It also serves 100% fresh American beef, fresh vegetables that are chopped in-house daily, cheese made with milk sourced from American dairy farms and clean-label sucrose ketchups.
All of its suppliers are compliant with local legislation and are committed to certified humane practices, according to the company.
DON’T: Subway
While Subway uses eggs in its breakfast sandwiches, they contain a number of additives including dextrose, guar gum, propylene glycol and glycerin.
The company committed to transitioning to eggs from cage-free hens in North America, but has not yet done so.
“Due to the limited supply at present, 10% of the eggs served in the U.S. and 6% in Canada are from cage-free hens,” according to Subway. “We will continue to increase our percentage of eggs from cage free hens annually with a goal is to transition North America and Latin America to 100% eggs from cage free hens by 2025.”
DO: Panera
Panera offers an egg sandwich made with a freshly cracked egg, which rolled out at the same time as the company petitioned the FDA to clearly define what an “egg” actually is.
The company claimed in 2018 that FDA regulations did not establish a definition or standard for eggs, and many chains offered egg products with more than a dozen additives.
However, it appears not all of Panera’s breakfast items are made with freshly cracked eggs, as some still contain pasteurized egg or liquid whole eggs.
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DON’T: Burger King
The eggs used in Burger King‘s breakfast sandwiches are a “liquid egg-pasteurized mixture” containing a number of additives.
FOX Business observed that nutrition facts for the breakfast sandwiches were pulled from the company’s website.
Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Dunkin’, Subway and Burger King did not immediately respond to requests for comment from FOX Business.
‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ star faced a series of tragedies after acting in iconic Christmas film
Life wasn’t always wonderful for Karolyn Grimes.
The actress was 6 years old when she was offered a role in the 1946 film “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The Frank Capra-directed classic stars James Stewart and Donna Reed.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ STAR DONNA REED QUIETLY KEPT WWII LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS FOR DECADES, DAUGHTER SAYS
The film centers on the character of George Bailey, played by Stewart, who considers suicide. His guardian angel intervenes and shows him all the people whose lives he has touched. One memorable character is Zuzu, played by Grimes, who famously says, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”
While the movie has become a beloved holiday staple over the years, Grimes endured personal tragedies outside the spotlight.
The now 84-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter that things began taking a terrible turn when she was 11.
“My mother started getting sick,” the former child star recalled. “Unfortunately, it was something that couldn’t be cured. It was what we would call early-onset Alzheimer’s today. Back then, they didn’t call it that. They just called it cerebral atrophy.”
Grimes noted that her acting career became a financial impossibility for her father, who didn’t approve of it in the first place.
“He would have had to pay somebody to take me for an audition because you have to have a guardian, and he’d have to pay for somebody, if I got a part, to be on set with me,” said Grimes. “It was a bit much for him.”
At age 14, Grimes lost her mother, who was only 44 years old. Grimes became an orphan a year later at age 15, when her heartbroken father was killed in a car accident. According to the outlet, Grimes’ future was left to the court.
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“I had parents of friends who were willing to take me,” she said. “I asked the judge, ‘Do I have any say at all in who I go to or where I live?’ And he said, ‘Your desires are like a drop in the bucket.’ I’ll never forget that.”
Grimes was placed into the custody of her uncle and his wife. She left Hollywood, her birthplace, and moved with them to Osceola, a small town in Missouri. Grimes claimed that for the next three years, she endured “extremely cruel” treatment from her aunt, who was suffering from mental illness.
Eager to escape her home life, Grimes married a local boy at age 18.
“I had parents of friends who were willing to take me. I asked the judge, ‘Do I have any say at all in who I go to or where I live?’ And he said, ‘Your desires are like a drop in the bucket.’ I’ll never forget that.”
“I had to get away, and that was the only way I could see of getting out of there,” she admitted.
Grimes and her husband had two daughters before they divorced. He was later killed in a hunting accident.
She said “I do” once more to a man who already had three children from a previous marriage. Together, they welcomed two more kids.
While raising a family, Grimes enrolled at the University of Central Missouri. For 25 years, she quietly worked as a medical technologist. Grimes said her children knew little about her Hollywood past.
WATCH: ‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ STAR DONNA REED QUIETLY KEPT WWII LETTERS FROM SOLDIERS FOR DECADES, DAUGHTER SAYS
“They knew I was in the movies, but that wasn’t important to them because it wasn’t important to me,” she said. “I think in fourth grade they might’ve taken a picture to school and said, ‘This is my mom, and she did this,’ but that was about it.”
The outlet reported that “It’s a Wonderful Life” entered the public domain in the ‘70s. As a result, it was broadcast every Christmas, garnering a new legion of fans. It wouldn’t be until 1980 when Grimes, who had never seen the film, learned of its resurgence. She was living in Kansas at the time.
“Someone knocked on my door when I was 40 and said, ‘Were you in the movie ‘It’s a Wonderful Life?’” said Grimes. “I said, ‘Well, yeah.’ And they said, ‘Can I have an interview?’… So I dug up all my memorabilia from the basement, and we had an interview.”
“The next week, the same thing happened, and then it happened again,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘Maybe I’d better sit down and watch this movie.'”
Tragedy struck Grimes again in 1989. Her youngest son, who was described by the outlet as “a shy and sensitive boy,” took his life at age 18.
“The part that’s really sad is the fact that I never had my children see [‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ with its message that every life has great meaning and value],” she said.
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Grimes was “deep in mourning” in 1990 when she decided to accept an invitation to attend the Chaplin Award Gala. Stewart was being honored. It was there that, for the first time, as adults, the co-stars spoke.
One of the things Stewart and Grimes bonded over was the heartbreak of losing a child. Stewart lost a son during the Vietnam War.
“I don’t think you ever get over that,” said Grimes.
The pair stayed in touch until Stewart died in 1997. He was 89.
The outlet reported that just a few years later, Grimes’ second husband died of cancer. They were married for 25 years.
“I think it brought it on, really,” said Grimes about their son’s suicide.
“Something about that did something to him,” she said, referring to her late spouse.
It was around that time, the “lowest emotional point of Grimes’ life,” that “It’s a Wonderful Life” saved her, the outlet revealed. In 1993, Target contacted her in hopes she would participate in a Christmas promotional campaign. As she traveled the country, Grimes befriended several former child performers.
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“We became real brothers and sisters after that,” she said.
Since then, the retired grandmother has kept busy every year. During the holidays, she attends numerous events to celebrate the film and her contributions to Hollywood.
During her tours, Grimes witnessed how much “It’s a Wonderful Life” impacted fans both young and old.
“People came through the line for autographs, and they talked about considering taking their own lives, and how they watched the movie, and it saved them,” she said.
Those encounters, she said, inspired her to spread the film’s message of hope and “keep it alive.”
“I just thought, ‘This is my path, and this is what I’m supposed to do,’” she said. “And I’ve been doing it ever since.”
In 2021, Grimes told Fox News Digital that her parents gave her the wisdom to help her overcome any obstacles.
‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ STAR KAROLYN GRIMES REVEALS WHY SHE LEFT HOLLYWOOD: ‘IT BECAME MY PAST LIFE’
“My parents instilled in me that in the end, everything is going to be OK,” she said at the time. “It may not feel that way at the moment, but it will be. Life is what you make of it. And I wanted it to be good.”
“My parents also gave me a religious background that was very solid,” she noted. “I have a certain amount of respect for anyone who believes in a higher being and tries to follow a good path in life.
“I think that’s something we should all strive to do. It’s difficult these days, but geez, if we could just try. It’s a scary world out there. And we need a film like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ now more than ever. I think that’s how I coped.”
Cher says she filed for divorce from Gregg Allman less than two weeks into marriage
Cher is looking back at her second marriage – and what went wrong.
The singer reflected on her relationship with Gregg Allman in her bestselling book, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One” and why she said “I do” so quickly.
According to the book, Cher’s divorce from her ex-husband Sonny Bono was finalized in June 1975 when she had already begun dating the rocker.
The now-78-year-old admitted that she had some reservations about her blossoming romance with the Allman Brothers Band singer.
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“I didn’t know whether my relationship with Gregory would last or not,” the star wrote, as quoted by People magazine on Wednesday.
“I was living each day as it came,” she shared. “Then I found out I was pregnant, and we decided to get married.”
According to the outlet, Cher wanted to be married if she was having a baby.
“I just kept putting one foot in front of the other,” wrote Cher, as quoted by the outlet. “The future is never written in stone. I did what I thought was the right thing to do.”
The book noted that Cher’s sister Georganne “Gee” and her friend Paulette looked at the singer “as if I’d gone into an alternative universe” after telling them she was ready to tie the knot. In response, Cher said, “Come on, let’s just do this.”
The outlet noted that the wedding happened days after Cher’s divorce from Bono.
“There was nothing romantic about our wedding day,” the Oscar winner admitted.
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Nine days after their wedding, Cher filed to dissolve the marriage. They reconciled.
The couple welcomed a son, Elijah Blue Allman, in 1976. However, they called it quits for good in 1979.
The New York Post previously reported that the “Believe” singer originally filed for divorce after allegedly finding a “plastic bag full of white powder” that belonged to her spouse.
Things only worsened when she later learned that Allman had a crippling addiction to heroin.
“[I] told him over the phone, ‘I’m just so tired of doing this, Gregory. I’m so tired of going to rehab with you,’” she recalled, as quoted by the outlet. “He was quiet on the other end of the line. ‘But I keep going,’ he said softly.”
“His answer stopped me in my tracks because it was true,” Cher continued. “He kept going to rehab, kept trying to get clean, kept making an effort despite failing in the past. In that moment, instead of thinking of my own exhaustion, I empathized with him.”
Cher wrote that her “breaking point” came after Allman suffered “a paranoid breakdown” one night.
“[He] insisted he saw men with guns in the backyard,” the Grammy winner wrote.
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She called the moment “the last straw.”
“It [was] not safe for the kids,” said Cher. “It only happened once, but I couldn’t risk it.”
The “I’m No Angel” singer died in 2017 from liver cancer. He was 69.
Alan Paul, author of “Brothers and Sisters: The Allman Brothers Band and the Inside Story of the Album That Defined the ‘70s,” previously told Fox News Digital that the late star “never stopped loving” Cher.
“Gregg didn’t like to talk about Cher that much,” said Paul. “People took that for disliking her, having aggression toward her, or something. I don’t believe that was ever the case. I think it was the opposite.”
Paul said that looking at their marriage, it was clear neither of them was prepared for what was to come.
“Gregg at the time was a full-blown drug addict, and he was struggling to overcome it,” he explained. “He did go in and out of rehab several times. He had periods where he was able to overcome it. He talked about that very openly. Cher, even though she had been in Hollywood and a celebrity since she was 16-17, was quite naive. She didn’t understand what that meant.”
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“Gregg at one point, early in their relationship, says to her, ‘Just go home. Pretend this was a trip to Disneyland. It was fun while it lasted. Now go home,’” said Paul. “He couldn’t bring himself to tell her he was an addict. Cher is completely crushed, angry, blown away. In her mind, everything is going great. She’s basically like, ‘What the hell’s going on?’”
Paul alleged that Allman “cried for almost an hour” before he could muster up the courage to tell her, “I’m a junkie.”
“The good news is I’m crazy mad in love with you, but the bad news is I have a problem,” he told her.
An “unbothered” Cher allegedly said, “That’s OK – we can beat that.”
“You don’t understand,” he pleaded. “I would steal your mama’s TV.”
Paul claimed that Cher was confident it was an obstacle they could overcome together.
“Her reaction was like, ‘That’s fine, it’s a problem, and we’ll fix it,’” he explained. “She understood it as a problem, but she thought it was something where you go to a doctor, you could go to rehab, and you’ll be better. She didn’t understand… And Gregg talked so openly about that… From the very beginning of their relationship, it was overshadowed by his drug use.”
Part two of Cher’s memoir is scheduled to be published in 2025.
Research institute pursuing ‘miracle therapy’ that could ‘transform’ lives of sick kids
Renowned visionary English physician William Harvey wrote in 1651 about how our blood contains all the secrets of life.
“And so I conclude that blood lives and is nourished of itself and in no way depends on any other part of the body as being prior to it or more excellent,” he wrote. “So that from this we may perceive the causes not only of life in general … but also of longer or shorter life, of sleeping and waking, of skill, of strength and so forth.”
Dr. Kevin Watt, team leader of the Heart Regeneration and Disease Laboratory at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, Australia, understands this concept deeply.
STEM CELL RESEARCH SHOWING NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR TREATING INFANT HEART DISEASE
He lives it every day, as he and his fellow researchers study and reprogram the potential of the blood to treat disease, specifically heart failure in children.
Building on the work of Dr. Shinya Yamanaka of Japan, who discovered that specialized cells could be reprogrammed back to immature stem cells, Watt and his collaborators have taken this work several steps further.
They have used small molecules to turn these new stem cells from the blood into heart cells.
Small heart organoids are developed in the lab — which can then be injected into the failing hearts of children.
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Relying on the philanthropic support of the Murdoch Institute, the work is progressing rapidly and has been shown to be effective already in mice, pigs and sheep.
“The vision of our research is to develop new therapies that can transform the lives of children with heart failure.”
Clinical trials in humans will be starting soon, and as Dr. Watt told me in an interview from Australia, “Large sheets of heart tissue will be stitched into the failing heart.”
Congenital heart failure as well as side effects of chemotherapy in children will be targets for this miracle therapy. Millions of children around the world suffer daily from these conditions.
Watt said that certain chemotherapy (anthracyclines) have a higher risk of heart failure – up to 15% of the time – and this treatment may be useful to protect the heart.
Watt said, “Heart failure remains an urgent, unmet clinical challenge across the world. While we have made significant advances over several decades in managing the disease, we lack targeted therapies to treat these devastating conditions.”
FAMILY OF CHILD WITH DOWN SYNDROME WENT FROM SHOCK TO GRATITUDE: ‘LOST THE AIR IN MY CHEST’
He added, “More than 500,000 children around the world live with advanced heart failure that requires transplantation. The vision of our research is to develop new therapies that can transform the lives of children with heart failure.”
To achieve this, he said, “we use a technology called induced pluripotent stem cells, where we can convert blood or skin cells of patients with heart failure into stem cells that we then turn into heart cells … or even make engineered heart tissues that can be stitched onto the patient’s heart to help it pump.”
The cells that are targeted in the blood are known as peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
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They are “pushed back in time to an earlier time before they became differentiated into heart or kidney cells,” he said.
Then they can be pushed forward to become healthy heart cells or mutations — or other abnormalities can be corrected.
While the team at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute is making heart cells from stem cells in the blood for clinical use, it’s also using these stem cells to figure out new drugs to treat heart failure directly.
Said Watt, “Using stem cells from patients with heart failure caused by chemo, we are actively developing new drugs and cell-based treatments that we believe will transform the lives of patients with these conditions … Our research group has pioneered methods to turn these stem cells into miniature heart tissues that can be used to model disease-in-a-dish, to identify new drug targets for the development of new therapies.”
These treatments are personalized and highly expensive, but they’re also highly effective.
Correcting heart failure in young children is only a few years away from becoming a reality.
It’s a Christmas miracle that relies on the kind of philanthropic support that MCRI is famous for arranging.
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“Philanthropic support plays a critical role in accelerating the development of these new, transformative treatments,” said Watt, “and this support will be essential as we work toward bringing stem cell-based precision therapies for heart failure to every child who needs it.”
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