Holly Cooper Mason

Writer/ Editor / Creative Marketer

"I have never worked with anyone who is as good with the written word. Holly is able to capture a message and bring true life to it in the best way I have ever seen. Moreover, she is able to do so as if she has been working within an organization for many months or even years. She is clearly unlike any other writer with whom I have worked, because she gets it right out of the gate."

— Steve McClintic, President/CEO, OurHealth Virginia

Healthy Balance •

Striving for Longevity: Jerry's Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair Surgery is a Lasting Fix

When he was diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm 10 years ago, 78-year-old Jerry Austin of Pearisburg, Virginia, had no choice but to be patient and wait. Doctors told him: “No surgeon will touch it right now, because it's still relatively small.” The aneurysm may have been too small for surgery at the time, but it was big enough to cause Jerry to worry. And for good reason. What Is an Aortic Aneurysm? An aortic aneurysm is a weakness in the wall of your aorta. The largest artery in th
Healthy Balance •

I Had the Lungs of a Smoker: A CT Scan Saved Me & Could Save Your Life

After a lung cancer screening saved his life, Dave was inspired to give back and began volunteering at UVA Health's hospital gift shop in Charlottesville. Dave Kohstall, 74, knew he had the lungs of a smoker. He started smoking in elementary school. And smoked for decades. When his doctor said they should take a look inside his lungs, he resisted. “I didn't want to have a picture of the inside. I knew what I'd done. I just really didn’t want to see it. I was scared,” he shares. But Dave met t
Healthy Balance •

Sex After 60? What You Need to Know About STDs

Coming this fall to your TV screen: “The Golden Bachelor.” That’s right, reality television fans, seniors are finally getting their shot at this (somewhat unscripted) love connection. The suspenseful rose ceremonies and extravagant date nights are likely. But will there be an overnight in the fantasy suite? If this is, in fact, reality, then there should be. Physical intimacy important — sex even has health benefits. Yes, even for those in their twilight years. Shining a light on sex after 60 m
Healthy Balance •

Lung Cancer Screening: The Test That Could Save Your Life

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest. One-fourth of cancer deaths in the U.S. are from lung cancer. And less than 20% of people live 5 years after they’re diagnosed. The good news: lung cancer screening works. It cuts down on lung cancer deaths, research shows. But not enough people get a screening. “It should be just as common as mammography and colonoscopy,” says Aimee Strong, DNP, program coordinator for UVA Health’s lung cancer screening program. “But today, less than 10% of people eligibl
Healthy Balance •

Food as Medicine? What Role Does Nutrition Play in Cancer?

It was several months into her treatment for breast cancer that my mom began researching “miracle foods.” The chemotherapy had done a number on her hair. It made her hands and feet tingle and shed layers of skin. Her mouth was riddled with painful sores. But unfortunately, the drug concoction didn’t seem to be having any effect on the cancer. So we went on the hunt for a particular type of mushroom. She filled the fridge with all kinds of berries, and cut back on ice cream, her favorite treat.
Healthy Balance •

Not Vaccinating? New Polio & Measles Cases Are a Stark Reminder of the Risks

Measles can cause life-threatening pneumonia. Or your child’s brain could swell, leaving them deaf, intellectually disabled, or worse. One day, 7-year-old Olivia seemed to be recovering. She was alert and playing in bed. But 12 hours later, she was gone. The cause of her death: measles enchaphalitis or swelling of the brain. This is how author Roald Dahl, who wrote childhood favorites like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," described his daughter’s illness. He wrote the essay in 1988 — 24 ye
Healthy Balance •

Worried About Breast Implant Problems? Know the Signs & What To Do

The video stopped me from scrolling. It showed a breast implant that looked more like a small crystal ball than a fluid-filled sack. It didn’t give under pressure. When the doctor rolled it across a table, the hardened implant cracked and left behind a trail of white, plaster-like chunks. What was wrong with that implant? Why did it get so hard? How often does this happen? Thanks to a suspect TikTok algorithm, I now had a whole lot of questions. I turned to an expert: UVA Health plastic surgeo
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta •

How to Protect Kids from Common Playtime Injuries

1. Little legs can get hurt when sliding with adults Of all the equipment on the playground, slides are one of the most common spots for injuries to happen. There is the occasional daredevil who jumps from the top of the slide. But more often, it’s little ones who get hurt sliding down on a parent’s lap. “A lot of younger toddlers may be afraid to go down the slide, or their parent thinks it's more fun if the child goes down the slide on their lap,” says Children's pediatric orthopedic surgeon
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta •

Dos & Don'ts of Giving Melatonin to Kids

Melatonin should not be necessary for the average kid, says Dr. Malik. But there are some who might benefit from short-term use. This includes kids who experience insomnia or trouble falling asleep due to: Dr. Malik also recommends melatonin for kids who have certain sleep disorders, such as: If your child is a night owl, they may have DSP. This is a disorder common in adolescence in which a child cannot fall asleep at a “normal” time. Instead, they may stay up for hours after their recommende
Healthy Balance •

Shingles Nerve Pain Can Last Months or Even Years

He has waves of pain that start along the foot-long scar across his back and then shoot through his chest. The pain hits him at night when he’s trying to sleep, when he’s outdoors in the heat, or just randomly while he’s watching TV. My 75-year-old dad delayed getting a shingles vaccine. Unfortunately, he got a horrible case of shingles. The infection cleared. But more than 20 months later, he still battles the after effects.
Healthy Balance •

Safe or Not-So-Safe? The Truth Behind the Vaginal Mesh Controversy

The vaginal mesh procedure is used to treat pelvic organ prolapse and helps offer relief from pain, pressure, and a range of embarrassing symptoms like urinary leakage. Tune into daytime television and you’re likely to see commercials taking aim at vaginal mesh implants. The goal of these ads is to enlist women to join a class-action lawsuit against device manufacturers. But they also strike fear into many women with a long list of scary side effects flashing across the screen: Pain, infection,
Physician Resource •

Drug Discovery: New Ways to Treat Recurrent Pediatric T-ALL

Close to 90% of pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) — the most common pediatric malignancy — recover after receiving conventional therapy. However, refractory or relapsed ALL is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among children in the U.S. This is why UVA Children’s pediatric oncology physicians and researchers have dedicated themselves to finding better options to treat this disease. The good news: they’re making headway.
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta •

Myocarditis In Kids Rare After COVID Vaccine

Throughout the pandemic, parents have been forced to make some tough calls about how best to keep their kids safe and well. The most challenging decision for some: to vaccinate or not to vaccinate. The consensus among scientists and infectious disease experts worldwide is that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe for kids ages 6 months and older. However, like any vaccine, there are risks. One of these risks is myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, according to a study led by Children’s Hea
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