XMWare

2026-01-28T12:01:00

(BPT) – Power isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s the thread that holds modern life together. This reality becomes especially clear during extreme weather events, like the severe snowstorms currently impacting Texas and large parts of the U.S., where millions of households face sudden and prolonged power outages. Battery-based power stations and solar generators have fundamentally changed the way people access electricity, especially when the grid isn’t available. From keeping food fresh and medical devices running to staying connected for work and safety, reliable power now is nearly at the heart of everything we do.

As technology advanced, independent power sources became smaller and lighter, evolving into modern battery-based power stations, which have become necessary equipment for outdoor adventurers in demanding environments. Now, the capabilities and applications of independent, portable power have made them an essential part of home infrastructure, outdoor gear and “office” supply for digital nomads. Today, portable power has become a critical part of home preparedness — especially during winter storm season — while still serving outdoor adventurers and digital nomads alike.

What connects all these uses of portable power is preparedness. In a world where power runs nearly every part of daily life, preparedness means never having a gap in what you need. It’s about the confidence to keep moving forward when conditions change, or plans don’t go as expected. Below are just a few cases that highlight how reliable, on-demand energy has become the cornerstone of resilience, creativity and independence in modern life.

Storm preparedness

The most obvious use for portable power stations is home emergencies, especially during snow, wind and rainstorms. For homeowners in areas prone to blizzards, hurricanes and flooding, losing power isn’t a matter of if, but when. Depending on the severity of a storm, residents may be facing days — if not weeks — without power.

As the U.S. experiences increasingly severe winter storms, a rugged, indoor-safe portable power station can make a meaningful difference when families are sheltering at home. Demand for reliable backup power solutions surged in states such as Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, where residents faced unexpected power outages.

In these situations, being able to keep lighting and appliances on, heating and cooling systems running, medical equipment powered and electronic communications open is paramount. In these emergency situations, it’s not enough to have portable power. A solution that can power multiple devices at once and run for an indeterminate amount of time can mean the difference between life and death.

Having a power station on hand that can withstand these real-world emergencies is well worth the investment. In cases where you need to keep appliances and equipment running, you’ll need a backup option that can handle the job. For example, the Explorer 1500 Ultra from Jackery is capable of delivering 1,800W of continuous AC output, with extended peak capacity to support household appliances, heavy-duty tools, pumps and other household essentials, helping to maintain comfort, safety and communication when the grid goes down. Built with extreme weather resilience in mind, its dustproof, waterproof and shock-resistant design ensures dependable indoor and backup performance.

Cold-weather adventures

Cold is one of the main enemies of battery-powered technology. You’ve probably experienced this when using your phone outdoors during the winter. One minute you’re taking a series of gorgeous snow-filled landscapes or filming your friend conquer the slopes, and the next minute your phone powers off without warning.

If you’re skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, or winter camping and roadtripping, you don’t want to be in a position where you can’t stay connected, track your position or be unable to use essential equipment to stay safe in frigid conditions. In these demanding conditions, having a reliable portable power source is a must.

That said, one of the challenges of portable power stations is that they’re often too heavy to haul when you want to pack light. Modern users need equipment that’s not only portable, but rugged enough to survive extreme cold, moisture and physical impact. Luckily, portable power design continues to evolve, offering lighter, stronger solutions that don’t compromise on performance.

For example, the Jackery Explorer 1500 Ultra is a professional-grade portable power station made of titanium alloy to balance strength and lightness, coming in at just under 39 pounds — almost half the weight of comparable models. Engineered for extreme environments, it features IP65-rated dustproof and waterproof protection, a 9-level seismic shockproof design, and the ability to deliver up to 10 times longer peak power discharge than standard systems. Its stable EV-grade LiFePO4 battery chemistry performs reliably in temperatures as low as 5°F, helping ensure dependable power even in harsh winter conditions.

Overlanding expeditions

Overlanding expeditions are some of the most demanding trips a person can take, because they’re truly not about the destination. The whole point of overlanding is to journey through unforgiving conditions like windy deserts, towering mountains and rainy forests in remote areas where opportunities to refuel and recharge — literally and physically — are few and far between. It’s a true test of self-reliance that requires rigorous planning and thoughtful preparation, with no guarantee that the road ahead will cooperate.

In situations where you can’t count on finding power along your route, having a power station that packs a punch and can recharge without an electric hookup is crucial, doubly so for filmmakers and other creatives documenting their overlanding journey.

A portable power solution like the Explorer 1500 Ultra can be just as resilient and reliable in overlanding expeditions as it is in more casual adventures. It delivers up to 3,600W of peak power — up to 10 times longer than comparable systems — and can sustain 2,000W output for up to 15 minutes, providing the muscle needed for high-demand gear in remote locations. Using solar power, the unit can reach a full charge in 2.5 hours under optimal conditions, allowing overlanders to travel with peace of mind.

The Explorer 1500 Ultra’s dust- and waterproof construction and one-meter drop resistance reflect the kind of purposeful engineering required for overlanding, an approach that recently earned the power station a Red Dot Design Award. After all, gear has to survive the journey, not just look good doing it.

Living and working off the grid

Off-grid living isn’t just for hermits and survivalists. Van-lifers, off-grid travelers and digital nomads rely on portable power stations to live, work and stay connected as they seek an independent and itinerant lifestyle. It’s not about escaping modern life. It’s redefining where it happens.

For living and working off-grid, having reliable power isn’t just for emergency situations or a temporary journey. These types of travelers require a power source that can withstand daily use to efficiently power appliances, as well as laptops and internet connections.

Not all power stations are made for regular, daily use. Those living an off-grid life will need portable power that offers long-term reliability for years to come. A model like the Explorer 1500 Ultra is the type of equipment to power a nomadic lifestyle. Its EV-grade LiFePO4 battery cells retain up to 70% capacity after 4,000 cycles, supporting up to a decade of dependable use. Plus, multiple output options offer versatile power for modern needs, including supporting Starlink^® connectivity in off-grid locations. It’s built not just to supply power, but to keep up with lives that don’t stand still.

Stay ready for real-world challenges

Preparedness isn’t about expecting the worst, it’s about refusing to be stopped by it. From powering through a winter snowstorm at home to navigating remote backcountry terrain, today’s portable power solutions are designed to meet real-world challenges head-on. Explore the quiet confidence that comes from being prepared. To learn more about how portable power stations offer you freedom, security and resilience in parts unknown and at home, visit Jackery.com.

2026-01-27T08:01:01

(BPT) – Is boosting your career one of your New Year’s resolutions? If you’re seeking ways to stand out and improve your productivity on the job, there are several effective strategies and tools that can help you work better, making the best use of your time and energy so you can succeed at your goals.

Try some of these tactics to optimize your efforts in 2026.

1. Learn to prioritize

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by multiple demands, especially when you’ve got a lot on your plate. To help you track tasks and flag those needing immediate attention, keep a running list in the way that’s easiest for you — whether that’s a simple document on your computer, such as on a spreadsheet, or in a notebook. Each task then needs to be clearly coded both by importance and urgency. For each item, ask: How vital is this task? How soon is the deadline? Make sure the most time-sensitive items that are of the highest importance are addressed first.

If prioritizing is difficult for you, consider using software or a system like the Eisenhower Matrix that’s specifically designed for prioritization.

2. Make meetings work for you

Attending meetings can seem like wasted opportunities that use up a lot of your time. You may try taking notes, but find it difficult to understand them later — or discover you can’t focus on what’s happening in the meeting at the time because you’re so busy taking notes. With the soundcore Work AI Note Taker, you can focus and be fully present during meetings, letting the soundcore Work take accurate notes for you. It also saves time by transcribing and summarizing your notes using AI in a number of formats to meet your needs. Powered by an advanced speech-to-text model, the note taker provides a quick content review, streamlines workflows and delivers an AI-driven data summarization.

The soundcore Work is the first coin-sized AI note taker you can clip onto clothing, a necklace or attach to the back of your iPhone or Android phone through magnetic connection. It lets you capture voice recordings in a medium to large conference room (within 16 feet), and you can transcribe and share a summary of the meeting from the soundcore App.

It’s easy to use; just push a button to turn it on and double tap to highlight content you find important. You’ll enjoy eight hours of non-stop recording on a single charge and up to 32 hours with the charging case, and you can keep recording even while it’s in the case.

Your privacy is secured with encryption at all stages. By default, recordings and transcription content are stored locally on your device, and your audio will only be temporarily uploaded to the cloud when you choose to transcribe it. Once transcription is complete, your audio and transcription data will be promptly deleted from the cloud.

Then, by downloading the soundcore app, you’ll access powerful features that transform soundcore Work into your personal assistant. You can activate your soundcore Work to claim free AI transcription minutes for the whole year. With this tool, meetings will be clearly captured and summarized for you, so you can be fully engaged as you participate in the meeting without fear of missing or forgetting important points, and later note items requiring action or follow-up.

Learn more about the soundcore Work AI Note Taker at soundcore.com.

3. Know your daily rhythms

Schedule your time as best you can around your unique daily cycle. Are you a morning person who can tackle complex tasks more easily early in the day? Reserve that time to address those types of duties so you can make the most of that peak energy. And if your energy flags at certain times of day, see if you can build in activities that boost your energy, like a working walk with a colleague, a quick protein snack and chance to hydrate, or checking off items that are easier to accomplish, like responding to emails or organizing the next day’s calendar.

4. Practice time blocking

Getting to know your personal rhythms also helps you create a more workable schedule. Block your time and minimize distractions like calls, messages and emails when you need to focus, instead reserving certain times for responding to them to avoid constant interruptions.

It’s also key to build in regular small breaks for a chance to stretch, move and clear your head, so you can refocus on your next task. If either procrastination or burnout are getting in your way, you may want to try the Pomodoro Technique, which divides work into specific timed intervals of focus and rest.

5. Break up larger projects

Facing a big presentation or project that seems daunting? Divide the work into smaller steps, so you can tackle one thing at a time. Create realistic deadlines for each small task so you’ll be able to complete the whole project by the due date. One trick is to work backwards from your deadline — making sure not to underestimate the time you’ll need for each step.

Using these tips and tools, you’ll be better equipped to be more efficient, productive and successful at work, making 2026 your best year ever.

2026-01-27T08:01:01

(BPT) – Winter can mean cozy moments and festive cheer, but it can mean respiratory illnesses, like flu, RSV and COVID-19, are circulating, too. If you’re feeling sick, especially if you’re at higher risk for serious illness, getting health care promptly is important, since timely treatment can reduce your risk of complications. Here’s a practical guide to help you navigate prevention, testing and treatment.

Know your risk

While anyone can get sick, some people are at higher risk of having complications or getting very sick, including:

• Adults 65 years and older
• People with underlying health conditions, like heart disease, diabetes or lung disease
• People with weakened immune systems
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 2

If you’re at higher risk and start to feel sick, getting care quickly can help reduce your chances of potentially serious complications.

Watch for symptoms and get treatment early

Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, runny nose, fatigue or sore throat. Get emergency care right away if you experience any warning signs, like trouble breathing or chest pain.

If you feel sick and are at a higher risk for serious illness, don’t wait — get timely treatment to help feel better sooner and protect those around you. Here’s what to know:

• Testing: At-home tests and community-based testing are available. Tests may be available for free or for low-cost. Some tests check for multiple viruses at once, like for flu and COVID-19.
• Treatment: Antiviral medications may be prescribed by your doctor but work best if taken early — within 2 days of symptoms for flu and 5-7 days for COVID-19.

Prevent the spread

If you’re feeling under the weather, take steps to stop the spread:

• Stay home and away from others until you’re fever-free for at least 24 hours (without using fever-reducing medicines) and your other symptoms have improved.
• Then take added precautions for the next five days, like covering your coughs and sneezes and washing your hands often with soap and water. Additional precautions, like avoiding crowded spaces or visiting people who are at higher risk, can be important, too.

Breathe easier all season long. Visit cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses or talk to your healthcare provider to learn more.

2026-01-27T11:59:00

(BPT) – When it comes to healthcare, a new year often means a clean slate. The to-do list of annual appointments and check-ups starts afresh, prescriptions may need to be renewed and the insurance deductible resets. If you made changes to your health plan during the open enrollment period, those changes now take effect as well.

In some cases, starting over might mean an increase in health care spending or discovering certain aspects of routine care aren’t covered with your new plan. Fortunately, AARP member benefits are a great resource for health-related discounts and insurance options to help fill any gaps in coverage you might now face.

“Unanticipated gaps in coverage are challenging at any time, but they can hit especially hard at the start of a new year when you’re adjusting to a new plan while managing deductible and copay expenses,” said Doug Armstrong, Vice President, Health Products at AARP Services Inc. “AARP member benefits provide several different ways to reinforce your insurance coverage, helping members maintain proper care without facing unanticipated costs.”

1. Make a Last-Minute Change

Since the insurance open enrollment period takes place one to two months before your new health insurance kicks in, there is always a possibility that your circumstances may change in the interim. Perhaps you are now confronting a new health issue or, conversely, no longer need as much care as you might have previously. Perhaps your new plan has an exclusion you hadn’t anticipated. Whatever the case may be, people might find themselves needing to adjust their coverage once the new year begins.

If you’re on Medicare and aren’t quite satisfied with your coverage, the good news is that you’re not locked in just yet. Some Medicare-Related Options can be changed until March 31. Just be sure to confirm the details on your specific plan, though, to avoid any penalties.

2. Focus on Your Vision

Proper vision is important to maintaining independence as you age, but even if you see clearly, it’s a good idea to make sure your eyes are healthy as well. An eye exam can help diagnose many chronic diseases and help ensure early treatment.

While a critical part of overall health, routine vision care is often not covered by health insurance plans. To make sure you can continue with regular vision checks, you can take advantage of your AARP member benefits to learn more about vision insurance options with plans that offer a large, nationwide network of eye doctors, generous allowance for glasses or contacts, savings on lens enhancements (like progressives and anti-reflective coatings) and more.

3. Get Help with Your Hearing

The chance of experiencing hearing loss increases with age. According to the National Institute on Aging, one-third of older adults experience it, which impacts their ability to socialize, heed warnings, sustain proper balance and maintain their quality of life.

Hearing aids can be transformative for those who do face hearing loss, but many insurance plans do not cover them. With AARP^® Hearing Solutions™ provided by UnitedHealthcare^® Hearing you have access to savings on hearing aids and hearing care. Members may save up to $2,000 per pair on prescription hearing aids and 15% on accessories. Plus, they receive a hearing exam and consultation at no cost and personalized support through a large nationwide network of hearing providers.

4. Maintain a Healthy Smile

Increasingly, researchers are finding a link between oral health and chronic disease, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and even dementia. Regular dental visits every six months can help monitor for and treat issues, such as cavities or gum disease. With health plans that do not include dental insurance, you might end up paying out of pocket for your cleaning and X-rays.

To avoid that, take a look at your coverage. If needed, explore information on dental insurance options for AARP members that offer access to individual or family coverage for the most common dental procedures, with the option to enroll at any time during the year. Dental insurance encourages and generally pays for regular check-ups, so many people who purchase protection start to benefit immediately.

5. Discover Additional Insurance Options

Health insurance can be a great resource for medical expenses, but sometimes there are circumstances where coverage is less straightforward. Fortunately, there are insurance options that can provide additional support. One coverage option to consider is long-term care insurance, which helps pay for expenses that you might incur if age, illness, disability or cognitive impairment affect your ability to manage some daily activities, such as housework, meal preparation, pet care, in-home medical care, personal hygiene and more. Many Americans will need some form of long-term care at some point in their lifetimes. Learn about how personalized Long-Term Care Options can help AARP members identify and prepare for the care that’s best for them — both personally and financially.

In addition to these healthcare resources, AARP members can find other ways to save with discount information on prescriptions, eyewear, medication dispenser subscriptions and more. Visit aarp.org/benefits for details.

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AARP and its affiliates are not insurers, agents, brokers or producers. AARP member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details.

2026-01-26T13:01:00

(BPT) – Imagine seeing multiple doctors for multiple symptoms — from joint instability, debilitating fatigue and chronic pain to digestive issues, migraines, even heart problems — only to be told your blood tests came back normal, or your symptoms are unrelated. Many patients are then referred to psychiatry or dismissed altogether, marking the beginning of a patient’s years-long search for answers.

This is the lived experience of many people with a condition called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a complex connective tissue disorder in which symptoms that appear unrelated are, in fact, directly connected. Too often, the lack of an explicit diagnosis leaves patients without clear answers, coordinated care or validation.

Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) are working to change that.

Under the leadership of Russell “Chip” Norris, Ph.D., scientists are using groundbreaking approaches to redefine how EDS is understood. To translate these discoveries into real-world impact, MUSC is in the process of launching a world-class EDS Center, a comprehensive hub for expert care, research and education, led by internationally recognized EDS specialist Anne Maitland, M.D., Ph.D.

Two defining features set MUSC’s trailblazing EDS research apart. First, scientists who themselves live with EDS are actively involved in every stage of the research process, ensuring that studies reflect real patient experience. Second, the team’s unbiased, systems-level approach has revealed a previously unrecognized immunologic component of the condition, opening new avenues for diagnosis, treatment and long-overdue validation for patients.

The most common disease you’ve never heard of

Determining exactly how many people have EDS is difficult. The condition includes 13 different subtypes — most of them extremely rare. However, the most common subtype, hypermobile EDS (hEDS), is greatly underdiagnosed and may affect as many as 1 in 500 people in the U.S., disproportionately affecting women. It often first presents during adolescence, a factor Norris Lab researchers assert has contributed to the disease not being taken seriously by many physicians.

Most types of EDS are caused by defects in the body’s collagen, a critical structural protein. While many people with EDS share a common trait — hypermobile or “bendy” joints — each subtype is genetically distinct, and symptoms can vary widely from person to person. The disease can affect multiple systems, including the heart, gastrointestinal tract, joints, skin and nervous system, making diagnosis especially difficult.

Because EDS has long been classified as a rare disease, it receives limited attention in medical education. As a result, people with EDS often wait as long as 20 years before receiving an accurate diagnosis — a delay that leaves many feeling unheard and unsupported while their health worsens.

The power of listening

The idea for MUSC’s EDS Center began with a conversation. As a professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Norris regularly opened his office to doctoral students seeking guidance. One of them was Cortney Gensemer, now a Ph.D., who lives with EDS.

“Studying my own disease wasn’t something I thought was feasible,” said Gensemer. “There was no one studying it.”

As Norris listened to her describe how much remained unknown about EDS, including its underlying genetics, the seed was planted for a new way of thinking. Focusing on a large family with multiple individuals affected by hEDS, the team saw a rare opportunity to pursue genetic sequencing on an unprecedented scale. That work ultimately laid the foundation for a genetic registry that now includes more than 15,000 EDS patients.

“Thanks to this work, we were able to seek support from MUSC leadership to develop an innovative EDS Center,” said Molly Griggs, program coordinator for the Norris Lab. For Griggs — an EDS patient and mother of teenagers living with EDS — the work is deeply personal. “It’s the only center in the world that integrates broad clinical care and comprehensive research for EDS.”

From the start, it was vital to Norris, Gensemer and their colleagues that EDS patients be involved at every stage of research.

“The best way to learn is to listen to patients. The central component of everything we do is taking a truly honest approach to patient-centered research,” explained Norris. “That means not just having a patient sitting on an advisory board but fully integrating patients into study design, research, publishing and presentations — everything.”

Building on that philosophy, the Norris Lab established patient-scientist internship programs that invite individuals living with EDS who are interested in scientific and health care careers to participate directly in research. The programs provide hands-on experience for those exploring paths in graduate education, medicine, nursing and related fields.

“It’s crucial for participants to see other patient-scientists at work to understand this is something they can do,” said Gensemer, for whom the internship is named. “They see us actively living through the experience of the disease while doing the work. It’s incredibly empowering.”

The patient-scientist programs include:

Gensmer Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Intern Program — An eight-week summer internship for students with a personal connection to EDS who are passionate about advancing EDS research and patient care. Participants gain hands-on experience in genetic and molecular research, receive one-on-one mentorship and join a growing network of patient-scientists.

Visiting Scholars Program — A three-day immersive experience that brings small cohorts of four to six individuals living with EDS to the lab. Participants engage directly with researchers, learn about ongoing studies and connect with a community of peers who share lived experience and a commitment to advancing understanding of EDS.

“We’ve already trained more than 100 students from high school through graduate school to pursue careers as physicians and scientists,” Norris said. “While our discoveries in genetics and biomarkers have reshaped how hEDS is understood, our long-term impact will come from training the hundreds of people who will carry this work forward.”

The immunology connection

In addition to an ongoing biomarker study aimed at identifying genetic and blood markers for hEDS — work that could lead to definitive diagnostic tests — researchers uncovered something potentially game-changing. By analyzing registry data alongside patients’ stories, the team identified a possible connection between hEDS and immune disorders.

“Part of our biomarker study revealed involvement of immune responses, including allergies and mast cell activation syndrome,” Norris said. “Our clinical registry also showed that approximately 70% of patients reported triggering events that worsened symptoms or revealed new ones, including Epstein-Barr virus and COVID — indicating this is likely an immunological problem.”

By grounding discovery in patient experience, MUSC’s approach is already transforming how EDS is studied. With the full clinical implementation of the EDS Center, MUSC will uniquely unite patient-scientists, comprehensive care and translational research — a unique and essential convergence that has the potential to change the future of EDS diagnosis and treatment fundamentally.

Learn more about EDS

Discover the pioneering EDS research at MUSC by visiting TheNorrisLab.com or on social media @thenorrislab.

The complex realities of EDS take center stage in “Complicated,” a riveting documentary that features several MUSC EDS experts, streaming on Apple TV beginning March 20.

2026-01-23T08:01:00

(BPT) – Although they live in different states and have never met, Michael and Andrew have a lot in common. Both boys love to immerse themselves in their favorite subjects — trains for Michael and penguins for Andrew — and they are both dealing with critical illnesses. And thanks to Make-A-Wish^® and corporate partner Chase, both boys were able to see their long-cherished wishes come true.

For Michael, that meant traveling from his home near Fresno, California, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to see Big Boy 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive and one of his favorite trains! Animal lover Andrew and his family were able to travel across the world, from their home town of Draper, Utah, to Dunedin, New Zealand, to see the country’s unique yellow-eyed hoiho penguins up close and personal.

According to Make-A-Wish, which has granted over 390,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses in the U.S. since 1980, approximately 75% of children’s wishes involve some form of travel. To help meet this need, Chase has donated more than $4 million in Chase Ultimate Rewards^® points, allowing Make-A-Wish to have more resources to grant even more wishes, and helping to ensure that a child’s wish is granted at the best time to support their journey to fight their critical illness. Since their partnership began in 2024, Chase has helped grant over 800 wishes.

“Airfare costs are often the largest expense for granting wishes,” said Leslie Motter, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America. “And for every wish we grant, two more children with critical illnesses are still waiting. With Chase’s ongoing support, Make-A-Wish can continue to create lasting memories for children and families, bringing them hope and joy during their most challenging times.”

Life-changing journeys

Make-A-Wish strives to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness, because wish experiences can help improve their emotional and physical health.*

For eight-year-old Michael, learning about trains and wishing to see one of his favorite locomotives in person brought him hope, uplifted his spirits and gave him strength to continue his fight against cancer. Michael and his family were able to fly from Fresno, California, to Denver, Colorado, where they picked up a rental car to drive to Cheyenne. Michael experienced memorable visits to the High Plains Railroad Preservation Association and Cheyenne Depot Museum, but the trip’s highlight was his afternoon at the Union Pacific Steam Shop and private tour of Big Boy No. 4014. Michael’s wish uplifted his spirits and brought him hope.

Twelve-year-old Andrew, who has a critical genetic disorder, is an avid reader who has always loved animals — especially penguins — and enjoys swimming. Thanks to the partnership with Chase, Andrew and his family were able to travel halfway around the world to New Zealand, where they spent time at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital to witness hoiho chicks being fed and cared for, as well as seeing these distinctive penguins in the wild. The family also enjoyed a trip to the beach at Otago peninsula and a visit with some alpacas, completing a once-in-a-lifetime trip that Andrew will never forget.

Most wish kids go on to overcome their illness and lead healthy lives, often crediting their wish as a turning point in their emotional and physical health. By helping grant these travel wishes, Chase’s donation enables children to replace fear with confidence, sadness with joy, and anxiety with hope. Research shows that a wish can have significant physical and emotional benefits, increasing the chances of survival for children facing critical illnesses.*

How you can help

Would you like to make a difference in the life of a child with a critical illness? Chase cardmembers can support Make-A-Wish by donating at Wish.org/Chase, then redeem Ultimate Rewards for the value of the donation by using Pay Yourself Back^® through the Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also learn more about children who have been granted wishes at Wish.org.

*Source: Make-A-Wish 2022 Wish Impact Study, wish.org/impactstudy

2026-01-23T15:01:00

(BPT) – A newborn’s heart will grow roughly 15 times larger in volume by the time adulthood is reached — a remarkable transformation that presents an extraordinary challenge for pediatric heart surgeons treating congenital defects such as aortic and pulmonary valve disease.

Heart defects affect approximately 1% of babies born in the United States each year, or roughly 40,000 infants. For many families, these diagnoses mark the beginning of long and arduous journeys. Children born with complex valve defects often require repeated surgeries and other treatments as their hearts grow, exposing them to risks and potential complications and their families to overwhelming emotional and financial strain.

Finding a better way to treat these young patients has been a longtime goal for Minoo N. Kavarana, M.D., chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina and co-director of the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital.

“I kept thinking about babies born with the most common congenital heart defect — bicuspid aortic valve,” Kavarana said. “When infants need valve surgery in the first week of life, they often face multiple open-heart procedures and catheter-based balloon dilations over their lifetimes.”

While advances in postoperative care have significantly improved outcomes for pediatric heart surgery, risks still remain. And each additional operation compounds that risk.

“Every time we reopen a child’s chest, we expose them to more trauma,” Kavarana said. “That’s when I started asking: ‘Could we implant a valve early in life that could be expanded over time with a balloon and continue functioning into adulthood after a single operation?'”

That idea — a pediatric valve stent capable of growing with a child — had the potential to change pediatric heart care, and it aligned with the culture of innovation that has earned national recognition for MUSC’s program.

The Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery program at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital is ranked No. 4 in the nation for 2025–2026 by U.S. News & World Report, marking its fourth consecutive year in the top four and its ninth straight year in the top 12. The program is recognized for outcomes, cutting-edge technology and advanced clinical expertise, placing it among the nation’s elite programs.

A constructive reunion

As Kavarana searched for a solution, he got a call from a bioengineering team at Clemson University with whom he had previously collaborated. The team, led by Clemson bioengineering alumnus Lee Sierad, Ph.D., and his mentor Dan Simionescu, Ph.D., the Harriet and Jerry Dempsey Professor of Bioengineering, was developing a novel valve concept to treat congenital heart defects in infants. They had confidence in their design but needed clinical insight into how hearts grow, how valve disease evolves over time and how surgeons confront these challenges in the operating room. That led them to reconnect with MUSC and Kavarana.

Kavarana helped the team to tie innovation to clinical reality, clarifying which defects mattered most and how growth patterns should inform device design.

“We were asking fundamental questions,” Sierad recalled. “Would this look like a metal stent that expands? Should we design it for a one-month-old, a one-year-old or a 10-year-old?”

Simionescu said that Kavarana’s input led them to shift the design team’s direction. “Historically, we take adult devices and make them smaller,” he said. “That approach doesn’t work for children. Pediatric patients need something that grows with them.”

From concept to prototype

With vital funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Emerson Rose Heart Foundation, which was created in honor of the infant daughter of Susan and Jason Smith who passed away due to a congenital heart defect, the MUSC-Clemson collaboration led to the creation of ExpandValve, designed to evolve in tandem with a growing heart. The device is a thin metal scaffold capable of expanding from an infant-sized diameter of 10 to 12 millimeters to an adult-sized diameter of 24 millimeters (just less than an inch) through gradual, controlled balloon dilations.

But allowing the valve to grow was only part of the puzzle. The team also had to account for changing blood pressures, flow dynamics and tissue response across every stage of childhood.

“All of the clinical data we shared helped the engineers to recreate conditions that closely mirror the human heart,” Kavarana said. “They’re able to test these valves in a bioreactor that simulates real physiologic environments.”

What comes next

If all goes well in the simulations, the next step on the road would be proof-of-concept testing in living hearts, which must yield positive results before potential clinical trials could begin.

“This step is essential,” Kavarana said. “If successful, this technology could dramatically reduce the cumulative trauma children experience from repeated heart surgeries and change what lifelong care looks like for families.”

For Kavarana and the Clemson team, the goal is clear: to replace a lifetime of repeated interventions with a future defined by fewer surgeries, fewer risks and far more hope.

Learn more about the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center at the Medical University of South Carolina at Children.MUSCHealth.org/medical-services/heart.

2026-01-22T08:01:00

(BPT) – By Dr. Ali Khan, chief medical officer for Aetna^® Medicare and practicing board-certified internist

After you enrolled in your Medicare Advantage plan for 2026, you may have put it out of your mind. However, the new year is the ideal time to prioritize your health. I talk to my patients every day about how important preventive care is for maintaining wellness and preventing minor health issues from becoming more serious concerns. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked among older adults. By 2050, the population of adults ages 50 and older living with at least one chronic condition is projected to nearly double, making preventive care even more important.

With preventive care and regular screenings, your physician can more easily spot areas of concern early, so health problems can be more effectively treated or even, in some cases, prevented.

To get started, here are five ways to make the most of your benefits, putting your well-being at the top of your New Year’s resolutions.

1. Understand your plan

Take time to familiarize yourself with this year’s plan. Are there benefits you could have used last year, but for some reason didn’t take advantage of? Make sure to explore these in 2026. For example, your plan may include things like access to fitness programs and nutrition counseling designed for older adults.

If you have an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan, you can scan the QR code on your ID card with your smartphone, which will take you directly to information about your specific plan. You can also contact the Member Services team. They are ready to answer questions, walk you through your benefits or even join a call with your provider to help schedule appointments and walk through billing questions.

2. Make appointments now

Most plans cover annual wellness visits, vaccinations and basic health screenings, so set appointments for these crucial visits right away. For some people, setting appointments at the same time each year makes them easier to remember.

Medicare Advantage plans commonly offer $0 copays for annual physicals, colonoscopies, mammograms and routine eye and hearing exams. Some plans also include $0 copays for primary care visits and labs, and $0 copays for certain vaccines. This makes it easier to ensure you’ll take care of these vital health appointments every year.

3. Put your annual wellness visit and routine physical exam at the top of the list

Your wellness visit sets your care road map for the year. It gives you the chance to talk to your primary care provider and build a prevention plan. During this visit, your doctor will use your answers to a questionnaire to create a personalized health care plan for you to follow.

Additionally, you’ll want to schedule your routine physical exam for an overall picture of your health. During this visit, your doctor will do a full exam that includes blood work, lab tests and vaccines. They’ll also order any preventive screenings that are due. By identifying health conditions early, preventive care improves treatment options and reduces costly treatments and hospitalizations, allowing people and their loved ones to manage expenses and focus on what truly matters: your well-being.

4. Don’t forget vision and hearing

Using your hearing and vision benefits is important for your well-being. Even if you don’t wear corrective lenses, vision exams are key to identifying conditions like glaucoma and cataracts. And whether or not you have difficulty hearing, it’s also vital for your overall health.

As a board-certified internist and practicing physician serving older adults, I encourage everyone to prioritize common age-related health screenings like vision and hearing. These are critical for catching signs of more serious health conditions like dementia, and they allow for early intervention.

5. Download the Aetna Health^SM app

In addition to making sure you have a new ID card for 2026, you may also want to download the Aetna Health^SM app to get the most for your health. Aetna is making it simpler to stay on top of your health by providing educational resources like a video library of Medicare basics and benefits so you can stay informed and get the most out of your plan. On the Aetna website and in the app, you can also access additional around-the-clock tools and resources to find in-network doctors, track claims and even print a list of your medications to bring to appointments.

Maximizing your plan for a healthier 2026

Health care can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Aetna Medicare Advantage provides access to a Member Services team to answer your questions, and a Care Management program that offers a dedicated case manager to members to help coordinate doctors, support hospital recovery and guide you in advanced care decisions for certain medical conditions. Qualifying members can also get access to a Medication Therapy Management program for a personalized prescription review. There’s even a 24-Hour Nurse Line* connecting members with a registered nurse for quick answers to health questions, day or night.

Interacting with your plan early in the year helps you maximize your benefits. Aetna makes accessing your plan easier through their secure member website, where you can view benefits, track claims, find in-network care and see prescriptions all in one place. You can also access a video library of Medicare basics to stay informed and get the most from your plan.

Make 2026 a year to prioritize your health. Find more information and get the year off to a good start at AetnaMedicare.com.

*While only your doctor can diagnose, prescribe or give medical advice, the 24-Hour Nurse Line can provide information on a variety of health topics.

See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. Participating health care providers are independent contractors and are neither agents nor employees of Aetna. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider network composition is subject to change.

This material is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Health information programs provide general health information and are not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Contact a health care professional with any questions or concerns about specific health care needs. Providers are independent contractors and are not agents of Aetna. Provider participation may change without notice. Aetna is not a provider of health care services and, therefore, cannot guarantee any results or outcomes. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change. Information is believed to be accurate as of the production date; however, it is subject to change. For more information about Aetna plans, refer to our website.

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