An 82-year-old woman in Georgia named Betty Cartledge just voted for the very first time. Her late husband discouraged her from voting, but he passed away last year, so she had her niece take her to the polls to vote early. She didn’t reveal who she cast her ballot for, but said she’ll be back next election. She called it a “neat” experience. (She was 81 when she cast her vote last Wednesday, but just turned 82 yesterday. Happy birthday, Betty!)…………. In sleep news: Scientists identified a specific protein that acts like a pacemaker for our internal clock. They say it could lead to new treatments for sleep disorders and jet lag………………And finally………….
A four year old named Gamai accidentally pulled a pot of boiling water over herself when she was just one. Unable to access proper burn treatments, she grew up with contracted hands and arms as her scarred skin tightened. Her mom heard that the international charity Mercy Ships was coming to their country of Guinea. Volunteer doctors and surgeons on board routinely help people with injuries like Gamai’s at no cost, and Gamai was selected for surgery. After weeks of rehab on the ship they returned home, with Gamai healed and healthy. She can play, write, and dance and, for the first time in her life, she can reach out her arms to hug her parents.