Good morning! 🌞 

Did you know that on this day in 1903, the Wright brothers made history with the first successful powered flight? Their 12-second flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, marked the beginning of modern aviation. 🚀

Innovation

Robotic Lung Transplant

Cheryl Mehrkar, diagnosed with COPD at the age of 43 and predisposed to lung disease, received a life-saving double lung transplant at NYU Langone only four days after being placed on the transplant list. Her health had declined severely following a COVID-19 infection in 2022, forcing her to step back from an active life as a scuba divemaster, motorcyclist, and karate dojo owner. Despite these setbacks, she remained dedicated to community service as an emergency medical technician in Dutchess County, New York.

The surgical team at NYU Langone Transplant Institute, led by Dr. Stephanie H. Chang, has been pioneering the use of robotic systems in transplant surgeries. Just a month prior to Mehrkar’s procedure, they performed the nation’s first fully robotic single lung transplant, illustrating the potential of advanced technology to improve patient outcomes. By utilizing robotic instruments, surgeons aim to minimize the impact of surgery, reduce postoperative pain, and provide patients like Mehrkar with a safer, more efficient path to recovery.

This advancement aligns with emerging research demonstrating that surgical robots can learn complex procedures through imitation learning. A recent collaboration between Stanford and Johns Hopkins enabled a da Vinci Surgical System robot to replicate human surgical actions—such as suturing and tissue handling—by analyzing existing surgical videos, without the need for painstakingly detailed programming. By significantly accelerating the training process, this breakthrough paves the way toward greater surgical autonomy, fewer errors, and improved accuracy, ultimately revolutionizing the field of robotic surgery.

Culture

The Holiday Magic

A recent survey of 2,000 parents with school-aged children, conducted by Talker Research for HP, revealed that two-thirds stay up all night at least once during the holiday season to prepare for festivities, and many expect to do so five times this year. In their quest to outdo previous celebrations—77% feel pressure to make this year’s holidays even more memorable—parents rely on creative inspiration from Facebook, TV, and family members. Some go to great lengths, such as recreating Santa’s boots on the roof or using fishing lines to make an elf appear to fly. Christmas Eve is often the most challenging day to keep children entertained, with half of respondents agreeing it’s the toughest winter day, yet 86% consider these holiday activities some of the best family bonding moments. Many parents print crafts and decorations to enhance the season’s magic, and HP supports these efforts by offering free printables—from coloring pages to gift tags and cards—to help create cherished memories.

What are your plans to make this holiday season special for your family? Do you have any family traditions? Let us know!

Lifestyle

Music Therapy

Gaynor, once a regular saxophonist in Bournemouth’s music scene, stopped playing after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Now, through a unique music initiative designed for individuals with mental health conditions, she’s regaining her confidence and rediscovering her love for the saxophone. Together with the band she has joined, Gaynor has even composed an original song, which they plan to showcase at Absolute Music Trust on December 11.

This initiative, developed by occupational therapists and supported by the Dorset Community Foundation, has been running for over a year and aims to help participants rebuild self-esteem through collective music-making. By teaming up with Absolute Music in Bournemouth, the organizers created a safe space for service users to form a band and work toward a public performance—an opportunity that many had only dreamed of.

For Gaynor, this project has brought renewed purpose and joy. “It gets me out, keeps me focused, and gives me something to look forward to,” she said. “Now I feel like I’ve got a tiny part of my life back.” As the band prepares to perform their original track, Feeling Good Today, Gaynor’s story highlights the transformative power of music in helping individuals heal, grow, and reclaim their sense of self.

Mind Stretchers

❓️ 

I arrive with whispers from far and near,
In black and white, I make things clear. What am I?

Yesterday’s Mind Stretchers:

Tricycle! — Jocelyn Linder got this first! 🌞 

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.