AMERICA’S JOURNEY TO ORBIT EARTH The First American in Space
On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to enter space on a Mercury capsule named Freedom 7. It was an incredibly momentous event, but what all had to occur for it to even happen? Let’s take a look at what led up to Shepard’s launch into space. During the 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union found themselves in a space race. The United States first began their space mission in 1958 with Project Mercury. Project Mercury had three goals in mind: orbiting a crewed spacecraft, investigating the ability to function in space, and safely recovering the spacecraft and the crew. Before the first American took flight, the U.S. conducted several test launches to see what they needed to adjust and modify to be safely launched into space. The first successful launch of Mercury without an astronaut occurred in December 1960. But before they attempted to launch an American into space, NASA tested the Mercury capsule in January 1961 with a chimpanzee named Ham, who took a route that was similar to the one Shepard would eventually take.
After going through numerous simulations, NASA decided that Shepard would be making the first flight. He began his mission on May 5 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and over half a million Americans watched the launch on nearby beaches. Shepard took his orbit around the Earth and made a successful return. He then received NASA’s highest reward, the Distinguished Service Medal, from President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961. Although the Soviet Union sent the first human into orbit in April 1961, this didn’t stop the U.S. from pushing forward. Instead, the bravery of these men inspired the U.S. to go to new heights and have the first man on the moon in 1969. There are still ongoing debates about whether the U.S. or the USSR won the space race. Either way, this race allowed the world to conduct more research on our galaxy. As a whole, this event led to tremendous efforts to push the limits of human capabilities, create new technology to explore outer space, and see what our universe holds.
A RELATIONSHIP BUILT TO LAST Sandra hasn’t always had the best experience with plastic surgeons. After developing Bell’s palsy in 2008, her face became partially paralyzed. When the nerves grew back, they were crossed between her eye and mouth. “When I opened my mouth, my eye would close,” she remembers. “Cute, right?” A friend recommended a plastic surgeon in Philadelphia who had helped with her eye twitching/closure using Botox. Her path hasn’t been easy, but Sandra maintains a positive attitude. Her Bell’s palsy also closed her tear duct, and two surgeries to reopen it were unfortunately unsuccessful. Her Botox also migrated once, resulting in a temporary droopy eyelid. It’s a rare but known side effect. “It wasn’t his fault, but Dr. Scott couldn’t have been nicer about it,” Sandra says. “He saw me right away, and he was very apologetic and just really human.” Why Sandra Keeps Returning to Eye Plastic Associates
But that doctor was using unethical billing practices, making Sandra pay for her procedure in cash and charging the insurance company as well. “Of course, he didn’t give me my money back,” she says. He claimed the extra expense was for “superior” Botox, but Sandra eventually learned that was a lie. “Dr. Scott said there’s only one grade of Botox,” she says. Sandra was disillusioned, but the Botox did help her spasming. So, she decided to give it another try when her pastor underwent tear duct surgery and recommended Dr. Scott. She has now been receiving Botox treatments every three months for several years. “When your face is paralyzed, there’s no 100% cure,” Sandra explains, “but it at least helps me keep my eye open so I can drive and do other things.”
Sandra grew up in Northern Virginia, and she considers herself a “local girl.” Though she is now retired, she used to work for an airline and lived all over the country. But since there’s no place like home, she eventually returned. Sandra attends church, prayer group, and Bible study in her spare time. She also enjoys making homemade greeting cards, a hobby she picked up in the ‘80s after a coworker presented her with a gift in handmade wrapping paper. Since hers is a lifelong condition, Sandra intends to continue to see Dr. Scott for as long as possible. “He’s patient, very caring, and very friendly. He always takes his time with you,” she says. “I have recommended Dr. Scott to other people and will continue to do so.”
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