Dec. 21, 2016
This holiday season I’ll be sporting the ever-so-fashionable knee brace with my festive outfits. I’ll be hobbling around the Christmas tree and ringing in the New Year with a noticeable limp. Did I fall on the ice, you ask? Maybe twist it going hard to the hoop? Was I in a fight with a bobcat? Nope, those just aren’t weird enough for me. Remember, I’m the person who almost broke their toe in a baking accident – but that’s another story.
This time, there were no cookies involved. (Though I had made some the night before.) However, I might be the only person to sprain their knee charging their phone. Yep, you read that right. I sprained my knee charging my phone. Well, technically, it wasn’t charging yet. I was reaching for my cord on the floor from my bed and, well, tumbled right out, getting my leg caught in the covers and twisting my knee. Go ahead and laugh. I did – right up until I realized I couldn’t walk. Oh well, I’m on the mend and it certainly could be a lot worse.
At least with my injury, I really have no one but myself to blame. I could have simply gotten out of bed the normal way to get my charger. But the flannel sheets were so warm and I thought I could just stretch a little more and reach it. Clearly, I have an inflated view of my capabilities. But, like I said, I only have myself to blame.
Unfortunately for the residents of Flint, their medical woes tied to lead in their water are much longer lasting than a sprained knee and they share no blame in what happened to them. Unknowingly, they drank water from their taps expecting it to be safe, but as we all know now, it certainly wasn’t.
Rhonda Conner-Warren, who grew up in Flint, is an assistant professor of health programs in the MSU College of Nursing and a pediatric nurse practitioner. She and other MSU health professionals have been tirelessly working to help the community deal with the health effects caused by the crisis. As she notes in this week’s FACULTY VOICE: Flint – a year of reflection, the crisis is far from over. But she’s not just reflecting on what she’s done – she’s committed to continuing to work hard to improve the lives of those in that community.
Reflection is always important this time of year. A couple of my wickedly talented colleagues, Anthony Siciliano and Ellen Doepke, put together a really cool retrospective video of some the top things that happened at MSU in 2016. Check out the MSUTODAY FEATURE: 2016 Year in Review for an entertaining look back at the top MSU social media posts and comments of the year. You really don’t want to miss it.
A section of the video shows some incredible shots of MSU students studying abroad all over the world. Paige Korner, a senior majoring in Chinese, isn’t in the footage, but she could have been as she’s studied abroad in both Korea and Taiwan. Check out the STUDENT VIEW: Paving her own way, to learn more about this self-proclaimed language enthusiast and her experiences as an MSU student.
The year has certainly had its share of ups and downs. As Spartans, we focus on the ups and figure out how to make the downs better. As 2016 comes to a close, Spartans have a lot to be proud of. But Spartans never rest on their laurels – they’re already figuring out ways to make 2017 even better. Because every year, same Spartans Will.
Lisa Mulcrone
Editor, MSUToday
@LMulcrone
Photo by Derrick L. Turner