SUMMARY: The documentary “The Zebra and the Bear” premieres at the LY Meadows Discovery Center, highlighting the rare disease multiple sulfatase deficiency (MSD), which affects children like Willow, who passed away at 11. Filmmaker Patrick Okon began his journey in 2016 after creating a GoFundMe video for Willow’s family, aiming to raise funds for gene therapy research. The documentary explores the challenges of rare disease treatment and has led to the NIH adopting MSD for a clinical trial. The screening on the 9th at 6 PM will include a Q&A with families involved, fostering community awareness and support.

The documentary raises awareness about a very rare disease while unifying families and exploring treatment options.

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SUMMARY: Mississippi’s rural hospitals are struggling to remain open, forcing residents in small towns to travel long distances for essential healthcare. Jenta Davis from Pearl River County shares her family’s challenges with limited access to affordable care, recalling emergency trips for her grandmother, Lisa, who needed open-heart surgery and later suffered a stroke. Local hospitals often refer patients to larger facilities due to the high costs of providing specialized services. Advocates for Medicaid expansion argue it could stabilize rural hospitals and enhance healthcare access. Despite a failed vote last year, there is renewed hope for legislative action this session.

Many residents in small towns say they are without easy access to critical health care services.

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In December, 22 cold-stunned Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles were flown from Massachusetts to the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) for rehabilitation. These turtles, unable to regulate body temperature, suffer from pneumonia when water temperatures drop. IMMS Director Mobi Salangi explains that recovery can take anywhere from 2-12 months. The turtles are isolated in separate basins to monitor their health, ensure proper nutrition, and prevent disease spread. This species, critically endangered, has a slim chance of survival in the wild. IMMS’s efforts are vital for preserving the species, which faces a survival rate of just one in 1,000 hatchlings.

The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies is continuing to provide treatment for 22 Kemp’s ridley sea turtles brought over from Massachusetts.

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